TOAN LUONG

1. Who are you doing research with this summer and what kind of research project are you doing?

Under the guidance of Dr. Adejare and Amany, I am conducting research on C. elegans or roundworms to determine the effectiveness of various NMDA receptor antagonists in ameriolating or “healing” the damage caused by vanadium neurotoxicity which is used to model Alzheimer’s neurodegeneration.

2. What do you find fascinating in the research you’re doing?

Alzheimer’s is only one of the various neurodegenerative diseases out there, and what I love about this research is how much I am able to learn beyond the scope of neuroscience and biochemistry. We have people from all over the world, and through different perspectives and wisdoms, we are able to work together to research and form conclusions on these complex fields.

3. What skills are you learning through the USURF experience?

Since my research is on C. elegans (roundworms), the skills I’ve acquired are specialized to handling these robust yet delicate creatures. Chunking (spreading their seed onto new plates), synchronizing (forced orphaning of the eggs), plating (getting the subjects ready for trial) as well as various other assays or experiments.

 4. What are the challenges you’re encountering in your research?

Since the subjects are small, a microscope is required to view them which can be straining on my eyes when used for hours at a time for worm picking (isolating individual worms). Additionally, some assays require capturing images of the worms after treatments which can be time-consuming since we need clear photos of how these worms were affected or unaffected.

 5. How is your USURF experience impacting the way you view your field?

Throughout my time working with the C. elegans and the various drugs to determine their effectiveness on neurodegenerative amelioration, I was humbled by the depths of research and how much deeper I can bathe in the knowledge, skills, and wisdom that can only come from exploring and applying these skills. For neuroscience and biochemistry specifically, learning NMDA receptor’s roles in neurodegenerative diseases and then applying drugs to inhibit their functions has deepened my understanding and passion for learning. After my time at USURF and USciences, I plan to apply all I’ve learned–all I’ve gained–wherever I go.

 6. Tell us something interesting about yourself.

I like rice~~