By Kelli Saunders
Staff Writer
Mira Costa senior Michai Clinton got a taste of a potential future career when he spent his summer at a 12-week program at the City of Hope Medical Center in Dwarti, California, interning in biomedical research and providing experimental data that will be published in May of 2017.
Click here to find out more about City of Hope Medical Center
Clinton’s biomedical research focused on enhanced microscopic techniques that can help to detect breast cancer cells that are smaller than 200 nanometers. During his internship, Clinton experimented with a new technique called super-resolution microscopy, which takes images of cells while they are living in order to see the effects of different drugs. He also used high-power microscopes to see the images.
“At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about the technique because it was something new that I hadn’t heard of prior to my research experience,” Clinton said. “However, once I started working with the technique, it didn’t take me long to realize that I really liked it, and I valued its applications to future research.”
Clinton used super microscopy to work with a specific type of cancer, Her2-enriched breast cancer, to determine which properties of cells make them more susceptible to becoming cancerous and forming tumors. He also used super-resolution microscopy to determine the organization of Her2-enriched receptors in cell lines that are more prone to cancer.
“Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in females, so it is important to me,” Clinton said. “Through this research, we are able to improve the success rate of breast cancer treatment.”
The research paper that is being produced will contain data from the Her2-enriched breast cancer experiments that he conducted as an intern. The paper is being written by Clinton’s mentor and other adults who were involved in the experiment. It also contains a brief description of super-resolution microscopy and its potential applications.
“The paper will benefit the medical field by inciting other researchers to utilize super-resolution microscopy in their labs as well,” Clinton said. “It will also help biomedical researchers learn more about the molecular distribution of cells so they can produce more effective treatments. Doing this has made me appreciate how much work it takes to publish research in this scientific field.”
Click here to see his presentation
Clinton was in the five percent of nation-wide applicants to be accepted into the program. Prior to the summer, he went through a two-step acceptance process where he first submitted his high school transcript and three short essays and then found a mentor, Dr. Tijana Talisman, who was willing to take him as an intern. Talisman is an assistant professor at City of Hope’s Department of Molecular Medicine. Clinton was the first high school intern to work in Talisman’s lab.
“I was overjoyed when I was selected to be an intern at the City of Hope over all of the other possible candidates,” Clinton said. “I didn’t realize how much I would learn from my experience there, and I was very happy with the way things turned out in the end.”
He received $4,800, that he used to budget his meals and gas in order to transport himself to and from work. This experience has benefited Clinton outside of the classroom by giving him real-world experiences without his parents, he said.
“It wasn’t just the research aspect that taught me a lot; it was the part outside of the lab that gave me the opportunity to grow up,” Clinton said. “I now have the integral skills and confidence in living on my own, and I know this will benefit me when I start college.”
Clinton’s experience from the internship has influenced him to pursue a career as a biomedical researcher, as well as a physician, Clinton said. In the future, he hopes to study biology at Stanford University and make a contribution by applying his research skills and utilizing his knowledge and passion for science.
“I was extremely proud of myself for completing 12 weeks of research and for contributing to the welfare of cancer patients,” Clinton said. “I now feel confident in the research environment and have the experience I need to make serious improvements in the field.”
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