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The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center helps the next generation of cancer scientists find success through various educational opportunities. Celebrating its fifth year, the Cancer Research Scholars Program (CRSP) is the Cancer Center’s summer program for undergraduate students. Funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute, the program is designed to provide students interested in cancer research and health care careers with hands-on research experience, mentorship and opportunities to connect with the broader cancer research community.
The purpose of the Cancer Research Scholars program is to:
This year’s scholars conducted research in the laboratories of over 20 Cancer Center members, gaining firsthand experience with the scientific process while contributing to research that advances understanding of cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.
For Lauren Crockett, CRSP has helped transform her personal history into a passion for scientific discovery and community engagement. One of 23 students who participated in the fifth year of CRSP, the program provided an opportunity to explore the connection between research and patient care from an entirely new perspective.
“I have found it incredibly meaningful to now begin understanding and contributing to the research behind cancer care,” she said.
Lauren CrockettStudent, Cancer Research Scholar ProgramUniversity of Cincinnati Cancer Center
Launched five years ago by the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center’s Office of Community Outreach & Engagement (COE), CRSP has become an important pathway for developing future scientists, physicians and health care leaders. The program connects students with Cancer Center faculty and research mentors while helping them develop the scientific, professional and interpersonal skills needed to pursue careers in research and medicine.
Since its launch, CRSP has served over 100 students and grown its network to more than 50 cancer-focused mentors representing a wide range of scientific and clinical disciplines.
Initially, in January 2026, Crockett joined the Boscolo Laboratory at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital as a student researcher receiving course credit. She later applied to CRSP, presenting her the opportunity to continue her research full-time during the summer while taking part in the program’s additional educational and professional development activities. However, the experience quickly became more than just an opportunity to strengthen her laboratory skills.
“For me, the most rewarding part of participating in CRSP has been the connections I have made and just the overall culture of the program,” Crockett said. “Being surrounded by students, researchers, physicians and mentors who are all connected by an interest in and a passion for cancer research creates a truly unique environment.”
Throughout the summer, scholars balanced their laboratory research with research discussions, presentations, networking opportunities and other programming designed to expose them to the many career paths available within cancer research and health care.
For students like Crockett, that exposure can be particularly valuable early in their academic careers.
“Through CRSP, I have been able to learn how other people found their way into medicine and research, discover areas of the field I had never been exposed to before and build relationships with people I likely would not have met otherwise,” she said.
Crockett’s connection to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital began nearly two decades ago, when she was diagnosed with sarcoma at just seven and a half months old.
“Because of that diagnosis, Cincinnati Children’s has been a part of my life for nearly as long as I can remember,” she said. “Over time, my relationship with the organization has evolved from being a patient to having the opportunity to contribute through both volunteering and research.”
That experience helped shape her interest in medicine from an early age, and as she grew older, it also led Crockett to ask deeper questions about the science behind her own care.
“From a young age, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in medicine,” she shared. “Having spent a significant amount of time in the hospital growing up, I was exposed to medicine and healthcare at an age when I was still developing my interests and understanding of the world around me. That early exposure naturally shaped my curiosity about medicine, and it ultimately highlighted it as the career I wanted to pursue.”
Her experience as a patient also gave her an early understanding that cancer care extends far beyond a diagnosis or course of treatment. As she grew older, she began to recognize how the lasting effects of cancer shaped not only her own life, but also her perspective on what it means to care for patients throughout and beyond their treatment journey.
“I think one aspect of cancer that can sometimes be overlooked is the longevity of treatment—it doesn’t simply end when chemotherapy ends,” she said. “For me, being a sarcoma survivor has meant years of additional treatments, reconstructive procedures, therapies and follow-up care, and some form of that care will continue for the rest of my life. Cancer and its effects can remain a part of your life long after the cancer itself is gone, and growing up with that reality has given me a unique perspective on survivorship.”
Before her relapse, Crockett was diagnosed with rhabdomyofibrosarcoma, an extremely rare type of sarcoma for which limited information was available, particularly at the time of her diagnosis.
