Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship awarded to CMU College of Medicine student

Central Michigan University College of Medicine student Christa Deban has received a Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship for her work studying the impact of steroid withdrawal on viral infection occurrences in kidney transplant patients.

The fellowship is granted by the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and serves to foster the development of the next generation of medical researchers. Medical schools across the country may nominate just one candidate per year for this esteemed honor.

Prior to enrolling in the College of Medicine, Deban began her research career at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, under the direction of Jamil Azzi, M.D.  Azzi is a transplant nephrologist whose research focuses on immunology and transplant nephrology.

“I was interested in immunology and transplants because it’s a really new field,” said Deban. “The first transplant was done less than 100 years ago, so people are still finding out so many things about it.”

Deban explained that the gold standard in transplant care is to suppress the immune system with steroids to keep the transplant alive and prevent the body from attacking the new organ.  But shutting down the immune system to care for one vital organ comes with other complications and causes the patient to be more susceptible to viruses and other illnesses.

In her research, Deban looks into how removing steroid treatment affects transplant patients in relation to viral infections specifically.  Her project explores the direct effect of early steroid withdrawal in kidney transplant patients.  Deban aims to bridge existing gaps in literature by comprehensively exploring how steroid regimen timelines impact viral infection rates and allograft survival.  Focusing on viral infections provides a broader understanding of immunosuppressive therapy risks and the foundation for optimizing treatment protocols in transplant patients.

“I’m really grateful for this opportunity to work on this research,” Deban stated. “It’s significant because it’s a newer field, and you can make a difference with even a small discovery.”