2022 Undergraduate Summer Studentship
Project title: Chitinase-3-like protein 1 as a marker of systemic inflammation in children with vertically-acquired HIV
How would you describe your research project to someone without a scientific background?
HIV is a disease impacting millions of people worldwide, including children that acquire HIV infections from their mothers (during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding). While effective therapies have reduced HIV mortality, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are now the leading causes of death in people living with HIV. Our project will investigate CHI3L1 — a molecule involved in chronic inflammation — as a marker of CVD in children living with HIV.
What impact do you hope this project makes once completed?
This project will investigate the levels of CHI3L1, a biomarker for neutrophil activation and chronic inflammation, in children living with HIV. Studying CHI3L1 will allow us to gain better insight into mechanisms of inflammation and cardiovascular disease pathogenesis in long-term HIV infection. Importantly, this may guide further research into improved management of the long term, non-infectious complications of HIV in children.
How will the support from Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology help you?
Support from the LKSIoV gives me the opportunity to interact with multidisciplinary researchers working in virology, whether it be at research events, talks, or even just in the hallways! For me, being in this environment is valuable to my professional development in research because it gives me a basis for current and future developments in the field.
What is it about your field of study that speaks to you?
I have always been interested in science and discovered my love for viruses during my first summer research project as a student in a virology lab. I am currently completing an MD with Special Training in Research (MD-STIR), so the intersection between research and clinical practice is of special interest to me. I think that virology is unique in the way that we can study intricate virus-host relations and apply it in many ways to human health outcomes.
What is your favorite distraction or hobby?
I love bouldering! Espresso shots and bouldering is the way to go for anyone interested.
What is one thing you cannot live without?
My dog, Mochi.
