BGSU Honors College alumnus supporting groundbreaking cancer research at MIT

Chiến Trần Phước ‘24 is working alongside leading scientists on tumor metabolism research at the world-renowned institution

Chiến Trần Phước ‘24 didn’t know at the time, but taking advantage of an opportunity to conduct cancer research as an undergraduate at Bowling Green State University would shape his entire future.

He would go on to develop a deep passion for finding a cure for a disease that affects millions of Americans each year, taking strategic steps during his educational journey to continue advancing his knowledge and experience in the field.

Now, the recent BGSU Honors College alumnus is living out his dream, working at the forefront of cancer research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of the world’s leading research institutions.

“I’m very inspired by the mission of BGSU as a public university for the public good,” said Phước, a first-generation student from Vietnam who earned bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and mathematics.

“I have had many mentors, but my BGSU professors are among the mentors who have inspired me. My research experiences and the support they provided paved the way for me to work at MIT alongside some of the world’s best scientists.”

As a technical associate at MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Phước supports the scientists conducting groundbreaking research into tumor metabolism.

“I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” he said. “I work in the same building as a Nobel laureate and am in meetings with nationally and internationally recognized researchers. Representing BGSU at MIT is a great honor.”

Phước had his first research experience at BGSU following his freshman year, a key part of the University’s top-ranked student experience. After receiving a grant from the BGSU Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, he joined the lab of Dr. Xiaohong Tan, an assistant chemistry professor, whose research focuses on identifying chemicals that can block inhibitory signals to prevent immune cells from being suppressed by cancer cells.

“I was very glad to have the opportunity to work with Chien,” Tan said. “I was deeply impressed by his self-motivation and dedication, both in my class and in the lab. Chien was one of the best undergraduate students I’ve worked with, and I believe he will make significant contributions to scientific research.”

Phước continued researching alongside Tan and Dr. Massimo Olivucci, a research professor in the Department of Chemistry, gaining the necessary credentials to land two prestigious internships during his time at BGSU. The first was at MD Anderson Cancer Center, a world-renowned institution dedicated to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. 

He also interned at the global pharmaceutical company Merck to expand his research experience to include academic, clinical and pharmaceutical settings. 

“In order to do science well, you need to have multiple perspectives, multiple angles, multiple kinds of fields to solve the hard questions,” said Phước, who is planning to pursue a doctorate degree to continue his research. “My vision is not about a certain title or job; I want to be a scientific leader. I want to guide a project all the way to the end and find a cure. I also want to support and mentor students who are aspiring to become the next generation of scientists, in the way my BGSU professors did for me.”