First-generation Cal State Fullerton student Vyanka Mezcord is committed to addressing cancer health disparities.
Mezcord grew up in Costa Rica, shaped by the philosophy known as “pura vida.” The “pure life” philosophy emphasizes maintaining a positive outlook, resilience and making the most of every opportunity.
“This philosophy, combined with my personal experiences, drives my determination to find solutions that can reduce health disparities and approach challenges with optimism and dedication,” said Mezcord, a senior biological science major.
For the past year, Mezcord has had the opportunity to pursue her interest in cancer health disparities research as part of CSUF’s Cancer Health Equity Research Partnership with UC Irvine, directed by Marcelo E. Tolmasky, chair and professor of biological science. The university was awarded a $905,787 grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute for the program.
Mezcord is a UCI faculty-student research team member who identified a key enzyme contributing to cancer health disparities within the Latin American population. She is a co-author of the study published in Nature Communications.
The research focuses on developing a molecular-based digital test for patients with an aggressive subtype of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, which is most common among Hispanics with Latin American ancestry.
“This experience has deeply influenced my perspective on the importance of advancing cancer research,” she said.
Cancer research fascinates her because it combines complex molecular biology with real-world implications for patient care. But she also is personally motivated. Her grandmother battled with cancer, exposing her family to health care disparities.
“The potential to uncover new methods for preventing or treating cancer is incredibly motivating,” said Mezcord, who moved to the U.S. as a teenager with her parents. “But I am driven by the desire to address the inequalities in health care that have affected my family and to make a meaningful contribution to the field of molecular biology.”
Mezcord aspires to a career as a research scientist and is on track to graduate in January. She plans to apply to graduate school this fall and pursue a doctorate in molecular biology or a related field, focusing on cancer research.
For the past three years, Mezcord has been studying antibiotic resistance under the guidance of CSUF’s María Soledad Ramírez, professor of biological science. She has contributed to multiple publications — 11 to date — as a lead student researcher.
Mezcord is investigating how vitamin B12 impacts resistance in gram-negative bacteria that cause pneumonia and other life-threatening infections.
“The study aims to enhance our understanding of resistance mechanisms, which could help develop better antibiotics and strategies against multidrug-resistant pathogens,” Mezcord said.
To help support her CSUF research efforts, she received an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Center Fellowship Award in 2024. She was also awarded the Greg Wright Fellowship in 2022 from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, given to outstanding students studying cellular and developmental biology or molecular biology and biotechnology.
Mezcord has gained a solid foundation for graduate studies and her future research career through hands-on laboratory experiences at CSUF and UCI and rigorous coursework, which enhanced her critical thinking, data analysis and public speaking skills.
“My goal is to use research to help bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and the communities most affected by health disparities,” she said.