Undergraduate Biology Student Researcher: Kamar Chahine

Kamar Chahine is a senior majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and works in Dr. Kristi  Neufeld’s lab. She is a chemistry minor and a University Honors student.

Kamar's Research at KU

“In our lab we study colorectal cancer, which is the third most diagnosed cancer in the United States,  and specifically we study a tumor suppressor protein called Adenomatous Polyposis Coli, which we refer to as APC.

The mutation of this protein causes colorectal cancer for around 80% of patients. My project specifically revolves around studying the effect of heat shock stress on APC and its subcellular localization in colorectal cancer cells. I have also been trying to study the relationship between APC and a protein called Gamma H2AX in order to understand the roles of APC a bit more.”

“During my freshman and sophomore years, I worked on another project that was an interdisciplinary chemistry project that had some relevance to cancer. It was during this time that I discovered my greater interest in the cancer aspects of the project rather than the chemistry itself. This realization led me to join Dr. Kristi Neufeld’s Lab in my junior and senior years.

I chose Dr. Neufeld’s lab specifically because of its focus on cancer biology research. I was eager to acquire skills in cancer biology at the molecular and cellular levels. Joining the lab turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made, as it immersed me in the entire research process and deepened my passion for cancer biology. It became clear to me that I wanted to contribute to the field and make a positive impact.”

What does your day-to-day research look like?

“In the lab, my routine starts with checking my cells under the microscope to assess their confluency. Depending on their readiness, I decide which cells to use for experiments. I also maintain a detailed schedule for the week, outlining which experiments I'll be conducting for each cell type. Currently, I'm working with multiple cell types, including RKO cells, DLD1 cells, and CCR5 clones.
I often devote my entire days, every day of the week, to lab work due to the lengthy nature of my Heat Shock experiment. For instance, a typical day might involve heating cells for four hours followed by a two-hour western blot gel run. Consequently, I find myself spending approximately 8 hours in the lab on such days. Then I spent 2 days staining with antibodies to detect my protein of interest. At times, I lend a hand to my colleagues in the lab, assisting with tasks like culturing CRISPR colonies or running western blots.”

Have you made any discoveries?

“I was able to discover that upon increasing heat shock stress duration, the number of cells that have nuclear APC (APC more in nucleus than cytoplasm) increases. It could be that APC is moving to the nucleus as an adaptive response to stress. I did more experiments and I found that APC seems to increase a protein called GammaH2AX in cells in a steeper rate than in knockout cells that do not have APC. Further experiments such as flow cytometry, etc., would allow us to further understand the mechanism and reason that explains APC’s localization to nucleus upon heat shock. Our end goal is to try to understand all this tumor suppressor’s (APC) roles on a molecular level so that other discoveries and therapies can be made to help heal colorectal cancer in patients in the future. ”

“Being part of this lab allowed me to learn more about teamwork, such as planning our times to use microscopes or the common hood in which we culture cells. It is all about communication, offering help or asking for help if you need it. I would also say that working in the lab allowed me to learn leadership skills especially when working on my independent project. From reading articles, managing my time, troubleshooting errors to planning experiments all of these are skills a leader should have. I can proudly say that the lab taught me life lessons and plenty of skills. ”

What’s most challenging about doing your project?

“In the lab, I've learned a lot about dealing with failure and facing experimental setbacks. As a perfectionist, it was challenging at first, but I've come to understand that experiments can be unpredictable. No matter how well you plan, there's always a chance for errors like cell contamination or issues with antibodies or solutions. It's important to remember that some factors are beyond your control. All you can do is analyze each step of the experiment and try to troubleshoot.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you might need to repeat an experiment multiple times. It can be frustrating to spend hours, weeks, or even months on the same experiment, only to not get the results you hoped for. However, this process teaches you critical thinking and patience. You learn to persevere and keep going, even when things don't go as planned. It's all part of the scientific process, and it's how we learn and grow in the lab.”

Any advice for others?

“In my experience, I've found that it's crucial for students to be patient, persistent, and resilient in the lab. Every failure is an opportunity to learn and think critically about the experiment and the reasons behind each step and reagent choice. For instance, I faced challenges with western blot experiments, which led me to grasp the significance of each step and how even a small change can impact the results.

I always encourage students not to hesitate in asking questions. Personally, I regularly communicate my graduate student mentor and meet with my PI weekly to stay on track and monitor my project's progress. It's essential to maintain enthusiasm, as the more you explore in the lab, the more you'll realize the boundless potential of science. That initial curiosity and excitement are what drew me to science, and they continue to drive my work everyday.”

“I've been accepted into the MD/PhD MSTP program at KU Medical Center. My goal is to use my MD to become an oncologist and my PhD to delve into cancer biology. My work in Dr. Neufeld's lab has deeply resonated with me, sparking a passion for cancer biology that I wish to pursue further.
Ultimately, I aspire to become a physician-scientist who can both treat patients and contribute to the discovery of more specialized and personalized therapies for cancer patients. I believe that this dual role will allow me to make a significant impact in the lives of those affected by cancer.”

“I'm Lebanese American, I transferred to KU in my junior and senior year. My fun fact is that even before moving to the US, I had contacted [Dr. Neufeld] and I asked to join her lab because I was curious about her projects. We scheduled a meeting and a few days after stepping foot in Kansas, I had met with her and secured my position in the lab, I want to say to my PI (Dr. Kristi) and others in the lab (Eldric, Anika and Bikash), I’m always so grateful for all of them.