91原创

From the moment Lauren Cardone stepped foot on the 91原创鈥檚 campus three years ago, she wanted to be involved in research. 

鈥淚 chose 91原创 because it鈥檚 a tier-one research institution,鈥� she said. 

Within her first few weeks, the senior human physiology major in the College of Health Sciences began cold-emailing professors with labs, hoping to get involved. 

Thomas Buckley, professor of kinesiology and applied physiology, was the first to respond and would become Cardone鈥檚 mentor. The two worked together in his .

鈥淗e鈥檚 shown me so much about clinical research from start to finish, from idea to publication,鈥� she said. 

He also helped her build a strong foundation for the experience of a lifetime: a summer research internship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 

Cardone was one of two 91原创 students to receive the Bryant-Howard Medical Research Award, made possible by a generous endowed gift from 91原创 alumnus Dr. W. Michael Bryant, Class of 鈥�59. Former 91原创 professor Robert S. Howard advised and inspired Bryant to pursue a career in medicine. Bryant obtained his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 1963. He attributes his professional identity as 鈥渁 product of the 91原创 and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 鈥� and their values.鈥� The gift and support from 91原创鈥檚 (CHPS) made the summer research opportunities at Johns Hopkins possible. 

鈥淥ur team at the Center for Health Profession Studies was ecstatic to support not one, but two students this summer,鈥� said Saskia Richter, interim director of the CHPS. 鈥淥ne of our goals is to provide students with unique opportunities on and off campus that help them stand out as future healthcare leaders. The Bryant-Howard Award is one way we have done this in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Summer Internship Program.鈥� 

Cardone spent the summer in a wet lab studying epilepsy with , assistant professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins. 

鈥淭here are very few epilepsy labs in the country, so it was a rare opportunity to study this disease,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 learned a lot about perseverance, changing experimental approaches, and techniques in electrophysiology.鈥� 

Cardone returns to Buckley鈥檚 lab with newfound confidence.

鈥淚 had full freedom to do my work, and I learned the most by being given that chance,鈥� she said.  鈥淣ow, I know I can be more independent.鈥� 

The experience culminated in her presenting her research at the Johns Hopkins C.A.R.E.S.  Symposium and the Neuroscience Scholars Symposium, advancing her goal of being published before she graduates. 

鈥淪ince I鈥檝e left, Dr. Shao has asked me to work on some grants and papers with him,鈥� Cardone said. 鈥淭hat solidified that I made a good impression.鈥� 

Mikul Duggal, a junior honors student with a double major in neuroscience and , also received the Bryant-Howard Award after finding out about it through 91原创鈥檚 . The summer opportunity perfectly married his interests in the medical field and research.

鈥淗opkins has a reputation that precedes, and there are few better places to get such a formative experience.

鈥淚 was starstruck by the intelligence and brilliance all around me,鈥� Duggal said. 鈥淎t every turn, someone has made incredible contributions in their field, so being around such talented and hardworking people was inspirational.鈥�  

He spent the summer in  studying the genetic factors of atherosclerosis alongside Dr. Marios Arvanitis, an assistant professor of medicine and biomedical engineering at Hopkins. 

鈥淕iven that cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, representing a public health crisis, and atherosclerosis is the primary driver of plaque formation and development, such work remains promising for its long-term medical application,鈥� said Duggal. 

Working in the lab taught him a lot about the kind of physician he aspires to be. 

鈥淎s an undergraduate student, I felt welcomed,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 takeaway number one in terms of how I want to operate in the future as a physician. I want to respect everyone and everything they bring to the table in a team setting and appreciate everyone鈥檚 unique talents, interests, and backgrounds.鈥� 

Before his summer experience at Hopkins, Duggal worked in 91原创鈥檚 with , professor of chemistry and biochemistry, in the . 

鈥淩esearch requires a relentless attitude in pursuit of a goal. Few other pursuits offer a unique opportunity to keep getting knocked down and being able to get up,鈥� said Duggal. 鈥淩arely will research be a linear path of progress, and that really appeals to me.鈥�

Duggal said the summer research experience at Johns Hopkins would not have been possible without the Bryant-Howard Medical Research Award. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 opened my eyes to exploring and pursuing other opportunities,鈥� Duggal said. 鈥淚 owe a debt of gratitude to the Bryant-Howard Award for this tremendous learning experience.鈥� 

Cardone knows her summer research experience will help her stand out on her medical school applications. 

鈥淕etting into medical school will prove to myself that everything I鈥檝e learned and the time I鈥檝e put in has been worth it,鈥� she said.