MaKendra Umstead: A personal mission to study cancer
MaKendra Umstead was inspired by her mother's journey with breast cancer to pursue a PhD in cancer biology. In 2006, MaKendra Umstead's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her mother's journey through the treatment process had a profound effect on Umstead's academic trajectory. Inquisitive by nature, Umstead was inspired to research cancer after her mother's experience — from the initial diagnosis to approaching 10-years cancer-free — generated more questions than answers. Today, Umstead is a fifth year graduate student in Cancer Biology, a sub-program of the Laney Graduate School's Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences. Her research is focused on processes that might lead to better cancer treatments. We caught up with Umstead to learn more about her background, her research and her plans for life beyond Emory. Tell us a bit about your background and what led you to pursue the PhD.
