This week, I had the wonderful opportunity to learn more about various fields of research that span throughout our program. From Frank’s talk on ferroptosis to Emma’s presentation on epilepsy and Kibir’s introduction of pseuduridine— each and every project presented by my peers have consistently provided me with a multitude of insight and invaluable knowledge.
One of the most fascinating talks I can recall was presented by Erika. She is currently working in the Bilbo lab— where she studies the effect of prenatal environmental stressors and toxins on neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). I first want to point out that Erika did a remarkable job presenting the audience with background information on her project. She mentioned that her lab previously identified that diesel exhaust particle & maternal stress (DEP/MS) result in neurodevelopmental disorders within offspring. Furthermore, Erika noted that research findings suggest that sleep patterns may be sensitive to environmental toxins/stressors. Additionally, she highlighted that ‘astrocytes’ have a primary role in “synaptogenesis” and play a significant role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Something that really caught my attention was when Erika mentioned that “sleep disturbances are noticed in 86% of individuals with NDD”— by providing audience with specific research findings, it allows one to put everything into perspective and understand the significance of her entire project!
To study the various ways prenatal exposure impacts sleep, Erika is using electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure, detect, and analyze different sleep patterns in mice offspring. By doing so, Erika hopes to better understand and compare how times spent in NREM and REM sleep compare in mice who have been exposed to DEP/MS versus those who lack DEP/MS exposure.
Overall, Erika’s presentation was absolutely astonishing. She did a wonderful job providing audience with a summary of her project and highlighting the key points of the research she is working on this summer. I wish her the best of luck in the remaining weeks of her research and look forward to learning more during the final poster presentation !
