Jiamin Chen, COL ’26, Orlando, FL
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai through the SURP4US program, where I joined Dr. Elvin Wagenblast’s lab in investigating novel strategies to address B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Specifically, under the guidance of my mentor, Dr. Miguel Quijada-Álamo, my project focused on exploring how the FDA-approved drug metformin, typically used in diabetes treatment, might have a potential role as an accessible, low-toxicity therapeutic to limit the growth of pre-leukemic presenting cells. The focus of my research was on the BCR-ABL1 fusion oncogene, a hallmark of many early childhood leukemias, including B-ALL. This mutation creates a continuously active tyrosine kinase that drives leukemogenesis and gives pre-leukemic cells a survival advantage through enhanced oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), which supplies energy for cell proliferation. My role involved using CRISPR-Cas9 to engineer hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells that expressed BCR-ABL1 fusion isoforms, followed by experiments measuring mitochondrial activity and testing whether metformin could reduce oncogene expression. Over the course of the summer, I performed DNA/RNA isolation, genotyping, tissue culture, flow cytometry, qPCR, and Seahorse assays. Our findings showed that metformin reduced BCR-ABL1 transcript levels, particularly at early time points, suggesting that targeting metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer cells could be a promising therapeutic strategy with further research.
Beyond the technical skills I gained, this experience was deeply rewarding because it showed me how translational research truly connects the bench to patient-centered care. Outside of the lab, I had the privilege of shadowing Dr. Clifford Chao in the Department of Pediatrics Hematology-Oncology. Observing patient visits was at times harrowing, as witnessing young children endure the challenges of leukemia was an emotional reminder of the disease’s severity. Yet, it was equally inspiring to see the resilience of patients and families, as well as the compassion and dedication of the medical team. Knowing that research is continuously being conducted, and that there are scientists and clinicians working tirelessly behind the scenes to improve outcomes, gave me solace and reinforced the value of the work I contributed to this summer. Equally important, I grew as a collaborator and learner. Working alongside graduate students, postdocs, and faculty mentors pushed me to ask better questions, take ownership of my experiments, and adapt when results didn’t align with expectations. I learned that setbacks in the lab are not failures but opportunities to refine hypotheses, think creatively about the science, and try again. These lessons of perseverance, adaptability, and scientific curiosity are ones I will carry forward into both my academic and professional journey toward medicine.
I am deeply grateful to the donors who made this experience possible. Without the Career Services summer funding, I would not have been able to dedicate my summer in New York City to this immersive research opportunity. In a city rich with history, talent, and opportunities, I am forever grateful that I could carry this experience with me as part of my academic and personal journey. As a first-generation, low-income (FGLI) student, I am reminded that my background does not limit my potential, but rather strengthens my resilience and fuels my drive to pursue opportunities that once felt out of reach, as long as I have the determination to learn and contribute. This summer showed me that with the right support, I can contribute meaningfully to cutting-edge research while also envisioning a future where I can continue bridging science and care for patients.
This is part of a series of posts by recipients of the 2025 Career Services Summer Funding Grant. We’ve asked funding recipients to reflect on their summer experiences and talk about the industries in which they spent their summer. You can read the entire series here
