Expanding Genomic Knowledge to Advance Cancer Research

Published August 12, 2026 | Request Information

For Mariella Alvey, advancing cancer research requires more than studying tumors under a microscope – it requires understanding the complex biology that shapes each patient’s disease. Seeking that deeper knowledge, she turned to Johns Hopkins University’s MS in Individualized Genomics and Health program to strengthen her expertise and increase the impact of her work.

Alvey’s interest in genetics began long before she entered a laboratory. Growing up, one of her closest friends had Down syndrome, sparking an early curiosity about inherited conditions and the role genes play in human health. That curiosity grew into a passion and eventually to a degree in biology at Oregon State University.

Today, as a Senior Research Associate at Providence Cancer Institute in Portland, Oregon, Alvey applies her drive to research how emerging therapies can improve outcomes for patients with cancer. Her work focuses on immunotherapy, one of the fastest-growing areas in oncology.

Unlike chemotherapy and radiation, which can damage healthy cells along with cancerous ones, immunotherapies harness a patient’s own immune system to fight disease.

“We research many solid tumor cancers, including head and neck, breast, colorectal, and metastatic melanoma,” Alvey said. “Much of our work focuses on immunotherapies that could reduce the need for more toxic treatments. We’ve seen therapies that can give patients months or even years without new cancer growth. It may not be a cure yet, but it’s making a real difference.”

Working in immunohistochemistry and spatial transcriptomics, Alvey studies tumor samples from patients enrolled in clinical trials, helping researchers understand why some therapies work for certain patients but not others. Those insights may one day help physicians better match treatments to individual patients.

“It’s really exciting because we can go back and study what was unique about a patient’s tumor that responded to a particular treatment,” she said. “Hopefully, that helps inform which targeted therapies will work best for future patients.”

Although Alvey gained valuable laboratory experience throughout her career, she realized she wanted a deeper understanding of the science behind the work she was doing every day.

“When I started my job, I didn’t have any background in cancer,” she said. “I learned a lot on the job, but I wanted to understand what was happening beyond the laboratory procedures.”

Through Johns Hopkins, Alvey was able to expand her knowledge of cancer biology and the genomic science shaping the future of treatment. She continued working full time while pursuing an online master’s degree tailored to her interests.

The opportunity to immediately apply classroom learning to her research made the Johns Hopkins experience especially meaningful. It gave her the confidence to ask more complex questions about the science behind the work she was already doing.

“The program covered so many different aspects of genomics,” Alvey said. “The professors incorporated really current research into their classes, including new FDA approvals and emerging therapies. It made everything feel timely and directly connected to what was happening in the field.”

Courses in cancer genomics, gene therapy, and epigenetics helped Alvey better understand the treatments she encountered in her laboratory and the discoveries shaping the future of precision medicine.

“Learning about engineering a patient’s own immune cells and giving them back to fight their cancer – it almost sounds like science fiction,” she said. “It’s amazing to think we’re actually doing that.”

The program also allowed Alvey to see her laboratory work in a larger context – not just as a series of experiments, but as part of a broader effort to develop more precise and effective cancer treatments. It deepened her appreciation for the years of research that precede every medical advance and for the patients who make these discoveries possible.

“We hear about patients who respond really well to treatment,” she said. “Some of the oncologists running these clinical trials have research labs here, so we see how the laboratory work translates into patient care. That’s probably the most rewarding part.”

Beyond expanding her scientific knowledge, the program reinforced the importance of collaboration, communication, and persistence.

“Science is really a team effort,” Alvey said. “You need attention to detail, patience, time management, and a lot of collaboration. But it is also fun. I really like the people I work with. It doesn’t feel like work when you are trying to discover something that can have a real-world impact.”

Looking ahead, Alvey believes precision medicine will continue transforming cancer care through earlier detection and treatments tailored to the biology of each patient’s tumor.

“It would be incredible if we could develop blood tests that identify people at high risk before cancer is advanced,” she said. “Finding biomarkers for earlier diagnosis could make an enormous difference.”

For Alvey, earning her Johns Hopkins degree was more than an academic milestone – it was an opportunity to make a greater contribution to cancer research. The program gave her a broader understanding of cancer genomics, strengthened her confidence as a researcher, and equipped her with the knowledge to help move discoveries from the laboratory closer to the patients who need them.

“It wasn’t something I ever thought I would be able to do, and it wasn’t easy,” she said. “It feels really gratifying to use my education to contribute, even in a small way, to something that has the potential to be so life-changing for patients. I really like where I landed, and I am excited to see where this degree will take me. I feel like I’m just getting started.”