Airway-intrinsic neurons (AINs) are essential to coordinating breathing and protecting the airways. AINs have historically been difficult to study due to their sparseness and location along the airways, but recent technological developments enable us to study AINs with molecular resolution. The Prescott lab generated the first unbiased profile of the molecular diversity of AINs, however these data lack spatial context. Our goal is to employ new methods of fluorescently sparse labeling AINs using adeno-associated viruses to enable visualization of the projection patterns of key neuronal subtypes. Understanding AIN subtype morphology and projection patterns allows us to hypothesize about their specific roles in regulating airway physiology and disease phenotypes.

As part of the SuperUROP program, I’m thrilled to further my research with world-class mentors while also thinking critically about communicating my work to the broader scientific community. I look forward to building upon my surgical, imaging, and computational abilities as well as the scientific writing skills that will help me in my future career as a neurosurgeon and physician-leader.