A UMass Chan Medical School student stands alone after being awarded the grand prize for the American Medical Association’s 2024 Research Challenge.
Ayush Kumar, an MD/PhD student working in the lab of Arthur M. Mercurio, PhD, professor of molecular, cell & cancer biology, took the top prize in February for his research presentation on enhancing radio sensitivity in triple negative breast cancer by targeting a specific cell surface protein with antibodies.
“Triple negative breast cancer is aggressive and has a poor prognosis. Generally, patients receive radiation therapy, but for most patients, it's not always successful. We were able to identify a specific protein on the cell surface of breast cancer that we can target with antibodies to increase its radio sensitivity,” Kumar said.
The AMA Research Challenge is the largest multispecialty medical research conference for medical students and residents in the country. More than 1,330 research projects were submitted to the 2024 AMA Research Challenge for consideration and 939 submissions were selected to participate in the initial virtual poster symposium. The field of submissions was narrowed down to 50 for an in-person poster symposium and from that group, five finalists were selected.
“To win this award was super surprising. I’m grateful to even be selected among the finalists. Winning was definitely a pleasant surprise,” Kumar said.
According to the American Cancer Society, triple negative breast cancer accounts for about 10 to 15 percent of all breast cancers and is most common in women under age 40 and women who are Black. Triple negative breast cancer grows and spreads faster than other kinds of invasive breast cancer, has fewer treatment options and typically has a worse prognosis.
Kumar credits his nearly four years working in the Mercurio lab for preparing him to present well during the research challenge.
“It’s a great support network in Dr. Mercurio’s lab. Presentation and communication of science are important aspects of our training and something I’ve really grown to enjoy as a member of his lab,” Kumar said.
Photo: Bryan Goodchild
Mercurio describes Kumar as a “highly motivated, independent and creative scientist.”
“Ayush is one of a kind. He’s a driver of the research in our lab. He’s a very effective communicator to a larger audience beyond just specialized scientists or physicians. He won this award because he has the skills to identify a problem that’s important in the clinic but address it from a basic science point of view,” Mercurio said.
Kumar grew up in Worcester and received his degree in biomedical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. He will complete his PhD in May.
