Hello!
A Bit About Me
I'm Olivia, a UF undergraduate student studying biology and nutrition!
I am involved in various organizations such as Shands Arts in Medicine, Growhub, Dr. Coy Heldermon's research lab, the Medical Anesthesia Association, and the Association of Honors Art.
I aim to become a anesthesiologist assistant in the future.
Resume
January 2023 - present
Volunteer for Shands Arts in Medicine Kids
Assists with a weekly art workshop for patients on units 44 and 45. Circulates units and offers to do bedside art with patients or to make art kits for the family. Works on other projects such as creating banners, murals, bereavement boxes, or congratulation paintings for successful transplants.
February 2023- Present
Undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Coy Heldermon's research lab
Currently performing a gastrointestinal absorption and motility study on mice with Sanfilippo syndrome mutation. Administers fluorescent molecules to mice, then performs absorption and motility assays on blood and stool samples as well as biochemical and histological analysis on mouse brain and intestines.
December 2021-Present
Founding member of Association of Honors Art
Works to organize tutorials, workshops, art history lectures, and museum tours. Coordinates and executes Luminaire: an annual contest to showcase the creative talent of the honors community and compete for scholarship prizes of up to $600.
Research
Gastrointestinal Motility Project for MPS IIIB
Principle Investigator: Dr. Coy Heldermon
Department of hematology and oncology in the college of medicine
I have been involved with this project since October 2023.
Project Responsibilities
I have been obtaining absorption and motility assays through the following methods: to obtain the absorption assay, mice are fasted with ab libitum water for 6 hours, then gavaged with kDa FITC dextran. This is a fluorescent molecule which will provide a measure of total intestinal permeability. Blood was collected from the submandibular vein at 1, 2, and 4 hours after dextran administration. The plasma was separated from the blood via centrifugation. To obtain the motility assay, mice were fasted and gavaged in a similar fashion. Stool pellets were collected hourly for 12 hours, where they were then processed to obtain supernatant. The blood plasma and supernatant were measured with a spectrophotometer to compare the FITC dextran levels over time compared to a standard curve that was obtained from control mice gavaged only with saline.
My labmates and I have been performing euthanasia and tissue harvest of the mice at one and ten months of age, preserving the brains and intestines for future analysis. My group and I are still in the process of obtaining absorption assays, motility assays, and tissue. These aspects, along with biochemical analysis, histology, and data analysis will be performed in the future and is what I will be assisting with. For example, this includes testing such as a 4[1] [2] -MU based assay to determine the amount of NAGLU activity and staining sections of the brain with hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) to obtain information on the extent of lysosomal storage vacuolation.
High magnification photomicrograph from a small intestinal [1] myenteric plexus (circled) from a 3 month-old male A. NAGLUWT/WT & B. NAGLU-/- mouse.
Research Focus
Our laboratory primarily studies Sanfilippo Syndrome type B (MPS IIIB). Our overarching goal is to develop an AAV gene therapy treatment for this condition. The specific project I am focusing on is addressing the severe altered gastrointestinal activity in individuals with Sanfilippo type B. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, incontinence, constipation, and abdominal pain. Our group has been using mice with the NAGLU gene mutation to model Sanfilippo Type B, however we have not yet attempted to use this model specifically in regard to digestive function. Confirmation of altered gastrointestinal activity will allow our group to use our current model to begin investigating methods to correct this dysfunction. This will be the first study to assess the motility and absorption of the MPS IIIB digestive tract. We have observed the presence of lysosomal storage in the mesenteric plexus of mice (see figure), which we hypothesize may alter mobility and absorption.