.jpg "Matilde Oriani photo")
Researcher
IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Italy
When I was in high school, I felt something that is not easy to define, but could probably be expressed by the dream to become a scientist. This is the reason why, later, during college at the University of Bologna (UNIBO, Bologna, Italy) I undertook the Bachelor’s degree course in Biological Sciences (2020) followed by the Master's degree course in Medical Biotechnology (2023). This academic path of study allowed me to deepen my knowledge in cellular and molecular biology, bringing me closer to the oncology research, today the focus of my scientific interests. Specifically, I am intrigued by the molecular mechanisms underlying onset and progression of cancer. My goal is to understand cancer cell dysfunctionalities and to transform it in therapeutic opportunities for patients. For this reason, almost one year ago, I had the opportunity to apply for my Bachelor thesis internship at the IRCCS “Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori Dino Amadori” (IRST, Meldola, Italy) in the laboratory group of Translational Hematology, under the supervision of Dr. Matteo Marchesini, PhD. Our research aims to dissect molecular drivers of multiple myeloma (MM) progression and resistance to therapy. We believe that cell intrinsic determinants of the cancer cells’ aberrant behavior are a part of a wider environmental transformation, enabling cancer progression and maintenance. For this reason, we are interested in the development of a tridimensional model able to mimic the extracellular bone marrow matrix and to incorporate in it cell components of its niche, beyond MM cells. My next step would be to apply for a PhD program in oncology to continue my training and learn more and more, with the aim of contributing to future discoveries in the field of translational research.