09/02/2026
Feyza Achilova '26 (Economics) was a Brown Generated (UTRA, Signature Internships) Student Researcher with Dr. Abid at Rhode Island Hospital's Cardiothoracic Surgery Division, Warren Alpert Medical School, during the summer of 2025.
Feyza shares her experience:
"This summer I worked on cardiovascular biology research focused on endothelial dysfunction and therapeutic strategies involving extracellular vesicles and mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants. My responsibilities included both bench work and conceptual contributions.
This summer, I conducted translational cardiovascular research on a recently developed nitroxide drug known as JP4-039 as a Mitochondria-Directed Strategy to Address Cardiovascular Dysfunction in Preeclampsia. My independent project arose while reviewing my lab's body of work on JP4-039 as a therapy for cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction.
At the bench, I gained hands-on experience performing cell lysis, western blotting, and functional endothelial assays, as well as contributing to translational animal protocols. Building on these techniques, I developed a project that integrates both basic and clinical science, establishing collaborations with Brown's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and external institutions.
Over the summer, this project gained national visibility: it was accepted for presentation at two national conferences and advanced to the semifinals of the American Medical Association National Research Challenge. I also drafted and submitted a grant proposal from scratch to support its next phase.
Conducting this work within the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery was formative for me both scientifically and personally. It not only deepened my understanding of cardiovascular biology and translational research, but also solidified my commitment to pursuing medicine, with the goal of integrating research into my career as a future surgeon."
It is inspiring to learn and hear about Feyza's experience. To learn more about career opportunities, click on the link in our bio. 🐻