Student Profiles

Ayden became fascinated with the immune system during his undergraduate studies at Duke University, particularly with respect to its therapeutic applications for complex diseases. He pursued this interest through his translational glioblastoma research, studying engineered cytotoxic T cells alongside the cancer’s immune microenvironment. In this midst of this research, Ayden also began to question the accessibility of scientific advancements, especially in the context of clinical medicine. Accordingly, he investigated the barriers to care and adverse health outcomes faced by Native Americans in North Carolina. Through the NIH OxCam program and Gates Cambridge scholarship, Ayden will continue this work under the supervision of Prof. Ziad Mallat and Dr. Claudia Kemper, where he will study the cellular immunology underlying atherosclerosis and other types of chronic inflammation. Given the disparate impact of heart disease on racial and ethnic minority groups within both the US and UK, such advancements are poised to have a significant social impact. Following his studies at Cambridge, Ayden intends to pursue medical education in the US. Through his research, Ayden hopes to develop immunologic treatments for cardiovascular pathologies, alleviating the burden of heart disease on individuals and their communities.