Dr Ghai’s Passion In Cancer Research
“I always believed that science is the thing for me and I’m glad I found my passion in cancer research,” Dr. Anchal Ghai declared definitively about her work in the new Department of Biomedical Engineering. Originally from Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Dr. Ghai moved to Dallas in early 2022 as an Instructor in the Achilefu Lab. Her research focuses on exploring the potential of Cerenkov radiation produced by positron emitters in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs to treat hematological malignancies. “Atoms are everywhere, some of them are unstable and give off atomic radiation in the form of energy to achieve stability. I hope to use that emitted energy to image and treat diseases. It’s a beautiful concept that follows nature’s drive towards stability.”
Dr. Ghai originally wanted to become a physician. However, through medical school entrance exams, she was steered towards dentistry. Knowing herself well, she decided that dentistry was not for her, and she would instead work towards a Ph.D. in nuclear medicine. Although she grew to love science through her studies in life sciences, nuclear medicine-radiation biology, radiochemistry, and radiation physics, it was not until she spent time in a clinic at PGIMER-Chandigarh that she realized how motivated she is to end pain for those who suffer. “My heart breaks when I see children—anyone really—in pain”, so she switched her focus to studying different types of cancer.
Dr. Ghai joined UT Southwestern from Washington University in St. Louis, where she worked closely with nuclear and optical imaging pioneers Drs. Monica Shokeen and Samuel Achilefu. Through Dr. Ghai’s important research into multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells, she realized that relapse is common and hard to predict. “The kind of projects I am working on right now at UT Southwestern are quite promising,” she says happily. “It gives me hope that we are taking the science in the right direction.”
Outside of the lab, Dr. Ghai enjoys experiencing all Dallas has to offer. She has really taken to experiencing the different cultural events the Indian diaspora holds in Dallas. She also enjoys exploring the city and meeting people from different communities, embracing Dallas’ reputation for being a melting pot of different cultures. Her intrinsic motivation for life inside and outside of the lab is evident as she continuously strives to make a positive impact. “If I can make a difference in people’s lives with my research, then that’s what I need to do.”