University: Tufts University
Hometown: Bayamon, PR
NIH Research Project:
Adeno-associated Virus Mediated Gene Delivery of Neurotropic Factors into the Central Nervous System
Mentor: Ron D. G. McKay, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Molecular Biology
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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I am a senior at Tufts University, where I am pursuing a major in biology-psychology. Research has always captivated my attention because of its potential to better people's lives and because of the never-ending search for answers to accomplish that goal. As I learned more about neuroscience, I started to get more interested in biomedical research, and recently this interest has been directed at stem cell research and its application on the central nervous system. Under the mentorship of Dr. David Kaplan at Tufts, this interest grew as I became involved with research on bone marrow stem cells.
I feel extremely grateful for being selected as a UGSP Scholar. Under the supervision of Dr. Ronald McKay at the Molecular Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, I am actually training in one of the country's leading labs on stem cell research. This laboratory conducts research on the mechanisms underlying the differentiation of stem cells in the central nervous system and their potential as therapy for neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease. I am currently involved in a method for the delivery of certain genes into the central nervous system. These genes are known to protect and promote the survival of cells. This approach could have a tremendous application for gene therapy for this and other diseases. |
