Prairie View, Texas (April 23, 2024) — Anisa Cole, a sophomore student at Prairie Views A&M University’s Texas Undergraduate Medical Academy, found herself immersed in the captivating world of medical research at Stanford Medicine during the Summer after her freshman year. This transformative journey was made possible through the prestigious CREST program, an acronym for the Canary Cancer Research Education Summer Training Program.

Under the guidance of the pioneering scientist-entrepreneur, Gozde Durmus, Ph.D., Cole had the privilege of joining the Durmus Lab. Dr. Durmus, renowned for her groundbreaking work in magnetic levitation of cells, provided me with an inspiring platform to delve into my passion for combating cancer.

Anisa Cole & RISE Mentor, Naznin Sultana, Ph.D.

Cole’s research endeavor was dedicated to crafting cancer cell spheroids, intricate 3D cell aggregates, for the meticulous testing of chemotherapeutics. Leveraging electromagnetic principles and a ring magnet, she embarked on a mission to unravel new insights in cancer treatment strategies.

Despite being surrounded by peers from prestigious Ivy League institutions and other top-tier research schools, she confidently stood tall, armed with invaluable experience nurtured by the Texas Undergraduate Medical Academy lab, under the esteemed mentorship of Naznin Sultana, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor at The Texas Undergraduate Medical Academy.

Cole’s prior exposure to cell culture and scaffold fabrication not only propelled her to seize the opportunity to participate in the CREST program but also equipped her with the proficiency to excel in her research pursuits. Reflecting on her journey, Cole expressed, “As a high schooler, I always stood out as one of the few Black students in my AP and honors courses. I was constantly surrounded by smart students who looked nothing like me, and naturally, I felt like an anomaly. I went to an HBCU (PVAMU) to escape that feeling. The Texas Undergraduate Medical Academy was special because even though I was still surrounded by extremely intelligent and accomplished students, it was an environment where I felt welcomed, with peers and faculty members who truly wanted to see me succeed.”

The UMA research lab is certified as Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2). Dr. Sultana serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) for the BSL2 protocol titled “Cell-Scaffold Interaction for Tissue Engineering and Drug Delivery Applications.” This lab is equipped with basic human cell culture facilities. The main equipment includes a Biosafety cabinet, Freeze-dryer/Lyophilizer, Centrifuge, UV Spectrophotometer, microplate reader, -80 Freezer, -20 Freezer, refrigerators, Carbon dioxide incubator, Digital Inverted Microscope, and Autoclave.

Cole is thrilled to continue her scientific journey under the guidance of Dr. Sultana, supported by the Division of Research & Innovation’s Faculty-RISE program. This initiative enables faculty researchers to advance and sustain vital research through external grants and contracts while simultaneously mentoring undergraduate students to become the next generation of experts.

Cole currently serves as President of Women in Pre-Med and maintains a 4.0 GPA. Witnessing the profound impact of the Texas Undergraduate Medical Academy, she, as a student underrepresented in medicine and science, with aspirations of becoming a leader in those fields, was inspired to advocate for individuals with similar dreams from similar backgrounds. She is committed not only to achieving goals that in high school would not have been deemed feasible but also to championing diversity in science and medicine. Additionally, she serves as a Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program (HPREP) Co-Coordinator through the Student National Medical Association, overseeing a program that exposes over 100 underrepresented minority high school students from across the nation to both the health professions and health science.

Anisa Cole epitomizes the university’s mantra of “Excellence Lives Here.”

By Joe McGinty