Harmanpreet Kaur
Education: Johns Hopkins University
MD Mentor: Dr. Manos Brilakis
Staff Mentors: Michaella Alexandrou
Project: Emergency Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting or other Cardiac Surgery After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From the PROGRESS-Complications Registry
How did you hear about the MHIF internship and why did you want to participate?
I found the MHIF internship while looking for clinical research positions. It seemed like a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of research and medicine. As an aspiring MD-PhD, the MHIF internship was one of the few chances I had to conduct research in a clinical setting, and I was eager to join this team.
What sparked your interest in the field of research, medicine and cardiology?
I've always been fascinated by the wide range of possibilities that exist in the field of medical research. For the past three years at Hopkins, I have worked almost everyday on uncovering the molecular dynamics of hearing regeneration in the zebrafish epithelium, so that one day we may be able to apply it as a genetic therapy for traumatic hearing loss in humans. But my passion for stem cell research doesn't end there. It is possible that we may use these exact systems of stem cell technology to rebuild damaged tissues in organs such as the heart. I dream of working on the forefronts of this field one day, and hope to learn and grow my skills in both clinical and wet lab research.
What is your desired career in medicine?
I will pursue an MD-PhD after completing my Bachelor's degree in Biophysics at Johns Hopkins University. I aspire to work in stem cell regenerative medicine, reflecting my current research endeavors at Hopkins.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
I am very excited to conduct research in a hospital setting and collaborate with an advanced team of cardiologists and researchers. I am particularly enthusiastic about my project on clinical research related to coronary bypass surgery with the Center for Coronary Artery Disease (CCAD) team.
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
I hope to gain valuable skills in cardiology: understanding the anatomy and physiology of the heart and vasculature, mechanisms of disease, and drug/surgical interventions. I want to understand the process and components of ongoing clinical research, and I hope to contribute to a part of this field.
What are your plans after the summer?
I will finish my last year of undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University and apply to MD-PhD programs. I will also be working on publishing my paper on transcription factor binding activity in the zebrafish epithelium during hearing regeneration.
What is a fun fact about you?
I can speak four languages!
