A 26-year-old Pakistani woman is contributing to cancer research in France through work focused on immunotherapy and cancer vaccine approaches.
Sabreena Khan is working at the Cancer Research Centre of Lyon, one of France’s leading oncology research institutes. She is part of the institute’s Immunology Department, where researchers study treatments that use the body’s immune system to fight cancer.
The institute was established in 2011 in Lyon to support translational cancer research. Its work focuses on moving scientific discoveries from the laboratory toward treatments that can benefit patients.
Sabreena was born and raised in Pakistan. She left home at the age of 19 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering in South Korea.
During her undergraduate studies, she developed a strong interest in the use of bioengineering in cancer research. That interest later led her to France, where she pursued a master’s degree in Cancer Bioengineering.
For Sabreena, the study of how the immune system interacts with cancer cells became both intellectually challenging and personally meaningful.
She moved to France because of the country’s strong research infrastructure and focus on scientific innovation.
Sabreena’s current work focuses on immunotherapy and cancer vaccine approaches.
Cancer vaccines are considered an important area in oncology because they aim to strengthen the immune system’s ability to identify and attack cancer cells.
Sabreena believes the idea of reprogramming the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells is powerful.
Her work involves studying cell behavior, immune responses and the tumor environment. Each experiment adds to the wider scientific effort to understand how cancer can be treated more effectively.
Cancer affects millions of people around the world every year. Sabreena says the purpose behind her work keeps her motivated despite the pressure and difficulty of research.
Laboratory work often involves long hours, failed experiments and constant pressure to produce meaningful results.
Still, she sees her contribution as part of a much larger effort to improve cancer treatment.
She believes even small contributions in the lab can eventually play a role in helping patients.
Sabreena’s journey has not been easy.
After moving to France, she faced academic pressure, cultural adjustment and language barriers. She also struggled with social isolation because many conversations around her took place in French.
At social events, lunches and dinners, she often found herself standing quietly while others spoke in a language she was still learning.
However, she gradually began learning French one phrase at a time.
She also had to adjust to a more direct and individualistic culture. France’s social and academic environment was different from what she had experienced in Pakistan and South Korea.
Over time, she learned to balance her Pakistani identity with her new environment.
Sabreena’s story also reflects the challenges many Pakistani women face when choosing non-traditional careers.
She recalls that a close relative once jokingly suggested that biomedical engineering meant she would “fix machines at a hospital.”
The comment reflected a common misunderstanding about biomedical research.
In Pakistan, women are often encouraged to pursue traditional paths such as teaching or medicine. Fields such as biomedical research, cancer bioengineering and immunology are not always widely understood or encouraged.
Despite these barriers, Sabreena’s family supported her ambitions and helped her move forward.
Sabreena says she carries her Pakistani identity with pride.
As a Pakistani woman in a global research environment, she believes she brings a different perspective to the field.
Her journey also shows that Pakistani students can contribute to advanced scientific research at international institutions if they get the right opportunities, support and guidance.
Sabreena plans to continue her education and research in immunology.
After completing her master’s degree, she hopes to pursue a PhD in cancer research.
Her long-term goal is to bring her knowledge, experience and research skills back to Pakistan.
She wants to help strengthen cancer research in the country and make advanced scientific approaches more accessible.
For young Pakistani girls interested in science, her advice is simple: do not let fear stop you.
She believes persistence, guidance and self-belief can help students overcome barriers and create new possibilities.
Via: Geo
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