Hello! I’m Natalie, a fifth-year Biology Honours student. I was born in Vancouver, BC and fortunate to have been raised amidst the breathtaking beauty of the West Coast! As a UBC student, I’ve been a part of URO’s REX Committee since my third year, in which I design workshops for undergraduates new to research and strive to make research opportunities more accessible for undergraduate students 🙂 I was also a UBC Science Orientation Leader during my second and third year, in which I welcomed and assisted incoming undergraduate students to our lovely campus!
During my third year, I received a grant from the Faculty of Medicine’s Multidisciplinary Research Program in Medicine. I conducted a 16-week research project with the Matsubara Lab on the role of Granzyme B, a serine protease, in promoting Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the third leading cause of blindness. The following year, I completed my Honours Thesis with the same lab, in which I investigated the role of Tenascin-C, a pro-inflammatory protein, and one of Granzyme B’s many substrates, as a potential therapeutic target in AMD.
This past summer, I pursued a 14-week Summer Directed Studies project with the Ciernia Lab, where I explored the intricate relationship between the gut microbiome and the brain! I focused on microglia, the innate immune cells within the central nervous system. My research investigated the role of the gut microbiome in shaping microglial function during critical stages of early postnatal development. Currently, I am working on another project with the same lab, focusing on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a chronic condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract, and its connection to brain-related disorders.
What are you researching?
My current project investigates how Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) may be connected to neurological and psychiatric disorders during early development. We’re focusing on two key factors that might explain this link. First, we’re looking at microglia, the immune cells in the central nervous system. They are sensitive to substances produced in the gut and can influence various brain-related disorders. Second, we’re examining corticosterone, a stress hormone that helps lower inflammation and is known to affect microglial activity. Levels of corticosterone tend to increase in patients with IBD and are also associated with psychiatric disorders. Overall, we hypothesize that the changes in the gut microbiome caused by IBD will lead to higher levels of corticosterone which may affect how microglia function during early development.
Why is this research important?
IBD patients reportedly exhibit increased susceptibility to brain-related disorders such as depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, IBD affects over 8 million people worldwide, and we are seeing a rise in the incidence of IBD in children younger than 5 years. However, the exact mechanisms underpinning this connection are unknown. Therefore, it is important for us to focus on early postnatal timepoints to guide effective therapies in treating both the inflammatory and cognitive aspects of this disease.
What has been an interesting outcome of your research experience?
During my summer project on the gut microbiota and microglial function, I was surprised to see an increased microglial density in the hippocampus of female germ-free (without an endogenous gut microbiome) mouse brains compared to males. These preliminary findings may have critical implications for the sex-specific biases in many brain-related disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease.
What do you most enjoy about doing research?
I enjoy the feeling of endless possibility as I investigate the solution for something but end up with unexpected surprises that could change the entire trajectory of a project. It never ceases to amaze me how many different directions and possibilities there are for a single problem.
What has been most challenging about doing research?
I think for me, the most challenging part was learning everything for the first time. I admit I did struggle with learning new lab techniques in the beginning and figuring out how to read literature effectively and efficiently. But they were both things that got better with practice and time.
What has doing research brought to your undergraduate experience?
Research has been very fulfilling for me and made my undergraduate experience memorable. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to advancing our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and the development of effective therapies to improve patient health. Additionally, I met many inspiring people and encountered many challenges that have facilitated my growth as a young researcher.
What advice would you give to other students considering doing a research project?
I have two pieces of advice. Firstly, before you start a research project: Try volunteering at the lab first so that you get a feel for the techniques and the aspect of the research you feel the most interested in. My second piece of advice would be to stay curious and open-minded. Although a project may give you unexpected results, there is always a silver lining surrounding it. In other words, there’s always a lesson to be learnt, a skill to be further developed, or a new project on the way for you 🙂
What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I love to read novels; currently I am enjoying the Caraval series and cafe hopping. Lately, photography has also been piquing my interest.
What is a fun fact about you that you’d like to share?
A fun fact about me is that I have travelled to thirteen countries in my lifetime!