Research news
Student Spotlight: Nicolas Munarriz , M1
Nicolas Munarriz is a first-year medical student who this past summer participated in the Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSSRP) under the mentorship of Dr. Chad Farris. Nicolas’ research project titled "In vivo and ex vivo MRI-guided studies for multi-omic analyses of the white matter abnormalities in Alzheimer’s disease”. To learn more about Nicolas’ research experience during the summer research program we asked Nicolas a few questions.
What is your research project about?
The objective of this project is to allow for direct comparison of in and ex vivo brain MRIs from the same patient, with a focus on investigating changes in white matter hyperintensities associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. Due to postmortem structural changes, brain structures observed ex vivo may become deformed or displaced relative to their in vivo locations, preventing direct comparison of the two images. We developed a registration protocol that accounts for these postmortem deformations by utilizing the in vivo image as a spatial reference while preserving the quality of the underlying imaging data.
What have you done as part of your research project?
After developing a strong understanding of the tools required for co-registration, I began evaluating methods used by other laboratories facing similar challenges at each stage of the process. Examining these approaches allowed me to develop a unified protocol designed to produce the highest quality data possible without risking the quality of the imaging data. I then applied the protocol to every viable brain scan available to us, though differences in scan quality and acquisition methods, the protocol could not always be applied uniformly, requiring the development of additional steps for certain scans.
What have you learned or accomplished through your research experience?
Outside of protocol development, I also worked to improve the quality of the ex vivo scanning process itself, with the goal of producing scans that were better suited for co-registration. Following data collection, I focused on identifying the most effective methods for quantitatively evaluating the quality of our co-registrations in preparation for subsequent multi-omic analysis of the white matter hyperintensities.
How has this research experience influenced your understanding of medicine, research, or your potential career path?
My greatest takeaway from this project has been improving my approach when tackling challenges far outside my area of expertise. Prior to the summer, I had very little experience reading brain MRIs or using imaging-processing and command-line tools, and the task of learning to operate these tools within a limited timeframe felt nearly impossible, further complicated by the fact that some of the necessary software and methods were unfamiliar even within our research group. After my initial efforts to understand these systems were unsuccessful, I was able to step back and more clearly define the problems I had to overcome, allowing me to identify a starting point and break the larger challenge into smaller, more manageable steps. I focused my efforts on what seemed reasonable to learn on my own, saving tasks that required more expertise for when my research group was available to assist, allowing me to focus on the areas with the greatest potential for improvement first.
What have you learned or accomplished through your MSSRP research experience?
Through this project, I have gained a much better understanding of what medical research looks like at a higher level, and it has solidified my interest in continuing to support research efforts throughout my career. Compared with my prior research experiences, this project was far more open-ended in determining the specific approach needed to reach the desired result. It also felt more collaborative: although much of my work was done independently, there was significant collaboration between members of the research group, both in solving shared problems and in providing insights that helped address more individualized challenges. The problem-solving, intellectual contribution, and collaboration required to complete this project have given me a deeper understanding of what it means to conduct research in this field. While I ultimately hope to pursue a career in medicine, this experience has shown me how valuable research can be as a complement to clinical practice, and I hope to continue contributing to research throughout my medical career.
What advice would you give to other medical students who are considering getting involved in research?
Once you feel you have found your footing as a medical student and moved past the initial chaos of adjustment, start looking for research opportunities early, but avoid rushing the process. There are a wide variety of resources available to help you find a mentor, including specialty interest groups, the BU Profiles Search tool, and various advisors who can help you refine your search around your interests. Setting aside even 10–20 minutes each day to explore potential opportunities can help ensure that you not only find a position but also identify a project you are genuinely passionate about and that aligns with your career goals.
Lastly, once you have identified a potential mentor, just send that email! It can be daunting to reach out and ask about research opportunities, but it becomes easier every time you do it. In my experience, mentors here are very passionate about educating students and sharing their work with them, so they are very likely to be more than happy to hear from you.
Mentor Spotlight: Chad W. Farris, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Radiology
Dr. Farris has mentored numerous medical students participating in a variety of research programs. Nicolas Munarriz is a first-year medical student, worked with Dr. Farris through the Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSSRP). Nicolas participated in basic science research using in vivo and ex vivo MRI-guided studies to investigate white matter abnormalities in Alzheimer’s disease.
