Neifert receives grant for cardiac research

The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) would like to congratulate Connor Neifert, a rising 4th year senior in BME, for acceptance and support of his research proposal by The Undergraduate Honors Committee in the College of Engineering.  

The research grant will support his work titled “Cardiac Cell-to-Cell Communication via Exosomes Regulated By Spectrin-Based  Pathways.” Cardiac fibrosis, or the scarring of the heart resulting from cardiac disease, is a common response in cardiac dysfunction and arrhythmia. While the precise mechanism for how fibrosis develops

isn’t clear, our lab has recently discovered a protein complex in the heart that is crucial in regulating healthy cardiac fibroblasts. The exact signaling factors that cause the dysfunction of this complex remain unknown, so this study aims to identify extracellular signals that are released and are associated with cardiac fibroblasts approaching diseased states. By accepting this grant, he has committed to graduate with “Research Distinction” or “Honors Research Distinction,” and is strongly encouraged to continue his studies at the graduate level. In addition, he is expected to complete all the requirements for this honorific including the successful completion of a thesis, as well as the defense of his thesis before a faculty committee.

Connor is currently working under the direction of Thomas Hund, professor, BME. “The immediate draw to the lab was the name. “The Hund Lab for Excitable Cell Engineering”—I mean how cool does that sound?? But really, as I was looking into undergrad research, I found that the work happening in Dr. Hund’s lab fell right in line with what I wanted to study, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. What I value the most, though, is the environment that the other lab members create. I’m constantly challenged to keep learning the material and to keep putting forth my best work, but at the same time I feel comfortable asking for help and I feel safe to make and learn from my mistakes. I’ve grown so much in the lab, and I couldn’t ask to be part of a better team!” said Connor.

Connor plans to pursue a doctorate degree in BME, continuing his research on excitable cell engineering in the heart and brain. Eventually, he hopes to translate his education to the field of medical device development.

Congratulations Connor!