Benchtop to Bedside

Introduction

Welcome to my blog! My name is Brandon Than, and I’m currently an undergraduate student at the University of Houston Honors College majoring in Biology and minoring in Medicine & Society. Through my work in cancer research, community engagement, and clinical practice, I’ve come to realize how interconnected these fields are even though they tend to be recognized as distinct from each other. With this realization, it is essential to bridge the gap between the lab, the clinic, and the communities we serve.

Why this Blog?

This blog – Benchtop to Bedside – is a space where I’ll share my reflections on the intersection of science, medicine, public health, and equity. Its a place where I can document my experiences as I move through the path to becoming a physician, from lab research to clinical care, and how these pieces come together in the fight for better healthcare access and outcomes for all.

Through my journey, I aim to explore topics such as:

• Scientific and Medical Research — exploring the science behind my work in cancer biology and vaccine development, and reflecting on how research findings shape future clinical care.
• Mentorship and Education — sharing experiences mentoring students from underserved communities to undergraduate researchers, and highlighting the importance of early science engagement and educational equity.
• Health Equity and Access — discussing the intersection of healthcare disparities, community outreach, and advocacy to make care more just and accessible.
• Leadership and Advocacy — reflecting on lessons learned through leadership roles and working healthcare leaders, and examining how individual perspective and decisions impact community health.
• Reflections and Personal Growth — chronicling my journey from research to medical practice and the steps I’m taking to become a compassionate, informed, and impactful physician.

My Background & Path So Far

I’m proud to be part of the HonorsMed program at the University of Houston, which provides me with direct acceptance into medical school at the UH Fertitta Family College of Medicine. This unique opportunity gives me an early look at the future of healthcare and allows me to focus on how I will become a physician-leader combining research with patient-centered care.

Within community engagement, I am part of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Houston Galveston, which allowed me to create an initiative which seeks to empower asylum-seeking children to grow their social and emotional skills whilst strengthening their English linguistic skills to assist in their navigation through a new community. In addition, I direct an after-school science mentorship program for middle school students and created research internship opportunities for undergraduate and high schools students from Houston and across the nation.

In research, I am a member of the UH-Sequencing and Gene Editing Core, which focuses on using Next Generation Techniques to provide high-throughput sample to data outputs for researchers nationwide. As a junior researcher, I am focusing on the investigation to develop personalized cancer vaccines targeting gene fusions and chimeric RNA. This passion has allowed me to secure research funding and present our lab’s work at numerous regional, national, and international conferences.

From leading the development of a breast cancer vaccine to running after-school science mentoring programs for middle school students, I’ve learned that science doesn’t just happen in a vacuum. – learning is the result of efforts from individuals, communities, and systems. Every discovery, every insight, and every ounce of effort has the potential to make a real difference in someone’s life.

What to Expect

In this blog, I’ll write about the research I’m involved in, the challenges and joys of community engagement, insights into public health, reflections of my clinical experiences, and my personal journey toward a career in breast surgical oncology. Whether you’re interested in science, healthcare policy, or the journey of becoming a doctor, I hope you’ll find something here that resonates with you.

Thank you for being here, and I can’t wait to share more as I continue this journey from benchtop to bedside.