Timothy Brinson
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ?
I was particularly attracted to the Seifert Scholars program because of its unique opportunity for undergraduates to gain hands-on experience and collaborate in cutting-edge research with experts. I had been working on my project in Dr. Temesvariโs lab for a semester already, and this program gave me the perfect opportunity to continue my research in more depth during the summer.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก?
The name of my project is โAssessing an actin-binding protein, thymosin beta-4, as a novel treatment for Acanthamoeba keratitis.โ Acanthamoeba castellanii is an amoeba that causes a disease known as Acanthamoeba keratitis, which impacts the cornea and can lead to severe eye damage and blindness. The current treatment regimen involves topical eyedrops that must be applied every hour for at least a week. Due to the difficult application of this treatment and the harsh side effects it can cause, there is a great need for new treatments. Thymosin beta-4 promotes wound healing and tissue regeneration in corneal cells and has shown promise in clinical trials for treating dry eye syndrome and neurotrophic keratopathy. I am investigating TB4โs potential as a novel treatment for Acanthamoeba keratitis using human corneal epithelial (HCE-S) cells.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ?
As a Seifert Scholar, Iโve had the privilege of doing lab work full-time without the burden of classwork and other obligations I would have during the academic year. As a result, I have gained extremely valuable knowledge and skills that will benefit me greatly in my future research and continuing education. In addition, having access to state-of-the-art equipment and resources has been a huge privilege. This experience has been a wonderful way to put into practice what Iโve learned in my classes.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ฑ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฉ ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง?
My interest is in family medicine and I plan to continue on to medical school after graduating from Clemson.