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  • Turning Points
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Into the deep: Refocusing on 3D

Nature Cell Biology volume 14, page 332 (2012)Cite this article

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Over the past 40 years my scientific pursuits have evolved along uncharted paths, guided by personal experiences, unexpected research findings and serendipity. The most recent turning point in my research interests was shaped by three converging events: a mid-life career move, an investment from Harvard Medical School, and the inspiration and guidance of Mina Bissell.

First, some background details to put the events surrounding this turning point in perspective. In the 1960s, the acceptable path for an academically inclined high-school girl was teaching, so I started my undergraduate studies at Northwestern University, Illinois, aiming to become a high school mathematics teacher. In the autumn of my second year, however, my sister developed a brain tumour and I set out to understand how such a young person could develop this deadly disease. My sister's neurosurgeon led me to research articles on tumour viruses — this was the first turning point of my life. Perusing these articles opened my eyes to the world of experimental research. I was immediately captivated, switched to biology and chemistry studies and headed to graduate school.

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  1. Joan S. Brugge is at the Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA,

    Joan S. Brugge

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  1. Joan S. Brugge
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Correspondence to Joan S. Brugge.

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Brugge, J. Into the deep: Refocusing on 3D. Nat Cell Biol 14, 332 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb2470

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