His research project “In Vivo and Ex Vivo MRI-guided Studies for Multi-omic Analyses of the White Matter Abnormalities in Alzheimer’s Disease” involved collaborating with pathology teams to analyze brain tissue and develop skills in imaging and histological analysis.
Through these research experiences, Dr. Farris’s mentees gain valuable experience in both clinical and basic science research. Students have opportunities to present their work at national conferences, contribute to publications and collaborate as co-authors to larger research projects.
Dr. Farris’ on Mentoring:
Mentors have been instrumental throughout my training and remain essential to my continued career development. I am committed to providing the same mentorship support to current and future students that proved vital to my own professional growth. Mentoring represents one of the most rewarding aspects of my role as a radiologist-scientist, particularly given the exceptional knowledge, passion, and dedication that students at BU consistently demonstrate in their research endeavors.
My approach to mentoring emphasizes guiding students through the research process while fostering independent work. I aim to provide strategic support and course correction as needed, ensuring students remain focused on their objectives. The most gratifying outcomes occur when students advance their projects from conception through completion and successfully disseminate their findings through poster presentations, oral presentations or peer-reviewed manuscripts. Outstanding research lays the groundwork for future research endeavors.
Nicolas' work exemplifies this trajectory. Through the MSSRP, Nicolas undertook the substantial challenge of mastering neuroimaging techniques, both in vivo and ex vivo acquiring proficiency in multiple image analysis software platforms and developing a protocol for co-registering in vivo and ex vivo scans. This innovation enables direct comparison of in vivo imaging findings with targeted neuropathologic assessment at autopsy. Nicolas' contributions have established a standardized process now being adapted for implementation for ex vivo imaging and co-registration across both the BU Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the Framingham Heart Study - Brain Aging Program, generating substantial and enduring impact. Witnessing mentees transform ambitious challenges into meaningful contributions through dedication and rigorous effort continues to inspire and exceed my expectations.
Congratulations to Arjun Patel and DJ Wu Wong for Accepted Manuscript
Arjun was named co-author on the accepted manuscript, "Indoxyl Sulfate Promotes Uremic Arterial and Venous Thrombosis by Stabilizing IDO1 via the E3 Ligase SHFM3," which will be published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
During his first year of medical school, Arjun participated in the LEADS Research Track program. We asked him a few questions to learn more about his experience in the program, his research journey, and the impact of mentorship on his medical education.
What is your research project about?
The research project is about the identification of a new E3 ligase of the IDO-1 enzyme, an enzyme which mediates adverse effects in patients with CKD, which gets downregulated in the setting of uremic toxicity. Discovery was mediated through western blot analysis of protein interactions, super-resolution microscopy and various animal models with specific ligase gene knockout in endothelial cells.
What have you done as part of this research project?
I mainly contributed to data collection in this project. Specifically, I assisted in immunofluorescence staining and imaging of vessels of the various mice groups studied. Through this staining and imaging, I was able to identify the presence of specific biomarkers that contributed to thrombogeneity in the different experimental groups and confirm the mechanism by which the SHFM3 E3 ligase mediates its effects.
How has this research experience influenced your understanding of medicine, research, or your potential career path?
Research has given me an appreciation for the incredible amount of hard work that underpins each of the medical discoveries I have the privilege of learning about. I am grateful to be surrounded by fabulous mentors and colleagues both in the lab and in the classroom and I aim to pursue a career in medicine that bridges the strengths of both of these fields, such as a physician-scientist.
What advice would you give to other medical students who are considering getting involved in research?
I would advise medical students to pursue research topics in fields they are interested in and to maintain a positive attitude when results don't go their way. Research can often be a frustrating process, but hard work will eventually pay off.
What is your research project about?
IDO1 or indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 is an enzyme that plays a large role in tryptophan metabolism. Downstream, IDO1 activity contributes to the pro-thrombotic environment of chronic kidney disease. This study investigated the proteasomal degradation of IDO1 by the E3 ligase SHFM3/FBXW4 and the role that uremic toxins play in modulating IDO1’s degradation. Using targeted metabolomics, nanoparticle-mediated gene delivery, and a murine thrombosis model, the lab also demonstrated the functional implication of SHFM3 regulating the uremic toxin-mediated upregulation of IDO1.
