Lara Jerman: The Evolutionary History of 2658 Cancers

ASEF, in cooperation with the Domžale Youth Center, presents the second online popular science lecture for young people in the ASEF Young Minds series. It will be performed by Lara Jerman, ASEF Fellow 2019 and a master’s student of computer science and mathematics. The lecture held in Slovene will take place online on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at 6 PM CET.

REGISTRATION
To view the lecture, you must register by May 20, 2020, at the latest by 6 PM. The Zoom link for access and the code for asking questions will be sent to all registered users by e-mail on the day of the event. It is possible to register for the event here.

ABOUT THE LECTURE
How do healthy cells develop cancer? What are the key events driving this process, and when do they occur? The genomic data of 2658 patients and their computer analysis allowed the construction of timelines for the development of 38 cancers offering answers. Knowledge of developmental patterns opens the door to new diagnostic tests that could detect signs of cancer much earlier.

ABOUT THE LECTURER
Lara Jerman is currently a master’s student of computer science and mathematics at the University of Ljubljana. In 2019, as part of the ASEF scholarship program, she participated in a research visit to prof. dr. Mateja Jamnik at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, where she carried out a project in the field of artificial intelligence. She also participated in a high-profile international study on cancer genetics published in the journal Nature. In the study, the researchers were able to read a comprehensive genomic record of 38 types of cancer, which will help to understand the functioning and progression of this disease. Lara became the Name of the Week on Wave 202 in early February.