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Understand how next-generation immunotherapies are developed against cancer and assays used to define their effectiveness
Cancer remains one of the top three causes of death in the US and the next-generation immunotherapies are showing promise in clinical trials. However, it demands further research to fulfill the unmet medical needs. Before clinical application, the cell therapy product undergoes validation at the research scale.
In this Build Project, you will assume the role of Associate Scientist, tasked with designing a T cell-based therapeutic by understanding the requirements. Under the guidance of an industry expert, you will conceptualize and design hypothetical experiments, utilizing functional assays such as flow cytometry and co-culture assay to determine the efficacy of the therapeutic. In the end, you will evaluate the data using statistical tools such as GraphPad Prism and present your findings. This experience will mimic the highly interactive, data-driven environment of the industry, offering valuable insights into the daily responsibilities of associate scientists and importance of data interpretation in advancing medical research.
Let’s get to know each other, details about the Build Project, and how cool the careers in biotechnology industry are
Understand what cancer is, its types and stages, and its underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms
Ever wonder how our immune system works and how it can fight against infections and deadly cancer? Let's dig into the power of immune cells and their amazing crosstalk
We have a superpower to modify our immune cells including T cells to train them against cancer. Here you will learn ways to do so
Unlock the power of flow cytometry- an industry standard tool to see immune cells in action, measuring their activation, targeting, and effectiveness as immunotherapy
Dive into the world of co-culture assays, where you can watch immune cells and tumors interact in real-time to test the true potential of immunotherapies
Harness the tool of biostatistics and data visualization to transform complex biological data into clear, compelling insights that drive cutting-edge discoveries
Be a scientist and discuss your hypothetical immunotherapy product like a pro. This interactive session will give you opportunity to showcase your understanding of immunotherapy and receive valuable feedback
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Swarali is a Molecular Biology Build Fellow at Open Avenues, where she works with students leading projects in molecular biology.
Swarali is an Associate Scientist (Delivery/Editing) at Editas Medicine where she focuses on developing in vivo therapies against genetic diseases using CRISPR-based gene editing tools.
Swarali has over five years of experience in the field of gene editing, immunology, and biotechnology where she worked on both ex vivo and in vivo platforms with various drug delivery modalities.
She holds a master’s degree in medical biotechnology from the University of Illinois Chicago.
A fun fact about Swarali is that she is a trained Indian classical singer, and the meaning of her name is related to musical notes.