DU Undergrads Tackle Real-World Problems

In a lab at the University of Denver, sophomore Cassidy Anderson is busy experimenting with pyrroloquinoline quinone, a compound found in green tea, peppers, and certain fermented foods. PQQ, as it is known, has the potential to protect brain cells against the damage that causes neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s) and Alzheimer’s.

“It’s really cool to see the science behind what we learn in class,” says Anderson, who hopes to attend medical school. “And as a doctor someday, I’ll better understand the mechanisms behind diagnosis and treatment.”

Anderson works in the Linseman lab, where there’s rarely a dull moment. Led by Dan Linseman, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, a team of undergraduate and graduate researchers is trying to determine how nutraceuticals — food components used for medicinal purposes — might protect the neurons in the brain that underlie neurodegenerative diseases. The researchers have looked at coffee, green tea, strawberries, blackberries, rosemary, dark chocolate and more in the search for neuroprotective properties.

“We’re looking for compounds from natural substances that protect against inflammation and neural death, which are two underlying causes of neurodegenerative disease,” Linseman explains.

For the 16 undergraduate students who work in his lab, it’s an invaluable opportunity to gain hands-on experience exploring real-world problems, serving as excellent preparation for pursuing graduate and medical degrees and embarking on professional careers.

“The students come in new to everything, but by the time they leave, they are seasoned undergraduate researchers with a real notion of what it means to do basic research,” Linseman says. “I like seeing students excited about the research and feeling like they are contributing.”

Linseman has published numerous papers over the years with his undergraduate researchers and has paved the way for them to attend scientific conferences and symposiums. They’ve even had the chance to interact with ALS patients, giving them a look at the human face behind the drive for medical treatments.

For senior Lilia Koza, the human side resonates strongly. “I worked in a nursing home throughout high school, so healthy aging is important to me,” she says. “It’s something that everyone has to face.”

A biology major with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience, Koza fell in love with research after she began working on nutraceuticals in the lab last year. She plans to pursue a doctorate after graduating from DU.

“What I like about research is going out on a limb and finding niche projects,” she says.