Katherine Walker
Advisor's Name:
Gaurav Chopra
Email Address:
Training Group:
Chemical Biology
Research Summary:
Microglia, the primary immune cell in the brain, are essential for brain development and function. Far from just providing support, microglia refine synapses, modulate neuronal signaling, and facilitate the growth of new neurons. Microglia also remove cellular "junk" from the brain. Under normal conditions microglia develop organelles called lipid droplets where neutral lipids are stored. During inflammatory processes these lipid droplets become larger and more numerous. The function of lipid droplets in microglia are not well understood. My research is focused on determining how the lipid profile of lipid droplets in microglia changes with age and neurodegenerative disease, how the presence of different lipids affects microglial activities, and what sex-dependent differences are seen in this context.
Why did you choose to attend PULSe:
I chose PULSe because my training had primarily been in Biology. I wanted to be able to explore other fields and join an interdisciplinary lab where I could expand my skillset.