Biochemistry Major Has Drive to Help Cancer Patients

Hector Romero Garcia '26- the URECA researcher of the month for September -is a biochemistry major who joined Christopher Clarke's Lipid Cancer Laboratory this past summer as a participant in the SUNY SOAR summer program. The Clarke research lab in the Stony Brook Cancer Center investigates alterations in sphingolipid metabolism involved in cancer development, progression and response to cancer therapies. From day one, Garcia became immersed in performing cell culture assays and analysis, found himself to be at home in the research laboratory environment, and at the conclusion of the program, presented a poster titled "Testing Efficacy of Novel DES1 Inhibitors on Anchorage-Independent Survival of Breast Cancer Cells"at the Summer Research Symposium. After completing the summer program, he was asked to continue doing research in the Clarke Lab as a new Fall '24 transfer student to Stony Brook University.

The SOAR program, now in its second year, results from a SUNY Chancellor's Summer Research Excellence Fund award to Stony Brook, which seeks to expand opportunities for undergraduates with financial need and/or first-generation college students who may not otherwise have access to research experiences. This summer, SOAR welcomed 33 undergraduates, including 26 SBU and 7 non-SBU SUNY students. The 2024 Summer Symposium hosted by URECA and the Center for Inclusive Education featured 105 research posters from students participating in summer undergraduate research programs across campus.

When asked how doing hands-on research has enhanced his education, Garcia replied, "When you're in a classroom, you just focus on getting the right answer, or getting a hundred on a test. But once you're in the lab, that's when you get to use all the critical thinking skills that you have learned for the past 10 years of your life and you actually get to apply your knowledge."

Garcia wants to pursue a career in medicine, with a possible focus on pediatric oncology. He is a graduate of Bay Shore High School and completed a year at Suffolk Community College before matriculating to Stony Brook. Garcia is a volunteer at Bay Shore-Brightwaters Rescue Ambulance.

Read the full interview with URECA Director Karen Kernan.