All in the Family: Identical but Different
Taylor and Ashlyn Bugbee are identical twin sisters who have worked on cancer research for over three years. Both seniors, the twins will graduate May 2023 and are determined to make a difference in the fight against cancer at Kansas State University. With slightly different majors, Taylor is a biology major, and Ashlyn is a medical microbiology major, they each have different emphases in their cancer research. Taylor’s focus is on killing pancreatic cancer cells and Ashlyn’s focus is on immunotherapy, killing cancer cells with the white blood cells. Both Bugbee twins have thoroughly enjoyed their cancer research journey and being involved with the cancer research award (CRA) program. They both say how rewarding it was to be a part of an opportunity this program offers to students.
The CRA award impacts each student awardee slightly differently. However, it allows many students to work in the laboratory and around their class schedule without working a job outside of the lab. For Taylor, this was a focus. “I needed a way to make money, along with balancing work, classes and being in the lab, so the CRA program gives an opportunity to not have to have another job and you’re able to like focus more time in the lab,” Taylor said, about the impact the CRA program had on her. Taylor’s research focuses on pancreatic cancer – she works with Nick Wallace, associate professor of biology and Taylor’s mentor. Pancreatic cancer is deadly with only 10% of patients alive after 5 years. A common treatment is chemotherapy that kill cells by damaging DNA. Cancer cells can repair this damage. Taylor’s research is trying to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy by blocking DNA repair systems and increasing pancreatic inhibitors to prevent cancer cells from repairing damage to the DNA. She’s experimenting with inhibitors that are crucial for DNA repair. Taylor hopes to publish another scientific paper soon. This lofty goal is not unreasonable for Taylor. “She’s been given multiple awards for her research presentations and regularly takes time to give back to her community via lab tours and presentations targeted to lay audiences. By the time Taylor finishes her bachelor's degree in biology, she will have done enough research to have earned herself a doctorate,” said Nick Wallace.
Ashlyn has taken a different approach of her cancer research and works with Kalyani Pyaram, assistant professor of biology. Her research looks at white blood cells, and how they can target cancer cells through an antioxidation pathway. Each cell has their own antioxidant proteins and Ashlyn studies one protein’s function in cells and how it affects the body’s ability to fight off cancer and tumors. They are researching new ways to change cells and hopefully use those new therapies as a target the cancerous cells.
Ashlyn not only appreciates the financial help provided by the CRA, but also appreciates the interactions with the general public and donors. She says, “At the banquet, it was really cool not only going to present your research to people who may not heard or understand your project, and also getting to talk to people who have a personal experience with cancer and seeing why we do what we do,” says Ashlyn on her takeaways from the CRA banquet.
“Her passion for learning and aptitude for biological research apart from her maturity and intelligence makes her the kind of researcher that every scientist would love to have in their lab. I am glad and thankful that the Johnson Cancer Center recognized her caliber and has supported her research in my lab,” Kalyani said about Ashlyn’s dedication to research she put forth in her lab.
The twins offered some main takeaways from being part of a lab and how it helped evolve what they’re doing now. Ashlyn’s main takeaways were that it’s okay to have trial and errors that fail, and to not get discouraged. Another takeaway she mentioned was communication – not only to your mentor, but with other students and peers around you learning to collaborate and learn from each other. Taylor’s takeaways were similar to her twin, but also added in about there is always something more and new to learn as you continue your journey in cancer research. “Having an open mind and learning about what your peers research is about and doing collaborations is important, and never being afraid to ask questions.”
The best advice they could give any future students that is wanting to pursue cancer research is to not be closed-minded – “get out of your comfort zone and explore new projects, volunteer and do other classes and curricular activities that interest you which could help pivot your career, and open doors that you never saw was there to open.”
Taylor and Ashlyn both achieved awards and were involved with other curricular activities throughout their career in school. They were both CRA awardees, both involved with Kansas Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (KMBRE) and received best promising students in the Division of Biology. As the Bugbee twins get closer to graduation in May 2023, they are both applying to graduate school and want to pursue their Ph.D.