RaMP Spring 2025 Project Descriptions

Nirpesh Adhikari, Postdoctoral Fellow

Developmental Biology, CCHMC

In person

The project aims to elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms associated with Alx1/Alx3 related frontonasal dysplasia by exploiting gene knock out models in mice. The student researcher is expected to work with basics of PCR and electrophoresis for identification of the genotype. Process the provided samples through Ethanol dehydration and embedding in the paraffin blocks, take microtome sections followed by Hematoxylin- Eosin-alcian blue staining and imaging to examine the histology. The student needs at least 8 hours per week to be able to perform the tasks in the lab. By the end of the mentorship, the student will be able to perform PCR and electrophoresis, take paraffin sections, stain and take image under microscope and analyze the histological differences between the control and mutant samples.

Saima Ali, PhD Candidate

Developmental Biology, CCHMC

In person

Campbell lab studies the development of neural circuits in the basal ganglia of the mammalian forebrain. These brain circuits control the voluntary movement and have been implicated in childhood neuropsychiatric disorders such as Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome. The striatum, the major component of the basal ganglia which receives extensive input from the cerebral cortex and sends its output via two distinct pathways: The direct (striatonigral) and indirect (striatopallidal) pathways to select appropriate motor programs.

My projects mainly focus on the development of striatal projection neurons (SPNs) in the direct pathway (i.e. dSPNs). Using genetic manipulation in the mouse, we examine the role of distinct developmental control genes on the growth and targeting of dSPN axons in the forming brain as well as the impact that abnormal development of these axons has on the associated corticospinal and thalamocortical trajectories. Our lab utilizes basic to advanced molecular biology techniques, transcriptomics, and genomics to seek answers for the novel research questions. The RaMP student will work closely with Saima Ali and receive all the wet lab training in a hands-on manner. Besides bench training, the student will be provided with the opportunities to improve their presentation skills. Weekly lab meetings and quarterly data presentation will aid the student to improve their presentation and public speaking skills. Our lab has trained many postdocs, graduate students as well as SURF and BRIMS undergraduate students. The Campbell lab environment is very friendly and flexible, we offer students to work around their other commitments without any stress.

Students are expected to work 10-12 hours a week to generate some valuable data.

Shyh-Chi Chen, Postdoctoral Fellow

Biological Sciences, Rieveschl Hall

In Person

This project will investigate the humidity sensation in various insect systems. Humidity detection is critical for terrestrial animals to avoid dehydration. The results will help us better understand how environmental changes impact insect humidity sensation and survival. Students who participate in this project will have opportunities to help with insect husbandry, conduct behavioral experiments, and contribute to the publications. The student is expected to work on this project for at least 8 hours per week.

Ameet Chimote, PhD

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, UCCOM

In Person

Our laboratory seeks motivated students interested in cancer immunology research. Our research focuses on studying immune cell function in head and neck cancers, especially how T and NK cells infiltrate the tumor microenvironment to attack and kill cancer cells.  A key aspect of our research involves understanding how the tumor microenvironment suppresses immune cells through mechanisms such as increased adenosine production, exosomes, and checkpoint inhibitors. In addition, we are developing innovative nanovesicle-based therapies to specifically target immune cell populations and overcome these immunosuppressive mechanisms, thus enhancing the body’s natural antitumor response.  

Students will gain hands-on experience in a biomedical research laboratory, learning experimental design, developing protocols, data analysis, and data visualization. Students will learn about tissue culture, microscopy, flow cytometry, nanoparticle fabrication, and other cutting-edge techniques. Students may have opportunities to co-author abstracts or manuscripts for publication and to present their findings at regional and national scientific conferences.  

While we offer the flexibility to accommodate the student's schedule, we anticipate a commitment of 10-15 hours per week from the student. We also encourage active participation and presentations in our weekly lab meetings. This is an excellent opportunity for motivated students who are enthusiastic about cancer research and immunology to contribute to impactful cancer research and advance their scientific careers.  

