Showcase

Breast cancer is common and affects 1 in 8 women. One third of patients who undergo axillary lymph node removal as part of the treatment of breast cancer experience lymphedema. It is estimated that lymphedema affects 5 million Americans. Lymphedema i ... s characterized by progressive arm swelling that hinders quality of life, reduces mobility, and increases risk for infections. There is no cure for lymphedema and current treatments are variably effective. Therefore, the goal of this laboratory is to study novel prevention and management strategies for lymphedema. The current study is to optimize the murine hindlimb lymphedema model to achieve consistent results and assess the utility of radiation on the model. Read more

This study looks at how sex chromosomes affect bone formation in mice that are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. We used mice with different combinations of gonadal (ovaries or testes) and chromosomal sex. The bone structure was studied usi ... d using a special scan called micro-computerized tomography (mCT). My job in the study was to measure bone formation by tracking two fluorescent dyes that attach to bone minerals. The mice were injected with these dyes. Calcein green and Alizarin red at two different times: once 7 days before and again 4 days later. By measuring how much of the dyes were incorporated into the bone, we could assess bone growth. We looked at different bone formation measures, including the Mineral Apposition Rate (MAR), the Mineralized Surface/Total Surface (MS/BS) ratio, and overall bone formation rate. The results showed clear differences between males and females in bone structure. Mice with ovaries responded more to the injections, while male mice didn't show any changes. The study found that sex chromosomes affect bone formation rates on both sides of the bone, linked to differences in bone marrow and bone growth. The findings suggest sex chromosomes play an important role in bone formation in this Alzheimer's model, with females showing a stronger response. More research is needed to understand why these differences occur. Read more

Sarcomas are rare, malignant tumors affecting the nerves, bones, muscles, adipose tissue, and blood vessels, often spreading to other body parts. In the U.S., approximately 5,420 people die from sarcomas annually, with males being slightly more affec ... ted than females. Around 13,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, including 900 children. About 7% of these cases will be treated with immunotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Digital imaging AI platforms, such as Aperio, Halo, and QuPath, are now used in pathology for image analysis. This study analyzed 18 clinical cases, including 12 primary sarcomas and 6 metastatic to the lung. Immunohistochemistry using an antibody to Topo II Isomerase was performed to aid in cancer cell identification. The image analysis data showed slightly higher expression in metastatic lung tumors (5.84%) compared to primary tumors (5.5%).Most patients received Adriamycin and Etoposide before surgery. In conclusion, the study found a slight difference in expression levels between primary and metastatic tumors. Essentially, my project focuses on Sarcomas and the expression of Topo-II found within them. Read more

Autosomal Dominant Osteopetrosis is a genetic disorder where bones become overly dense and hard due to poor bone resorption, which can lead affected individuals to be more prone to fracture and develop other complications. This condition is primarily ... caused by mutations in the CLCN7 Gene, which affects osteoclast activity, leading to poor bone resorption. Osteoclasts are a type of bone cell responsible for absorbing bone tissue, and their activity is compromised due to mutations in the CLCN7 gene that cause reduced lysosomal trafficking and activity. This research project aims to discover if the addition of Torin 1 to ADO II cells plays a role in regulating osteoclast differentiation in autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type II. Torin 1 is a potent inhibitor of a protein complex called mTOR that has shown promise in improving lysosomal production and function, which is crucial for reestablishing regular osteoclast activity. Through the cell culture of ADO and wild-type cells, the addition of different doses of Torin 1, and osteoclast counting via TRAP Stain, this research hopes to find an affordable, effective treatment with no significant side effects to individuals affected by ADO II. Read more

My poster will discuss broad concepts of sleep quality and how it impacts the overall mood and likelihood of expressing empathy and engaging in harassing behaviors toward others.

At the Komen Tissue Bank, I was able to grow wonderfully as a person. With some ups and downs, my team was there to support me through it all and teach me the ins and outs of their wondrous world of collecting breast tissue to further the studies of ... breast cancer research. As the world's only repository for healthy breast tissue, the lab collects and studies tissue types from a wide variety of ages, male or female, cancerous or cancer-free. This allows researchers to have access to all tissue types that help further their studies and research. Read more

At my internship, I've had the opportunity to conduct qualitative interviews with women that are immediately postpartum at Riley Maternity Tower. The purpose of these interviews is to gain a better understanding of mothers' birth experiences and to o ... s and to offer them traumatic stress resources if needed. In addition to gathering data to reduce potential trauma for expecting mothers in the future. The mission of this study is to improve the birth experiences for women going forward which is why both the patient and provider fill out a similar survey. This survey allows us to gauge where the gap in patient/provider communication lies and upon data analysis, we can minimize this gap, further improving the future of the OB/GYN field and mothers' birth experiences. Read more

My internship at the Indiana University School of Medicine focuses on investigating vascular reactivity and endothelial function in aortas of atherosclerosis prone ApoE-/- mice. During this project, I performed isometric tension experiments utilizing ... aortic rings. These experiments help us understand how blood vessels respond to chemical and mechanical stimuli, particularly in relation to atherosclerosis. By studying these mechanisms, we aim to contribute to the development of improved treatments for cardiovascular diseases. Through my internship, I have conducted isomeric tension recordings, prepared experimental solutions, and analyzed data to assess vascular responses. This hands-on experience has enhanced my technical lab skills while reinforcing my understanding of how endothelial function influence vascular health. Visitors to my table will learn about the importance of ion channels in blood vessel regulation, the methodologies behind vascular reactivity experiments, and how this research may contribute to advancing cardiovascular health. Read more

During their teenage years, adolescents spend more time interacting with their peers as compared to any other developmental period. Peer influence has a great impact on the mental health of adolescents. Adverse experiences during this developmental p ... eriod can lead to an increased risk in mental health and addiction. Furthermore, females are more susceptible to anxiety and depression disorders as compared to their male counterparts. Rejections from peers may be a bigger stressor in females than males. The Lukkes Lab investigates what is the impact of restricted peer access (RPA) on anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior, and are the effects sex dependent? Read more

Stressful or traumatic experiences can cause trauma-related mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Trauma disorders are a collection of emotional and behavioral issues that develop due to stressful and traumatic events during ... childhood or other distressing experiences. The LifeRAFT lab investigates behavioral and brain-level characteristics that increase the likelihood of traumatic stress and substance use disorders in children and adolescents. We investigate how trauma affects children's and teenagers' mental health using a variety of research tools. We gather behavioral and questionnaire data in addition to our primary instrument, functional MRI (neuroimaging). Participant recruitment involves managing the scheduling of lab visits, ensuring all necessary appointments are set up in a timely manner. Participants must also be screened to ensure they met the eligibility criteria for the study. The LifeRAFT lab is active on social media; we design engaging posts to attract potential participants and raise awareness about trauma-related mental health. I have assisted with all of these lab responsibilities. This hands-on experience has allowed me to gain valuable insight into the logistics and operational aspects of running a research study. Read more