By Fatima Magaña '22

WASHINGTON D.C. - Biochemistry alumnae Claire Fried ’26 and Lukea Pitinii ’26 traveled to the U.S. capital before graduating to take part in the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) annual conference.

Fried '26 (left) and Pitinii '26 (right) presenting their research in D.C.

Passionate about the medical field, Fried presented her research, “Trapped by Neutrophils: Casting a NET to Halt Breast Cancer Metastasis,” which focuses on harnessing the body’s immune defenses to prevent the spread of cancer.  

Pitinii researched therapeutic approaches to delaying the growth of breast cancer by presenting her work, “Liposome Encapsulated Curcumin Decreases Cell Proliferation in Triple Negative Breast Cancer.”

“Their [Claire and Lukea’s] achievements reflect Mount Union’s commitment to hands‑on scientific discovery, faculty‑mentored research, and preparing students to contribute meaningfully to the future of biomedical science,” said Dr. Keith Miller, dean of undergraduate students and professor of biochemistry and chemistry.

Claire and Lukea are among the many Mount Union alumni dedicated to building successful careers. Learn how your path in our Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Physics can become a successful career.