ADM Graduate Develops Breast Cancer Vaccines

Courtesy of Marie Hansen, Adel Flowers and Gifts

Amanda Laust, ADM graduate- Class of 1999, has received her PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine.

As an ADM student, Amanda participated in volleyball, basketball, track, marching band, concert band, jazz band, mock trial, group and individual speech, and drama.

After high school, Amanda graduated with Highest Distinction and with Honors in Biology from the University of Iowa.

During graduate school at the University of Califnornia, Irvine, she was a Teaching Assistant for several classes, gave lectures on Immunology to graduate classes, and mentored undergraduate and high school students.

With her new distinction, Amanda will be a Project Scientist continuing her work developing breast cancer vaccines.

When asked why she chose to focus on breast cancer Amanda stated,

“I think it was a combination of things. I have aunts who have passed away from breast cancer, but also, it’s such a devastating disease and although there are some therapies that have demonstrated success, we still have a long way to go to truly “cure” people.

Ultimately I came to graduate school with the hope to study something that I felt would be directly applicable to improving the human condition, and working in Dr. Nelson’s lab on breast cancer vaccines seemed the perfect fit.”

Amanda has published 5 scientific papers during graduate school, and was a recipient of a National Cancer Institute Cancer Biology Pre-doctoral Training Grant from 2008-2010.

Congratulations to Amanda Laust on her accomplishments. Please join us in celebrating a victorious ADM Tiger!