46 Research Reflection Elena Yee

My undergraduate research experience has been amazing. I am very grateful that I was able to actively participate in various aspects/areas of the research efforts alongside Dr. Drummond and his lab members. They have been very supportive throughout my experience in the lab and have helped me grow as an individual. I was very glad that I had the opportunity to work with Patrick Ferrara, a postdoctoral fellow in the Drummond lab, to conduct this particular project/experiment. Through this project, we were able to implement immunotherapies that helped rescue aged mice muscle recovery after following disuse atrophy. This was a very fascinating finding because this could be a potential treatment that can help the elderly population after they have undergone a period of disuse.

I have learned a lot from Dr. Drummond and his lab members. They all will have a big impact towards my educational and future goals. I am wanting to pursue a career in the area of Regenerative Medicine in the future. The laboratory techniques and data analysis that I have been taught in the Drummond lab will be very translatable for this particular field of research that I am interested in. And this project has been great to help me towards fulfilling my career aspirations. Regenerative laboratory research and medicine will potentially lead to new advancements and alternative medical treatments/therapies for patients, given that the human body already has some natural ability to heal itself. Through working in Regenerative Medicine, in the future, I hope to bring/develop new methods; so, people/patients can live healthy and active lives.