As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at DFCI in the Department of Cancer Biology and Pediatrics Oncology at DFCI, I am excited to participate in my first PMC. From my time at DFCI I've seen firsthand how the money raised by the PMC enables vital translational and basic science research and the significant impact it has on discovery.

My work at the institute was initially funded by a career development award to investigate mechanisms of age-related neuropathy as it directly relates to chemotherapy induced peripheral neuroapathy (CIPN, studied by my co-mentor's lab). With the support from her lab, my work focused on investigating therapeutic targets and studying the basic neurobiology underlying cellular mechanisms of neuroprotection.

The K00 I had received to do this work, from the National Institute on Aging, enabled me to switch fields from mechanical engineering to neurobiology after my PhD. This allowed me to apply my skills in engineering biomeasurement systems to developing new assays and platforms for screening therapeutic targets. It was a tremendous opportunity to become an expert in an emerging interdisciplinary field at the interface of neuroscience and engineering.

Through the course of this award, not only did I fulfill my goal of gaining expertise in sensory neurobiology, I was also able to contribute to two important projects in my co-mentor's labs. In the Segal Lab, through a collaboration with the Walensky Lab, we made progress in characterizing a therapeutic target for preventing CIPN. At the HMS Quad, in the Goodrich Lab, I helped to uncover links between sensory neuron gene expression and selective vulnerability to degeneration as it relates to sensorineural hearing loss. These two projects converge on the basic cellular mechanism of calcium regulation within neuronal processes and its role in accelerating degeneration.

This year marked the final year of my K00 and naturally I began to plan for the next steps in my career, considering where to take my research. In shaping my ideas for the next big challenge, I began to truly appreciate just how important the PMC funds are to the incredible work taking place in labs at DFCI. Every day that I go to lab I see the cutting edge research that PMC fundraiser supports. I see the commitment to excellence in science and patient care all around me, with every colleauge I meet.

Riding in the PMC this year is my way of saying thank you to everyone who recognizes the importance of basic and translation science. As my co-mentor once said, I care about what will make people feel better. Thank you for giving us the chance to help cancer patients feel better.

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I have lost three loved ones to cancer and dedicate my PMC ride to their memories. For my beloved auntie, Linda Jones. For my Nana, Candelaria Franco. And for my stepdad, Raymond Woods. I love you all, always.