‘Formula’ for Success

Alydaar presented a topic that he has
spent a great deal of time conducting
research on in the past few years – “UVA1
Skin Irradiation Modulates the Migration
of Dendritic Cells: A Novel Mechanism
for the Potential Beneficial Effects of
Phototherapy on Systemic Disease.”
Alydaar’s interest and work on this
project came out of his independent
research project on Langerhans cell
histiocytosis, a disease that is rare but can
have a high mortality rate when it occurs
in very young children. He connected
with Dr. Christopher Macomber ’01 and
with his mentor, Dr. Frank L. Rice, to
develop his research project looking into
the treatment of Langerhans cells with
UVA1 phototherapy.
Alydaar had done initial research on
the disease during his freshman year; after
connecting with Dr. Macomber and Dr.
Rice, the three came up with an idea for an experiment using UVA1
light during the next year and a half.
“It was initially very difficult to work in the lab as I didn’t have a
great deal of experience working with UVA1 light or in a lab setting,”
said Alydaar. “Both Dr. Macomber and Dr. Rice have been a great
accomplishment
help to me, though, and it has been exciting to continue working on the
experiments and begin to put things together like the pieces of a puzzle.”
Alydaar worked for about 30 hours per week during the summer
of 2009 conducting his research in the laboratory at Albany Medical
College. He began his experiments in the fall after school and often
on the weekend. He says he is looking forward to continuing his
research this summer with the goal of getting his work published in
a scientific journal as a high school student.
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