Each day, representatives from more than 20 organizations will be on hand to share information about their group’s mission, goals, and structure. Students will be able to join most of those organizations on the spot.

“It's important to be involved on campus because you develop skills that will last you a lifetime,” said Marnie Williams, a fourth-year biomedical engineering major and member of Best Buddies International, which connects students to people with disabilities in hopes of breaking down barriers and misconceptions. “By investing in an organization at Tech, you have the chance to become a leader, a follower, to work with people who are different than you, to problem-solve, and to make an impact on campus, in the community, and in the world.”

Studies have shown that students who are involved on campus get better grades and more job offers, and are ultimately more satisfied with their undergraduate experience than peers who aren’t involved in an organization or activity outside of the classroom.

“Getting involved on campus really sets the tone for your entire college career and life beyond Tech,” said Rachel Witt, a second-year student and member of College Republicans. “Involvement opens your eyes to a world of possibilities that you might not have been exposed to prior to college and shapes you into a more cultured and well-rounded individual.”

Studies have also shown that the happiest people are those who lead balanced lives and develop close relationships with others.

"We’re social creatures by nature and need emotional connections with others in order to be self-confident and fulfilled," said Tiffiny Hughes-Troutman, licensed psychologist and outreach coordinator for the Georgia Tech Counseling Center. "Social interaction helps us to reduce stress and cope with problems. It also plays a role in keeping us healthy and resisting illness."

Attending an event such as iWeek can be the first step in building these emotional connections in a new place.

"The key is to make yourself available, act friendly, and open yourself to new people and positive experiences," said Hughes-Troutman. "New friends can be found in class, on the Stinger, or even at the CRC."

Kelly Cross, coordinator of Student Organizations and Leadership for the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement, has the following advice for students who plan to attend iWeek:

1. Have an open mind. 
2. If you're feeling overwhelmed, take a break and come back later. 
3. Do some research ahead of time and target your search.
4. Start with one organization.
5. Find something that you’re passionate about. If you love what you are doing it will look good on your resume. 

The weeklong showcase of campus organizations runs Aug. 26–30 on Tech Walk. Students who are unable to attend iWeek events can browse all of Tech’s student organizations on JacketPages or contact the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement at leadandengage@gatech.edu.

Previous lab studies suggest that metastasizing cancer cells undergo a major molecular change when they leave the primary tumor – a process called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). As the cells travel from one site to another, they pick up new characteristics. More importantly, they develop a resistance to chemotherapy that is effective on the primary tumor. But confirmation of the EMT process has only taken place in test tubes or in animals.

In a new study, published in the Journal of Ovarian Research, Georgia Tech scientists have direct evidence that EMT takes place in humans, at least in ovarian cancer patients. The findings suggest that doctors should treat patients with a combination of drugs: those that kill cancer cells in primary tumors and drugs that target the unique characteristics of cancer cells spreading through the body.

The researchers looked at matching ovarian and abdominal cancerous tissues in seven patients. Pathologically, the cells looked exactly the same, implying that they simply fell off the primary tumor and spread to the secondary site with no changes. But on the molecular level, the cells were very different. Those in the metastatic site displayed genetic signatures consistent with EMT. The scientists didn’t see the process take place, but they know it happened.

“It’s like noticing that a piece of cake has gone missing from your kitchen and you turn to see your daughter with chocolate on her face,” said John McDonald, director of Georgia Tech’s Integrated Cancer Research Center and lead investigator on the project. “You didn’t see her eat the cake, but the evidence is overwhelming. The gene expression patterns of the metastatic cancers displayed gene expression profiles that unambiguously identified them as having gone through EMT.”

The EMT process is an essential component of embryonic development and allows for reduced cell adhesiveness and increased cell movement.

According to Benedict Benigno, collaborating physician on the paper, CEO of the Ovarian Cancer Institute and director of gynecological oncology at Atlanta’s Northside Hospital, “These results clearly indicate that metastasizing ovarian cancer cells are very different from those comprising the primary tumor and will likely require new types of chemotherapy if we are going to improve the outcome of these patients.”

Ovarian cancer is the most malignant of all gynecological cancers and responsible for more than 14,000 deaths annually in the United States alone. It often reveals no early symptoms and isn’t typically diagnosed until after it spreads.

“Our team is hopeful that, because of the new findings, the substantial body of knowledge that has already been acquired on how to block EMT and reduce metastasis in experimental models may now begin to be applied to humans,” said Georgia Tech graduate student Loukia Lili, co-author of the study.