This summer I worked in the lab of Dr. Ken Jacobson in the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

The lab studies the structure-activity relationship of G-protein coupled receptors and small molecules. In this, I was tasked with the synthesis of various new drugs to work as antagonists against a specific type of receptor. The receptor I worked on has been implicated in the inflammatory response in relation to asthma as well as certain types of liver diseases and cancers. Through my work, we were able to add to the library of known compounds that antagonize this receptor and help elucidate leads for better treatments of these diseases.

At this experience I was able to further develop my abilities as a chemist, learning new ways to troubleshoot and problem solve. I was able to experience the environment of a large academic lab as well as work alongside accomplished scientists and postdocs who were able to guide me through my project. In the future, I hope to continue as a professor of chemistry.

SHARE

My summer experience was nothing short of exceptional. For the past six weeks, I was able to dive into the field of nephrology with some of the most renowned research physicians in their field.

During my time in the research labs, I was able to take some of my seemingly basic chemistry and biology knowledge and apply it to a research project that was investigating where a specific protein, APOL1, is located within cells. This protein is associated with renal failure in African Americans. The APOL1 protein is a by-product of their body’s evolutionary defense against Trypanosoma brucei, which is commonly called African Sleeping Sickness. The importance of identifying where this protein resides within specific cells could help to better shed light on how it influences cells individually.

I helped to experimentally construct the DNA to be put into a cell so that way it would produce a marker that would bind to the protein, APOL1, and indicate its location when examined under a microscope.

SHARE