AARDA sponsors young scientists at Johns Hopkins University    

     One of the most important barriers facing the continued fight for more research and understanding of the 80+ known autoimmune diseases is the major shortage of medical researchers and physicians specializing in autoimmunity. AARDA has chosen to address this issue by seeking out young, bright, and eager students who have an expressed interest in spending their careers in research and development and to make every attempt to steer those students into lifelong quests toward new discoveries in autoimmune diseases, including new therapies.

     With this objective in mind, during this past summer AARDA sponsored four students at a cost of $6,000 each through the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health's Diversity Summer Internship Program (DSIP). Founded in 1995, DSIP provides independent research experience in biomedical and/or public health research to undergraduate students under the direct mentoring of established Johns Hopkins researchers. The program targets students with diverse backgrounds of ethnic minorities as well as economic hardships who have a demonstrated interest in careers in science, medicine, or public health.

     The outcomes of this 10-week program exceeded all expectations for AARDA, as well as the participating students. Here's a snapshot of the talented students who participated with AARDA in the program.

     Jessica Chery attends Rochester University, located in Rochester, New York. Under the tutelage of Dr. Jay Bream within the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jessica studied the identification of intergenic transcripts in the IL-10 gene cluster. The goal of her project sought to define the regulatory pathways and genomic requirements which control human IL-10 expression profiles. According to Jessica, "My research experience here at Hopkins was about challenge, perseverance, patience, endurance and FUN!"

     Charles Hall attends Bernard Baruch College, New York, New York. Under the guidance of AARDA's own Scientific Advisory Board Chairman Emeritus Dr. Noel Rose within the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Charles studied IL-17 upregulates Nurr1 expression in macrophages, in contrast to IFNy or IL-13. Here's Charles' take on his experience with DSIP: "The Diversity Summer Internship Program allowed me to get a glimpse of the full public health spectrum from laboratory research and public policy to community outreach."

     In addition to Jessica and Charles, AARDA sponsored Oscar Nnoli, currently enrolled at California State University at Northridge, who, under the mentorship of Dr. Barbara Detrick, studied the Evaluation of Mechanisms Involved in the Therapeutic Effects of IFN-B in Multiple Sclerosis. Oscar says, "What I've enjoyed is the diversity of the people I have been able to interact with as a DSIP intern. The program provides an array of opportunities ranging from seminars with prestigious scientists and physicians to meetings with the deans here at Johns Hopkins."

     Also, Josue Gutierrez, currently enrolled at University of the Ozarks, was mentored by Dr. Mark Soloski from the department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. Josue studied the Half-Life Behavior of the Non-Classical MHC Class lb Molecule Qa-1 When Subject to Heat Stress. "If you fail once and try again," observes Josue, "hard work pays off. That is one of the most important things I learned here. Keep on trying until you succeed."

     According to Kimberly Saunders, Director of DSIP, "The student feedback regarding their overall experience as interns was filled with growth and enrichment. I'm excited to announce that all four of the students you sponsored plan to return in 2009 or plan to submit graduate school applications in Public Health and/or Medicine."

     Pleased with the success of the summer 2008 program, AARDA leaders have decided to increase AARDA's DSIP sponsorship by including an additional two students in the 2009 program. The ramifications of this student program for future groundbreaking research are endless, and AARDA members can be proud of their part in lending support.