RNA Interference Research: Sherry Mi ‘26

by Claire Cho ‘28 and Joy Kim ‘28

Sherry Mi ‘26 has just completed a research project about Cancer and Immunology. We asked her a series of questions surrounding her work: 

What was your research about?

“My research is about a specific topic in Cancer and Immunology research. It is about RNA interference, the most promising therapy in the field as of now. RNA interference is a technique that utilizes RNA fragments from the natural genome. The function of the system is to repair the damage to DNA and its genome caused by a mismatch. As of now, only a minority of patients actually receive benefits, so to address this disparity, I launched my experiment. 

There is a lot of function in this system, even more benefit that people with an intact genome.

Artificially Inhibiting mismatch repair could have improved patient conditions drastically.  This idea remains yet an experiential idea, criminally underexplored and often past treatments divulged into irrelevant treatments.Conducted in a lab experiment with cellulitis yielded significant results in disrupting this mismatch repair could be improved

1. How big of a immune response the cancer cells can illicit

2. The cancer cells fall more susceptible to the immune response

Basically, this is a paradox method that aims immunotherapy to become universal  

Why did you start your research?

I used to be a cardiac patient diagnosed with cazenda heart disease, and ever since then I’ve stayed attuned to news regarding heart diseases. I had to have surgery for this condition my freshman year. Moreover, I've had many experiences with medical spaces as several members of my family battled cancer - my grandfather had colorectal cancer. Once diagnosed with a verdict, the experience hit hard, and I started actively looking for sources. I began looking into news outlets, seeking better therapy options. 

Did you ever go back on your purpose, rethink your research… (have doubts) 

One moment? 

Spanned the summer of 2024—- a few days ago.

March 2025, collecting data, reading literature - unguided process, easy to get lost. 

Even though there was a specific topic in mind, there were amazing articles branching out to other topics (‘maze’ where she felt that she had to cover everything - internally chaotic)

Wondering the meaning of her research

Resolution: slowed down the reading process and tried to organize the things she read into more detailed logs

Opened google docs and jot down all the relevant information - filtering out the information she does not need

Padlet to organize all the literature - allows you to connect between subtopics

Challenges faced during your research?

Sometimes it feels like you are in total control. In reality, a lot of the cell handling is simply microscopic. You cannot see the results until the end of the experiment, and that creates a veil of uncertainty. One instance is handling an acid named the western blot. Identifying the presence of protein determines whether the experiment was successful. Only after ___ could the results be seen—and they initially turned out to be unsuccessful. While challenges occurred during such extended periods of hands-on lab work, it was fun to adjust and carry on. The process of hands-on lab work was satisfactory and provided the motivation to push on.

Advice for students interested in conducting similar research?

My main advice would be to keep your ears and eyes out in the world; that is, be open to what is happening in the world. That could be tuning into news outlets, or reading a little more. There are amazing books on diseases. __, ___, and ___ to name a few. The goal is to make a habit of reading, whether it be once a day or once a week. The next step is to ask good questions. Start with the ones that could clarify your knowledge, then something experimental. Immunology was a large field, so for me, the research process started slowly. I would say my biggest achievement is being able to ask so many good questions. Pursue clarity, challenge current framework, and identify problems for tackling. 

Grant Spotlight: Charlotte Han ‘27 Nutrition Journey

Janina Manaloto ‘26

Over the summer, Charlotte Han ‘27 launched a pop-up bakery called “Grain & Loaf co” where she sells baked goods with a healthier twist. She is funded by the Matthews Fund Grant, an award based on merit that promotes personal and academic growth. Through this grant, Charlotte has combined her passion for baking with nutritional science into something that she could give back to the community. 

Her involvement in the cross-country and crew teams has fueled her interest in nutrition, leading her to become more mindful of the foods she consumes. She started testing different recipes, eventually deciding to start a business from it. Last summer, she started building her business through selling her products at farmers' markets. Back home in Toronto, she would bring baked goods to senior centers and present the ingredients in her recipes, educating her local community on nutrition. She has sold many banana breads, scones, and healthier versions of cakes. She has also hosted workshops on how to cook healthier recipes, emphasizing healthy and nutritious ingredients with high fiber, protein, and natural sugars.

One thing she has learned from this journey is that people will be there to support you. Initially, she doubted herself, thinking that no one would want to buy what she sold. Eventually, she realized that she would be making a positive impact in her community. Through this experience of putting herself out there, she has been able to meet new people through her business and learn about their reasoning and where they are coming from. Over time, each supportive interaction has inspired her to continue with her business. Hearing positive feedback has reassured her that her work has value beyond the kitchen and can resonate with others. These conversations with others in her community strengthen her resilience and ability to lead.

In the future, Charlotte hopes to study medicine, more specifically, the field of endocrinology and nutrition. She is passionate about continuing to explore the connection between athletic performance and food science. Through this business, she has developed her baking skills and fueled her interest in the field of food science. What started as a simple hobby has grown into a passion for nutrition and commitment to health and community impact. Through the Matthews Fund Grant, Charlotte has expanded her studies of nutritional science beyond the classroom, reflecting the fund’s mission of personal and academic growth.