Name: Alex Tankka
Hometown: Lafayette, CA
Hobbies: Learning how to surf (I’m not very good yet!), baking, hiking, finding delicious food in San Diego!
Lab: Gene Yeo, UCSD
Lab website: https://yeolab.github.io/gene-yeo/
What do you study?
Breast cancer, specifically RNA-binding protein (RBP) function in cancers with unique combinations of oncogene mutations. RBPs can regulate the post-transcriptional gene expression of oncogenes such as KRAS or MYC, to promote many cancer types. Despite this, there are no therapies that inhibit RBPs to treat cancer. For my research, I am developing a screen to discover small-molecule compounds to target one such RBP, called YTHDF2, to prevent breast cancer tumor growth.
Why is it important?
While key oncogenes such as KRAS or MYC have a central role in cancer progression, direct targeting of these oncogenes has proven challenging. By targeting RBPs, we can develop better treatments to inhibit the post-transcriptional regulation of oncogenes that are overexpressed in cancer. These treatments could one day be used help patients suffering from cancer.
What piqued your interest in science?
I enrolled in a summer science camp in 6th grade where I got hands-on experience, investigating ways to design a spacecraft that could survive on Mars! Here, I was exposed to cutting-edge science, problem solving, and I gained a deeper understanding of our galaxy, its stars, and spacecraft engineering!
What do you like about being a scientist?
Being a scientist gives you the unique opportunity to answer your own burning questions about the natural world and potentially develop better disease therapies. I enjoy learning something new every day and collaborating with scientists who are experts in completely different fields. I also love conducting hands-on experiments in the lab.
What are 5 general vocabulary terms someone should know going into your field of science?
Cancer, drug discovery, small-molecule inhibitors, oncogenes, high-throughput screening
What are 5 specific vocabulary terms someone should know about your research?
RNA-binding protein, breast cancer, post-translational gene regulation, signaling pathways, mRNA processing
Want to see a preview of Alex’s SciChat? Take a look at this video from the Yeo Lab at UCSD: Scientist Alex Tankka – Yeo Lab – UCSD