Devon McCourry didn’t know it when she was 5 but comprehending that her cousin had paraganglioma set this Deutsch Scholarship recipient on a path toward biomedicine and genetic research.
As her cousin openly shared the experience with the genetic mutation that could develop into cancer, McCourry felt a desire to “do something science-y” that eventually led her to seek groundbreaking medical discoveries through scientific research at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“My cousin’s health was drastically deteriorating near the end of her pregnancy, then after the birth, she was rushed to get massive tumors removed from her femur and shoulder. She had some of her worst scans and was afraid she didn’t have much time left to spend with her daughter,” McCourry said.
Her cousin found a clinical trial for treating her specific gene variant.
“That inspired me to channel my passion into tangible avenues of discovery,” McCourry said. “It had been hard for me to narrow down a career path because I liked a lot of areas of science.”
Earning a bachelor’s degree in genetics with a minor in neuroscience and another bachelor’s degree in zoology/animal biology (she considered becoming a veterinarian) pointed McCourry toward translational science.
“At first I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but after a year as a medical assistant, I learned I didn’t really like being patient-facing. I prefer behind the scenes so I can knuckle down on science and discovery. It’s a way I know I can help people,” she said.
Now in the lab of Evan Cornett, PhD, McCourry is ‘knuckling down’ to find novel treatments for glioblastoma, a type of cancer similar to paraganglioma in its relationship to gene mutations.
“I’m focused on the 12- to 18-month survival rate for glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is similar to paraganglioma with the mutations, but it’s also a way to combine all my interests in genetics, neurology and oncology. I want to be part of the discoveries that can be translated into clinical trials that help even just 10 people. My lab and mentor are very supportive,” she said.
“I’m eternally grateful for the Deutsch Scholarship. It will allow me to present my work at a couple of conferences, which is very important for networking, and for communicating and getting feedback on your research and new ideas. It will also allow me to do higher-class experiments that might otherwise not get funded. So, I’ll make a lot more—and maybe faster—progress with the Deutsch Scholarship.”