Lab experience at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts – Alice Della Sala

I got the opportunity to do my 3rd lab rotation at  the Pikman Lab at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston.

PI of the laboratory:  Prof. Yana Pikman

Tutor: Dr. Julia Dudkiewicz

Virgilio Mentor: Prof. Paolo Corradini

Funded by Fondazione Vollaro

This summer, I spent a month at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. Even before leaving, my excitement was sky-high as I had been dreaming for a long time about joining a Harvard-affiliated lab. Still, I couldn’t have imagined that the experience would turn out so well. It was enriching on so many levels, both professionally and personally.

During the four weeks, I worked in the Pikman Lab, which focuses on pediatric leukemias, specifically AML and ALL. This work is crucial, as leukemia is the most common pediatric cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children.

When I arrived, the lab had both wet lab and computational projects underway, and I primarily focused on the wet lab. This gave me the chance to learn many techniques I had never encountered during my training in Italy, and I was amazed by the technological advances available at Dana-Farber. I also spent time in the pediatric onco-hematology ward at Boston Children’s Hospital, where Dr. Pikman is a clinician. Seeing the young patients whose lives were directly impacted by the research being done in the lab was truly inspiring.

While I was there, I also had the incredible opportunity to attend a two-day conference on pediatric leukemias, where I met some of the most influential pediatric oncologists in the world face-to-face.

What struck me the most, however, was the collaborative spirit within the department: weekly meetings were held not only with our lab but also with other research groups, and there were frequent internal seminars on emerging topics in cancer research.

I am sincerely grateful to Dr. Yana Pikman for the opportunity to work in her lab and to the entire team for sharing their knowledge and expertise with me. A special thank you goes to Sabrina, Julia, and Maria Teresa for their warm welcome and continuous support from day one. Finally, I want to thank Fondazione Vollaro for financially supporting the experience.

My time at Dana-Farber was truly remarkable, and I am confident that the lessons I learned will shape my personal and professional growth for years to come.