It's been 26 days since I first landed in NYC. I still can't get over how fast time flies. It goes without saying that Manhattan is wonderful. I don't think I could ever get tired of that island. I travel to the city often and yet I feel like there's always something new to eplore or see, and even when there isn't there's always a favorite coffee shop, or your favorite spot in central park to go visit. The Bronx on the other hand is a slightly different story. I like to think of it as having all of the negative qualities of Manhattan, but none of the positive ones. The only redeeming qualities are the Bronx Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Luckily, Manhattan is only a 30 minute express bus ride away.
As for my research, I've been here for three and a half weeks but have only just started actually working on my project. When I first got here I was placed in a computational genetics lab that focuses on RNA-seq data analysis. My P.I. was very friendly, although slightly difficult for me to understand due to a thick asian accent. The work he was having me do was MATLAB programming that could be completed from my computer in my apartment. It was not exactly the lab experience I was looking for. After about a week of trying to force myself to enjoy it, I built up the courage to put in a request to be placed in a new lab. After about a week, Dr. Freedman, the director of SURP, had a new lab in the department of pathology and immunology for me to start working in.
The lab is led by Dr. Joan Berman and they focus on the effect of HIV on the CNS. More specifically, they are investigating how the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier and the resulting chronic inflammatory response produced by the immune system. My project looks at the effect of buprenorphine, an opioid used clinically as a detoxification and maintenance agent for the treatment of opiate dependence, on human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC). A portion of HIV infected patients here in the United States are also addicted to heroine and are being treated with buprenorphine. We want to know if the buprenorphine has any effect on the diapedesis of monocytes into the CNS by way of the blood brain barrier and whether or not buprenorhpine interacts with the antiretroviral therapies used to treat the HIV in any way.
It's unforunate that I won't have more time to spend in this lab than the 4 weeks I have left. In any case I'm looking forward to these last four weeks and I know they are going to be over faster than you can say Albert Einstein College of Medicine Summer Undergraduate Research Program.
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My research here has finally gotten into the full swing now. Last week I learned how to culture human brain microvascular endothelial cells and how to quantify protein levels using a Bradford assay. Additionally, I have learned what it is like to be in a supportive and friendly research environment. Dr. Berman was out last week because of the holiday and other family matters. Instead of having lab meeting on Thursday, which is normally what happens on Thursdays at noon, we all ordered Chinese Food and ate lunch together. It was great to leave the lab for an hour and spend some time with everyone outside of the research setting. It really is a shame that I've only got three and a half weeks left here. I'm still on my first round of experiments as well; hopefully things will start moving a bit faster once I'm more comfortable with the protocols. Should have my first set of data by the end of this week!
My life here has also started to feel a little bit more normal. I have finally established my daily and weekly routine. I went to the Union Square Farmer's Market on Saturday which was great. I think I'll be going back there every week for the rest of my stay here. The 4th of July fireworks show in downtown Manhattan was spectacular. Arguably the highlight of last week. This week we're planning to go see Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem on Wednesday evening and I just can't wait. Definitely excited for that.
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