Bone Marrow Donor Internship in Armenia through the eyes of a high schooler
Many know the overarching mission behind the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry: to save the lives of those battling blood-related illnesses within our Armenian community worldwide. However, the complex scientific process happening behind laboratory doors is something few see firsthand. This summer, I had the honor of traveling to Yerevan to intern at the ABMDR lab. Over two transformative weeks, I learned what the incredible staff members do to find life-saving matches and why this system is vital to our community.
Traveling to Armenia for this internship was something I had anticipated for months. The moment I walked through the doors of the facility, I realized my two weeks there would be far more than just observation—it was an exciting hands-on journey that blew away all my expectations. From day one, the lab technicians and scientists welcomed me with open arms. Having read about their life-saving achievements from the U.S., I was genuinely starstruck, and now I was actually here.
My first week focused on immersing myself where I would be working, under the mentorship of one of the scientists shadowing her process of blood or cheek swab collection and testing.
- We performed quality control & quantification checks on isolated DNA using spectrophotometry to assess sample purity.
- Then used the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) machine where the DNA would be multiplied millions of times for detailed analysis.
- And finally, my mentor walked me through different strategies on allele resolution and HLA typing to find any potential matches with the HLA haplotypes between the volunteer donors and patients in urgent need of stem cell or bone marrow transplants.
During my internship, we were able to identify a match for a patient in another country. I was able to personally witness the stem cell harvesting process using the apheresis machine. Once we knew we had enough stem cells for the patient, the staff packaged everything and sent it to the patient by way of an international carrier. What a full circle moment.
What made this internship most unique was the level of trust the team placed in me. Rather than just watching, I was encouraged to perform many of the steps myself. My mentor provided constant guidance, real time advice, and strategies on how to do the work more efficiently. I learned how complex theories in biology were turned into practice skills used in the lab daily.
This experience challenged me to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a real-life STEM-based environment. I was moved by how organized, patient and welcoming everyone was toward the curious mind of a high school student. Their passion made learning more interesting and enjoyable, and starting to prepare me for a future in the world of science.
I encourage anyone interested in a career in the sciences – medical or otherwise, to consider doing this internship. Although you have a choice of attending for one week, I would highly encourage doing the two week program. An immersive, hands-on experience like this simply can’t be replicated, especially for a high school student like me.
The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) is a non-governmental, not for profit organization with its laboratory and donor registry in Yerevan. Beyond operating a world-class tissue typing laboratory and donor registry, ABMDR facilities include a Stem Cell Harvesting Center and a cryobank dedicated to preserving infant cord blood and stem cells. And in their spare time, the staff participate in ground breaking research, impacting global health and participating in symposiums worldwide. The lab management are members of the European Federation for immunogenetics (EFI) lecturing throughout Europe and participating in the certification and recertification processes of laboratories around the world. Above all, the lab serves as a beacon of hope where precise HLA typing bridges the gap between donors and patients across the world.
Contact Info:
Jacqueline Khatchadourian is a 12-grade student at Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, CA. She may be contacted by JacquiKhatch@gmail.com
