I found myself across the country in the heart of our nation’s capital. The circumstances that brought me here were a bit unusual, but being a research assistant in Dr. Margaret Briehl’s lab, Pathology, did have something to do with it. I came to the home of the cherry blossoms, national monuments, and free Smithsonian museums to present my work at the 94th Annual Conference of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) from my side of the country.

Originally, the conference was scheduled in Toronto, Canada in April. However, due to the threat of SARS in that area at the time, the conference was cancelled, and subsequently rescheduled to meet in D.C. There was a positive side to the scenario – I would not need to be fitted for a ventilator to sport around as I presented my research.

I arrived in D.C to present my poster entitled, “Increased Antioxidant Defense Alters Cellular Redox Environment and Protects Against Glucocorticoid-Induced Apoptosis”. I was a bit nervous to be presenting to such a vast and learned group. Yet, I eased my way in by attending numerous talks about the latest advancements in cancer research. I was quite engaged, and once I got into the “science mode” I felt eager to share what I had done and to hear what people had to say about it. Talks were given on topics such as advanced proteomics and what role the mapping of the human genome will play in cancer research. When it came time to present my research I was proud to be part of this meeting and to have something to contribute and share within this scientific community. The other researchers at the meeting were quite interested in my work and challenged me to think about other directions, other possibilities, and other applications of my work.

The humid east coast was a bit to take in, but I managed to take a little time to appreciate the great sites that make up the landscape of this beautiful city. I took in a few Monet’s and Van Gogh’s at the National Gallery and even had time to walk the National Mall and marvel at the architecture of the Capitol Building and surrounding areas. With the great contributions that science has given to society, and the small, molecular world of research in which I reside, it’s easy to forget about the big picture, so it is nice to step back and appreciate the beauty of art and architecture.

At the conclusion of the conference, I went out to the mall, sat down on the grass, and admired the world that walked before me – the everyday people that live and work in this country who are affected by what we all do in research, whether they realize it or not. And it felt good. Presenting at this conference was an amazing and educational experience, and it is an experience that should not be passed up if the opportunity is there.

Ehren Nelson, UBRPer in Dr. Margaret Briehl’s lab, Pathology