This summer, 19 undergraduate students from across Canada participated in a BioCanRx-funded research internship focused on cancer immunotherapy.
Over the course of the summer, these students dedicated their time to advancing independent research projects, building new skills, and deepening their understanding of the field of cancer immunotherapy.
In their reflections, they share why they chose to get involved in research, what they learned through their experience, and how this opportunity has shaped their career goals and interests. Together, their stories offer a thoughtful perspective on the realities and rewards of contributing to cancer research.
To learn more about our Summer Student Internship and Indigenous Student Summer Internship programs, visit: https://biocanrx.com/training/opportunities/internships
Name: Lucas Asselstine
Supervisor/Institution: Dr. Singh, McMaster
Project Title: Co-targeting Ephrin Receptor Tyrosine Kinases A2 and A3 in Glioblastoma using bispecific CAR-T Immunotherapy
1. Tell us about yourself. Where did you go to school? What’s your program?
Hello! My name is Lucas Asselstine, and I am entering my fourth year of Molecular Biology & Genetics at McMaster University. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading, running, and spending time with friends and family.
2. Why did you want to do cancer research this summer?
I was drawn to cancer research this summer to deepen my interest in innovative therapeutic design and immunotherapy. Having a family history of brain cancer, I felt motivated to contribute to a field that has given my family and me so much hope. This experience gave me a meaningful way to give back to the community that continues to inspire me.
3. What did you work on this summer? What did you discover?
This summer, I worked in Dr. Sheila Singh’s lab at McMaster’s Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research, where I investigated a bispecific CAR-T therapy designed to target therapeutic vulnerabilities in recurrent glioblastoma. My project focused on Ephrin Receptor Tyrosine Kinases A2 and A3, targets identified by our lab as promising avenues for future treatment strategies. This work contributes to the broader effort of developing innovative immunotherapies for hard-to-treat brain cancers.
4. What was one memorable moment from this past summer during your studentship?
A memorable moment of my studentship was meeting patients and families affected by brain cancer. Hearing their stories and explaining our lab’s work to them was an incredibly grounding experience that reminded me of the impact behind every experiment.
5. How did this research experience impact your career development?
This studentship provided me with invaluable hands-on experience in translational research and solidified my commitment to advancing immunotherapy research. It strengthened my passion for pursuing a career as a clinician-scientist, bridging discoveries in the lab with meaningful improvements in patient care.
6. What is your hope for cancer treatment/care in the future?
I hope to see a future where cutting-edge therapies, like CAR-T therapies, become widely accessible for patients facing brain cancer and other hard-to-treat diseases. My vision is for treatments to not only be innovative but also equitable, giving every patient the opportunity to benefit from the latest scientific breakthroughs.
Name: Stéphanie Roy
Supervisor/Institution: Dr. Benoit, University of Ottawa
Project Title: Effects of a 16p11.2 microdeletion on the colorectal tumor microenvironment
1. Tell us about yourself. Where did you go to school? What’s your program?
Hello everyone! My name is Stéphanie Roy, and I am from Dieppe, New Brunswick. I am currently in my 4th year of Biomedical Sciences, specializing in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, at the University of Ottawa.
2. Why did you want to do cancer research this summer?
I began volunteering in the Benoit laboratory a year ago because of my strong interest in cellular and molecular biology. Over time, my curiosity deepened, particularly in the field of cancer biology. Cancer is so prevalent in our society, and in one way or another, it touches everyone. For me, contributing to cancer research feels meaningful, as it offers a way to help address a disease that has such a widespread impact.
3. What did you work on this summer? What did you discover?
The goal of my research internship was to investigate how 16p11.2 deficiency affects CRC progression and immune surveillance. Specifically, characterizing immune cell heterogeneity in mouse CRC tumours with 16p11.2 deficiency in Apc-KO and Apc-KO/16p11.2+/-. By understanding how neurodevelopmental genetic factors influence immune cell infiltration and tumour recognition, our goal was to identify new pathways that could be targeted for CRC therapy. A significant part of my contribution to this project was genotyping mice to develop a cohort of animals carrying the required mutation for the research project. I extracted DNA from mouse tissues and performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the presence or absence of specific genetic sequences. This process was essential for building the experimental groups used in the study.
4. What was one memorable moment from this past summer during your studentship?
One of the most memorable aspects of my BioCanRx studentship was the opportunity to fully engage in hands-on cancer research while receiving guidance from experienced mentors. I especially appreciated the seminars organized by BioCanRx, such as Communicating Research to Lay Audiences, which highlighted the importance of science communication and inspired me to think about ways I can make research more accessible in my future career.
5. How did this research experience impact your career development?
I have long known that I want to pursue a career as a medical researcher. This studentship reaffirmed my commitment to that path. The BioCanRx internship provided me with practical lab experience, which I believe will give me a significant head start and help me adapt more easily to the research environment of graduate studies. During my studentship, I attended a seminar on Communicating Research to Lay Audiences. I found it particularly inspiring, and it reinforced my interest in bridging the gap between science and the public. Whether as a future professor or within the medical field, I hope to make complex scientific knowledge more accessible. I also recognize that patients often struggle to understand their conditions, and I want to apply my scientific training in ways that empower people with clear and reliable information.
Name: Maryam Shaaban
Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Boudreau, Dalhouse University
Project Title: Natural killer cell signaling and selection during expansion
1. Tell us about yourself. Where did you go to school? What’s your program?
I go to Dalhousie, entering my fourth year as a Bachelor of Science student, majoring in Microbiology and Immunology. I am so excited to be starting my honours project this fall.
2. Why did you want to do cancer research this summer?
Cancer is a disease that affects nearly every family across the globe, and I wanted to be a part of those able to create change and alleviate this disease. With Immunology being a growing field, especially in cancer research, I was drawn by the idea of playing a small part in the fight against this disease.
3. What did you work on this summer? What did you discover?
I worked on sorting Natural Killer cells according to certain markers, and I expanded and stained the cells using flow cytometry to assess their expression retention. I discovered that expanding NK cells has variable outcomes in terms of the expression of receptors by the end of the two weeks they were expanded for, and I will continue to develop that.
4. What was one memorable moment from this past summer during your studentship?
My first successful PCR was on my last day of my studentship, and it made me realise how much I had learned over the summer, and how much more refined my lab skills had become.
5. How did this research experience impact your career development?
It made me consider a career in research for perhaps the first time, and consider continuing in academia by pursuing a masters or PHD.
6. What is your hope for cancer treatment/care in the future?
My hope is that cancer treatment and care is accessible for all, regardless of any other contributing factors. I hope that, like many other chronic and severe ailments, cancer treatment becomes an over-the-counter form of care, with side effects that still promise a normal quality of life as opposed to harsher treatments such as chemotherapy. Mainly, I hope that it does not become a luxury, or a source of profit, but a solution for an illness that affects so many lives.
