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Professor Ruth MacDonald,
left, acts as a mentor and role model for undergraduate
Mona Hdeib. MacDonald, who is researching the effects of
soy on breast cancer growth, says MU is at the forefront
of universities that give undergraduates opportunities to
do research. Photo by Jim Browning
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Soy
and Breast Cancer
Mona Hdeib, a senior at MU majoring in biology,
wants to find a natural treatment for breast cancer. This is not
a passing interest for Hdeib. Members of her family have battled
cancer, and she hopes some day to ease people’s pain as
a medical doctor and researcher.
That’s where Dr. Ruth MacDonald comes
in. Professor and chair of MU’s food science department,
MacDonald’s main research focus is dietary prevention of
breast, colon and prostate cancer. Currently faculty members from
five colleges and schools direct more than 25 externally funded
breast-cancer research projects at MU.
Hdeib met MacDonald through the University’s
Summer Undergraduate Breast Cancer Research Program, which provides
a mentored research internship experience for students. The program
has given Hdeib irreplaceable time in the lab and valuable one-on-one
interactions with MacDonald and the undergraduate and graduate
students who assist her.
“Undergraduates who experience research
are better able to correlate the academic knowledge they are acquiring
with the ‘real world,’” MacDonald says. “They
see firsthand how scientific information is generated, how it
can be differently interpreted and how it is continually evolving.”
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When testing soy components,
Hdeib found that the
most potent dose decreased breast cancer cell growth. She
is now undertaking experiments to determine
by what mechanism this effect occurs. Photo by
Joel Stein
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The National Science Foundation and others
have recognized MU for successfully integrating research into
undergraduate education. In fact, MU is one of the top public
research universities in the country for the number and variety
of opportunities it offers undergraduates to participate with
faculty mentors in research.
Early research has shown that Asian women
who consume high amounts of soy have lower incidences of breast
cancer. Based on past research that also showed decreased breast
cancer growth in mice due to soy compounds, Hdeib tested soy components
on cultured breast tumor cells. She found that the growth was
decreased with the most potent dose.
“This gives us great hope in the protective
ability of soy against breast cancer,” Hdeib says. “It
is a step forward in the right direction toward fighting this
devastating disease.”
“Students like Mona who become associated
with a research group learn that each problem we solve leads to
another question,” MacDonald says. “Mona has a great
intellect for grasping concepts and a great inquisitiveness. I
am confident that she will make a significant contribution to
health science research.”
Right now, Hdeib is undertaking more experiments
while concentrating on finishing her degree and preparing for
medical school. She says that her undergraduate research experience
has only strengthened her desire to work in the medical field.
“Dr. MacDonald is a great role model
and an inspiring person, which is probably why I’m enjoying
this experience so much,” Hdeib says.
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Last Update:
March 12, 2007
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