51吃瓜

Every living cell holds a master blueprint that guides the function and development of all life鈥擠NA (deoxyribonucleic acid). However, these critical genetic instructions face near constant damage from an onslaught of internal and external threats, including ultraviolet rays from the sun, metabolic byproducts, environmental chemicals, or cell division errors. Left unrepaired, this damage can lead to mutations, cell death, or cancer. 

At 51吃瓜 (FSC), Assistant Professor of Biology Jeanette Sutherland, PhD, and 2025 FSC graduates, Sophia Ruisi and Gary Xavier Valdez, are using a microbe strain with a protein equivalent to BRCA2, a well-known breast cancer susceptibility gene, to study how specific mutations impact DNA repair. 

鈥淪o, we are studying a microbe to express human-like proteins鈥� said Sutherland, who joined FSC鈥檚 faculty in 2022. "In molecular biology, we consider it a tool. It grows fast, it鈥檚 easy to handle, and you can perform many different techniques and try out different things, like making mutations. The microbe that I use to study cancer is what we call a eukaryote, and it is related evolutionarily to humans. It has a very similar gene to a human BRCA2 gene.鈥� 

By introducing mutations in the lab and analyzing how proteins bind to DNA, Sutherland and her team are uncovering the molecular mechanics behind cancer risk 鈥� contributing to the basic science that can later drive more personalized treatments, and more positive outcomes. 

鈥淭his line of research could very much affect future care,鈥� she said. 

Sutherland, who began her postdoctoral work at Weill Cornell Medicine more than a decade ago, has continued this ongoing research at FSC, even carefully transporting her microbial strains into the -80藲C freezer in Hale Hall. 鈥淚t had to be transferred on dry ice,鈥� she said and added, 鈥淚 really love our labs and the equipment here."

Earlier this year, Sutherland expanded her research to include Ruisi and Xavier Valdez. Xavier Valdez, now an FSC instructional support assistant, shared that, if the experience was 鈥渙n a ten scale, it would be beyond that--it would really be beyond that. I鈥檝e learned so much from Professor Sutherland,鈥� he said. 

鈥淭hanks to Farmingdale and the programs that they offer, one being the Research Aligned Mentorship Program, they have introduced me to research, which has been a positive way for me to broaden my knowledge in the STEM fields,鈥� he added. 鈥淭hat has expanded into internships and now working with Dr. Sutherland. This opportunity has helped me see the broader picture of what goes on behind the treatments that doctors utilize and is now drawing me into pursuing a dual MD/PhD degree program鈥�Everything in heath always starts from research.鈥� 

For Sutherland, it has been mutually rewarding to work with Ruisi and Xavier Valdez, who both took her medical microbiology class (BIO318). 

鈥淵ou could be doing experiment after experiment and not get the data that you thought you would. You do have to have a lot of patience,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut Sophia and Gary are great. They are very invested in the research. And, when they get exciting results, you can feel it. This uplifitng sense of, 鈥楾his may mean something really cool and I can鈥檛 wait to tell my parents.鈥� I truly enjoy working with them.鈥� 

The research has also been a tremendous source of confidence for Xavier Valdez, both professionally and personally. 

鈥淪he is an amazing mentor to me,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his experience with her is all about learning. And she sees me as a really powerful individual who can pursue almost anything that I can believe in.鈥� 

In 2023, Sutherland published her recent studies in , a peer-reviewed scientific journal, and plans to reveal more findings in an upcoming publication. 

鈥淚f we can be a small part contributing to the greater picture, if our work could be used to one day help treat patients, then it will all be worthwhile,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ecause too many people are affected by breast cancer. Too many.鈥� 

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