Home Department: Biology
Mentors: Stefanie Jeffrey, Surgery (General Surgery) and Sarah Heilshorn, Materials Science & Engineering

Using various collagen hydrogel matrices, Margot will grow tumor cells from different sections of an aggressive patient-derived breast cancer tumor model. Margot will then utilize quantitative cell-counting techniques to determine how different collagen matrices influence tumor growth, and transcriptional analysis techniques to determine how different microenvironments influence gene expression in tumor cells from the primary tumor, circulating tumor cells, and metastases. These studies will better elucidate mechanisms to treat breast cancer by targeting the tumor cells through their surrounding matrices.