What have you done as part of this research project?
I mostly assisted with the earlier stages of the project. Much of the earlier investigative work involved narrowing down the specific E3 ligase from a “family” of E3 ligases that were suspected to interact with IDO1. After helping to identify SHFM3/FBXW4, I assisted with the cell culture experiments that helped describe the biochemical interaction between IDO1 and FBXW4 (ubiquintination, half life, binding domain, etc.)
I’d also like to emphasize the work that the first authors of this paper, Ricardo Almiron and Abbas Brahim Malloum, did for this project as well as the work that my fellow medical students Anna Natrakul and Arjun Patel contributed.
How has this research experience influenced your understanding of medicine, research, or your potential career path?
This experience and my time in Dr. Chitalia’s lab has been integral in developing my understanding of the types of translational research that can be pursued as a physician. It’s been helpful to see how many projects (clinical trials, basic science, literature review, etc.) are taken from start to finish.
Time in the Chitalia's lab has also emphasized that research, especially in the medical field, is often a collaborative effort. I would say that having a supportive environment is one of the most important parts of the research experience.
What advice would you give to other medical students who are considering getting involved in research?
The most important practical piece of advice that I’ve received is that controls are the most important part of any study. I’d also say don’t be afraid to try new things, whether it be a new technique at lab, proposing an idea to your PI, a completely different project, or looking for new research. Putting yourself out there can help you learn a lot about what you want to do in the future and what type of research is right for you.
Student Spotlight: Erika Minetti, M1
Erika Minetti is a first-year medical student who participated in LEADS Research Track program under the mentorship of Naomi Hamburg, MD. To learn more about Erika’s research experience in the LEADS Research Track program we asked Erika a few questions.
What is your research project about?
The title of my project is cardiometabolic proteomics and vascular endothelial health in type 2 diabetes. We explored the relationship between endothelial function and a targeted panel of circulating cardiometabolic biomarkers. To assess endothelial function, we stained for phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS) in venous endothelial cells with and without insulin stimulation. Ultimately, understanding which molecular pathways are associated with vascular dysfunction could help identify new biomarkers or therapeutic targets for preventing cardiovascular complications of type 2 diabetes.
What have you done as part of your research project?
I had the opportunity to be involved in many different levels of this project. I recruited and consented participants and carried out patient visits, including vascular measurements such as flow-mediated dilation, which allowed us to assess endothelial function in vivo. I then analyzed the proteomics data using Olink’s statistical analysis platform and examined the relationships between the proteomic and p-eNOS measures using SPSS.
What have you learned or accomplished through your research experience?
I learned how exciting it is to contribute something novel to an established area of research. There are many people investigating the drivers of cardiovascular disease in diabetes, and there are also many researchers who leverage proteomics. Our project uniquely connects proteomic findings with endothelial function using freshly collected patient samples. This showed me the value of translational research in connecting molecular findings back to human disease.
How has this research experience influenced your understanding of medicine, research, or your potential career path?
Delving into the molecular mechanisms driving cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes has helped me deepen my understanding of disease beyond what we learn in the classroom, and has motivated me to continue pursuing research throughout my career as a physician.
What advice would you give to other medical students who are considering getting involved in research?
My advice would be to find a research topic that you are genuinely interested in, because that makes the experience much more rewarding. For me, that has been cardiometabolic disease, and having a strong interest in the subject has motivated me to become more involved in the project and develop my skills. I would also encourage students to seek out mentors who can guide them through the research process. I have been fortunate to be able to work under Dr. Hamburg who has encouraged me to take on greater responsibility and helped me develop my skills as a researcher and has also given me advice on how to succeed as a medical student.
Mentor Spotlight: Naomi M. Hamburg, MD, MS
Joseph A. Vita, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine
Her research has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and various foundations since 2006. Alongside her scientific work, Dr. Hamburg is deeply committed to advancing vascular health through education and improved patient care.
