CDM Student is Accepted into Prestigious Research Program
David Pellei, a D2 at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, has been accepted in the National Institutes of Health’s prestigious and competitive Medical Research Scholars program. The program, a year-long research immersion program for future clinician-scientists that advances health by inspiring careers in biomedical research, engages students in basic, clinical, or translational research investigations. Students with a strong interest in conducting basic, translational, clinical or epidemiological research and are currently enrolled in their second, third, or fourth year at an accredited medical, dental, or veterinary program, are offered a curriculum rich in didactics and professional development, and a robust mentorship and advising program. The goal of the MRSP is to prepare its scholars to become tomorrow's leaders in medicine and biomedical research.
Pellei says that he developed a passion for research while earning his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Between his undergraduate work and coming to CDM, he spent a gap year continuing the research he began at VCU as an undergrad, developing a drug to inhibiting periodontal inflammation and inhibiting bone loss. Once at CDM, Pellei began working with Chang Lee, the college’s director of research and principle investigator at the CDM’s Regenerative Engineering Lab. “When I got accepted here, before I even sent in my deposit, I reached out to Dr. Lee to learn about his research and to see if I could get involved there,” says Pellei.
Once at CDM, Pellei applied for and received a research fellowship and spent the summer between his first and second years. He says that he appreciated the ability to focus that the summer fellowship provided. “We had the whole summer dedicated to research. We didn't have distractions,” he says. That's when I first started looking at [the MRSP program] because I really liked that protected time where I was able to be fully involved.”
Pellei presented his summer research project, Biologic Augmenter 4-PPBP promotes Fibrocartilagous Healing Related to frHMGB1 Translocation, at CDM’s recent Birnberg Research Symposium and was awarded second place in the biomedical science category.
Lee says that he believes that Pellei is the first student from CDM to be accepted into the program. “I’m confident that Davis has a great deal to contribute to any lab he chooses. I am equally confident that this experience will provide him with tools to become a curious and skillful researcher.”
Pellei is hoping to land in a lab at NIH that is doing tissue regeneration research, similar to that with which he has been involved in Dr. Lee’s lab. His ultimate goal is to be in private practice, but, while still in school he plans to explore as many research opportunities as he can. His research is informing his career goals, particularly the type of residency he will choose. “Perio and ortho have good translational areas for the research that I’m doing,” he says. But he’s keeping his options open. “I haven't been in the clinic yet,” he says. “Who knows? Maybe I'll love endo more than anything else.”