Martyna Glowczyk-Gluc was awarded an Emerging Scientist Grant from Kids Beating Cancer, Inc. that began on July 1, 2025. Martyna is a doctoral candidate in Experimental Pathology in the lab of Hui Li.
Martyna received her Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and a Master of Science in Molecular Biotechnology from Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland.
We asked Martyna to tell us about her research and hopes for the future.
Can you tell us about your research?
My research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common pediatric soft-tissue cancer, in which high-risk patients face dismal survival rates below 30%. Despite decades of clinical effort, current treatments remain largely uniform, highly toxic, and ineffective against metastatic and recurrent disease, highlighting the urgent need for new, targeted therapies.
Our lab recently identified Advillin (AVIL), a calcium-regulated actin-binding protein, as a bona fide oncogene in RMS. While AVIL expression is restricted in normal tissues, it is aberrantly upregulated in RMS, where it promotes tumor cell proliferation, migration, and correlates with poor patient prognosis. My work investigates how AVIL promotes tumor growth and survival through its regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics and oncogenic signaling in RMS. In parallel with these mechanistic studies, I am evaluating the safety and therapeutic relevance of AVIL inhibition using in vitro and in vivo RMS models. Together, my studies aim to provide a deeper understanding of AVIL’s oncogenic role in RMS and to inform future efforts toward developing more precise and less toxic treatment approaches for patients affected by this devastating disease.
What drives or motivates your scientific pursuits?
I am motivated by a deep curiosity about how cancer develops and by the belief that knowledge gained through research can ultimately improve patient care. Pediatric cancers are especially challenging, as they are rare, understudied, and often lack effective or targeted therapies, leaving children to face harsh treatments with lasting side effects. Knowing that my work may one day contribute to better, safer treatments for patients gives my research purpose and reminds me why persistence and compassion are as essential to science as curiosity itself.
What are your future goals?
Looking ahead, I hope to build a career that allows me to continue exploring the molecular drivers of cancer and to contribute to the development of innovative, more precise therapies. I am particularly motivated to focus on translational research, where discoveries made in the laboratory can directly inform and improve patient care. Above all, I hope that my work will help deepen our understanding of cancer and contribute to better outcomes and quality of life for patients.