Neda Isabel Sedora-Roman

Medical Student
University of Puerto Rico
Howard Hughes Fellow

Neda Isabel Sedora-Román received her BS in biology from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. Neda is currently a fourth year medical student at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies, Neda has had the opportunity to actively participate in multiple research projects. She initiated her research experience within the field of plant genetics, addressing the phyleogeographical patterns of five different Caribbean wetland plant species. Subsequently, she focused her research interests within the field of neuroscience and neurology by studying the neurophysiology of language acquisition as well as further work in the neuropathology of Alzheimer’s Disease. 

This year Neda will be working as part of Dr. Quiñones-Hinojosa’s laboratory under the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Training Fellowship for Medical Students. Her proposed study will investigate the effects of Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) stimulation of PDGF Receptor-alpha (PDGFR-alpha) on the invasive capacity of human neural stem cells and brain tumor stem cells. Neda’s proposed research aims at providing information regarding the processes of migration and invasion of these two cell populations, as well as an understanding of their signaling pathways. By evaluating whether shRNA against PDGFR-alpha decreases the effects of PDGF stimulation, these research findings may suggest future targets for shRNA technology.