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Understanding Structural Birth Defects


Faculty Mentor: Luca Brunelli
Title: Associate Professor
College: Medicine
School / Department: Pediatrics

Project description

We are developing novel, DNA engineering, genetic and therapeutic approaches for structural birth defects, including congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a severe anomaly that typically presents in newborns. CDH still has high mortality and therapeutic approaches are currently limited.

Student Role: Work in the lab doing molecular biology techniques or analyzing next-generation sequencing data or being involved in a therapeutic animal and human trial in CDH.
Student Benefits: Be exposed to a broad spectrum of techniques and methodologies, including the latest developments in DNA engineering (Lyozin T.G. et al. Nature Methods 2014) and genetics.
Project Duration: The project is ongoing but a section of this project can be completed over a summer. About 20-40 hours per week.
Opportunity Type: Volunteer; Earn independent study credit; Prepare a UROP proposal; Write an Honors Thesis; This is a work-study position
Is this a paid opportunity: No
Minimum Requirements: Biochemistry or molecular biology or genetics or animal work or human trials