Research & Innovation

Diabetic nephropathy and diabetic retinopathy are often studied as separate complications of diabetes, yet both involve damage to small blood vessels. I wanted to understand whether they might also share underlying molecular mechanisms.

Over more than a year, I integrated transcriptomic datasets from both diseases and identified 505 and 969 differentially expressed genes. Using WGCNA and single-cell RNA sequencing, I narrowed the analysis to 35 endothelial oxidative-stress-related genes, then applied LASSO regression and ROC analysis to identify four potential shared biomarkers:

The project suggested that oxidative-stress-driven endothelial dysfunction may provide a molecular link between renal and retinal complications, offering possible directions for earlier diagnosis and integrated therapeutic research.

Cat allergies affect the relationship between people and one of the world's most common companion animals. Through FeliSilence, our iGEM project explored whether RNA interference could offer a new way to reduce the expression of major cat allergens.

I worked across both the scientific and translational sides of the project. In the wet lab, I helped build a yeast-based RNAi assay, tested 15 shRNA candidates targeting Fel d1, Fel d2, Fel d4, and Fel d7, and used fluorescence measurements to evaluate gene silencing. But developing a biological tool also raised questions beyond whether it worked in the lab. I conducted public surveys, investigated user needs and possible pet-medical applications, researched the market landscape, and helped translate the project into a 43-page business plan. The experience showed me that scientific innovation does not end with an experiment. It also requires thinking about the people, animals, systems, and decisions surrounding its eventual use.

Research taught me to understand disease through genes, pathways, and data. Clinical experiences allowed me to see how that knowledge is translated into decisions, teamwork, and patient care across different medical settings.