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Quick Look
• Graduated with a BA in Chemistry and Religion from Swarthmore College
• Currently a fourth-year student in the MD/PhD Program
As a member of the MD/PhD program, my intention is to combine the strong clinical training of an MD program with advanced research training from PhD study, in order to enter the medical field with a high level aptitude in both disciplines. As a future clinician-scientist, I was attracted to the program at the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics because of its emphasis on translational research in the field of molecular biology and genetics. Through the training in molecular medicine that I will receive here, I will be able to approach my medical career with a unique perspective on the complex problems involved with human development and disease. My specific areas of interest include genetics, immunology, and vascular biology. My long-term goal after graduation is to pursue a career as a clinician-scientist at a medical school/academic hospital.
Research Interests
Advisor: Dr. S. Helena Kuivaniemi
I am working on a project studying several possible roles of the immune system, particularly genetic polymorphisms in immune-related genes and the contribution of cytotoxicity in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Awards and Recognitions
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for Individual Pre-doctoral MD/PhD Fellow (National Institute on Aging)
Honors in Years 1 and 2 at the Wayne State School of Medicine
Selected Publications
Lillvis JH, Lenk GM, Kuivaniemi H. Genetics of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. In: Aortic Aneurysms: Pathogenesis and Treatment. Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ. G. Upchurch and E. Criado, eds. (in press)
Boddy AM, Lenk GM, Lillvis JH, Nischan J, Kyo Y, Kuivaniemi H. Basic research studies to understand aneurysm disease. Drug News and Perspectives (in press)
Kuivaniemi H, Boddy AM, Lillvis JH, Nischan J, Lenk GM, Tromp G. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are deep, deadly and genetic. In: Aortic Aneurysms, New insights into an old problem. Liege University Press, Liege, Belgium. N. Sakalihasan, H Kuivaniemi, and JB Michel, eds. (in press).
Nischan J, Lenk JM, Boddy AM, Lillvis JH, Tromp G, Kuivaniemi H. Abdominal aortic aneurysms: a complex genetic disease. In: Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Nova Science Publishers, Inc., Hauppauge, NY (in press).
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