Brendan K
- Research Program Mentor
MD/PhD candidate at Tufts University
Expertise
Corneal immunology, neuroimmune crosstalk, pain processing, biochemistry, cellular signaling
Bio
Hi, there! My name is Brendan and I am currently training in a dual MD/PhD program at Tufts University. Before I began this program, I completed my Bachelor's of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. From there, I went on to work at Brigham & Women's Hospital where I was a research assistant in a very active research laboratory and the project I assisted in was focused on developing an immunotherapy-based approach for the treatment of glioblastoma - a particularly nasty type of brain tumor. After 2 years in that role, I began my journey to becoming a physician-scientist in the program at Tufts! I am currently finishing up my dissertation which is focused on neuro-immune crosstalk within the cornea (that transparent tissue at the front of your eye!) with an emphasis on corneal pain. When I am not busy with my research, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, and of course, my dog! I also am a big fan of all things Marvel and keep up closely with all things in the MCU. I look forward to being able to mentor some ambitious students through Polygence!Project ideas
Understanding Neuro-immune Crosstalk
In the past several decades, it has become increasingly apparent that crosstalk between the nervous and immune systems have implications for both health and disease. For instance, microglia (the immune cells of the central nervous system) are known to support processes such as learning and memory, however, activated microglia are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. An interested student could choose a neurologic disease of interest and investigate the underlying mechanisms relevant to neuro-immune crosstalk. This would involve identification of the cellular signaling that normally occurs and its dysfunction in disease.