Summer Undergraduate Research Program - Fred Hutchinson ...

een responsible for setting up the new lab, but I also have the same research
responsibilities as my fellow lab members, I quickly learned the techniques of
the lab and have trained entering graduate students. Further, I have developed
and optimized several protocols for the lab. I have gained the most thorough
knowledge of techniques when things have gone wrong; through persistence in
troubleshooting I have learned how to evaluate methods and, more importantly, I
have learned the value of communication with colleagues who have much to
offer technically and intellectually.
I have contributed to various lab projects, including immunohistochemical
analysis for a paper (see end of text) currently in preparation on the role of
estrogen receptor alpha in insulin biosynthesis. Confocal images for this paper
show expression estrogen receptors alpha and beta in mouse clonal insulinoma
cell lines, mouse pancreatic islets, and human islets. Imaging in cells includes
localization of endogenous estrogen receptor as well as CFP-linked constructs
with vehicle and estradiol treatment. Identification of estrogen receptor
expression in beta cells (confirmed by co-localization with insulin) provides basic
evidence for estrogen's role in regulating insulin biosynthesis.
My primary research focus has been the effect of neonatal testosterone exposure
in programming a dysregulation of metabolism genes and body weight which
emerges in adult mice. We are currently dissecting the details of the interaction
of genes and environment at this critical window of development. There are
important public health implications: childhood obesity is widespread, and
obesity-induced insulin resistance has been shown to increase testosterone
production by the ovary. Couple this with the threat of persistent environmental
pollutants which mimic the actions of steroid hormones, and there is potential
for altered developmental programming of metabolism in prepubescent
children. Characterizing the mechanism in the mouse model will provide
valuable information for preventative medicine and population health.
I am drawn to the MCB program for several reasons. I find the philosophy of
the program, which encourages students to develop individualized research
projects while maintaining a high level of interaction with faculty, especially
attractive. A wide variety of interest groups and seminars surely makes for an
engaging intellectual environment, and the collaboration between the
University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
provides a uniquely impressive breadth and depth of faculty expertise and
innovative research. The work of a number of distinguished faculty assures me
that as a graduate student at the University of Washington I would be involved
in significant research accomplishments which advance biomedical sciences
and human health.
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