More information can be found on our laboratory website https://med.uc.edu/confortilab

Jose Cobena-Reyes, Postdoctoral Fellow

Biomedical Informatics, CCHMC

In Person

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is a chronic disease that affects about 1 in 1000 thousand children. The exact cause of this condition is unknown. There are 4 non-systemic JIA subtypes: Oligoarthritis, Polyarthritis RF-, Polyarthritis RF+, and Juvenile Spondyloarthritis (JSpA). Current treatments include disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) that can be synthetic, biologic, or in combination, with the goal to achieve inactive disease off medication. The aims of the study include using clinical informatics tools to understand the development of the disease, the interactions among variables on a complex and highly dimensional dataset derived from EPIC, and to assess the effect of treatment line sequences on clinical outcomes for each of the non-systemic subtypes.

Kevin Duque, MD, Postdoctoral Fellow

Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology & Rehabilitation, UCCOM

Online

Clinical trials for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases have enrolled tens of thousands of older adults with no success in targeting brain protein aggregates common in all patients. The Cincinnati Cohort Biomarker Program (CCBP) aims to redefine the treatment approach with precision medicine by targeting the unique biological signature that drives neurodegeneration in each patient. Many biomarker cohorts lack funding to create a schema for collecting large databases and sharing data efficiently. The CCBP has developed a database schema using free-access tools and plans to publish the pipeline so that other investigators can use it as a guide to create theirs and offer hassle-free access to their data.

We offer a mentoring program for a RaMP student to lead on one or more of the following parts of this project: (a) improving our data dictionary and database schema (its relational database for sharing data and samples, notification triggers, etc.), (b) syncing our data in our database to our website, (c) critically analyzing the database for data quality check, and (d) collecting data. The program can be done remotely, and have more bioinformatics curricula depending on your interest. A student familiar with technology is ideal. You will have access to clinical data, have meetings with the mentor and the research team and gain hands-on experience. Depending on your interest, you will be encouraged to watch REDCap tutorial videos and take classes in R. You may learn about REDCap, R, Shiny, Power BI, WordPress for website development, and how to gather data from research and medical charts. As a member of our team, you will participate in our research and academic meetings and be encouraged to present data and discuss future directions. An average commitment of 10-15 hours per week will enhance your experience. We hope our relationship will continue beyond the program, as it has been with our ten undergraduate, medical, and graduate mentees in the past five years. Are you a motivated student? Don't hesitate to apply with us!

Adewale Fadaka, Postdoctoral Fellow

Anesthesia, CCHMC

In Person

This project aims to elucidate the modulatory effects of locally delivered Growth Hormone (GH) on neonatal hypersensitivity in the context of muscle inflammation. The research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which GH influences neuroimmune interactions and its potential therapeutic implications for neonatal inflammatory conditions. The study involves the use of different mouse models to investigate the role of GH signaling pathways in the modulation of inflammatory and pain responses.

Role of the Student Researcher: The student researcher will play a vital role in various aspects of this project. They will be responsible for assisting with animal handling, genotyping, and conducting behavioral assays to assess hypersensitivity in neonatal mice. Additionally, the student will participate in molecular biology techniques such as RNA extraction, qPCR, and possibly immunohistochemistry to analyze gene expression and protein localization. The student will also be involved in data analysis, interpretation, and presentation during lab meetings. This experience will provide the student with comprehensive exposure to neuroimmunology research and the opportunity to develop critical laboratory skills.

Desired Hours per Week: The project requires a commitment of approximately 10-15 hours per week. This schedule is flexible and can be adjusted to accommodate the student's academic commitments.

Qingnian Goh, PhD

Orthopaedic Surgery, CCHMC

In Person

Injury to the brachial plexus at birth is a common cause of childhood neuromuscular disorder. It leads to the formation of disabling muscle contractures, or limb stiffness, which severely limits joint mobility and function in the injured arms. As these contractures are incurable, our lab seeks to understand how they develop, and design strategies to prevent them and restore quality of life in affected children. Currently, we are exploring how a muscle grows in length, and investigating drug therapies for preventing contractures. 

Our lab takes a holistic approach in your development as a future professional in the biomedical sciences. We offer you a unique opportunity to work with and learn from both scientists and clinicians. You can also expect a strong commitment from us in our mentoring relationship, which we hope will extend beyond this program. For your part, you will be challenged to think critically, be engaged and proactive in learning, and develop your research communication skills. Above all else, a strong desire to learn and willingness to be involved will greatly enhance your research experience!

While your lab schedule is flexible, a weekly commitment of 8-10 hours across 2-3 days/week would enhance your experience with us.

