MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL, THE
Grant: $9,569 - National Institutes of Health - Jul. 13, 2009
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Award Description: Beta-catenin biology in regeneration of uterine smooth muscle
Project Description: This summer the student was given a couple of projects to focus on and was really able to think critically about the science at hand and variables in the protocols that had to be determined. He had to perfect protocols to adapt to the properties of the cell lines that were used. Being able to distill a project down to one variable was a challenge that he had to undertake. He learned how every detail of each experiment needed to be exact otherwise the results would be insignificant. Thinking about all of these different aspects is important for a scientist. He also learned specific techniques in Tissue Culture that helped him to maintain cell lines without contamination. He also learned how to perform migration assays such as scratch, punch and MTT. He also watched mice assays and learned about the protocols for taking care of the mice and transfecting them with specific genes. He was also involved in staff meetings and presented his data and progress weekly. That was a new, educational experience as well. He also learned how to use computer programs to analyze data collected.
Jobs Summary: Supplement request is for research related to the Parent Grant: The Summer Students would help us with two of major goals of the Parent Grant, to identify and characterize the myometrial stem cell and to determine the role of ß-catenin in the regeneration and differentiation of adult myometrial smooth muscle cells. These goals require the use of large mouse colonies to get the correct genotypes, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and tissue culture, all of which can be performed more effectively with help, even if only temporarily freeing post-doctoral fellows and technicians for more discovery-oriented work. Summer students will learn to genotype mice, optimize conditions for new antibodies to be used in immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, and to develop primary cell cultures. The Supplement will contribute to accomplishing the goals of the Parent Grant: In addition to learning some of the basic techniques and principles of basic biological research in an academic medical center, the Summer Students will be helping the postdoctoral fellows and technicians with some of the time-consuming tasks required for successful completion of the specific aims of the parent grant. The critical tasks are labor intensive and provide the student with ample opportunity to learn basic biological principles such as Mendelian genetics, DNA amplification, cellular function and morphology, etc. These techniques are easily learned and can act as a foundation for further opportunities to assist that might arise during the summer. We recruit Summer Students from various sources. Since becoming an independent investigator, the PI has continued to accept 1-2 summer students in the laboratory over the last 10 years. Sometimes these students are in high school, but more often they are in college or medical school. They can be referred by the Harvard Stem Cell Institute’s Summer Internship program for local undergraduates or the MGH/East Boston High School ProTech Partnership for disadvantaged but bright city youth eager to learn hands-on science. They come from all socioeconomic backgrounds and are often from distant parts of the country but sometimes they are related to or friends of MGH faculty and staff. Recruiting has never been needed since there are always more students asking to work in the laboratory than we could accept. The Supplement will encourage students to pursue research in health-related sciences. In addition to the assistance that the students will provide in accomplishing the Specific Aims of the Parent Grant, an overarching goal of this informal program are to expose the students to ongoing research projects and ultimately to increase the pool of physicians and scientists engaged in areas of research important to reproduction and the mission of NICHD. In addition to accelerating the tempo of our research efforts to understand uterine stem cell biology, the goals of this Supplement will also advance the objectives of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 since (1) the projects can be completed within 2 years (2) the funding will enable the hiring of summer students as support staff. (Total jobs reported: 1)
Project Status: More than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on Jul. 13, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
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