Biology major’s summer REU could lead to improved meds for pancreatic cancer

N ot only did Junior Ivan Yuan Chu get offered an REU this summer-a Research Experiences for Undergraduates from the National Science Foundation-he got six.

Junior Ivan Chu at the U.S. Olympic swim trials in Indianapolis. The biology major from Hazelhurst, Georgia, chose the 10-week, 2024 Bio REU Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana to work on possible pancreatic cancer treatments.

He chose Notre Dame, because the atmosphere there was much like his experience at Georgia College & State University-rigorous but friendly, collaborative not competitive.

"Learning I was accepted at over 60% of the REU programs I applied for was exhilarating," Chu said. "The programs I applied for were all considered highly competitive with anywhere from 700 to 800 students applying from over the country. Never in a million years did I think I'd ever be applying for a research internship. So, I was extremely surprised, honored and humbled to be selected."

"None of it would've been possible without my amazing mentor, Dr. France," he said. "She's definitely been my 'Lab Mom,' always supporting and helping me improve my skills in and outside the lab. There have definitely been times when the advice she gave was not easy for her to give or for me to hear, but it made me a better person and researcher. I owe a lot to her, and I hope I am making her proud."

Chu never planned on going to Georgia College, like his brother before him ('22). But he was won over by the university's "outstanding academic reputation," small class sizes and "devotion to student success."

This spring was Chu's first time seeking a REU. He applied to nine and was accepted into six: Augusta University's Summer STAR program, Cornell University, Ohio State University, Texas A&M and the University of Florida, as well as Notre Dame.

"He has the highest number of acceptance out of all the students I've mentored for the National Science Foundation programs or Research for Undergraduates," said Dr. Ellen France, biology professor at Georgia College.

"The acceptance rate for REU competitions varies greatly depending on the program. However," she said, "it's generally known to be around 10 to 20%."

Chu, front left, with his lab team at the University of Notre Dame.

Chu's been at Notre Dame since May 21 and will return when the program ends July 26. The REU came with a $10,000 stipend that pays for housing, meals, travel and research supplies.

His research interests include cell signaling and diseases. Chu is working in Notre Dame's Department of Biological Sciences with Dr. Kevin Vaughan investigating a "cGAS-STING signaling pathway." It's a key inflammatory mediator in infection, cellular stress and tissue damage.

Chu attends weekly seminars to learn about neurodegenerative disease, prostate cancer and hospital catheters that could prevent urinary tract infections.

"I've learned new skills, like flow cytometry and immunofluorescence," Chu said. "It's been fun seeing a lot of stuff I learned in Dr. France's cell signaling class being applied to real-life applications."

Chu takes a selfie with a friend in the lab storage room at Notre Dame. "Being at Notre Dame helped me realize how well GCSU set me up for the future," he added. "Many techniques I'm performing here, including tissue and bacterial culture and bacterial transformations, are procedures I performed at Georgia College. I even help other students troubleshoot."

Chu's project focuses on a kinase, an enzyme that attaches a phosphate group to a protein called VRK1.

This specific kinase is a potential novel therapeutic for pancreatic cancer in its most aggressive form. Current medications have low survival rates and are often extremely toxic to patients, creating a low quality of life, Chu said.

The process leads to a signaling pathway called STING which triggers activation of cellular senescence, a state where cells age and permanently stop dividing but don't die.

"This is compelling to us," Chu said, "because often when patients are diagnosed, the cancer has already metastasized or spread to other parts of the body. Medications that stimulate cellular senescence have less severe side effects, since the cells are not undergoing cell death."

Outside the lab, Chu enjoys seeing the wildlife around Notre Dame's beautiful campus. He uses the gym and rock-climbing wall and goes on group trips to the Team USA Olympic swimming trials, the city of Chicago, dinner and game nights.

At Georgia College, Chu is an honor student and member of the Tri-Beta Biological Honors Society. He's involved with the Science Education Center and tutors peers in biology and chemistry at the Learning Center. He co-founded the university's Asian Student Union and serves as coordinator of Diversity Initiatives for the Council of Student Ambassadors. He also works in France's lab, researching pathways in a budding yeast.

Chu hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology, then continue his interests in cancer research. The REU has strengthened his understanding of what's necessary for this career.

"I've had the opportunity to immerse myself in cutting-edge research, to collaborate with experienced professionals and develop a range of valuable skills," Chu said. "This internship provided me with elevated hands-on research experience from designing experiments to analyzing data."

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