A mentorship that yields promising results

Kidney cancer is one of the 10 most common cancers in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. And the rate of kidney cancer found each year is rising. To aid the medical community, biochemistry senior Eva Schwark is working with Associate Professor of Biochemistry Besa Xhabija to find ways to inhibit renal tumor growth.

Over the past few months, Schwark and Xhabija conducted research for a Summer Experience for Undergraduate Experienceproject in Xhabija's Cancer Therapeutics Lab in the Natural Sciences Building. Their project, "Investigating the Role of Natural Products in the Treatment of Renal Cancer," examines how naturally occurring elements - like Spinosyn A, which is a natural pesticide found in soil - has promise in inhibiting the growth and survival of renal cancer cells. "When I tell people about the work I do, many share personal stories about how cancer has touched their families or friends. They often tell me how much they appreciate the work I'm doing," Schwark says. "It feels fulfilling because I want what I do to have purpose."

More than 40 research projects across UM-Dearborn's four colleges and the Mardigian Library will be featured at the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Showcase from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 10 in Renick University Center's Kochoff Hall. Schwark's findings will be presented at the SURE Showcase, but her cancer-based research work with Xhabija is ongoing.

Outside of SURE, Schwark has worked as an assistant in Xhabija's lab on a variety of research projects for nearly two years, including one focused on melanoma cells. Xhabija and three of her students previously found that, in melanoma, the enzyme Argininosuccinate Synthetase 1, or ASS1, was deficient in melanoma- and it's known in the medical community to be deficient in kidney cancer too. For her SURE work, Schwark chose to research renal cancer cells to connect past lab findings with new questions. Although medical researchers have linked Spinosyn A to ASS1 in other cancer contexts, Schwark's project marks one of the first efforts to investigate this relationship in renal cancer.

"ASS1 is emerging as a tumor suppressor and researchers have learned that it is deficient in a lot of cancer types, including melanoma, breast and renal," Schwark says. "Spinosyn A, the natural drug we are using in the lab, binds to ASS1, which activates it and increases its efficacy in the cell, helping to restore normal metabolic flow and inhibit cancer cell growth and division. We've seen promising results so far, and it's my task to assess the effects of drugs like Spinosyn A on renal cancer." Schwark and Xhabija are preparing to submit a paper for publication.

Schwark is interested in becoming a medical researcher after graduation and is looking into graduate schools. Through her work with Xhabija, she gained equipment training and honed scientific skills. She's used advanced instrumentation such as digital holographic microscopy, quantitative phase imaging and live-cell analysis systems, as well as learned bioinformatics approaches to measure subtle changes in cancer cell behavior. Schwark has also had opportunities to do scientific writing and she created a results-based presentation. "Alongside technical expertise, Eva has gained the ability to think critically about her findings and connect them to broader scientific questions, a skill we worked on together throughout the summer," Xhabija says. "These transferable skills make our graduates competitive in advanced academic programs and the scientific workforce and align with our mission to prepare students for high-impact careers in the sciences."

Schwark says Xhabija has done more than teach her research skills - her mentor also helped Schwark find the right career path. During her first year of college, Schwark took an intracellular and molecular biology lab class with Xhabija. "I didn't realize it at the time, but that changed everything," Schwark says. "At the time, I knew I wanted to work in science, but wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do. I really enjoyed her lab and I liked her teaching style. She later offered me a position in her lab and I learned how much I loved the work I was doing. Halfway through my sophomore year, I declared my biochem major."

To add to her summer research experience, Schwark also took part in the Michigan Institute for Data Science and AI in Society's "AI for Scientists and Engineers Summer Academy," where she received advanced training in AI and data science techniques alongside graduate students and postdocs. Schwark was the only undergraduate participant. "It was a unique experience that she can now bring back into her research," says Xhabija, who is involved with MIDAS. "It reflects what I value most in mentorship: helping students build technical skill, scientific reasoning and confidence while introducing them to opportunities they may not have imagined for themselves."

Xhabija says accessible, high-impact learning like the SURE program distinguishes UM-Dearborn and prepares students to contribute meaningfully in the workforce and in their communities. "Watching Eva grow this summer into someone who is ready to take that next step has been one of the most rewarding moments of my career, and I am incredibly proud of what she has accomplished," she says. "Stories like Eva's highlight how investment in undergraduate research yields dividends far beyond campus - inspiring future scientists and addressing critical health issues that touch every family. "

You can read about additional SURE projects from the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Education and Health and Human Services, as well as the College of Business and the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters.

Story by Sarah Tuxbury

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