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About Me
I grew up in Fargo, ND, surrounded by a large and close-knit family. At Macalester, I am majoring in Biology, minoring in Psychology, with a concentration in Community and Global Health. I am particularly interested in how scientific research translates to real world health-outcomes and equitable patient care. Outside of the classroom, you can find me cooking with my friends, going for a run, working on my latest crochet project, or doting on my cat, Miss
Stink. I also have had the honor of serving as the Macalester chapter president of Friends of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). After graduation, I plan to continue working as an ER Technician at Methodist Hospital while applying to medical school and enjoying a bit of life outside the classroom.
Abstract
When two people take the same medication at the same dose, they often experience dramatically different outcomes; one may improve while the other experiences no benefit or even serious side effects. While historically, researchers have attributed this variation to genetic differences, groundbreaking research reveals that gut bacteria may be equally responsible. The human gut harbors trillions of bacteria that collectively function as a "hidden metabolic organ," capable of chemically transforming medications before they reach the bloodstream. Recent studies testing 271 common drugs found that two-thirds are modified by at least one bacterial species through processes that can activate drugs, inactivate them, or create toxic byproducts. This presentation explores how individual differences in gut microbiota composition affect drug responses across multiple therapeutic classes. Understanding these microbe-drug interactions opens the door to personalized medicine approaches where testing a patient's gut microbiome could guide optimal drug selection and dosing, potentially improving treatment outcomes while reducing dangerous side effects.
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