“As I got older and came to understand a little more about my own diagnosis, that experience made it abundantly clear to me on a personal level how much there still is to learn about cancer as a whole,” she said. “It also showed me how important research is to advancing our understanding of cancer, improving how different diagnoses are approached and ultimately contributing to better treatments for patients.”
Her interest in research continued to develop over time through coursework, laboratory experiences and mentorship.
“As I progressed through high school and college, I found myself asking more questions about cancer findings and how new treatments are developed,” Crockett shared. “The more exposure I had to research through coursework, laboratory experiences and mentors, the more I realized that I thoroughly enjoyed the process of asking scientific questions and working toward answers.”
That natural curiosity and passion eventually led her to the Boscolo Laboratory.
Crockett’s current research focuses on venous malformations—abnormal veins that can cause pain, swelling, bleeding, disfigurement and other complications. Many are driven by genetic mutations that alter cellular signaling and lead to abnormal blood vessel growth and development.
“There is a lot of overlap between these types of cellular processes and pathways and those studied in cancer biology, particularly when observing how changes in cell signaling can influence cell growth, movement and tissue development,” she explained.
Crockett’s current project investigates RAC1—a protein involved in cellular signaling—and its role in venous malformations caused by the TIE2 L914F endothelial receptor mutation.
“We have found that RAC1 is more active in cells carrying the mutation and that inhibiting RAC1 reduced abnormal blood vessel formation in laboratory and mouse models,” she shared.
The project has also helped Crockett see how discoveries in one area of biomedical research can inform work in another. The RAC1 inhibitor she studied has also been investigated in cancer research, including research involving breast and prostate cancer.
“Seeing the same molecular pathways being investigated across different diseases has helped me understand how interconnected research can be,” she said.
Through her work in the Boscolo Laboratory and CRSP, Crockett has gained experience with cell culture, cell staining and imaging, image quantification, flow systems, mouse work, Western blotting, qPCR, RNA analysis and many other laboratory techniques.
One of her most important lessons, though, has been learning how much work can go into answering even a single research question.
“Before working in a lab, I never fully conceptualized that confirming what may seem like one small finding can require months of experiments, troubleshooting, repetition and analysis,” she said. “Even a relatively straightforward conclusion can represent hundreds of hours of work from multiple people.”
Mentorship is a central component of CRSP, and for Crockett, her relationship with Komal Sagar, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher specializing in immunology and molecular biology in the Boscolo Laboratory, has been one of the most meaningful parts of her experience.
“Dr. Sagar has dedicated an incredible amount of time to mentoring me and has been exceptionally generous in teaching me as much as possible throughout my time with CRSP,” she shared. “She is not only an incredibly intelligent scientist but also an incredibly kind and supportive mentor. While she has taught me countless laboratory techniques and experimental skills, one of the qualities I admire most is her emphasis on understanding the ‘why’ behind everything we do.”
Sagar consistently encouraged Crockett to dig into scientific literature, ask questions and understand the biological mechanisms driving their experiments rather than simply following protocols.
“Because of her mentorship, my CRSP experience has extended far beyond learning techniques at the bench,” Crockett said. “I have also learned how to critically read scientific papers, evaluate evidence and appreciate how laboratory discoveries fit into the broader field of research.”
Sagar’s thoughtful mentorship also helped Crockett see herself as an active contributor to the research process.
“Perhaps most importantly, Sagar always made me feel like I was making meaningful contributions to the lab rather than simply observing from the sidelines,” Crockett said. “Because of her guidance and encouragement, this experience has fostered my confidence and solidified my desire to pursue an MD/PhD through the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at the University of Cincinnati.”
Before joining the Boscolo Laboratory, Crockett knew she wanted to combine medicine and research but was uncertain whether she would pursue an MD and PhD separately or through an integrated program.
“Working in the Boscolo Lab has shown me how closely intertwined scientific discovery and patient care truly are,” she said. “Seeing that connection firsthand made me realize that the integrated physician scientist training model is the path that best aligns with the kind of career I hope to build. I truly could not have asked for a better mentor.”
CRSP also provided Crockett opportunities to engage with the community outside of the laboratory through the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center’s Office of Community Outreach & Engagement. Thanks to CRSP, she was able to participate in cancer outreach activities, an experience she had not previously encountered as a researcher.
