Megan Allison and Carrie Brough

MEGAN ALLISON, CLASS OF 2019
MAJOR: BIOLOGY WITH HEALTH PROFESSIONAL/PRE-OPTOMETRY CONCENTRATION
CARRIE BROUGH , CLASS OF 2019
MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY
MINOR: BIOLOGY
IMPACTED BY GIFTS MADE TO THE ANNUAL FUND WHICH PROVIDE JOINT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT/FACULTY RESEARCH GRANTS

Honors seniors Megan Allison and Carrie Brough teamed up to conduct research on a problem that interested both of them-learning more about neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Parkinson's to improve treatment and find cures.

Working with biology professor Dr. Sherri Bergsten, the two studied the impact of exosome release and autophagy on glioma cells (brain cancer) and neurodegenerative diseases. For Carrie, who majored in psychology, the project gave her hands-on experience in a wet lab setting to learn more about brain cells. For Megan, a biology major, the project helped improve her critical thinking skills in preparation for graduate school. With help from the Wood Honors College, they presented their research at a regional honors conference last spring in Baltimore. "Neurogenetics is a growing field, and there is still so much that needs to be explored," said Carrie.

Carrie graduated in May and is pursuing a master's degree in neuroscience at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Megan is in her first year of optometry school at Salus University in Elkins Park, north of Philadelphia. "After my next four years of schooling, I hope to work in a group private practice on the East Coast, possibly in the pediatric field."