Understanding how macrophages in the heart can become inflammatory or protective for cardiovascular disease.
Trevor Fidler, Professor
UC San Francisco
Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2024 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2025.
We’re interested in identifying pathways which regulate how macrophage behave in atherosclerosis. In inflammatory sites like atheromas, macrophages accumulate. Recent single cell RNA sequencing has revealed that within these tissue macrophages can adopt multiple transcriptional states which can promote or suppress disease. We are currently utilizing CRISPR screening in vivo in mice to discover pathways which can alter macrophages phenotypes in atheromas. This work may identify translationally relevant mechanisms of pathogenesis for novel therapeutic interventions.
Role: The undergraduate researcher will become familiar with laboratory techniques related to molecular biology, physiology, and cardiovascular disease. Students will be expected to become proficient in laboratory techniques including histology, DNA editing using CRISPR, and sequencing techniques. Eventually students will be expected to take ownership of their project, reading the literature to aid in designing new experiments and understanding research concepts.
Qualifications: Students should have good time management skills, eagerness to learn and an interest in exploration.
Hours: to be negotiated
Off-Campus Research Site: 555 Mission Bay Blvd. S. San Francisco, CA 94127
Related website: https://trevorfidler.ucsf.edu/fidler-lab