My lab experience at Boston Children’s Hospital – Francesca Cuppini
Personal reflections lab rotation
Francesca Cuppini, Virgilio 6° Cohort, HUMANITAS UNIVERSITY
During February 2026, I completed my 3rd lab rotation at Boston Children’s Hospital, in affiliation with Harvard University, in the laboratory of Prof. Ivan Zanoni under the guidance of my Mentor Dr. Aldo Ummarino.
The laboratory is dedicated to research in the field of basic and cancer immunology, exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying immune responses, tumour progression, and potential therapeutic strategies.
During this rotation, I gained hands-on experience in a variety of experimental techniques, including RNA extraction, RT-qPCR, cell culture, cell death and viability assays, Western blotting, and multiparametric flow cytometry. I also worked with in vivo murine models, performing tumour cell line injections and tissue sample collection.
In addition to technical training, I actively participated in data analysis, interpretation of experimental results, and discussions of ongoing projects. I attended internal lab meetings, departmental meetings within the Divisions of Immunology and Gastroenterology, and multiple seminars organized by Harvard University, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Boston Children’s Hospital. These experiences provided me with a comprehensive view of how basic immunology research informs translational and clinical studies, and strengthened my appreciation for collaborative, interdisciplinary science.
Overall, this rotation significantly enhanced my laboratory skills, critical thinking, and understanding of how research contributes to medical innovation, offering invaluable insight for my future career in medicine and scientific investigation.
I sincerely thank the Virgilio Program for this opportunity and the Vollaro Foundation Scholarship for supporting my international research rotation at Boston Children’s Hospital. I am deeply grateful to Prof. Ivan Zanoni and the entire laboratory team for their guidance and support, and to Prof. Marino Kallikourdis for recommending this laboratory and encouraging me to pursue this experience.
