Molecular Physiology & Biophysics

I am originally from Baltimore, MD and I attended The College of New Jersey for my undergraduate degree, where I graduated in 2020 with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Public Health. I have always had an interest in the science of disease, physiology, and autoimmunity. Type one diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease resulting in near complete destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas leading to reliance on treatment with exogenous insulin to maintain glucose homeostasis. Long-term insulin administration and poor glucose control can lead to numerous complications, and therefore investigating methods to enhance beta cell mass and function is critical in the reversal of disease. In the Gannon lab, I study the effects of modulating prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) signaling through prostanoid receptors EP3 and EP4 on beta cell survival and autoimmune activity in a type one diabetes model, the nonobese diabetic mouse. We hope that through selective antagonism or agonism of these receptors we may be able to enhance beta cell proliferation and survival, as well as dampen the autoimmune attack to allow restoration of beta cell mass and euglycemia. Outside of the lab I love reading, adventuring outdoors, and exploring the sights, sounds and tastes of Nashville!