Mexican publishes research in Cambridge challenge

Adriana García, who graduated as a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Tec Guadalajara, participated in a research program at the University of Cambridge with a research article for cancer treatment, which led in turn to her winning an award for “Best Inclusion, Diversity, Equality Participation” at a conference held at the same university.

This research is entitled: “Melanoma: A Therapeutic Revolution Happening Before Our Eyes,” in which Adriana and eight other doctors propose an innovative vision for the future of oncology.

It discusses the application of signaling pathways to identify future treatments for melanoma (a kind of skin cancer).

Her innovative vision of this topic enabled Adriana to participate in the RearchSci STEM mini-PhD program, an intensive initiative at the University of Cambridge, which helps students publish in scientific journals thanks to its specialized mentoring. It was this follow-up that allowed her research to be published.

What’s more, Adriana García and another three people from her team presented the results of their project at the 2024 Advancing Research and Innovation for a Connected World conference, also at the University of Cambridge, where she received an award for “Best Inclusion, Diversity, Equality Participation.”

New vision for oncology

This conference at the University of Cambridge is public and designed to gather researchers, academics, and research and innovation professionals.

Adriana explained that her article focuses on guided therapy and immunotherapy that can identify a cancer cell through a signaling pathway to then inhibit its reproduction by using this treatment.

“We hope that this proposal for inhibitors in this pathway revolutionizes medicine and cancer treatment, enabling us to specifically eliminate malignant cells and leave healthy cells to combat it,” she said.

“In any area of medicine, you have the opportunity to change patients’ lives. Research plays a crucial role in this process,” she stressed.

She also shared that, “cancer is the excessive proliferation of a certain cell, while melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer.”

“In any area of medicine, you have the opportunity to change patients’ lives. Research plays a crucial role in this process.”

Research pioneers

The research was carried out by a team of eight doctors under the guidance of Roberto Anaya, a professor at Tec Guadalajara. It can be consulted in the European Society of Medicine journal.

By participating in the ReachSci mini-PhD initiative, Adriana García was able to present a line of research. Thanks to this program’s tools, participating students are empowered to develop and publish research.

“It was an international program with over 300 people from around the world, in which we conducted projects from diverse areas such as agriculture, technology, science, and medicine,” said the Tec graduate.

She explained that she received one year of mentoring from University of Cambridge professors, who helped her to develop the article.

The graduate explained that this was how she also came to be selected to participate in the 2024 Advancing Research and Innovation for a Connected World conference, where she shared her results with 30 other researchers.

She said that “it was a unique experience. I presented research alongside renowned professionals who are also contributing to science and are pioneers in their areas.”

Enriching experience

“It was a very enriching conference because I went there fired up to represent my country and the Tec. However, at the same time, I gained a broader perspective on what’s happening in other parts of the world,” said Adriana.

She emphasized that the conference organized by the University of Cambridge sought to apply perspectives from social innovation, diversity, equity, and accessibility.

“There were talks from people with visual and physical disabilities, who shared their experience of how they develop their projects, which inspired us to set new goals for growth in the area of research,” she added.

This is how Adriana García received an award for Best Inclusion, Diversity, Equality Participation at the international conference, as a result of her contribution to these topics. “It’s a recognition that reinforces my commitment to inclusive and global science,” she remarked.

The Tec Guadalajara graduate received the distinction together with her team, consisting of colleagues from Jordan, the United Kingdom, and Iraq, due to their participation in a workshop on social inclusion on the streets of the UK.

Discipline that changes lives

This research has reaffirmed Adriana García’s interest in dermatology. She is currently about to start her medical residency in Mexico City at Hospital Angeles del Pedregal, in the area of internal medicine.

In turn, she shared that she has set up her own mentorship group for five university students. She mentioned that her goal is to make research an area that is accessible to everyone.

Finally, she concluded that, “as a person, doctor, and researcher, you have to be very persistent; you have to believe in what you’re doing and in your projects.”

“Medicine is a deeply human discipline that enables you to appreciate the value of life, as you can change a patient’s circumstances from one moment to the next,” she concluded.

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