Kevin Haworth, PhD

Cardiovascular Health and Disease, UCCOM

In Person

This project is part of a newly funded NIH grant to improve a new ultrasound-based technology for removing deep vein thrombosis in a minimally invasive manner. The technology, called histotripsy, works by focusing ultrasound waves to a point in order to mechanically break up blood clots. Unfortunately tissues in the body cause the ultrasound waves to defocus. This project will look at ways of refocusing the ultrasound to improve the therapy. The student researcher will be a member of a team that initially develops a computer-based approach for refocusing the ultrasound. The project is anticipated to require ~10 h per week.

Hamideh Hayati, Postdoctoral Fellow

Division of Pulmonary Medicine, CCHMC

In Person

In this project, the effects of the severity of mucus blockage in cystic fibrosis airways on inhaled drug delivery will be quantified. The virtual model of the airways of people with cystic fibrosis will be generated using the magnetic resonance images. The dynamics of airflow and inhaled drug particles will be simulated in the airways.

The student will learn about (a) cystic fibrosis lung disease and available treatments; (b) fundamentals of fluid mechanics and transport phenomena; and (c) principles of simulation (computational fluid dynamics) in the airways. The student manly will be involved in CFD simulations, which has three stages: pre-processing, solving, post-processing. The student may work on this project 10 hours per week.

Braeden Heald, Research Assistant

Psychiatry, CCHMC

In Person

We are interested in the genetic biomarkers of the Fragile X Syndrome gene, FMR1. Our group measures DNA, RNA, and protein markers of affected human patients. Students will primarily be involved in wet-lab based assays.

Heather Heuerman, BS, Research Assistant III

Division of Neurology, CCHMC

In Person

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) affects 2 million people worldwide and is caused by variants in the TSC1 and TSC2 genes, leading to altered cell signal transduction and hyperactivation of the (mTOR) pathway. Epilepsy is the most common neurological manifestation (~90%) with early onset (90% by 12mo) and a high source of morbidity (Salussolia et al., 2019).  TSC1/2 mutations are spread across the entire protein coding sequence of the two genes, with TSC2 mutations usually presenting a more severe disease phenotype than TSC1 mutations (Martin et al., 2017). Specific TSC2 mutations within certain gene regions have been linked to varying epilepsy phenotypes, but overall genotype-phenotype relationships are unclear (Eeghen et al., 2016). This project will investigate the effect of a specific TSC2 mutation found in patients (hTSC2XY) that leads to a truncated TSC2 protein. The student will participate in cryosectioning of mouse brains from neonatal mice expressing the TSC2 mutation. They will also assist in immunostaining of these brain sections, imaging on a Widefield microscope, and proceeding with analysis and quantification to assess the effects of the TSC2 mutation on cell signaling and brain morphology.

The Gross lab is looking for a motivated student interested in participating in hypothesis-driven neuroscience research with the goal to understand disease mechanisms of neurological disorders. The student will have the opportunity to learn different skills related to cell and molecular techniques, as well as building their background on reviewing scientific journals and presentation skills. Ideally the student would work 6-9 hours per week.

Shinsmon Jose, MSc., PhD

Division of Infectious Diseases, UCCOM

In Person

Clostridioides difficile, often called C. difficile, is a type of bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea and inflammation in the gut, known as C. difficile infection (CDI). This infection is particularly dangerous because it can recur, or come back, even after being treated, making it a significant public health problem.

This project is focused on understanding the role of a specific type of white blood cell called neutrophils in the recurrence of CDI. Neutrophils are usually the body's first line of defense against infections, quickly responding to and attacking harmful bacteria. However, recent research suggests that C. difficile might be able to escape from neutrophils' attacks. One way the bacteria might do this is by using a special surface layer protein called SlpA, which could protect it from being destroyed by neutrophils. Even more surprisingly, there’s evidence that neutrophils might accidentally help C. difficile produce more toxins, which can make the infection worse.

The study has two main goals. First, it aims to find out if the SlpA protein on C. difficile helps the bacteria survive when neutrophils try to attack it. Second, it will investigate whether neutrophils somehow assist C. difficile in entering the gut tissue, which could make the infection come back. This research is important because it challenges what we traditionally believe about how our immune system, particularly neutrophils, interacts with C. difficile. By better understanding these interactions, scientists hope to find new ways to prevent the recurrence of this dangerous infection.

