Utility of induced pluripotent stem cell derived endothelial cells as pulmonary arterial hypertension models

Research is very special for me. It is unequivocal that it has irrevocably changed my life, and it is my hope that by sharing my story, I might be able to demonstrate its transformative power … As a 10th grader, I couldn’t see past the street culture that my school community was awash with. Scientific research was just something in a textbook � drugs, gangbanging, fights, and pregnancies were the demanding reality in front of me. However, I had historically been a good student. I liked exploring far away ideas in my mind and exerting some measure of control over my life. Things were coming to a head, though, and events dictated that this year was to be a crossroads. It was with the encouragement and support of a science teacher that year, Mr. Jason Brennan, that I entered the UC Davis Teen Biotech Challenge. He saw something in me that I doubt anyone else could have at that point in time. Through TBC, I landed an internship with the UC Davis stem cell program.

• Medicine