Chapter 4: Meet cancer biochemist Archana Varadaraj
WhatdoesArchanado?
Archana is a scientist here in Flagstaff. She is a cancer biochemist, which means she studies the chemistry of cancer.
Archana is an assistant professor at Northern Arizona University, where she teaches classes in biochemistry and the chemical and molecular biology of cancer. She has a laboratory at NAU dedicated to cancer research where she is working on new ways to cure the disease.
WheredidArchanagrowup?
Archana grew up Chennai, also known as Madras, a busy city on the southern coast of India. She was an only child, and her parents were very protective.
“I was a quiet child,” she said. “I loved to read storybooks, travel to visit our extended family for summer vacations, and I enjoyed it when my cousins came over to visit.”
Did You Know? When we think of cancer, we often think of doctors, many of them oncologists, who help patients by treating their disease. Behind the scenes, though, thousands of researchers—many of them biochemists like Archana—are hard at work trying to understand cancer and find new ways to prevent and treat it.
SohowdidArchanabecomeascientist?
“Biology was naturally interesting to me as a child,” said Archana. “During summer vacations with friends and cousins, we came up with very creative projects! We would grind up flowers of different colors to create new colors or try to graft plants in the hope of creating new flowers. I don’t think any of these experiments gave us the results we were after, but our plans were always grand, and we were never disappointed!”
“I started taking a serious interest in science when my 8th grade science teacher Ms. Sulochana would praise me for my essays and sketches, which we had to do a
lot in Biology class. Although I didn’t always get the best grades in that class, my teacher’s constant encouragement gave me a sense of focus.”
It took a long time for Archana to choose a career as a scientist.
“My father had seen an ad for a competitive student fellowship and suggested I apply. I was selected for the fellowship, which meant I had to leave home and live for the next two months in a city I had never been before. I worked at the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology with Dr. Ranajit Banerjee, my research mentor.
“Dr. Banerjee was a very keen scientist and a very caring mentor. Despite him suffering from a degenerative eye disease that affected his vision, he would come in enthusiastically to work every day and only leave when he was physically unable to stay on. I saw a passion for science in him. It was very inspiring for me to be a part of his research group and a great learning experience.
“I knew I was interested in science and a handful of people told me I was good at it, but it was only when I joined a research lab in India while working on my master’s degree did I really get to see and understand the day-to-day job of a scientist. I loved everything about it and wanted to be one of them!”
HowdidArchanadecidetobeabiochemist?
“As I delved deeper into studying biology, biochemistry seemed fascinating. All diseases are a consequence of biochemical processes gone wrong, and there are a lot of cancer drugs that target the biochemical processes in the body. The complexity of biochemistry was, and still is, intriguing.”
WhatkindsofchallengesdidArchanafaceassheworkedtobecomea scientist?Howdidsheovercomethosechallenges?
“Fortunately,” said Archana, “I faced no challenges during my training as a scientist, perhaps because I had an encouraging family, friends, and great mentors at the institutions I was associated with. However, I know that some surroundings can greatly harm the growth of a young scientist. In such regressive environments, it is best to align yourself with intellectually progressive people.”
WhatisArchana’sadviceforgirlswhoare interestedinscience?Followyourinterests!
“If you are interested in the world around you, I would like for you to take any opportunity you get to grow that interest. This could be as simple as observing nature, reading science fiction, or maintaining a diary of your questions--or it could be something more organized such as going to science fairs (like the Flagstaff Festival of Science) or by reading serious science books.
“Throughout this process, you may not have all the answers to your questions, and the books may seem difficult, but I think you will certainly end up with very clever questions which maybe you can solve one day.”
“Your discoveries that come from hard work, whether big or small, are entirely yours. The excitement from one discovery makes you want to do more.”
HowlongdidittakeArchanatobecomeascientist?
Archana earned her B.S. and M.S. in Biochemistry at the University of Madras in India, and her Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge in England. She then completed her training at The Ohio State University, the University of South Carolina, and at the European Institute of Oncology in Italy, where she specialized in biochemistry .
“Training to be a scientist can take a long time,” said Archana, “but I don’t encourage you to look at it that way. While training, you are still a scientist! and hard work is always worth it, because it is your work. This is particularly true in the life of a scientist.
WhatdoesArchanastudyinherlab?
Archana studies the molecular biology of cancer tumors, looking for ways to keep tumors from growing in the human body. She also applies what she’s learned studying cancer to investigate new ways to reverse tissue damage caused by lung disease.
WhatelsedoesArchanaenjoydoing?
Although her parents live in Kerala, India, Archana lives in Flagstaff with her husband Naren, who is also a scientist. Archana and Naren have a little boy named Nandan, which means “happiness” in the Sanskrit language!
“I had several hobbies as a girl,” said Archana. “I loved to draw pencil sketches, collect stamps from different countries, play Carnatic classical music, and play badminton and squash.”
“Your discoveries that come from hard work, whether big or small, are entirely yours. The excitement from one discovery makes you want to do more.”MeetNandan,Archana’stwo-year-old boy.Hisnamemeans“happiness”! ThisisArchanawithNarenandNandanenjoyingan outingwithseveralyoungwomenscientists,allformer studentsfromtheirlabs
How to learn more about biochemistry and cancer
What’snextforyou?
After reading about Archana the biochemist, do you want to learn more about biochemistry and cancer? Here are some ways you can discover more on your own:
Visit the Biochemistry Literacy for Kids website, a unique learning program that brings comprehensive college science curricula to students beginning in elementary school.
See “Cancer Facts: Lesson for Kids” on the Study.com website.
Visit the chem4kids website, where you can find all kinds of information about these topics and many more, such as:
o biochemistry
o matter
o atoms
o periodic table
o elements
o reactions
More about cancer biochemistry
This is a spheroid, or ball, of kidney cancer cells as seen through a scanning electron microscope. Archana said, “I think it is scary and beautiful at the same time!”
Visit biology4kids to learn more about biology, including cells, microorganisms, and plants.
See the Biochemistry Facts for Kids website, too. It has lots of great information on chemical reactions, enzymes, and macromolecules!
Visit Ducksters.com for information on biology and cancer.
Take a look at the Cancer Research UK website for science activities for kids.
There are many books in the library about biochemistry, biology, and cancer. Ask your school librarian to help you find books you can borrow to read more.
Talk to your teachers and your parents and let them know that you’re interested in biochemistry. Chances are they can help you find books and other resources to learn more.
Famousfemalescientistsinthefieldofcancer
Although Archana isn’t famous (yet), there are some famous biochemists and other scientists studying cancer who are women. You can visit these websites to read about many of these women from history, such as Gertrude Elion, Kornelia Polyakis, and Jewel Plummer Cobb:
Inspiring Women Biochemists
Meet Five Women Who Advanced Cancer Research and Treatment