Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, mainly because it’s so hard to catch early. By the time doctors detect it, the disease is often too advanced for effective treatment. Researchers at Vanderbilt’s DelGiorno Lab are working to change that by studying the earliest cellular changes that could signal the start of pancreatic cancer. Using techniques like genetically engineered mouse models, small-cell number RNA sequencing, and high-resolution imaging, they aim to uncover clues that could lead to better screening tools and, ultimately, earlier diagnoses.
At the heart of this research is Dr. Brenda Jarvis, a research assistant in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at Vanderbilt University. She earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Meharry Medical College. Over the years, she’s built an impressive skill set, mastering techniques like FACS analysis, microscopy, cell culture, and histology.
We sat down with Dr. Jarvis to chat about her work, the challenges of pancreatic cancer research, and what advice she has for young scientists.
The Vanguard: What part of pancreatic cancer progression are you focusing on, and how does your work fit into the bigger picture of what the DelGiorno Lab is trying to accomplish?
Dr. Jarvis: A big part of what I do is imaging pancreatic tissue to see what’s happening at the cellular level as cancer develops. But taking pictures isn’t enough — we also quantify those images, meaning we analyze them to track cancer markers and changes over time. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a huge tool for us because it lets us stain tissue and highlight specific proteins linked to cancer. Our goal is to identify those early warning signs in pancreatic cells before full-blown cancer develops. The more we can pinpoint these early changes, the better chance we have of catching pancreatic cancer before it becomes life-threatening.
The Vanguard: Since pancreatic cancer is so hard to diagnose early, how does your research help address that problem?
Dr. Jarvis: That’s the million-dollar question. The tricky thing about pancreatic cancer is that symptoms don’t usually show up until it’s too late. Our work is all about spotting those tiny cellular changes that happen way before symptoms appear. By using advanced imaging and tracking molecular markers, we’re trying to create a clearer roadmap of what happens in the earliest stages of pancreatic cancer. If we can define what to look for, we could help doctors screen for it much sooner.
The Vanguard: What kinds of experimental techniques do you use in your research, and how do you decide which ones to use?
Dr. Jarvis: I use a mix of IHC and high-resolution microscopy to study pancreatic tissue. IHC is great for highlighting specific proteins linked to cancer, and microscopy lets us zoom in and see structural changes in the cells. I’ve also been working with expansion microscopy techniques like TrEX and Magnify, which basically expand the tissue to give us a clearer view of fine details that we might miss otherwise.
Deciding which method to use really depends on the question we’re asking. If we need molecular data, we might go for RNA sequencing. If we’re looking for structural changes, then 3D imaging techniques come in handy. It’s all about choosing the right tool for the job.
The Vanguard: What are some of the biggest technical challenges you face when working with pancreatic tissue?
Dr. Jarvis: Getting high-quality human pancreatic tissue samples is a nightmare. The pancreas is one of the last organs people choose to donate, and even when we do get samples, they’re often in rough shape because the pancreas digests itself really quickly after death. That makes it hard to get good, usable data.
There’s also a lot of variability between samples, which can be frustrating because it makes comparisons harder. To deal with this, we try to use better tissue preservation techniques and rely on genetically engineered mouse models for more controlled experiments.
The Vanguard: How does your work connect to other areas of science, like immunology, microbiology, or bioinformatics?
Dr. Jarvis: Imaging is a universal tool — it’s used in everything from cancer research to neuroscience. Before I joined the DelGiorno Lab, I worked a lot with immunofluorescence and microscopy, which are used across different fields to analyze cell structures and protein interactions.
On top of that, bioinformatics plays a big role in what we do. When you’re dealing with thousands of images and tons of molecular data, you need strong computational tools to process and make sense of it all.
The Vanguard: Looking back on your career, what skills or experiences have been the most valuable for your success in pancreatic cancer research?
Dr. Jarvis: Honestly, the ability to analyze data and think critically has been the most important skill. You can be the best at lab techniques, but if you don’t know how to interpret results, it’s not going to get you very far. Also, understanding experimental protocols is key because techniques you learn in one area can often be adapted for something completely different.
The Vanguard: What advice would you give to students or early-career researchers who are trying to find the right lab?
Dr. Jarvis: Find a lab where you actually fit in. It doesn’t matter how big or prestigious a lab is — if you don’t feel comfortable with the people, you’re not going to have a good experience. Science is tough enough on its own, so being in an environment where you feel supported and valued makes a huge difference.
