A Moore resident who plans to attend medical school is now considering a career in biomedical research following her recent internship at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
Anoushka Sasikumar, a 2023 graduate of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, was among 16 Sir Alexander Fleming Scholars at OMRF this summer.
Sasikumar interned in the lab of OMRF scientist Meng Zhao, Ph.D., who studies the metabolism of T cells, a critical component of our immune system. T cells guard against infection and are thought to help fight cancer. However, they sometimes go rogue and cause harm, especially in people with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or lupus.
The ultimate goal of Sasikumar’s project is to develop a mechanism to manipulate the function of T cells.
Sasikumar, a microbiology major at the University of Oklahoma, said her OMRF experience taught her to think more like a scientist. Additionally, she said, “I’ve learned a lot about the theory surrounding the project and what kinds of questions to ask to deepen your understanding of a topic.”
This was her second time to work in Zhao’s lab. As a senior at OSSM, Sasikumar studied the distance between the mitochondria, often called the powerhouse of the cell, and other parts of the cell.
“Anoushka contributed positively to many things in the lab as a Fleming Scholar,” Zhao said. “We are pleased to welcome her back in the fall as a lab tech.”
As she begins her sophomore year at OU, Sasikumar calls her internship “invaluable,” not only for the research experience, but also for the connections she made. She plans to continue doing research while also pursuing medical school.
The Fleming Scholar program, founded in 1956, has given more than 600 high school and college students from Oklahoma experience conducting biomedical research. It is named for Sir Alexander Fleming, the famed British scientist who discovered penicillin and in 1949 came to Oklahoma City to formally dedicate OMRF’s first building.
To learn more about the program, visit omrf.org/fleming.
