Optogenetics is a groundbreaking technique that allows researchers to control the activity of genetically modified cells, typically neurons, using light-sensitive proteins known as opsins. But despite its advantages, such as reversibility and non-invasiveness, microbial opsins can trigger immune responses, posing challenges for therapeutic applications. Achieving immune-free optogenetic expression in humans would mark a breakthrough in neuroprosthetics, laying the foundation for advanced, biologically integrated prosthetic technologies. With this project, we aim to investigate the immune response to optogenetic proteins by analyzing immune subpopulation dynamics in ChR2-transfected PBMCs. We will also employ LC/MS to identify opsin-derived peptide fragments presented by human MHC molecules on immune cells, allowing us to better understand which regions of ChR2 may drive immune recognition. Together, these approaches will help map both the cellular and molecular mechanisms limiting long-term optogenetic expression. Insights from these analyses will also inform immune modulation strategies, including a brief exploration of localized, drug-loaded hydrogel systems designed to suppress key immune subpopulations while minimizing systemic effects.

I am participating in SuperUROP because I want to build a future at the intersection of technology, medicine, and neuroscience. I am especially excited by research that uses engineering tools to better understand biological systems and bring new therapies closer to real use. Through this experience, I hope to grow as an independent researcher and refine my own research interests within the future of medicine as a whole.