“After my second-year studies at Ohio Wesleyan, I spent one and a half months working with neurologists and neurosurgeons on electrophysiological neuromonitoring during spinal tumor and scoliosis surgeries at Acıbadem Medical school of Istanbul. Dervis Salih, I contributed to the investigation of genes related to aging with an interest in ERK and the insulin/insulin-like pathway. “At the University College London, I was able to dive into better understanding important aspects of neurodegeneration, particularly of Alzheimer’s disease. The professionals around me not only teach me science, but also help me improve my skills such as integrating leadership abilities in a scientific professional setting.” I am surrounded by great neuroscientists who contribute to my knowledge in many ways. “Being a curious student who is very passionate about exploring and making an impact in this field, I believe that being in Stevens Lab is an important step for me toward my future goals. The research being conducted here has a high potential of exploring very consequential information of immunological actions in Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. “I did not hesitate a second to choose this opportunity as I believe that the Stevens Lab is a perfect environment for my future plans, which is to better understand the complex aspects of neuroimmunology and neural-immune interactions in neurological diseases, particularly in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. “Growing up with close family members who suffered from diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer, and seeing how many people are affected from such diseases and how problematic it is globally, I was highly motivated to jump into pursuing further research in the neuroscience-immunology area. I am very thankful to have such an opportunity to learn from this project and also very motivated and excited to contribute to exploring more in this area in the future.” “I believe this research brings together a lot of different scientific questions regarding neurodevelopment of prefrontal cortex and involvement of microglia in both different pathophysiologies. “This is important because the prefrontal cortex is not only involved in diseases like schizophrenia, but also in Alzheimer’s disease as its connection to the hippocampus is a significant link to emotion and cognition. “Working on this project and learning from my supervisor, Matthew Johnson, Ph.D., senior staff scientist at the Broad Institute and the Stevens Lab, I have realized it is very crucial to know more about how this very important region of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, is developing and refining over time, and what are the changes in specific synapses and neurons during adolescence. “I am specifically investigating the changing pattern of numerous types of synapses and neurons, as well as myelination, to better understand how this complex region of the brain is changing through development and how/when/which types of synapses are potentially pruned by microglia. “My work here at the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute focuses on the development of the pre-frontal cortex, a part of the brain involved in complex planning, complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. Her research seeks to understand the mechanisms that regulate the disappearance of synapses – junctions where nerves communicate with each other – by focusing on how immune-related molecules affect this process. Stevens’ lab, which studies the resident immune cells of the brain – microglia. Supported by an OWU Theory-to-Practice Grant, Ozgenc has spent the summer working in Dr. The center is part of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts OWU Connection experience: “Investigation of prefrontal cortex circuit refinement over postnatal development,” a summer research internship in the laboratory of Beth Stevens, Ph.D., at the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research. Brain Development Ohio Wesleyan Student Assists with Psychiatry Research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
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