Her dedication to mentorship is exemplified by her work with medical student Erika Minetti through the LEADS Research Track program. Erika’s research project, titled “Inflammatory Determinants of Endothelial Cell Insulin Resistance in Human Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus,” provided her with hands-on experience in clinical research methodology, endothelial function and hemodynamics. Under Dr. Hamburg’s guidance, Erika also served as first author on the paper “Cardiovascular Health Effects and Synthetic Cooling Agents in E-Cigarettes Labeled as 'Clear' Marketed in Massachusetts After the Tobacco Product Flavoring Ban,” published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, and presented her work at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.
Dr. Hamburg on mentorship:
Mentoring students is one of the most joyful parts of being a physician-scientist. Mentees bring their knowledge, curiosity and commitment. My goal is to guide each person to develop their own strengths and passions that they will carry with them as an investigator. Along the way they build the specific scientific and communication skills that come from working as part of a team. Research can be frustrating and I hope to help mentees reframe what might feel like a failure as a moment to refine questions. Overcoming barriers often produces new science and moves a field forward. Erika's work is a good example. She has been working with me during her master's program and the LEADS program has given her time to grow as a leader of her own projects. On her project on "clear" e-cigarettes, she presented at scientific meetings, coordinated with the research team at BU and outside collaborators and most impressively, talked with public health officials and lawmakers about the implications of our findings. Seeing a mentee carry the findings from the lab to the larger community to prevent disease sustains my belief in the power of science.
Dr. Hamburg’s enthusiasm for teaching and cultivating the next generation of researchers makes her an exceptional mentor and a vital contributor to the development of future physician-scientists.
Mentor Spotlight: Jeffrey Siracuse, MD, MBA
Jeffrey Siracuse, MD, MBA, is Chief of the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and Associate Chair of Surgery for Quality and Patient Safety at Boston Medical Center and a Professor of Surgery and Radiology at Boston University's Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine.
Dr. Siracuse joined the BU/BMC faculty in July 2014 after completing his surgery residency at Beth Israel Deaconess, a vascular research fellowship at the Harvard-Longwood Research Training Program, and a clinical fellowship at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. His work focuses on clinical outcomes, safety, and quality improvement in vascular and endovascular surgery, primarily using large multi-center registries.
While at BU, he has had numerous medical student work with him on an institutional, regional, and national dataset projects. This includes Thomas McNamara, a recent CAMED graduate, who worked on how social determinants of health affect patients with peripheral arterial disease. Anish Patel studied penetrating neck trauma with vascular injury. Kyle Bui analyzed amputation outcomes in octogenarians. More recently, Wei Ni Zhou and Cynthia Huang were MSSRP students, funded by the Department of Surgery, who analyzed outcomes of conservative treatment of intermittent claudication and upper extremity bypass. With a few examples, he has a long history of student presentations and publications. All of these students have presented at national meetings and have published, or are in the process of publishing, first-author manuscripts.
Dr. Siracuse on mentorship: Mentorship means providing unwavering long-term support and creating clear structural pathways for a student's professional growth, critical thinking, and eventual career placement. Success is ultimately judged by how they perform and how they mentor the next generation themselves. He often advises his mentees to set early goals, make sure you make the academic time, and establish a consistent routine. Productivity in surgical research relies on structure and consistency. The best ideas are the ones that come up as day-to-day challenges.
Student Spotlight: Cynthia Huang, M3
Through this research experience, Cynthia has gained valuable insights into her own capabilities and professional growth. Most significantly, she has discovered her capacity to venture into unfamiliar research territory, contribute meaningfully to ongoing work, and work on a project through to national conference presentation and journal submission. In the process, she developed persistence in tackling complex, data-limited topics while still producing meaningful results. Yet perhaps her most important realization is recognizing that she thrives when curiosity drives her work, and that she finds the most growth in collaborative, mentorship-rich environments, precisely like the one she cultivated with Dr. Siracuse and Dr. Alonso.
Congratulations to Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship Recipient, Aiman Altaf, M3
Congratulations to Aiman Altaf, one of the 2026 recipients of the 2026 Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship! Her project, mentored by Dr. Charlene Ong, aims to evaluate the association between quantitative eye movements and neurologic outcomes in patients who experience coma after cardiac arrest. The goal is to establish a biomarker that can enhance the ability to predict neurologic outcomes, helping families and clinicians make more informed decisions about patient care.
