Yuma native working to become medical research scientist

Misha Pangasa has always had lofty career aspirations.

"When I was in third grade, I wanted to be the first woman president," the Cibola High graduate recalled.

"In sixth or seventh, I wanted to be a pop star, (but) I think it was in eighth or ninth that I wanted to go into the field of medicine."

Today, she wants to become a medical research scientist.

At the age of 19, Pangasa is pursuing her degree in molecular and cellular biology with a minor in political science at the University of Arizona.

And while there are students who take the summer off to rest and relax, Pangasa has spent her summer pursuing the fight against cancer.

Last March, Pangasa was accepted into the Undergraduate Biology Research program at UA and has spent the past couple of months researching cancer.

"Under the mentorship of Dr. Tracy Brooks, an assistant research scientist and co-investigator with the laboratory of Dr. Laurence Hurley at the Bio5 Institute in Tucson, (my) work this summer has been aimed at understanding the roles of key proteins pancreatic cancer and lymphoma," Pangasa said.

"The goal is to determine which proteins are important and then develop drugs to target them. (My) individual project involves a protein called platelet derived growth factor receptor beta and its relevance in pancreatic tumor survival and invasiveness."

Pangasa was born and raised in Yuma after her parents, Rakesha and Suman, and her brother, Mancesh, immigrated to the United States in the 1980s to pursue the "American dream," said Pangasa.

Growing up, Pangasa said she always had an inclination toward science, but at the same time she "absolutely loved the fine arts like singing and dancing. I was always singing and dancing at home."

In high school, she became a member of the Yuma Youth Choir through Arizona Western College. She eventually traveled with the choir through Austria and Germany singing in celebration of the anniversary of Mozart's birth.

"I absolutely love to travel," said Pangasa. "I've been to, I think, 17 countries. ... I've been back to India four or five times, once this past winter."

Her career path moved in a different direction as she learned more about the role of research in medicine.

She entered the UA on a scholarship and began attending UA events. This gave Pangasa a chance to ask undergraduates about their specific research and the programs available at UA.

As a freshman at UA, Pangasa took a molecular and cellular biology class "and I found that class absolutely fascinating. ... I knew I wanted to work in a laboratory doing some kind of research.

Pangasa said that although it would be nice to say she and her mentors in the research project are looking for the all-encompassing cure for cancer, that is not the case.

"The reality is that cancer is more than the singular villain we often picture; it comes in many forms and disguises. The important thing is for us to fully understand its molecularly unique types and subtypes in order to develop the most optimized, individualized therapy for patients."

Pangasa takes her role as research scientist seriously and said she finds the work very rewarding. But she does take time out to enjoy her time as a student too. She also likes to watch "lots of movies (and) play games. I like listening to music and singing."

As for her future, Pangasa plans to continue with her research endeavors throughout the remainder of her undergraduate education.

She said her parents are encouraging and proud of her. "My mom likes to say my daughter is looking for the cure for cancer."