Past Student Projects

Author: Maddie Szoo

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States today, with breast cancer serving as the most common form of cancer in 2020. While patient outcomes have improved in recent years, breast cancer incidence has increased 0.3% annually in the past decade. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a specific subtype identified by its lack of three common receptors often found in other forms of breast cancer - the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor, and the human epidermal growth factor receptor. Oncolytic virotherapy (OV) has emerged as a promising therapeutic option for patients of TNBC. This review proposes the use of the Edmonston-lineage measles virus as an effective candidate for OV in the treatment of TNBC and argues that more research must be conducted on the intersection of measles OV and TNBC.

Authors: Elizabeth Niemiec and Rupsa Jana

Occurring in about 1 in every 4 million births, Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome is a rare premature aging disease that results in a mean life expectancy of 13 years. Caused by several different mutations in the Lamin-A gene, most patients exhibit abnormalities in nuclear structure and function. We conducted a systematic literature review to focus on the characterizations of the more prevalent G608G mutation and the atypical E145K mutation. Existing studies suggest a connection between the mechanisms of progeria and normal aging processes at the molecular level. 

Authors: Madeline Schanen and Joshua McDonald

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that impedes elderly people's ability to do simple tasks and recall information. Most available treatments for AD slow rather than abolish patients’ cognitive decline; however, recent research suggests that modulating patients’ iron levels can yield more impactful results. Researchers hypothesize that iron’s ability to easily donate and receive electrons contributes to cell death in Alzheimer’s patients. Therefore, iron chelating compounds, substances that bind to iron and reduce its reactivity, may be effective treatments for AD. 

Authors: Ricardo Macarron and Sarthi Sheth

The leading theory for the cause behind the neurodegenerative disorder, Alzheimer’s, are the extracellular deposits of a protein in the brain, known as Amyloid- β. Currently, numerous drugs are in development to target Amyloid- β plaques including Gantenerumab, BAN2401, ALZ-801, and Aducanumab. We conducted a systematic literature review to assess the efficacy of these drugs and what they mean for the future of Alzheimer’s research, with special attention given to public health. Amyloid-beta drugs do not treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s; however, they could be useful in prevention. 

Authors: Khushi Gandhi and Sanjita Bhattacharya

Sudden fibroids distort the uterine cavity formation by creating an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins, increasing difficulty in conceiving. Fibroids are present in 5-10% of infertile patients and are the sole cause of infertility in these patients. Current treatment methods for endometrial fibrosis do not fully eradicate the presence of fibroids. In comparison to other stem cells, clinical trials indicated the superiority of Menstrual Blood-Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MB-MSCs) in their therapeutic effects by regeneration and thickening of damaged tissue. This project argues in favor of the use of MB-MSCs for endometrial fibrosis in order to treat ovarian dysfunction and infertility.

Authors: Sara Shaikh and Merin James

Osteoarthritis is associated with the degeneration and loss of articular cartilage. Mesenchymal stem cells are currently being studied as a potential treatment of osteoarthritis due to their chondrogenic capacity (i.e., their ability to differentiate into cartilage tissue). This literature review analyzes the current state of osteoarthritis research and argues in favor of the use of intra-articular injection of culture-expanded mesenchymal stem cells with or without the addition of platelet-rich plasma, as it proves to be a promising approach for cartilage regeneration. 

Authors: Amya Biscaino and Shreya Rajeswaran

In the United States, an estimated 1.1 million people are living with HIV. The most common HIV treatment, antiretroviral therapy, requires frequent administration and complicated dosing regimens. However, monoclonal antibodies are more targeted and robust, with less frequent dosing. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of monoclonal antibodies ibalizumab, leronlimab, and 12G5 with respect to the CD4 receptor and CCR5 or CXCR-4 co-receptors located on CD4+ T-cells. In addition, we analyze the benefits and drawbacks of these treatments along with their future potential.

Authors: Kaitlyn Gagnon and Helen Park

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects 1-2 people out of 1,000,000 yearly. CJD can be sporadic or variant and originates from diverse sources. Misfolded infectious proteins, called prions, cause sporadic CJD. The intricate pathogenesis of prions demonstrates the necessity for a literature review to identify potential treatments and their involvement in controlling CJD. We found that more research is required to understand the role prions play in infectious disease so that society is better prepared to handle outbreaks in the future.