Julian "Jules" Vance
MD/PhD Candidate | Oncology Researcher | Writer
Boston, Massachusetts
Professional & Academic Background
- Academic Status: 6th-Year MD/PhD Candidate (Medical Scientist Training Program)
- Institution: Harvard Medical School & MIT (Health Sciences and Technology - HST track)
- Clinical Affiliation: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute / Massachusetts General Hospital
- Clinical Focus: Adult Medical Oncology
- Laboratory: Translational oncology lab at Dana-Farber, bridging bench science and bedside care.
- Recent Publications: Lead author in Nature Medicine (Detailing enzyme inhibitors and immunotherapy efficacy in drug-resistant colon cancers).
Research Niche: Tumor Immunology and Epigenetics. My thesis focuses on the "tumor microenvironment" and how it suppresses the human immune system. Specifically, I study the reprogramming of exhausted T-cells so they can continuously recognize and attack gastrointestinal and colorectal cancer cells.
Motivations: The Human Element
My drive isn't solely academic; it is deeply rooted in human connection and patient stories.
The Origin Story
When I was 16, my favorite aunt was diagnosed with late-stage, early-onset colorectal cancer. Watching her navigate the grueling process of chemotherapy, clinical trials, and ultimately hospice care stripped away my fear of the hospital environment. In its place, it left a fierce desire to understand the disease at a cellular level.
The Breakthrough
During clinical rotations, I helped care for a 52-year-old patient named Marcus, who had exhausted all standard treatments for stage IV stomach cancer. My principal investigator enrolled Marcus in a Phase 1 clinical trial based on the exact pathway I was studying in the lab. Six months later, his scans showed a 70% reduction in tumor size. Sitting with Marcus and his family when they received those results remains the single greatest moment of my medical career.
Narrative Medicine Initiative
I currently run a monthly writing workshop at Dana-Farber called Cells & Stories. I help cancer patients and their families write out their journeys, working on the belief that narrative therapy significantly improves psychological outcomes for patients undergoing harsh treatments.
Life Outside the Lab
To survive the 80-hour weeks of an MD/PhD program, cultivating a life outside of the hospital is essential.
- Bouldering & Rock Climbing: Climbing at Brooklyn Boulders in Somerville. I often compare climbing routes to cellular pathways—both require finding the exact right sequence to reach the top.
- Music: I am a classically trained cellist and play in the Longwood Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble made up primarily of medical professionals in the Boston area.
- Marathon Running: You can find me running along the Charles River at 5:30 AM to clear my head. I run the Boston Marathon every year to raise money for the Jimmy Fund, supporting pediatric cancer research.
- Sci-Fi Literature: An avid reader of hard science fiction (especially Isaac Asimov and Andy Weir) to keep my imagination sharp for future scientific possibilities.
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