Interview with Dr. Rosanna Wustrack by Harjot Uppal, 2nd year medical student at Albany Medical College
October 2021
How has the research grant from Sarcoma Strong helped to advance your research?
The research grant propelled our research to the next level. The grant allowed us to hire a technician to gather the sarcoma specimens and helped pay for many of the reagents we needed for our study. The sarcoma grant helped us conduct a critical study on how the tumor microenvironment affects Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma (UPS).
What research studies have you performed over the last few years?
One of the current projects we are working on is to address health disparities in patients with sarcomas. The research looks at ways to optimize the health care system for sarcoma patients to make sure they get efficient and effective care.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your research progress and goals?
The COVID-19 pandemic did slow down our research in the beginning. For example, our technician was not able to come in and collect the sarcoma specimens for research. However, our research is back and running again. Now, our technician can come in and gather our samples for analysis.
Why are you interested in orthopedic oncology and sarcoma?
Orthopedic oncology is a unique field in orthopedics. What drew me towards this field was the multidisciplinary aspect. As an orthopedic oncologist, I must work with oncologists and other health care team members daily. In addition, I can perform a wide variety of procedures and treat multitudes of different musculoskeletal pathologies. Lastly, orthopedic oncology allows me to pursue my passion for research.
Why should people donate to Sarcoma Strong?
Sarcoma is a rare disease and does not get much publicity compared to other cancers. Donating to Sarcoma Strong can help fund critical research that can make a difference in many lives. Sarcoma treatment has not changed for the past 30 years, and we need more research to develop new treatments for our patients.
Read the entire manuscript from Dr. Wustrack’s research contributions in link below:
