Student Profiles

During his undergraduate career at UC Berkeley, Byron studied cataractogenesis and supported the development of gelatin microbead templated chambers in hydrogel as a platform to engineer lens organoids. The latter project inspired a fascination for biomimetic designs and their applications in modeling biological systems and in therapeutic development. At the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, he continued this area of research but with a focus on its connection to clinical therapies. He evaluated genipin cross-linked fibrin as an injectable, cell- and compound-delivering biomaterial to repair the intervertebral disc after herniation as a member of Dr. James Iatridis’s Spine Bioengineering Lab. He then joined the Medical Research Scholars Program under the supervision of Dr. Pamela G. Robey to explore human bone marrow stromal cells embedded in fibrin microbeads as a repair strategy for focal articular cartilage defects in animal models. These collective experiences have cultivated Byron’s passion for stem cell biology, and as a future MD/PhD, aspires to apply his research background to the development of regenerative therapies. 

Moving forward, Byron will study the biomechanical and chemical signaling pathways involved in skeletal modeling with the goal of developing novel treatment modalities for bone fractures. As a solar-powered individual, Byron plans to spend his free time biking and playing tennis. Additionally, in caring deeply about environmental sustainability, he aims to participate in organizations that support local farms and communities through green practices like composting.