You don’t need to have everything figured out to start; stay curious, seek out mentors in your community, and continue pursuing opportunities that seem out of reach.
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Houston is more than a city. It’s a community powered by resilience, diversity, and connection. As a trusted electric company in Houston, we know that our city keeps moving because of the people who make a difference every day. That’s why, in this edition of La Luz de la Comunidad, we’re taking things to a more personal level and highlighting an inspiring member of the community.
Today, we feature Cole Woody, a Houston community member and local student who shares his journey, passion for giving back, and what makes life in Houston special.
Cole Woody uses equipment in his lab at the Science and Engineering Research Center. Photos for the Scholar’s Walk. March18. 2024.
Community Spotlight: Houston Students Making a Difference
Congratulations on earning the Barry Goldwater Scholarship! What inspired you to begin researching personalized cancer-fighting vaccines using chimeric RNAs?
Growing up watching X-Men, I had always been fascinated by the power of our genes and how minor mutations can change their function in major ways. As I grew up, this interest drew me to genetics and eventually to the UH-Sequencing Core when I began looking for labs specializing in this field.
At the UH Sequencing Core, I first encountered immuno-oncology and the concept of personalized cancer vaccines. We use chimeric RNAs to track down fusion genes, a type of genetic mutation, that are unique to a patient’s cancer. This unique identity allows us to develop vaccines to help the immune system target cancer while keeping healthy cells alive.
STEM Research at the University of Houston
You developed the “MHCole Pipeline” — could you walk us through what it does, how it works, and why improving processing efficiency was so important?
I developed the MHCole Pipeline to accelerate personalized cancer vaccine research. To understand what MHCole does, it’s important to highlight that every person’s immune system is unique. One key player in this is a group of genes called the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). Every person has 3-6 MHC class 1 variants, and they play a crucial role in communicating to your immune system that a cell has become cancerous. However, for the MHC complex to activate your immune system, the cancer target (antigen) must first bind sufficiently to the MHC complex. However, there are thousands of MHC class 1 variants, all with different antigen-binding affinities. With personalized vaccines, we provide your immune system with antigens that will bind with high affinity to your specific MHC class 1 proteins.
However, testing hundreds of different protein interactions on 3-6 MHC proteins per person can get costly fast. To mitigate this, researchers have developed peptide-MHC prediction tools. They allow us to determine which antigens will bind the strongest by simply using our computers. However, several of these tools are racially biased, provide inaccurate results, or only look at antigen presentation as a 2D process. MHCole is a pipeline that utilizes RNA-sequencing, machine learning, and a combined 2D sequence and 3D docking approach to accurately predict the binding affinity of antigens to a patient’s MHC proteins.
I first sequence a patient’s tumor to identify their MHC variants and mutated proteins found only in cancerous cells. In the lab, I validate that these proteins exist and begin predicting binding affinities using MHCole. I process the protein sequence into smaller sequences of 9 amino acids in length. These shorter proteins, referred to as peptides, serve as cancer antigens. I will then use two 2D, sequence-based prediction tools to perform a preliminary analysis and overlay their results. The top 10 peptide-MHC combinations are shortlisted and moved along in the pipeline to APE-Gen2.0, which 3D models how the peptide will interact with the MHC binding receptor.
The 10 complexes are scored based on their polarity and ranked. We are then able to determine which of these peptide-MHC pairings to test in the lab, providing our patients with the cancer vaccine targets and validating the efficacy of the MHCole pipeline. As time is of the essence for cancer patients, data processing speed is of utmost importance. The increased efficiency of MHCole means personalized vaccines are developed faster, and more patients can be helped in a shorter time.
As the first UH sophomore to earn the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, how did it feel, and what does it mean for your academic journey?
When applying for the Goldwater scholarship, I was surrounded by support while also being reminded to keep my expectations low. I was told that to win, I “would need to become the second coming of immuno-oncology,” a field of research I had dedicated years of my life to. So, when I won, I was both stunned and deeply proud. Learning I was the first UH sophomore to ever receive the award made it feel all the more surreal.
After connecting with fellow scholars, I discovered the physician-scientist path and found ways to translate patient interactions into innovative research. Beyond its prestige, the Goldwater Scholarship has amplified my platform to advocate for research funding, dissuade vaccine hesitancy, and continue contributing to scientific communities across the nation.
Academic & Career Path: Building Experience in Research
You’re working at UH’s Sequencing Core and MD Anderson’s Dr. Lin’s lab — how do these experiences enrich and shape your vision for a future MD‑PhD?
Similarly to how a physician-scientist bridges the clinic and the bench, my work at both UH’s Sequencing Core and MD Anderson has allowed me to bridge computational biology and wet-lab immunology. At the Sequencing Core, I’ve gained hands-on experience with Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques and bioinformatics, while at MD Anderson, I’ve advanced experiments identifying T-cell responses in cancer models after COVID-19 vaccination.