Lara Kanbar, PhD

Biomedical Informatics, CCHMC

Online

Current school-based violence prevention strategies rely on school personnel and manual risk assessment interviews. We developed an Automated Risk Assessment (ARIA) system to predict risk levels using natural language processing (NLP) of structured interview transcripts. The long-term goal of the research is to analyze participant interviews, detect students with elevated risk for aggressive acts, provide risk characteristics (e.g., impulsivity, negative thoughts), and suggest support for the preemptive prevention of these acts. Participants are interviewed by Psychiatry using a specific risk assessment scale, after which the interview is transcribed. Natural language processing is then used to identify key risk factors in the interview that could predict future aggression using machine learning.

The objective of the proposed project is to determine the predictive utility of using annotated segments of interviews (annotated by experienced personnel) in risk assessment. The student will learn about large scale subject recruitment, data management, programming, data processing, natural language processing, and machine learning depending on their interest. The student will be provided a laptop and require Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) training upon starting the project. This position is remote.

Samal Munidasa, Postdoctoral Fellow

Pulmonary Medicine, CCHMC

In Person

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a neonatal lung disease associated with prematurity and is characterized by chronic lung inflammation, fibrosis, and alveolar simplification. Diagnostic imaging with MRI has been used to evaluate parenchymal lung disease in BPD infants but the longitudinal changes of the MRI biomarkers has not been investigated. My research goal is to perform MRI in BPD infants at multiple visits and compare the trajectory of parenchymal disease to disease severity and clinical outcomes. Preliminary results show that BPD infants requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation show a significant increase in hypodense lung volume that may associated with alveolar simplification. The role of the student researcher will be to determine if the changes in the MRI biomarkers (e.g. hypodense lung volume) are correlated to other clinical data such as the specific settings of the mechanical ventilator. The student will therefore gain experience in advanced image processing techniques, data analysis, and the interpretation of clinical data. The desired hours per week will be 8-10.

Sripriya Nannu Shankar, PhD,

Environmental and Industrial Hygiene, UCCOM

In Person or Online

Student researchers are welcome for both in-person and/or remote projects. In-person projects focus on generating aerosols in the laboratory, monitoring their concentrations and collecting aerosols with different air samplers, followed by analysis. Remote projects will focus on computational tools to collect data, conduct literature review and prepare manuscripts. The student will gain experience working in an interdisciplinary team, handling instruments, designing experiments and scientific writing. Long-term training opportunities for handling microbes, cell lines and animal models are available after discussions with the PI. Students are expected to spend ~12 hours/week and are required to submit a report and/or a manuscript for publication upon completion of the project.

Immaculeta Osuji, Doctoral Student

Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, UCCOM

In Person

Eosinophils (eos) have a pathogenic role in a spectrum of diseases termed eosinophil-associated diseases (EAD) which include allergic diseases, hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES). The incidence of EAD ranges from rare occurrence to high prevalence. Although recent breakthroughs of FDA-approved eosinophil targeting therapies are changing the outcomes for some patients with EAD, these therapies are not effective in all EADs and there are concerns that broad targeting of eos will affect their homeostatic and host-protective functions. While eos are <5% of circulating white blood cells in healthy individuals (where they have homeostatic and host protective roles), their numbers increase significantly in the blood and tissues of patients with EAD leading to tissue damage or dysfunction. Whether eos will be host protective of harmful is often correlated with the extracellular presence of their toxic granules and granule proteins.

The mechanism of cell death has a significant impact on tissue homeostasis, immune response, and diseases. This is particularly true for terminally differentiated cells like eos, whose accumulation at sites of disease is regulated by recruitment and survival versus cell death. While homeostatic eosinophils die a silent death, in many disease states, eosinophils die a destructive cell death. Currently the mechanisms driving cell death in eos are not fully determined. However, our lab has preliminary data suggesting that eos undergo regulated necrosis in  in vivo in EAD. In order to study subtypes of regulated cell death in eosinophils, I generated in vitro models of multiple cell death types using diverse stimuli and measuring different outcomes with the goal of characterizing different types of cell death of eosinophil and their impact on disease pathogenesis. Understanding the mechanisms of eosinophil cell death that are destructive to tissue could provide novel targeted therapies for EAD.

