I really enjoyed listening to everyone’s chalk talks this week. It was interesting to see the different projects, but Vidita’s discussion caught my attention the most. Her research focuses on ovarian cancer and what is found in the tumor microenvironment, especially POSTN.
I liked how she explained the background information for her research. The visuals made her presentation easy to follow and understand. The flow chart used to explain the usual prognosis for ovarian cancer was informative. I had no idea that the cancer would metastasize in remission rather than when the tumor first forms. The drawing that Vidita used to explain the tumor microenvironment was also helpful, as I was unfamiliar with this term prior to her discussion. During her explanation of what makes up the tumor microenvironment, she introduced POSTN, a protein made by fibroblasts and the main focus of her research. The transition between the background information and the research question was straightforward. She also explained POSTN well along with its effect on ovarian cancer and Platinum chemotherapy treatment. Writing on the board that POSTN increased cell adhesion and migration made a clear connection between the protein and metastasis. Throughout her talk, the question and hypothesis were clearly stated, and her methods were well explained.
Even though it may be clear how important cancer research is, I liked how Vidita emphasized how the results of her study can be used to understand metastasis in other forms of cancer. Overall, her chalk talk was engaging, and I look forward to seeing what results she has at the end of the program.
