Five undergraduate students joined UofL Center for Cardiometabolic Science efforts to advance cardiometabolic science research this summer, each working in a separate lab on individualized projects tailored to their own interests.

The students were selected for this opportunity after a national advertisement for the program was conducted. The American Heart Association funded this program and other similar national programs to address public health concerns.

“The Center for Cardiometabolic Science was very pleased to welcome these five interns to our research labs this summer. The interns are full members of their research teams while they are here; they are not technological tourists or scientific sightseers,” said Steven Jones, PhD, director of the Center for Cardiometabolic Science. “Each student exemplifies the enthusiasm and dedication that is required in the field of biomedical research, and we are proud to be a part of their undergraduate learning experiences.”

Pierce Bergin, a senior at the University of Kentucky, worked in the lab of Daniel Conklin, PhD, to research the impact of TRPA-1 and hypertension on the structural and functional changes in blood vessels. Pierce plans on pursuing a career in the medical field.

Sydney Calvin, a rising senior at Bellarmine University, worked in the lab of Helen Collins, PhD, to determine sex difference-specific changes in metabolism in the context of myocardial infarction. This is Sydney’s second year in the program and in Dr. Collins’ lab. Sydney aspires to be a pediatric cardiologist.

Peyton Kochert, rising Junior at Purdue University, worked in the lab of Jason Hellmann, PhD. In collaboration with Sean Heffron, MD, at New York University, Peyton investigated the prognostic association between major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). Peyton plans on pursuing an MD or MD/PhD.

Caroline Toler, a first-year student at Centre College, worked in the lab of Andrew Gibb, PhD, on a project to understand the mechanisms that link metabolism to the epigenome in fibroblast differentiation. Caroline is interested in becoming an MD with a specific interest in emergency medicine and orthopedics.

Lillian Watson, a senior at Vassar College, worked in the lab of Alex Carll, PhD, MSPH, to analyze postpartum echocardiogram-derived ECG data for changes in ECG morphology while comparing e-cigarette and filtered air-exposed dams and their adult offspring. Lillian intends to be a biomedical researcher.

“Joining the Center for Cardiometabolic Science for the summer provided me with the one-of-a-kind opportunity to be a part of the groundbreaking research of the University of Louisville. Joining forces with these talented researchers to make a real difference in heart health is the opportunity dreams are made of,” said Peyton Kochert.

The students presented their work at the American Heart Association Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences in Chicago and participated in the Health Sciences Center summer research poster session during their last week in the program.

The UofL School of Medicine commends the Center for Cardiometabolic Science and their dedication to inspiring the next generation of biomedical researchers.