Photo by CB Creatives Inc., courtesy University of Arkansas Honors College.
Abby Terlouw is an undergraduate studying biomedical engineering here at the U of A. This past summer, she had the opportunity to participate in the Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine, a program supported by a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Disorders (NIDDK). Below, she reports on her experience:
The summer following my junior year, I had the opportunity to perform research at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) as part of the Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine. This program partners undergraduate students with research labs in Boston’s four major hospitals—Massachusetts General, Brigham and Women’s, Boston Children’s, and Beth Israel Deaconess—to study various aspects of kidney medicine for eight weeks. I was paired with Dr. Dennis Brown to research how the protein aquaporin-2 (AQP2) is trafficked throughout kidney principal cells under the influence of two drugs: chlorpromazine and dasatinib. AQP2 is responsible for concentrating urine and maintaining water balance in the body. In a condition known as nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), patients are unable to concentrate urine resulting in severe dehydration and excessively diluted urine. A typical adult should produce one to two liters of urine each day. Patients with NDI can produce upwards of ten to twelve liters of urine per day. NDI can be caused by genetic factors or induced by lithium, a common medication to treat bipolar disorder. By better understanding how AQP2 is trafficked throughout cells, we hope to create new therapies to treat NDI.
Photo by CB Creatives Inc., courtesy University of Arkansas Honors College.
While working at MGH I lived with the 16 other summer program students at the Massachusetts Art College Artists Residence near Harvard Medical School. The students I lived and worked with were from many different universities including Harvard, Tufts, UCLA, Rice, MIT, and others. Each week we would meet for lectures by Harvard Medical School faculty on various aspects of nephrology (the study of the kidney). We also had the opportunity to visit a dialysis clinic, volunteer at kidney screening clinics, and shadow nephrologists in Boston’s top hospitals. During the week, I spent most of my time at the Simches Research Center on the MGH campus performing experiments and analyzing data. One of my favorite parts of this summer was the opportunity to work with a team of PhDs, postdocs, and fellows who come from a wide variety of countries. Over the course of the summer, I got to know each of these people and learn more about their cultures. I also had the opportunity to meet with my coworkers again this past month when I presented my research in a poster session at the American Society of Nephrology annual conference in Chicago.
Photo by CB Creatives Inc., courtesy University of Arkansas Honors College.
The research experience I gained this summer has impacted both my undergraduate research and my course work here at the University of Arkansas. I learned new techniques that could benefit other students’ research and gained hands on experience with microscopy techniques that I am currently studying as part of my course work. Additionally, I made friends from across the country while getting to explore the city of Boston. I encourage other students to apply for this program in the coming years. I grew as a student, researcher, and professional throughout this experience, and I regard it as one of the best experiences in my life.
Photo by CB Creatives Inc., courtesy University of Arkansas Honors College.
—Abby Terlouw