This dual exposure has made me a more versatile and independent scientist, allowing me to design and interpret experiments across disciplines. Most importantly, these experiences have reinforced my commitment to translational science and pursuit of an MD-PhD to one day lead clinical trials that advance the development of novel cancer immunotherapies.
How has your research journey and recognition inspired or impacted other students around you at the University of Houston?
While I can’t speak for my peers, I hope my journey shows others that they don’t need to wait until they feel “ready” to pursue competitive opportunities. When I began writing my Goldwater application, winning felt impossibly far away, and it was only when I had won that the impossible felt within reach.
Research has been one of the most enriching and transformative parts of my education, and I hope to continue helping more students, especially those new to research, find their footing in labs and explore paths they may not have previously considered.
Work Ethic & Dedication in the Lab
Your mentor Preethi Gunaratne mentioned you routinely worked 60–70 hours per week — what drives that level of commitment and how do you manage balance and burnout?
A genuine interest in my research plays a major role in making me excited to come into the lab and make it not feel like work. Additionally, knowing my research advances the health of patients has been an inexhaustible source of motivation and has driven me to continue planning experiments late into the night. However, I don’t do it alone.
I’ve been incredibly lucky to work alongside mentors and lab mates who support me, make me laugh, and remind me to step away when I need to. I try to keep balance by spending time with my sisters, hanging out with friends, and volunteering; small moments that give me space to rest and reset.
Portrait of Cole Woody and Dr. Preethi Gunaratne in their lab at the Science and Engineering Research Center. Photos for the Scholar’s Walk. March18. 2024.
Broader Impact on Community & Public Service
You also received the Phi Beta Kappa Key into Public Service award — how do you see your research as a form of community or public service?
As a translational researcher, science and service are inseparable. By specifically targeting cancers that are unresponsive or have no treatment options available, I work to address the unmet medical needs of my community. Helping develop these new treatments means extending the lives of our loved ones and prolonging the time they have left to continue positively impacting their communities.
Beyond the lab, you’ve been involved in NIH summer research and mentor underserved students through AHA and U.S. Army programs — what motivates you to invest in these outreach efforts?
Growing up without anyone in my family pursuing the career I envisioned, I had to figure out this path largely on my own. Through programs like AHA and the U.S. Army’s mentorship programs, I now can provide others with what I wish I had when I was younger, such as guidance, representation, and a clear understanding of the various careers available in research.
By mentoring students from underserved backgrounds, I hope to make research more accessible and ensure the future of science reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.
Ethics, Culture & Identity in Science
You’ve expressed interest in bioethics and science policy — what ethical challenges excite you most as you pioneer cancer vaccine research?
As someone researching cancer vaccines, I’ve seen firsthand how medical misinformation can undermine trust and complicate care. I believe it’s our responsibility as healthcare professionals to ensure patients understand their options, but that often means walking a fine line between correcting misinformation and respecting patient autonomy.
Navigating informed consent in an age of rising vaccine skepticism is one of the most pressing and complex ethical challenges I hope to address through both science and policy.
Future Ambitions: From Houston to Harvard
What’s next for your research — specifically regarding MHCole Pipeline enhancements, clinical testing, or translating vaccines into real-world impact?
While I continue refining MHCole to improve prediction accuracy, my focus has shifted to wet-lab work. I’m now exploring how existing, commercially available mRNA vaccines could be paired with current cancer therapies to help treat resistant cancers, hopefully bringing us closer to accessible, real-world applications for patients with limited options.
Your acceptance into the Harvard/MIT HEART MD‑PhD program is monumental — what are you most looking forward to in that next phase of training?
I’m looking forward to gaining hands-on clinical experience and seeing how my research translates to a hospital setting. Being immersed in both clinical and lab work will give me a clearer view of how MD-PhDs balance patient care with scientific discovery.
As my research at Harvard will help me better understand why some patients experience side effects from vaccines, I’m eager to apply my findings to design treatments that mitigate these adverse effects, making them more accessible to a broader population.
Advice & Inspiration for Future STEM Leaders
What advice would you give to high school or early college students who dream of combining STEM research with community-driven goals?
Never be afraid to keep asking questions. We all must start somewhere, and although research can often feel intimidating at first, we are a community unified by a shared mission to improve the health of all. You don’t need to have everything figured out to start; stay curious, seek out mentors in your community, and continue pursuing opportunities that seem out of reach.
How can local organizations and energy providers like Amigo Energy support students like you in STEM fields and research careers?
By investing in mentorship, paid research opportunities, and outreach programs, organizations can help level the playing field. The students I mentor are extremely passionate about research but often lack the necessary resources to navigate this path. Community support can be the bridge that turns potential into impact.
Amigo Energy’s Commitment to Community Support
Cole’s story is a reminder that Houston’s true power comes from its people. We’re proud to be part of this community as a reliable Houston electricity provider, helping families stay connected to what matters most.
If you’re ready to make the switch, explore our affordable Houston electricity plans today and see why Amigo Energy is trusted by Texans across the state.