The lab has a variety of on-going projects in addition to what has been noted in this abstract and we encouraged students to participate and ask questions while completing their specific objectives. Students are expected to commit 8 -12 per week and we are flexible to accommodate their course work. Cytospin slides are valuable for studying cell morphology, identifying cell types, and assessing cellular changes, including those induced by cell death.  The primary objective of the student:

1. Microscopic Analysis of Cell Morphology

Objective: Identify changes in cell morphology due to induced cell death.

Activity: Use a light microscope to examine the cytospin slides. The student will document morphological changes such as cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, nuclear condensation, and apoptotic bodies, which are indicative of apoptosis or other forms of cell death.

2. Staining Techniques

Objective: Differentiate between live and dead cells or highlight specific cellular components.

Activity: The student can apply different staining techniques, such as:

Diff Quik: For general cell morphology.

3. Quantification of Cell Death

Objective: Measure the extent of cell death in the samples.

Activity: The student will count the number of cells undergoing different types of cell death under the microscope. This can be done manually or with the help of image analysis software.

4. Comparative Analysis

Objective: Compare induced cell death across different conditions or treatments.

Activity: The student will prepare multiple slides from different experimental conditions (e.g., different concentrations of a stimuli or different time points) and compare the levels and or types of cell death.

5. Photo documentation

Objective: Create a visual record of findings.

Activity: The student will use a camera attached to the microscope to capture images of the slides. These images can be used for reports, presentations, or further analysis.

6. Data Analysis and Interpretation

Objective: Analyze and interpret the findings t

Dao Pan, PhD

Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, CCHMC

In Person

The Pan lab at CCHMC has pursued long-term research interests in combining basic research on disease pathogenesis with translational research (developing therapeutic interventions) for the treatment for neurological genetic diseases, such as Hurler Syndrome, Gaucher Disease and Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Recent research efforts focus on enhancing drug/cell/gene delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) and advancing viral vector-mediated gene transfer into stem cells and/or effector cells in treating neurological diseases by in vitro investigation using immortal cell lines or isolated primary cells, as well as preclinical evaluation using various diseased animal models.

We are looking for responsible and dedicated students who are interested in long-term research in the lab (year-round), with the opportunity of contributing to publication (as co-author or acknowledged) and/or being partially compensated for their work. The RaMP students will gain hands-on experience to learn state-of-art techniques in virology, pathology, primary cell isolation/manipulation, molecular cloning, and be involved in animal handling, genotyping and behavioral assessment studies. We will welcome dependable students with curious mind to join our research efforts for 12-15 hr/week.

Jiffin Palouse, PhD

Human Genetics, CCHMC

In Person

Defining the molecular/biochemical effects of deleterious mutations remains a challenge in human genetics. While cell-based models using patient tissues are available, organ- and system -level analyses require animal models. We have made a mouse that carries a gene variant found in one of our patients at CCHMC; a rare mutation resulting in severe neurological dysfunction.  You will contribute to the characterization of this mouse and the cellular pathways affected by the mutation using qPCR, Western blot, ELISA, and antibody array techniques.  These data will be directly compared to those gathered from cells/tissue contributed by the patient. Our goal, with your assistance 6-10 hours/week, is to map the molecular pathways disrupted by this mutation and gain a better understanding of how current/future treatments can improve quality of life.

Marla Perna Sunderman, PhD

Neurology, CCHMC

In Person

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are enzymes that are involved in cell signaling throughout the CNS. The are particularly important in the brain and have been shown to be involved in mental health disorders. PDEs are a popular target for drug therapies but we still do not fully understand how specific PDEs function in the brain and which ones are most suitable to treat mental illness. my lab is interested in one specific PDE, PDE1B and we are studying the behavioral and biochemical changes in a PDE1B mutant mouse strain.

Students can expect to learn how to behaviorally test mice, genotyping, PCR, brain anatomy and dissections and genetic breeding strategies.

Surya Prasath, PhD

Biomedical Informatics, CCHMC, UCCOM, UCCEAS

Online

We are looking for strong and motivated students for a variety of artificial intelligence (AI) + biomedical data science projects. Prasath Lab is interested in leveraging AI to solve challenges in biomedical informatics domain. Given the expertise and experience with the multidisciplinary projects and the proven track-record in bringing quantitative approaches from mathematics, computer science, and statistics we are well-poised to be a connector among different domains. The following are three major directions:

1. Imaging Informatics

Application of image processing, computer vision, machine learning and deep learning techniques to biomedical imaging data

2. Applied Clinical Informatics

Application of natural language processing, signal processing, image processing, computer vision, artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to clinical, heath, and medical informatics problems.

