Research Assistant Receives Award From Sigma Xi

Congratulations to Michelle Chiu, an Undergraduate Research Assistant in Dr. De-Ann Pillers’ lab, on her $2,500 award from Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society. Her project, “Uncovering Oxytocin Signaling in a Single Cell,” will explore the cell signaling mechanisms in the posterior retina; specifically between the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors (PR). The exact cause of retinopathy of prematurity is unknown, but it is believed the periphery of the retina is involved in cell signaling which is deficient in premature babies.