Name: Hetika Vora
Hometown: Orange County, CA
Lab: Neal Devaraj Lab, UC San Diego
Lab website: https://www.devarajgroup.com/
Hobbies: Dancing, concerts, traveling
What do you study? I am studying protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) in cancer. About one-third of human cancers have mutations in the Ras family of proteins, but there are currently no treatments that directly target these proteins. An indirect way of inhibiting Ras proteins is by targeting their PTMs. For my research, I have used small-molecule compounds to target one such PTM, called palmitoylation, in order to prevent Ras function in cancer.
Why is it important? By targeting palmitoylation, we can develop better treatments that use a unique approach of removing chemical modifications from proteins that are mutated in many cancers. This type of interdisciplinary research applies basic chemical approaches to solve biomedical problems.
What piqued your interest in science? My high school science teachers really contributed to my interest in pursuing a science career. It is very important to have great teachers who are passionate about science, who are always there to help answer your questions, and who make science fun with hands-on learning.
What do you like about being a scientist? The best part about being a scientist is being able to answer unsolved biomedical questions and knowing that I am contributing to developing better treatments by doing research. I enjoy doing the hands-on experiments in the laboratory, constantly learning something new every day, and working with other scientists from a variety of scientific disciplines.
What are 5 general vocabulary terms someone should know going into your field of science?
Chemical biology, cancer, drug discovery, small-molecule inhibitors, oncogenes
What are 5 specific vocabulary terms someone should know about your research?
Post-translational modifications, palmitoylation, Ras proteins, signaling pathways, melanoma
