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Brad Pansing spends third summer studying at prestigious Duke University
This summer his classes have included introduction to medical science, neuroscience biology of cancer. After surveying the molecular underpinnings of cancer, the class discussed various types of cancer. They also learned about treatments for cancer, both traditional and the latest cutting edge treatments for the future. Research was done as well to discover how scientists are currently finding new cancer genes and therapies in the laboratory to help in the war against cancer. Pansing's daily activities included lecture, primary literature, National Cancer Institute designed group activities, individual projects, films and computer research. They also visited lectures of cancer researchers at Duke who gave them a firsthand look at the tedious process of cancer research. Topics attended by Pansing included genetics, cell biology, history of cancer research, angiogenesis, metastasis, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, the six hallmarks of cancer, carcinogens, genomic instability, finding new cancer genes, expression profiling, epidemiology, monoclonal antibodies and bone marrow transportation. Students attended guest lectures presenting information about ongoing cancer research, and an innovative new program which focuses on the whole life of a cancer patient. These included Dr. H. Kim Lyerly, director of Duke Cancer Center and Tina Staley, director of Duke's Pathfinder program. Pansing experienced handson time doing lab experiments, one which included infecting plants with cancer causing bacteria. Another day in the lab included using special types of yeast cells that die when exposed to UV light to test the UV blocking abilities of sunscreen, fabric, etc. The final lab was conducted on Gel electrophoresis, a technique used to see differences in DNA. During the summer session Pansing had the opportunity to deliver five presentations on various topics, a hallmark of cancer, apoptosis, angiogenesis/ metastasis, C-Kit oncogene; NF1 tumor suppressor gene and hepatocellular cancer (liver cancer). Each student chose an article from a journal about cancer research to present as a final project in the form of a power point. Pansing's power point presentation was based on an article published by J. Rangatia and D. Bonnet of the Haematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London, UK in the Journal Leukemia. The title of the article was "Transient or longterm silencing of BCR-ABL alone induces cell cycle and proliferation arrest, apoptosis and differentiation." Pansing is the son of Dianne and Bryan Pansing of Jackson. He will be returning to the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science in the fall. Along with four other juniors, they will enter their second year of a three-year physics research project studying air quality in Mobile, and the surrounding area.
Pansing has also been shadowing a cardiothoracic surgeon in Mobile and aspires to become a cardiothoracic surgeon in the future.
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