海角社区

Louisiana has one of the highest state cancer rates in the United States, with 27,000 new cases each year, according to the National Institutes of Health. 

That can be traced partially to residents鈥� dietary choices, including the popularity of fried foods in Louisiana and the rest of the South, according to an 海角社区 team researching ways to address the problem.

Fatima Rivas, assistant professor in 海角社区鈥檚 Department of Chemistry, and graduate student Jake Barras are leading that team as it explores how natural substances can be used to create new treatments for conditions like metabolic syndrome and obesity 鈥� issues that can increase a person's cancer risk.

鈥淚n Louisiana, we have a high incidence of specific cancer subtypes, particularly breast cancer and colorectal cancer,鈥� Rivas says. 鈥淭hese diets, unfortunately, can promote metabolisms that are not necessarily ideal for healthy individuals. In other words, these metabolisms might be hyperactive, and they can promote some cancer subtypes.鈥�

鈥淏eing able to come here (to 海角社区) and utilize my strengths in science and chemistry in order to provide new therapeutics and treatment options 鈥� is something that I'm really excited about.鈥�

Jake Barras

In his three years in the state, Barras has heard stories from Louisianans about how cancer has affected them and their loved ones. He says those personal stories motivate him to find new ways to overcome the medical issues people face, leading to better patient outcomes.

鈥淗elping people is at the core of my motivation,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd being able to come here and utilize my strengths in science and chemistry in order to provide new therapeutics and treatment options 鈥� is something that I'm really excited about.鈥�

Barras, from Maple Grove, Minn., earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Inspired by a research advisor鈥檚 recommendation, Barras decided to pursue his graduate studies at 海角社区, where he is now working towards his doctorate in organic chemistry.

鈥淚 was overwhelmed by the resources available here and the caliber of research that was being conducted. And I was really excited to be a part of it,鈥� he says.

About the Research

The research focuses on leveraging natural products as therapeutics for different diseases, thereby addressing inflammation and insulin impairment in the body. 

鈥淥besity-inspired or obesity-imposed chronic inflammation can dampen the entire body's ability to respond to signaling hormones such as insulin, which is involved in blood sugar metabolism,鈥� Barras says. 鈥淎nd this dysfunction can set off a whole cascade of reactions, which results in a patient having a higher susceptibility for cancer.鈥�

Barras and the team are working to develop a novel set of inhibitors for a regulatory enzyme called PTP1B that is involved in insulin signaling. Decreasing the activity of PTP1B will allow the proteins that respond to insulin to remain active for longer, thus mitigating the risk of insulin resistance and addressing a patient's susceptibility to cancer.

鈥淲e start with a natural product that's isolated from a plant that has a certain favorable biological activity that we've noticed in these screening assays that we do,鈥� Barras says. From there, the team works to improve the product鈥檚 efficacy and identify the specific route through which it鈥檚 working.

A Team & Family Atmosphere

Barras says conducting research at 海角社区 has been 鈥渘othing but great,鈥� with close relationships among team members that resemble a family bond, where everyone is devoted to self-improvement and improving each other.

鈥淢y experience in the lab has been incredible,鈥� Barras says. 鈥淚've had a great time working with Dr. Rivas, who has led me to develop not only professionally but personally.

鈥淎t 海角社区, we're very focused on teamwork. It's a team effort. We have a high emphasis on training the next generation of scientists.鈥�

Fatima Rivas

鈥淚 have a great set of graduate student colleagues. And our staff scientist, Dr. Taotao Ling, is also incredible as a guiding force in my organic chemistry efforts.鈥�

Rivas says the team aspect Barras experienced is by design.

鈥淎t 海角社区, we're very focused on teamwork. It's a team effort. We have a high emphasis on training the next generation of scientists,鈥� she says, adding that graduate students take on the role of mentors for undergraduate students, passing on research techniques and best practices they learned in their graduate training.

鈥淚t is important to emphasize that students 鈥� drive this work,鈥� she says. 

She also stresses that multiple collaborators, including those outside the 海角社区 Chemistry Department and outside of Louisiana, play a role in the scientific advancements achieved in the lab. 

Collaborators include and the university鈥檚 School of Veterinary Medicine. Rivas鈥� team also maintains a close relationship with Universidad Central del Caribe in Puerto Rico, exchanging knowledge through a training partnership that allows students from both universities to work and learn at the partner institution. 

Finding a Good Fit at 海角社区 

Barras says his work at 海角社区 has been fundamental to his development and progression toward his career goals. 

鈥淢y career aspirations are to be involved in medical development. I have always really found it important to make efforts to help others and be able to use my skill set specifically to do so.鈥�

He says his academic experience at 海角社区 allows him to enthusiastically recommend the university to other aspiring researchers, adding that the personal connection he has forged with his colleagues and others is another major selling point.

鈥淚n my whole life, I don't think I've found such a welcoming group of people as I have in Louisiana,鈥� Barras says. 鈥淎nd it's been wonderful. Really forming strong relationships with people has helped me connect more to my research.

鈥満＝巧缜� is a great institution with plenty of opportunities for anyone who鈥檚 open to putting in effort and working towards their goals.鈥�

Next Step

海角社区's Scholarship First Agenda is helping achieve health, prosperity, and security for Louisiana and the world.

Learn More About 海角社区's Pentagon Priorities