UTEP student works to eradicate leukemia through stem cells

Through research, attention to detail and patience, Rebecca Soto is working to eradicate leukemia through stem cell research.

Soto, a junior at the University of Texas at El Paso, is one of 44 undergraduate students chosen from a pool of 650 applicants to participate in the 2013 Harvard Stem Cell Institute Internship program in Cambridge, Mass.

It was through her work at UTEP, in which she was studying the influenza virus through the Harvard Hughes Medical Institute, that Soto as given the opportunity to participate in the stem cell research program at Harvard. Soto said she jumped at the opportunity because of her love for science and the potential of stem cells.

"Stem cell research has been seen as the best potential to cure a variety of diseases," Soto said. "With leukemia the most typical type of treatments are bone marrow transplants. But sometimes the patient's immune system rejects the transplant. But if you can harvest the stem cells from the patient and reprogram their cells to be healthy they may be able to recuperate from the disease they have."

The summer program, hosted by Harvard University and 11 of the university's affiliated schools and hospitals including the Boston Children's Hospital, is a summer internship program in which college students study the promise of stem cell research and develop possible treatments

The program, which began June 10 and will end Aug. 16, gives undergraduate students hands on experience in the field of stem cell biology. The program also provides students with a stipend of $4,320.

Stem cells are biological cells that have the potential to renew themselves. Their use has been researched to renew or repair damaged tissue or organs.

"Stem cells are very promising," Soto said. "And the great thing about stem cell research is that it's not just limited to one field.

It can apply to a variety of different fields. I think that anyone that would be affected by a disease or serious illness could use stem cells to cure diseases and eradicate the pain that our loved ones may feel."

The 10-week program, began in 2004, with a small pool of applicants strictly from Harvard University, said William Lensch, the internship program director for the institute.

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UTEP student works to eradicate leukemia through stem cells