Before medical school, Aiman spent several years doing wet lab research in neurology, but wanted to pursue research that was more directly applicable in a clinical setting. After attending a talk by Dr. Ong about a previous medical student's project which developed the machine learning algorithm that uses EOG to quantify eye movements, Aiman was struck by the novelty and clinical relevance of this work. Cardiac arrest often results in prolonged coma, and existing prognostic frameworks are limited in their ability to distinguish between patients who will recover and those who will not. This uncertainty makes decision-making challenging for clinicians and families. By demonstrating that EOG-derived eye movements are associated with outcomes, and that they can enhance existing prognostic frameworks, this work has the potential to establish a practical biomarker for early prediction of neurologic recovery. When Aiman reached out to Dr. Ong hoping to get involved, her current project became an opportunity to contribute to more objective, data-driven approaches to neuroprognostication.
Through her research experience, Aiman has learned that not having a formal background in a particular field should not be a barrier to getting involved in that work. She was initially worried that her lack of experience in data science would limit her ability to contribute to the team, but being curious and persistent helped me find meaningful ways to drive progress. This experience pushed me to step outside her comfort zone and learn new skills that will be helpful in future work too.
This year, Aiman presenter a co-authored (Anika Reza) poster at the Kase BU Neurology Research Symposium in March 2026, and she presented a poster at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Chicago in April 2026.
Congratulations to Sarnoff Research Fellowship Recipient, Camille Shantz
Congratulations to Camille Shantz on her placement at Stanford University as a Sarnoff Fellow, supported by the Sarnoff Cardiovascalar Research Foundation! While at Stanford, she will join the Marsden Lab, primarily working with Dr. Alexander Kaiser. Camille will work in a translational research lab that uses computational modeling to study blood flow in the cardiovascular system and address problems clinically relevant to congenital heart surgeons. Blood flow involves complex forces like pressure and turbulence that influence how the heart, blood vessels, and valves function over time. By simulating these dynamics, we can better understand disease progression and support more precise, patient-specific treatments.
In joining Dr. Kaiser's Cardiovascular Biomechanics Computation Lab at Stanford University, Camille will also be mentored by postdoctoral scholar Dr. Karoline Marie Bornemann, and they will work closely with Dr. Michael Ma’s congenital heart surgery lab. Camille is also being supported by her Sarnoff Foundation Fellowship advisor, Dr. Karol Watson at UCLA, and her sponsor at Boston University, Dr. Ellen Cooper.
Camille's interest in this field stems from a longstanding love of math and problem-solving. As she became involved in medical research, she found that same intellectual satisfaction in studying cardiovascular physiology, particularly in understanding the mechanisms underlying disease to optimize treatment. During her early research at the Center for Fetal Therapy at Johns Hopkins, Camille was introduced to the complexity of diagnosing heart disease before birth through prenatal echocardiography. She later worked with congenital heart surgeon Danielle Gottlieb Sen on a project using computational fluid dynamics to study how pulmonary valve replacement angle in Tetralogy of Fallot may impact long-term durability. Through this experience, she saw how mathematical modeling could directly inform clinical care, solidifying my interest in this work.
Through her research, she has developed a deeper appreciation for the complexity of congenital heart disease. She reflects on how, despite advances in pediatric cardiac surgery that have extended patient survival into adulthood, many individuals still face evolving cardiovascular challenges. Her work with computational modeling has shown her the potential of these tools to illuminate each patient's unique physiological profile and guide more targeted interventions. She looks toward a future where such technology becomes integral to clinical decision-making and treatment planning.
Student Spotlight: Sabrina Mellinghoff, M3
Sabrina Mellinghoff, M3 and 2025 MSSRP Scholar presented her poster titled “Neighborhood Concetrated Disadvantage and Risk Recurence in a Nationwide Student of US Black Women” at American Association of Cancer Research in San Diego in April.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Mollie Barnard and Dr. Julie Palmer, her research investigates breast cancer recurrence in the Black Women's Health Study and so far has studied the association between neighborhood disadvantage and risk of recurrence. The first stage of this work involved conducting a comprehensive review to identify which of the 3,000+ study participants who developed primary breast cancer experienced a subsequent recurrence. Now, Sabrina and her team are able to pose questions and apply exposures such as an index of neighborhood disadvantage to the cohort and study their associations with risk of recurrence.