Emilie Petit Rose Hills
Node-Pore Sensing for a Non-Invasive Endometriosis Diagnostic Tool
Endometriosis is a serious disease that affects 1 in every 10 menstruating individuals, causing painful symptoms that can lead to infertility. Despite this pain, 6 out of every 10 patients remain undiagnosed, as the current method of diagnosis is invasive laparoscopic surgery. This project works to directly address this healthcare disparity. Evidence has supported that endometrial cells have different physical and biological properties from healthy cells. Ongoing research from the Sohn Lab has created methods that can analyze cell properties to differentiate healthy and diseased cells. We intend to employ a microfluidic method developed by the Sohn Lab known as Node-Pore-Sensing (NPS). NPS utilizes current changes produced by a cell transiting a microfluidic channel to collect and analyze cell mechanical and biological properties. It can be hypothesized that a device utilizing these methods could provide point-of-care endometrial diagnosis, allowing for faster and more efficient treatment. Through this healthcare advancement, my project has the potential to directly combat the inequalities present in women’s health issues.
Message To Sponsor
I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to work on my project centered around endometriosis this summer, a subject that I am deeply passionate about. I am excited for the chance to contribute to the advancement of women’s healthcare through my work and am truly appreciative of the opportunity to address this crucial issue. I am hopeful for the opportunity to develop valuable skills that will undoubtedly benefit my future endeavors in research. Thank you so much for this opportunity!