3. AI Text Analytics

Application of Large Language Models (LLMs) from GPT to LLaMA for extracting valuable insights from diverse medical texts across the healthcare system to decode complex medical narratives and uncover hidden knowledge and help healthcare practitioners, medical professionals in decision

Khadim Shah, Postdoctoral Fellow

Human Genetics, CCHMC

In Person

Our research primarily involves wet lab work, focusing on genetic analysis through patient DNA sequencing and validation using zebrafish as a disease model. We follow this with transcriptomic and proteomic studies to explore the underlying mechanisms of the disease. A mentee will gain hands-on experience in DNA/RNA extraction, immunostaining, microscopy, RNA sequencing and Western blotting. Additionally, the mentee will develop bioinformatics skills important for the data interpretation.

Durgesh Tiwari, PhD

Neurology, CCHMC

In Person

Organophosphates (OP) are credible threat agents to the health of civilians and soldiers causing several poisoning incidents and more than 100,000 deaths annually. Survivors of OP-induced status epilepticus face long-term comorbidities including epilepsy and cognitive dysfunction. Current therapeutic measures for OP intoxication can improve survival (if administered early enough after injury) but do not provide protection from associated comorbidities.

Neuroinflammation is a critical mechanism to these comorbidities as OP toxicity triggers robust neuroinflammation, which can persist for months post exposure.  The goal of this proposal is to assess a novel microRNA-based mechanism contributing to OP poisoning using a diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) mouse model which could be developed into a future therapeutic strategy to mitigate the neurotoxicity observed in OP poisoning.

The student in the project will investigate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine (neuroinflammation) protein in the mouse brain tissue using immunohistochemistry, qpCR and western blotting techniques. Also, the neuroinflammation proteins will be characterized in other genetic epilepsy model to compare the expression, and this mouse model will be characterized for their genotypes using polymerase chain reaction.

Sydney Treichel, PhD Candidate

Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, CCHMC

In Person

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are stem cells found in the bone marrow which give rise to other blood cells in a process known as hematopoiesis. They also can self-renew to maintain the stem cell pool. Their regenerative ability is critical for their use in bone marrow transplantation to treat hematological disorders such as leukemia. However, HSC regenerative function declines after the replicative stress of cell division, particularly as induced by transplantation or chemotherapy, which can lead to bone marrow failure. Our lab is interested in studying cellular and molecular pathways that regulate HSC regenerative functions and how these pathways become dysfunctional following replicative stress.

We have previously found that mitochondrial metabolism and activity are dysfunctional following replicative stress. Several metabolic pathways were found to be important regulators of HSC regenerative ability, including amino acid and lipid metabolism. This project is focused on studying why these pathways are important for HSC function, and how we can restore functioning of these pathways to improve HSC regenerative ability. To do this, we use transgenic mouse models and cell culture assays, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence imaging.

The student will gain hands-on experience, learning basic molecular biology laboratory techniques, performing experiments, and helping with data analysis. Ideally, the student will be able to commit at least 10 hours a week with stretches of at least 5 hours, 2 days a week.

Gyanesh Tripathi, Postdoctoral Fellow

Pain Management, CCHMC

In Person

Muscle pain is a significant clinical problem.  Mechanisms of muscle pain involve both peripheral and central nervous system changes in addition to immune modulation of cellular activity.  Ischemic myalgia is a unique type of muscle pain due to transient reduction of the blood supply to a part of the body followed by reperfusion injury (I/R).  Our model of prolonged ischemic myalgia which utilizes a repeated I/R injury to the limb muscles has been shown to alter primary afferent function and immune signaling pathways that likely underlie pain-like behaviors. Recent data suggests that in addition to pain modulation, nociceptors may themselves be modulating immune function in the affected muscles in a feedforward manner.

In this study, we’ll assess the role of T cells in the muscles in regulating I/R-related hypersensitivity and immune responsiveness through genetically modified animals and various behavioral, electrophysiological, molecular, and immunohistochemical techniques. The student researcher will have an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in various wet lab techniques and data analysis. Desired hours/week: 8-15 hours/week.

