University: University of Washington
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
NIH Research Project:
Examining the Immediate-Early Regulation of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus
Mentor: Steven L. Zeichner, M.D., Ph.D.
HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch
National Cancer Institute
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My first exposure to research occurred while shadowing my older sister, Nora, as she conducted research at the University of Washington. Watching her interact with her mentor and listening as they enthusiastically explained their work brought out a passion in me to learn more about science.
As a result, I participated in various summer science programs, but it was not until I began working in a cardiovascular research laboratory that I truly began to see the role research plays in developing new therapies and treatments. Since then, I have decided to further develop my skills as a researcher with the goal of investigating diseases and conditions that affect minorities and underserved communities.
As a second year UGSP Scholar, I am extremely appreciative of the guidance, encouragement, and experiences this program has given me, especially my two summer research experiences at the NIH.
Last summer, I had the privilege of training with Drs. Jeffrey Cohen and Trent Bosma of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. My research focused on a viral protein expressed during the latency of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). This study could lead to a better understanding of how herpesviruses such as VZV evade the immune system.
Currently, I am training in the National Cancer Institute with Drs. Steven Zeichner and Michael Lu studying the molecular pathogenesis of herpesviruses, specifically Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). My goal is to clone potential regulators of KSHV's lytic cycle (an important phase in the virus life cycle) in order to dissect its expression program. We hope to learn which regulators we need to target in order to stop the spread of KSHV, or cure it all together.
I am extremely excited about my future in research and am looking forward to graduating and applying to an M.D./Ph.D. program to further my research training. |
