Angela Anderegg, NUIN program

Where is your hometown?
I grew up in Dublin, Ohio, which is a northwest suburb of Columbus. Our town’s biggest claim to fame is that we host the Memorial Tournament (part of the PGA Tour) each spring.

Where did you obtain your undergraduate degree?
I attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., where I double majored in neuroscience and Spanish.

What are your research interests?
My main focus is on developmental neuroscience. Specifically, I am interested in understanding the molecular processes that govern the birth and specification of distinct neuronal populations and how we might harness these processes to engineer stem cell-based therapeutics for disease.

What exciting projects are you working on?
The dysfunction and loss of midbrain dopamine neurons contribute to many neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Thus, one of the main goals in the Awatramani Lab is to define the molecular cascades involved in midbrain dopamine neuron development in order to better understand PD and formulate more effective therapeutics. One current and exciting avenue for PD treatment is stem cell-based therapy. Toward this end, our studies aim to define the developmental basis of dopamine neurons so that the molecular programming of ES cells into bonafide dopamine neurons can be refined. In particular, my thesis project aims to investigate the role of microRNAs (a recently discovered class of evolutionarily conserved, noncoding, regulatory RNAs) in the development of midbrain dopamine neurons.

What attracted you to the NUIN program?
After finishing my undergraduate degree, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to pursue an MD or a PhD, so I spent a few years working as a technician in the Jill Morris Lab at Children’s Memorial Hospital while deciding. Through this experience, I was able to learn a lot about the NUIN program and had the opportunity to get to know many of the students and faculty. Overall, I was impressed with the extensive faculty involvement, cutting-edge research, access to first class facilities and highly collaborative nature of the program.

What do you like to do for fun?
My husband and I love to travel – either to explore new places or to visit with family and friends. I also enjoy biking, playing golf, and doing home improvement projects. Recently, I have been taking woodworking classes and learning to build furniture in my spare time.

What are your plans for after graduation?
After graduation I would like to obtain a post-doc in a developmental neuroscience lab. Long term, I hope to stay in academia and start my own lab.