LU Undergrad Receives Grant for Cancer Research

October 04, 2018 | by Hannah Carlson

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Change of Plans

Jordan Curl's life trajectory changed when, during his freshman year at LU, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Originally a nursing major from Orange, Texas, Curl changed his major to biology, becoming pre-med with the goal of entering oncology.

Being a student at Lamar University afforded him another opportunity, the chance to conduct cancer research as an undergraduate student. Last summer, thanks to a research grant from the Reaud Honors College, he traveled California to participate in an internship at the University of California, San Diego.

His research there focused on the search and investigation of specific sites located on cancer-related proteins, how cancer reproduces on such a large scale, and how it creates tumors.

Curl said that he was one of only two undergraduate students in the internship and the only undergraduate conducting research.

"There was one other undergrad in the whole lab, who wasn’t a postdoc or a Ph.D. student and he basically washed dishes," he said, crediting Lamar University's unique policy on undergraduate research. "Lamar’s research opportunities really are underappreciated; there are a ton of opportunities. This is the third research grant that I’ve gotten just from Lamar. And most people would only be eligible to apply for grants [junior] year at other schools.”

In the Lab

Curl, who is a Mirabeau scholar, began his research journey during a class with Dr. Lian, assistant professor of biology. After hearing Lian speak about his cancer research Curl asked the professor if he could get involved.

Lian and Curl set out to test chemotherapy drugs and different nanoparticles to measure their effectiveness on different types of cancer cells. Most labs use stiff, or hard, plates during research. Dr. Lian worked with a group of engineers and biologists to develop plates that are softer.

"They are varying stiffnesses to mimic actual human tissues, different organs, the brain or even bone so that you can test the cells more accurately. Because, if you’re growing skin cancer cells, breast cancer cells and brain cancer cells in the human body they’re not going to be growing on the same stiffness, it’s all different," Curl said.

The unique approach allows the team to achieve results more accurate to real life scenarios and to test drug effects on many types of cancer cells.

More than the Microscope

Aside from research and academics, Curl is very involved on campus. He is a Lamar Ambassador, SGA Senator for Greek Life, Ultimate Frisbee club player, member of Alpha Tau Omega and HSA, and an executive committee member of Lamar Dance Marathon.

He also enjoys volunteering and believes that chances to help locally are always available. “There’s always community service projects that are coming up or various organizations around Beaumont that need some more hands,” he said.

Curl has become an expert at recognizing opportunities and says the key to finding them is to simply ask.

"A lot of people don’t realize what is available because they don’t bother to ask. I wouldn’t even say bother, they don’t think to ask. And then boom. All this research, all these opportunities," he said. “I definitely cannot imagine enjoying things and being as successful as I have been here if I had gone anywhere else.”

Curl's mother finished her last cancer treatment October 24, 2017, almost a year from when she was first diagnosed. She is currently cancer-free.

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