Lab Experience Personal reflection – Andrea Malgesini

I got the opportunity to do my first lab rotation at the Laboratory of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation.

PI of the laboratory: prof. Paolo Corradini

Tutor: dr. Cristiana Carniti

The lab focuses on hematological malignancies, in particular Non Hodgkin lymphomas and multiple myeloma. Various lines of research are carried out and I had the chance to follow a multi-centered prospective study of in vivo monitoring of commercial CAR-T cells expansion. The aim is to associate CAR-T cell expansion and immune-phenotype to therapeutic efficacy. Moreover, concerted efforts are being made to find predictive markers in order to have a better selection of patients who can benefit from this groundbreaking therapy. In particular, gene expression in lymphocyte apheresis was studied and preliminary results showed that a 4 gene signature can differentiate between responders or non-responders.

During my rotation, I could also follow clinical routine in the Department of Hematology, particularly as regards patients’ candidate to CAR-T therapy, from the infusion to the following weeks, which are crucial for the development of toxicities.

My experience and learnings:

I got the opportunity to learn to use new technologies and acquired new understanding of cure, however, I believe my main learning was to understand how research and clinical activity are deeply connected. Clinical knowledge helps you formulate the question of your experiment but laboratory research can change clinical practice and revolutionize it, as for CAR-T cells or bispecific antibodies in recent years.

Of course I had to study to understand the purpose of some laboratory procedures and how some therapies work, but it was not time wasted: this gave me the possibility to view a clinical problem under various perspectives and to acquire autonomy as I completed the tasks I was given.

This experience awakened me from the inactivity every medical student experiences at some point in the path: seeing with your own eyes how a genetic therapy can definitely heal a patient, who in the past had no chance of survival is so motivating.

I’m looking forward to my next rotation!

I have to thank Prof. Corradini, Dr. Carniti, Dr. Magni and all the other researchers for supporting me and for giving an example of dedication and team working.