Undergraduate Completed MIT Research Program
Marina Milea conducted lung cancer research at the Jacks Lab during the summer of 2026.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Life Sciences
Biology student Marina Milea completed a summer research fellowship at MIT in summer 2026. During the program, she investigated KRAS gene mutations and their role in lung cancer cell transitions.
Why it matters
The research program provides students with essential training in identifying therapeutic targets for treatment-resistant lung cancers. Such initiatives aim to bridge the gap between academic study and professional biomedical investigation.
The study involved immunohistochemical analysis on mouse tissue sections, Western Blot gel experiments, and the maintenance of organoid cultures. These methods targeted the adeno-to-squamous transition in cancerous cells.
The players
Marina Milea
She is an undergraduate student majoring in biology at the City College of New York.
Tyler Jacks
He is a professor at MIT who oversaw the laboratory hosting the research.
The details
Marina Milea, a biology student at the City College of New York, worked within the Jacks Lab at MIT. Her project focused on analyzing how KRAS mutations facilitate cellular changes in lung tissue.
Timeline
The research program was completed in summer 2026.
The Big Picture
The Bernard S. and Sophie G. Gould MIT Summer Research Program in Biology represents a long-standing academic effort to cultivate the next generation of researchers in life sciences. This program facilitates a paradigm shift in education by integrating undergraduates directly into high-level laboratory investigations.
This research contributes to the foundational data required to develop future therapies for patients with treatment-resistant lung cancer. While the project is academic in nature, such investigations provide the necessary groundwork for future medical breakthroughs.
The takeaway
Hands-on laboratory experience allows undergraduate biology students to contribute to complex cancer research while preparing for advanced academic degrees. Milea plans to utilize these skills as she moves forward to pursue a PhD in biomedical sciences.
Further reading
For more on experimental academic work in the area, explore Life Sciences.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
