On Tuesday mornings, Israel Davila-Aleman (CELL ’25) volunteers at the Hope Clinic, a free medical facility dedicated to serving the uninsured and underrepresented. The rest of his week is dedicated to his studies and his research in Dr. Amber Gonda’s cancer biology lab, which focuses on early cancer detection through blood analysis, targeting cancer-specific signals released by cells.
The two locations could not be more different. The Hope Clinic is a bustling whirlwind of cheerful chaos, crammed full of patients and volunteers that Davila-Aleman tenderly describes as people who are, “just missing their halo and wings.” Davila-Aleman, who first visited the clinic as a teenager, now considers it an almost sacred space—a home where he has gained valuable experience and formed lasting connections. Everyone who works at the clinic, from the receptionists to the nurses, are volunteers. Here, a sense of mutual respect and shared compassion create a special bond between patients and healthcare workers.
The cancer biology lab, on the other hand, is an engaging, innovative environment dedicated to the sort of cutting-edge research and experimentation that Davila-Aleman gratefully describes as having, “completely converted me into the scientist I wanted to become.” Here, Davila-Aleman delves into the complex world of early cancer detection, where each new experiment provides him with the opportunity to benefit the lives of numerous people. It is in the cancer biology lab that the opportunities for service Davila-Aleman encounters in the Hope Clinic can be transformed into concrete scientific solutions.
Though distinct, both the cancer biology lab and the Hope Clinic act as stimulating settings where the intensive learning needed to foster true academic excellence takes place. Davila-Aleman is able to use what he learns in class and in the lab to help people at the clinic.
Evidence of this is apparent to any who work closely with Davila-Aleman. “He's a total go-getter,” Gonda says proudly. “He's not willing to wait until he has more tools. He's jumping whole-heartedly into serving people right now.”
Davila-Aleman’s drive to make a difference in real time can be seen in his work combating the pervasive bacterial infection known as Helicobacter pylorus.
“I spent about two years [at the Hope Clinic] visiting with patients—hearing about their sicknesses, their diseases,” Davila-Aleman shares. “And one of the most prominent ones that I kept hearing about was the Helicobacter pylori infection.”
Affecting more than 50 percent of the U.S. population, Helicobacter pylorus targets the stomach, disrupting normal cell development and creating an environment in which gastric cancer has the potential to thrive.
As a former patient of the Hope Clinic himself, Davila-Aleman has a unique empathy for the experiences of the current patients he serves at the clinic. Compelled to act, he decided to focus his research on Helicobacter pylorus to make a difference in their lives. “I said, ‘Dr. Gonda, what can our lab do about this? How can we use the research in our lab to benefit the patients at the Hope Clinic?’ After thinking about that question for a long time, we formulated a hypothesis and a plan,” Davila-Aleman explains. He is grateful for the opportunity to be engaged in research that he’s passionate about with guidance from experts like Professor Gonda.
Working in the cancer biology lab has strengthened Davila-Aleman’s testimony and helped him see God’s hand in his life, “God [has sent] me so many people and experiences that have influenced me to focus on cancer research. I cannot deny him. He needs me to do this, and he needs me to grow and learn in this cancer research area. It has been such a blessing.”
Gonda’s cancer biology lab focuses primarily on the use of exosomes—nanosized, membrane-bound vesicles secreted by cells—as cancer-predicting biomarkers. Each exosome contains a unique blend of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids that act as diagnostics, providing medical professionals with important information about their patient's condition much earlier than traditional methods would allow.
Davila-Aleman’s hope is that by studying the exosomes of patients at the Hope Clinic who have Helicobacter pylori infections, they will be able to help medical providers catch potential gastric cancer before it's too late.
“In the long-term,” Gonda explains, “this would be like going in to get your cholesterol checked, but instead this time maybe you’re also getting checked for exosomal gastric changes.”
Though Davila-Aleman’s research has a way to go before it can be fully integrated into the current healthcare system, his persistent, compassionate advocacy bodes well for the future of those suffering from chronic Helicobacter pylori infections. Whether it’s in the lab or at the clinic, Davila-Aleman exemplifies Christlike service. He is developing his divine potential at BYU by embracing not merely a code of ethics, but also his discipleship to Christ as he serves others through his research.