2023 Undergraduate Summer Studentship
Project title: Interactions between bioactive lipids: key to the maintenance of systemic vasodilation in pregnancy
How would you describe your research project to someone without a scientific background?
In pregnancy, it is crucial that the capacity for arteries to relax or dilate is increased to adapt to higher amounts of blood. This will control blood pressure and ensure sufficient supply to both the fetus and pregnant person. S1P and LPA are lipids (fatty molecules) in our blood that each contribute to dilation of arteries. S1P and LPA likely work together to have a combined effect, but we do not know how this happens, particularly in pregnancy. I will investigate the dilation responses in arteries from pregnant and non-pregnant mice to combined and individual treatments with S1P and LPA.
What impact do you hope this project makes once completed?
I hope this project will be a step forward in further understanding normal physiology and the physiology of vascular adaptations in pregnancy, as well as contribute to understanding vascular pathologies. For example, although there have been tremendous strides in our understanding of complications in pregnancy that involve high blood pressure, including preeclampsia, we cannot predict those who will develop this, and the available treatments only deal with symptoms. It is possible that infections could also contribute to pregnancy disorders. However, understanding healthy blood vessel control is critical for the understanding of these pathologies, and I hope my project contributes to this!
How will the support from Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology help you?
Over the past academic year, I’ve been working on a project investigating the sex dependent vascular effects of the interactions of S1P and LPA pathways. This support from the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology allows me to expand on my knowledge of the physiology of these lipids in the new context of pregnancy! I am very interested in pursuing a career in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. This support allows me to contribute meaningfully to the field, which is an invaluable opportunity.
When did you realize you wanted to pursue a degree / career in science?
In high school biology, I had to design, conduct and write a report for an experiment. I decided to look at how temperature affects the breakdown of protein. It was challenging, but with help from my teacher and a few online resources, I decided to use egg whites and observe their digestion by pepsin in an environment simulating the stomach! Through this experience, I realized how much creativity really went into science; from the experimental design to practical execution. One day I was making a solution while being the only one in the room, and I decided that was what I wanted to keep doing!
What is something your colleagues do not know about you?
I used to take tennis lessons (now I sometimes play for fun with my family)!
What one word would you use to describe yourself? What one word would your friends use to describe you?
I would describe myself as passionate. My friends would likely describe me as bubbly!