Midwood Science was well represented at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) for the 10th annual lectures on Major Trends in Modern Cancer Research. This year’s lectures were more about general biomedical research than specific research on cancer. Dr. Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis (or "Anna-Kat" as the President of MSKCC Craig B. Thompson called her) talked about her amazing imaging technique that allowed her to make 3D movies of cells in developing mouse embryos. Dr. Cole Haynes taught us how mitochondria (the cell’s powerhouses) are affected by many different diseases from cancers to bacterial infections. Closing the show was Dr. Joao Xavier, a systems biologist who talked about everything from the growth of biofilms, to the spread of cancers, to the microbiome living inside our guts. "It’s about finding common principles in biology," he said.
Midwood was the best represented school at the event with what looks like 48 students in attendance. I know that it may seem like I am always writing about how some event is our "best" or "biggest" ever, but this honestly is our biggest year ever at MSKCC. The lectures were great, the students were great, and the pizza was pretty good too.