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My name is Brittany Rickard, and I’m a postdoctoral fellow at NC State University in the lab of Dr. Suzanne Fenton. My research evaluates the effects of environmental exposures, specifically perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), on ovarian cancer cell response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Platinum resistance is a major barrier to the effective treatment of ovarian cancer; thus, the goal of this research is to pinpoint mechanisms driving resistance to develop targeted therapeutic approaches and identify novel, clinically relevant biomarkers that could predict treatment response.

Currently, biomarkers for ovarian cancer detection or therapy response do not exist, highlighting how valuable the identification of such markers could be. However, the biomarker space, while extremely exciting, is totally unfamiliar to us as a lab. Fortunately, I was recently awarded SOT New Experiences in Toxicology (NEXT) funding to visit the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and attend the “RNA as Cancer Drivers, Biomarkers and Therapeutics” workshop. RNA-Based biomarkers and targeted therapies have been a hot topic in the field of cancer research over the last decade, so I jumped at the opportunity to learn how I might apply these novel concepts and technologies to my research.

The “RNA as Cancer Drivers, Biomarkers and Therapeutics” workshop was jam-packed with a wide array of speakers doing top-notch research. Despite only being one day in duration, this workshop was broken up into four sessions focused on: (1) miRNAs in cancer, (2) RNA metabolism in cancer, (3) RNA therapeutics and cancer, and (4) non-coding RNAs in cancer. Each session was comprised of three 15–30-minute presentations from researchers spanning academia, government, and industry. Several topics of particularly interesting talks (in my opinion) are listed below:

The amount of information being presented was somewhat overwhelming given that this is a new area for me. However, I left the workshop with a much better understanding of RNA biology, its role in cancer progression, and potential for clinical integration. I also came away with a clearer idea of the methods needed to proceed with my research, which will evaluate non-coding RNAs as biomarkers of treatment response using 3D spheroid models and clinical samples from ovarian cancer patients.

All in all, the “RNA as Cancer Drivers, Biomarkers and Therapeutics” workshop at NCI was an eye-opening experience. I got to learn about a new research area that is incredibly promising, not only for the future of my project, but also ovarian cancer detection and treatment as a whole. Importantly, I also used this experience to tour the main NIH and NCI campuses and meet with current NCI investigators to develop critical RNA-focused collaborations. Getting to see the facilities and discuss a day in the life of an NCI investigator was particularly beneficial, as I hope to pursue a career at NCI one day. This experience would not have been possible without supplemental funding, so I’m so incredibly grateful to have received the SOT NEXT Award to support this experience.

Looking to expand your research skill set or explore a new area in toxicology? Apply for the SOT New Experiences in Toxicology (NEXT) Award by April 30 to gain hands‑on training, build new collaborations, and take your science in an exciting new direction. Search the SOT Award website for additional opportunities!