Author: Madeline Amos Major: Kinesiology
Hard At Work
My name is Madeline Amos, and I have recently graduated from the College of Health Professions with a major in Kinesiology and a double minor in Biology and Medical and Health Humanities. I have been involved with research since the fall of 2019 with my mentor is Dr. Nicholas P. Greene in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation. My research was granted funding in the 2021 spring semester by the Honors College Research Grant.
Cachexia has been seen as an unfortunate consequence of cancer, where the muscle begins to atrophy and lose its functioning ability. In comparison to other muscular pathologies, cancer cachexia continues to be quite understudied even though the consequences of cachexia are continuously experienced by patients. The circadian rhythm is a biological time clock in relation to the changes the body experiences in environmental conditions throughout the day. With this, previous studies have shown evidence indicating that dysregulation of the muscle Clock gene is a likely factor involved in obstructing the circadian rhythm from functioning properly. So, we set out to find out if the muscle Clock was in fact a potential mechanism involved in the development of cachexia in male and female mice. Ultimately, the work of my study holds great prevalence as cancer cachexia is greatly understudied and current treatment and rehabilitation related to the cachectic effects of cancer have not been successful thus far.
I stumbled upon my mentor, Dr. Nicholas Greene, during a fall intercession class I was taking. As I was scrolling through the page of Exercise Science professors, looking at the research their laboratories did, the professor of my class offered to introduce me to Dr. Greene. When I met with Dr. Greene, he told me about his lab group and explained their focus of research and frankly, it went straight over my head and I was left feeling extremely intimidated. But in the end, I was up for the challenge and looking back, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had no idea the true impact that this research group would have on me as an individual and on my future.
Throughout the first year of being a part of the Cancer Cachexia Laboratory, I learned how to conduct various experiments and worked in assisting the other members of my laboratory group with different aspects of their projects. However, in the fall of 2020 it was time to find a focus for my honors research topic. Dr. Greene and I discussed many directions that I could with the topic of my honors thesis. But there was one topic in particular that kept drawing me to it, which entailed the alterations that circadian rhythm genes experienced in relation to the development of cancer cachexia.
Throughout my time conducting research, I have learned that research can be a lot of things. Research can be difficult, tiring, and frustrating, but it can also be extremely fascinating, fun, and a great way to gain experience and strengthen your ability to think critically.
In relation to my research topic specifically, I have learned different ways that the body responds to cancer-induced effects. I also learned that the onset of cachexia differs between males and females. I have also gained further insight into the role that cancer plays regarding the muscle Clock genes. Although in doing so, I have also learned that in order to find adequate rehabilitation and/or treatment for individuals experiencing the unfortunate effects of cancer cachexia, it is crucial for more research to be conducted.
Throughout my time in research, there were many challenges I faced that led to many hours in the lab involving early mornings and late evenings. There was a pandemic and a huge snowstorm causing some experimental failures and many frustrations in between. But I was able to overcome these challenges due to the wonderful support and leadership that I had from my mentor and every member of my lab group. By being involved with such a hard-working and supportive research group such as mine, it helped me stay focus when things went awry. And at times, when some aspects of my research may have not gone as planned, I chose to look at it as an opportunity for more practice and as a learning experience.
In the fall of 2019, I had the opportunity to go to my first research conference and do a poster presentation at Central States ACSM Research Conference in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. At this conference, I won the President’s Cup Competition for my poster presentation in which I was awarded a $1,200 stipend to present my research in San Francisco, California at the National ACSM President’s Cup Competition. However, due to COVID, I, unfortunately, was unable to attend the conference. Although, in its place, a virtual conference was held that June. Since then, I have virtually presented my honors thesis work in the COEHP 10th Annual Honors Research Symposium and in the University’s Undergraduate Research Week Poster Competition. Although most of the conferences I have been involved in were held virtually, they were still a great opportunity for allowing me to gain experience in presenting research.
I have officially graduated college, so now what? I plan to take a gap year, where I will soon begin a 6-week Pre-Med Internship Volunteer Program sponsored by the University of Tennessee Family Medicine Residency Program. After my internship, I hope to find a job working at a hospital or clinic to gain more experience in a clinical setting. With this, throughout my gap year, I plan on traveling, visiting friends and family, as well as applying to the 2023 medical school cycle. Although just because my undergrad has come to an end, I don’t see my research career doing the same. I plan on being involved in research throughout medical school and maybe even sooner.