Studying the crosstalk between intestinal tuft cells and the adaptive immune system in the lab of Dr. Michael Howitt

In the Sperling Lab, I focused on characterizing differences in the microbiome and how these contribute to acute lung injury (ALI) and susceptibility to lung infection.

My research involved identifying the relationship between a novel protein, P311, and the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in mice. I am implemented a Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model to do so. Currently, P311 has no role in the characterization of the disease; however, my research puts this protein at the center of IPF pathogenesis.

Over the course of the summer, I worked in Dr. Lucia Nieto Schuger’s lab with a goal to characterize the role of a novel, RNA-binding protein to the development of a rare, fatal lung disease known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Ultimately, I implemented a Bleomycin-Induced fibrosis model in order to study the effects of fibrosis in a WT and KO mouse. I further supplemented these in vivo studies with fibroblast culture studies using qPCR, western blot and functional experiments.

Through Yale Medical School's Biomedical Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), I investigated innate immunity within lung epithelial cells to understand the mechanisms behind Influenza A infection with Dr. Charles Dela Cruz. On average, an adult human will breathe 10,000 L of air a day. Somewhere along the line, one will encounter a virus. My research elucidates the lung epithelial cell’s intuition when it comes to meeting a new antigen. To this end, I characterized the role bleomycin has on epithelial cells with respect to interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), mitochondrial integrity and anti-viral mechanisms. In hopes of understanding these mechanisms, infections can be fought by bolstering the immune system rather than creating more antivirals or antibiotics medications.

• Safeguarded, motivated, and assisted patients practicing exercises and functional activities under the direction of professional staff• Facilitated relationships between healthcare insurance companies and patients’ accounts with Athletico