Abstract
My technical and STS projects are primarily connected through their shared focus on improving human health. My technical project aims to do this by developing a viral immunotherapy designed to cure glioblastoma (GBM), the most common form of brain cancer. In contrast, my STS project explores care practices involved with organ transplantation. Although both projects are focused on different medical technologies, health challenges, and approaches, the theme of advancing human health remains consistent across both. The technical project demonstrates an effort to improve human health through technical innovation, while the STS project highlights the importance of applying proper care practices alongside medical technologies to achieve meaningful health outcomes.
My technical work involves the initial research phases in the development of a viral immunotherapy for human GBM. My group and I used SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) as the viral platform for this therapy. Specifically, we leveraged the virus’s spike protein (SP) binding mechanism to ACE2 receptor protein to conduct in vitro experiments assessing GBM cell viability and the formation of multinucleated giant cells, also known as syncytia. Syncytia formation serves as a proxy for an immune response. Following transfection of SP and ACE2 into human GBM cells, we performed cell viability assays, which indicated GBM cell death, and used fluorescence microscopy to visualize syncytia formation within the tumor microenvironment. Simultaneously, we developed computational models predicting GBM cell viability and syncytia formation based on varying amounts of SP and ACE2. The goal of this project was to gather preliminary quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate the potential of COVID-19 as a GBM immunotherapy. The next phase of development will involve in vivo experiments to assess antibody response.
My STS research is also focused on healthcare, but takes a different approach. My research applies a Care Ethics framework to examine the baboon heart xenotransplantation done in Baby Fae. I used primary sources related to Baby Fae’s transplantation to analyze how care was poorly practiced through both the transplantation team’s attitude and actions. My argument was that the transplantation team acted immorally to Baby Fae and others due to their uncaring attitude and actions before, during, and after the procedure. My goal was to gather a new understanding for the lack of care practiced towards Baby Fae and other stakeholders, and to offer insights that inform morally responsible decisions on future organ transplantations.
Working on both projects simultaneously deepened my understanding of each. My STS research on care ethics and organ transplantation prompted reflection on my technical work, making me more mindful of practicing care when working with donated human cells – respecting the donor by maximizing the gift and minimizing waste. My technical work also influenced my STS research by helping me understand the pressures faced by various stakeholders in healthcare. My experience with time constraints and failed experiments gave me insight into the stress the transplantation team faced in saving Baby Fae. It also reminded me of the importance of staying grounded under pressure to make morally responsible decisions.
