June 3, 2021
Name: Diana Moreno
Major: Biology (pre-med concentration), Spanish minor
What is your goal in studying science?
A goal I have is to attend medical school and earn my degree as a doctor and practice at a local hospital to earn experience and then open my own practice or work in a smaller practice.
What does STAMPS mean to you?
STAMPS to me has been an opportunity to grow as a student but also as a person. It is a program that has opened up networking opportunities for me and also guided me into being in a research lab. STAMPS has an amazing group of professors and faculty who are constantly working hard to see their students succeed.
What is your research project?
The research lab I am in is led by Dr. Patel and this lab has a focus on the mechanisms cancer cells use to promote proliferation and survival. Cancer cells often have an altered metabolism to support cell proliferation and survival. In this lab we have identified a component in grapefruit that impairs the proliferation and survival of breast cancer cells as well as alters metabolism. We propose to characterize the mechanism of action of this component as an initial step to its use in a clinical setting.