“It was an entirely new experience for me, but it quickly became one of the most rewarding parts of the program,” Crockett said. “I truly enjoyed meeting people where they are, interacting with them in their own communities and helping make cancer education and resources feel more approachable.”
“I have come to realize that being a good researcher is not only about conducting meaningful science, but also about understanding the people that science is meant to serve,” she continued. “I think community engagement is one of the best ways to maintain that connection throughout a career.”
For Crockett, engaging directly with communities helps maintain that connection between scientific discovery and the people who ultimately benefit from it.
“I think it can be easy to become immersed in the day-to-day aspects of research or medicine and lose sight of why the work is being done and, more importantly, who it is being done for,” she explained. “Staying engaged with the community helps keep that perspective at the forefront. It reminds us that every experiment, every study and every clinical decision ultimately affects real people and real families.”
Crockett’s insightful perspective aligns closely with the broader mission of CRSP and the Cancer Center’s COE Team of developing future cancer researchers while helping trainees understand the communities and patients at the heart of that work.
Crockett’s personal experience with cancer continues to shape the questions she hopes to explore throughout her career, particularly those surrounding the long-term effects of treatment.
“Cancer doesn’t just end when your initial treatment ends,” she said. “It becomes a part of your life and your story in ways that continue long after the diagnosis itself. At the same time, I don't think it has to define who you are. While no one can truly understand everything you have experienced except you, those experiences can become one of your greatest strengths.”
Crockett believes that these experiences give you a unique perspective that can be utilized to support, encourage and advocate for those facing similar challenges. She hopes future research will help maintain the effectiveness of cancer treatments while reducing the lasting effects on patients.
“Survival will always be the immediate priority, but as treatments continue to improve and more patients live long lives after cancer, I think there is also an increasing responsibility to consider what those lives look like afterward,” Crockett said. “That is an area of cancer research that I am particularly interested in exploring in the future.”
Her own experience with a rare cancer has also made her passionate about building knowledge in areas where significant questions remain unanswered.
“For patients facing diagnoses similar to mine, I hope continued research will mean fewer unknowns—better understanding of why a cancer occurs, how it is likely to behave, which treatments may be most appropriate and what patients can expect in the years following treatment,” she said. “I also hope progress continues to extend beyond survival itself. Long term outcomes, the lasting effects of treatment and quality of life years after a diagnosis are equally important considerations when imagining what progress in cancer care should look like.”
As CRSP celebrates its fifth year, Crockett’s experience illustrates the kind of connection the program seeks to create between students, mentors, research and the communities cancer research ultimately serves.
The program has grown from its initial cohort to a network that has now supported over 100 students and more than 50 cancer-specific mentors. As it enters its sixth year, CRSP continues to strengthen the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center’s commitment to workforce development, interdisciplinary collaboration and cultivating the next generation of cancer researchers.
For Crockett, being part of that community has helped shape not only her research interests but the kind of physician and scientist she hopes to become.
“I hope to combine medicine, research, and community outreach throughout my career,” she shared. “I have always loved traveling and experiencing different cultures, and I would love the opportunity to contribute to cancer research and patient care in different parts of the world. Whether through research collaborations, outreach initiatives or clinical practice, my goal is to help advance cancer care while making it more accessible to the communities that need it most.”
And she remains optimistic about what the next generation of cancer research can accomplish.
“What gives me the most hope is the idea that every generation of patients benefits from the generation that came before it,” Crockett said. “The treatments I received were only possible because of decades of research and the patients who came before me, and I hope that the work my generation contributes to will continue that cycle for those who come next.”
For Crockett, that cycle is deeply personal. She has experienced Cincinnati Children’s as a patient, returned as a volunteer and now contributes as a researcher. Through CRSP and the Cancer Center’s COE Team, she has gained another opportunity to give back—this time by helping build the scientific knowledge that could shape care for future patients.
“I have learned that even the most difficult experiences can become a source of purpose if you choose to use them to help others,” she said.
Today, Crockett is putting that purpose into practice—one experiment, one community connection and one research question at a time.