Isabel Orbe

Originally from Southeastern Connecticut, I earned by BS in Biochemistry at Eastern Connecticut State University and completed an undergraduate thesis on the potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of commercial cannabidiol as a part of the University’s Honors Program. Following graduation in 2020, I worked as a research assistant in the Spirochete Research Group at the UConn Health Center under Drs. Juan Salazar and Kelly Hawley on the development of a vaccine for syphilis. As a research assistant, I purified recombinant outer membrane proteins to be tested for immunogenicity to identify strong antigens. After two years as a research assistant, I knew I wanted to take the next step in my research career and pursue a PhD.

Upon acceptance to the PhD in Biomedical Sciences program at BU, I was interested in applying my biochemical knowledge and cell biology experience in translational research on neurodegenerative disorders. In the summer of 2023, I joined the lab of Dr. David Harris to study the cell biology of strain susceptibility in prion diseases. My thesis research focuses on the role of prion degradation by lysosomal and autophagic pathways in strain susceptibility using in vitro neural models.

As a 4th-year PhD student, I’ve had multiple opportunities to present my scientific findings at scientific meetings such as Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration in Human Prion Diseases and Their Intersection with AD/ADRD (2024) meeting and the annual Prion International Conference (2025) as well as at the Graduate Medical Sciences Research Symposium as an Early PhD Career Talk awardee (2025). Effective communication to other scientists within or outside of the field and to the general public is a critical skill for anyone pursuing a career in biomedical research. Therefore, I am also pursuing a certificate in Civic Science Communication through the College of Communication at BU

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