“Don’t let your fears and insecurities hold you back.”
Jessica Javalera Vera spent eight weeks this summer investigating whether a small change in the way bone marrow samples are processed could help improve the quality of genetic testing for patients with multiple myeloma.
At the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), the Hope Ignites Phoenix collegian and Arizona State University senior tested whether modifying the cell enrichment process with a double pass could help samples reach the purity needed to generate a report of mutations for patients. Her results suggested that, for some samples, it could.
Just a few years ago, Jessica wasn’t thinking about genetic research. She was a Hope Ignites Phoenix residential scholar learning to navigate college, explore careers and become more comfortable stepping outside her comfort zone.
Jessica’s connection to Hope Ignites Phoenix began with her older brother, who participated in the Academy program. When she had the opportunity to become a residential scholar herself, her parents encouraged her to take it.
Life in the residence gave Jessica new friendships, supportive house parents and opportunities to practice putting herself out there. Meeting donors and attending events meant connecting with people she didn’t know. Her house parents also made sure she stayed on top of appointments and took care of her health.
“They definitely did care about us,” Jessica said.
Through Hope Ignites’ summer programming requirement, Jessica discovered another opportunity: Summer Scrubs at the University of Arizona. Held virtually during the pandemic, the program introduced students to health care professionals. One speaker’s experience in retail pharmacy caught Jessica’s attention.
She carried that interest with her to ASU, eventually switching from chemistry to biochemistry with help from an advisor. Two awards made that possible: an Obama Scholarship and a New American University Provost’s Scholarship. Together they covered her tuition and allowed her to live on campus for her first three years.
Then came TGen’s Helios Scholars Program.
Jessica speaking at the graduation ceremony from her internship program.
Working in a clinical laboratory focused on multiple myeloma, Jessica spent eight weeks exploring a question with potential implications for genetic testing. For the experiment, healthy donor blood samples were spiked with plasma cells at varying concentrations to evaluate whether a double-pass enrichment process could help produce cleaner samples and, ultimately, usable genetic reports. She presented her findings on a research poster at TGen’s annual symposium.
The experience introduced Jessica to another side of health care—and another possibility for her future.
She is now exploring pharmacy schools in Arizona while considering how research and laboratory work might fit into her career.
Her parents are proud to watch that future take shape. They came to the United States hoping to create opportunities for their children. Now, Jessica and her brother are building futures of their own.
For Jessica, the path forward doesn’t have to be completely mapped out. Each opportunity has simply opened the door to the next one.
Her advice to younger students considering Hope Ignites reflects what she has learned along the way:
“Be open-minded,” she said. “Don’t let your insecurities and fears hold you back.”
Jessica (right) with her lab partner.
