Qingshi Chen
Advisor's Name:
Philip Low
Email Address:
Training Group:
Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases
Research Summary:
My project aims to develop novel treatment against atherosclerosis, the potential cause of myocardial infarction (MI, commonly known as "heart attack”). The popularization of Western-style diet has contributed greatly to atherosclerosis, and it is now the major cause of death worldwide. It is believed that the lesion of atherosclerosis starts with the retention of Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the artery wall. Although it may take decades for the lesion to lead to major symptoms, but without the changing of lifestyle, these lesions can potentially develop into rupture-prone plaque, which precipitates acute thrombosis and its consequences: MI. My goal is to deplete these accumulated LDL at the early stage of atherosclerosis, which requires the application of a variety of experimental techniques from synthesis to animal study.
Why did you choose to attend PULSe:
I chose to attend PULSe because the different fields of study I was able to be exposed to. I was uncertain about the field I want to study before I came to PULSe. Fortunately, I was able to attend a variety of labs with cutting-edge research ranging from computational study to drug discovery during my rotations, and each one of them are precious opportunities to me. I was able to develop a diverse set of skills that not only helps me to uncover research questions from multiple angles but have also contributes to my current research project.