CeMi around the world – Nadia in Boston!

In this series of blogs we hear from students recently returned from academic placements about their experiences. Nadia Soulioti is a fourth-year PhD student under the supervision of Prof Delphine Gourdon.

Hello, my name is Nadia Soulioti, and I am currently a fourth-year PhD student at CeMi. Last summer, I had the opportunity to undertake a research placement at Tufts University in Boston, MA, where I worked in Prof Madeleine Oudin’s lab. Her research focuses on neuroscience, breast cancer metastasis, and drug resistance.

Nadia on campus!

My PhD project aims to understand how the obese microenvironment impacts breast cancer progression and metastasis. Specifically, I seek to clarify the biochemical and biophysical connections between obesity and breast cancer. To achieve this, I utilise cancer spheroids embedded in collagen fibrillar scaffolds with various microarchitectures, incorporating adipose cells or their pre-conditioned media. During my time in Prof  Oudin’s lab, I had the opportunity to employ complementary experimental techniques, including access to lean and obese adipocytes isolated from mice and conducting invasion assays on decellularised tissues developed in her lab. These tools provided crucial insights into the strengths and limitations of my current 3D in vitro models, enhancing its biological relevance.

My visit to Boston was a unique experience, as it was my first time in the USA. I enjoyed the 4th of July fireworks by the Charles River, attended a Red Sox baseball game, participated in line dancing, went to a Foo Fighters concert at Fenway Stadium, explored Salem, the famous witch town of Massachusetts, did a road trip to Cape Cod, and visited the beautiful island of Martha’s Vineyard. Besides my time in Massachusetts, I was lucky enough to visit New York and Miami too, which gave me a fun glimpse of life along the East Coast.

Ultimately, this experience added a translational dimension to my project by deepening my understanding of the interplay between obesity and breast cancer. Beyond the lab, it allowed me to explore a new city, immerse myself in a different culture, and grow both personally and professionally.

I am incredibly grateful to Prof Madeleine Oudin for generously sharing her expertise in breast cancer and obesity and for providing me with the chance to work in a vibrant research environment, connect with fellow scientists, and establish meaningful collaborations. A sincere thank you to the members of the Oudin lab—Anna, Tom, Crystal, Hanan, Hannah, Audrey, Haley, and Ankit—for their support during those months. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor, Prof Delphine Gourdon, and CeMi for initiating this collaboration, as well as the School of Engineering for awarding me the PhD Mobility Fund. None of this would have been possible without the support of all those mentioned.