Ty Troutman, PhD

Allergy & Immunology, CCHMC

In Person

We are interested in how macrophages regulated and respond to inflammation. Our experiments use a variety of wet lab and dry lab approaches to define roles for transcription in macrophages sensing and responding to acute or chronic inflammatory settings. Interested RAMP student(s) will be partnered with one or more PhD students in the lab.

Kathy Warrick, MD/PhD Student

Immunobiology, CCHMC

In Person

Traditional cancer therapies generally target all rapidly dividing cells, inadvertently damaging healthy tissue in the process. To avoid unwanted side effects, recent efforts have focused on amplifying the patient's own immune response. Certain immune cells, specifically T cells, are uniquely positioned to target and kill tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue. Drugs that improve T cell function, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), have dramatically transformed cancer treatment. Unfortunately, these drugs are associated with serious adverse outcomes. Our lab is interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying these pathologies, with a particular focus on damage to the heart (myocarditis), which can be fatal in about half of affected patients. In our work, we aim to uncover how these T cells interact with other cells to drive disease.

As a member of our research team, you will have the opportunity to work with genetically modified mice and disease models. You would ideally spend 10–12 hours per week learning basic mouse handling, tissue culture, and cellular and molecular techniques. You will also analyze data and have the opportunity to present at weekly lab meetings. Throughout this process, you will receive one-on-one mentoring to ensure that your research experience is beneficial to your growth and success.

Bailey Weatherbee, PhD

Developmental Biology Unit, Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine [CuSTOM], CCHMC

In Person

Gene expression requires the coordination of several molecular factors that drive transcription of DNA, the processing of RNA, and the translation of protein. The resultant cell type-specific molecular profiles, when perturbed, result in congenital disease. Many studies focus on transcription factors and transcriptional initiation; however, this is not sufficient to explain complex molecular profiles in development, homeostasis, and disease. Interestingly, several transcription factors have also been shown to interact with RNA. Here, we hypothesize that lineage-defining transcription factors interact with target RNAs to coordinate differentiation.

SOXs are candidate multi-functional RNA-binding transcription factors critical for embryonic development. During gastrulation, SOX17 is required for definitive endoderm (early digestive system precursor), whereas the pluripotency transcription factor SOX2 must be suppressed. Subsequently, the foregut endoderm (precursor to the esophagus, lungs, stomach, and more), will re-express SOX2, promoting organogenesis. In vitro studies indicate that SOX2 and SOX17 can bind RNA, but the biological significance of this interaction is unknown. By combining the advantages of human stem cell models and in vivo functional genomics in Xenopus, we are investigating what RNAs are regulated by SOX factors, what function SOX-RNA interaction has in development and disease, and what other RNA regulators coordinate these functions.

We anticipate our RaMP student working 8-10 hours a week, ideally with two days back-to-back (e.g. one afternoon and the following morning). Our student would learn fundamental molecular biology techniques including polymerase chain reaction, bacterial cloning, RNA and protein extraction, western blotting. If interested, the student could observe and participate in frog embryology and pluripotent cell culture.

Bradley Wright, Doctoral Candidate

Toxicology (UC) and Imaging Research Center, CCHMC

In Person

We use a combined approach of neuroimaging and histology to assess the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on brain development, behavior, and mental health. A RaMP student coming into this lab will be responsible for learning and conducting tissue preparation and handling, histology, and image analysis; such an approach would involve analysis of the brain and/or thyroid. This work will complement ongoing experiments in the lab and afford a student time to observe and learn more complex techniques.

Yang Yu, PhD

Developmental Biology, CCHMC

In Person

Our lab’s research is focused on Sex chromosome-linked genes. We created new sex reversal mouse model by inducible CRISPR/dCas9-based Systems. We can simply control the mice gender by feeding the animals with different food. Several genes on the Y chromosome are also expressed in the male brain and may act in a dominant manner, such as Sry. SRY is known to function as a transcriptional activator triggering testicular genetic pathway. However, the potential roles of SRY during brain sexual development are still unclear. To figure out that we want to locate the expression pattern of SRY in brain by our newly established flag- Sry mice. Secondly, we need to define these cells by RNA-seq. Also, we will compare the brain structure between normal XX-female, XY-male and XY-female- Sry. Meanwhile, we will record and compare the behavior between them. Finally, we will perform chip-seq and cut-run to search for the novel downstream genes of Sry.