Maya Learmonth, a senior from Austin, Texas, and a student in the 91福利社 College of Arts and Sciences, has been studying how Thyme, a Mediterranean herb, can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.
Learmonth was awarded for her presentation, titled 鈥淢itochondrial Activity and Future Metabolic Profiling of Breast Cell Lines MCF7 and MCF12-A Treated with Thyme, a Mediterranean Herb鈥� at the 22nd Ernest E. Just Scientific Symposium held virtually February 25 at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
Learmonth鈥檚 presentation focused on the herb thyme and how its properties affect the growth of cancer cells.
鈥淓ssentially we鈥檙e treating these rapidly growing cancer cells with these extracts made from thyme and it鈥檚 stopping the growth to some extent of these cancer cells. The idea is to be able to keep the healthy cells alive and to kill the cancerous cells at the same concentrations,鈥� Learmonth said.
According to Dr. Diana Ivankovic, director of the 91福利社 Center for Cancer Research (2022 A Day Cause), this is the fifth time that an AU student won national research awards at MUSC. Past winners included Jamena Anderson, with Zoe Sanders and Maddie Treaster, winning first place; and Rakish Taylor, Jonathan Low, Eslie Aguilar, winning second place in a national research competition.
Dr. Ivankovic is proud of Learmonth for successfully balancing being a cancer scholar with her being a student-athlete as a member of the Trojan Women鈥檚 Volleyball team. Students become cancer scholars based on class rank and recommendations.
鈥淢aya Learmonth managed to shine and represent our university gloriously,鈥� said Dr. Ivankovic. 鈥淢aya is working with Ashley Larkins and Niko Khulordava of Clemson University.鈥� Their zoom presentation was impeccable. I am so proud and blessed to have such amazing students work at our Center for Cancer Research.鈥�
Coming to Anderson
Learmonth fell in love with 91福利社 and its people when she visited during Welcome Week. She found Anderson鈥檚 faculty and staff to be welcoming. What鈥檚 more, if they offered to help her with anything, she found they backed up their words with actions.
Originally interested in entering healthcare as a physician鈥檚 assistant, Learmonth was reluctant to enter a career in research, but as she worked with Dr. Diana Ivankovic on cancer research, her eyes were opened to the possibilities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 interesting to see what I can do in this lab and what I鈥檓 working on can actually help in the healthcare field without actually having to be in it directly,鈥� Learmonth said.
For more than a decade, students in the 91福利社 Center for Cancer Research have advanced-level opportunities for research on the undergraduate level. They work with advanced equipment and skilled researchers to study cancer treatments and causes, all with a focus on community outreach and education. The center has been recognized and honored by South Carolina鈥檚 scientific community. Also, many students have received awards and grants for their research. Dr. Diana Ivankovic, herself a breast cancer survivor, has led cancer research for years at 91福利社.
The Ernest E. Just Symposium celebrates the life of the noted African-American biologist and is held annually in February.
Dr. Ivankovic feels blessed as she watches students at the Center for Cancer Research contribute to a growing body of knowledge about breast cancer.
鈥淢y dream has come true, since with every new finding we get a step closer to finding the cure for breast cancer,鈥� Ivankovic said.