The Department of Medicine’s annual Research Day was a special event for Vandana Dua Niyyar, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Renal Medicine, and her daughter, Rhea Niyyar. During the 350-person event, Vandana looked on proudly as her high school-age daughter became the youngest presenter in Research Day’s 12-year history.
Rhea’s goal to be a physician-scientist was inspired by her mother’s love for the medical profession. As a child, Rhea would sit captive as her mother practiced her presentations. Today, Vandana says she has learned a lot from Rhea’s research, even at such a young age. For Vandana, seeing Rhea present at Research Day was the highlight of her career.
Keep reading to learn how Vandana’s advice to “follow your heart” led to a full-circle moment for this mother-daughter duo.
Can you share more about your research?
Rhea: I have worked in the Griendling lab for over two years under Elizabeth Faidley, Bernard Lassegue, Marina Sorrentino-Hernandes, Steven Forrester, Elena Dolmatova, and, of course, Kathy Griendling. I did not have much prior work experience, so during my first summer and the following winter, I learned more research techniques and did a few small experiments. However, during my second summer, I began conducting independent experiments with Elena Dolmatova. My research looks at the subcellular localization of a protein called POLDIP2 during inflammation. POLDIP2 is a multifunctional protein that has been shown to be a novel regulator of the blood-brain barrier, especially during inflammatory diseases like sepsis, so by looking at where POLDIP2 goes in the cell, we can better understand what it does during inflammation. I evaluated its localization using immunohistochemistry and subfractionation, and these results were presented in the form of a poster at Emory Department of Medicine’s Research Day.
Vandana: I am a clinician-educator and my research has primarily been human subjects research in dialysis patients and QI projects. It has been a real education for me to learn from Rhea, as I have personally not worked in the laboratory prior to this. Now, thanks to her, I understand complex laboratory concepts and their applications.
How was it to experience Research Day as mother and daughter?
Rhea: I really liked the fact that my mom was at Research Day evaluating other posters because I could see how proud she was of me, and having her there made the whole event a lot less stressful. Plus, I got to present to a lot more people, which was pretty cool.
Vandana: It honestly has been the highlight of my career. I have been blessed to be at Emory and have had amazing mentorship and successes. However, the joy I got from seeing Rhea present her first-author poster at Emory DOM Research day was incomparable – I literally was bursting with pride. I was so impressed by how articulate and confident she was, presenting to seasoned researchers and holding her own.
Rhea, what are your educational and/or career plans? How have you been inspired by having a mother in medicine?
Rhea: I have a strong interest in biology, and I am pretty sure that I want to be a physician-scientist when I am older. My mom’s medical profession definitely inspired me because I see every day how much fun she has working with her patients and on her research. She loves to teach and right from when we were little, she would practice at home and have us sit through her presentations. I also admire how she is able to balance so many things at home and at work.
Do you have any advice for other high school students pursuing medical research?
Rhea: My biggest advice would definitely be to take advantage of all opportunities offered to you. My first foray into research was the summer after my freshman year at a summer introductory research methods course at my school under one of my teachers. That experience spurred my interest and started me on this path. If I hadn’t looked for those opportunities and taken advantage of them, I probably would not have gotten this incredible opportunity.
I also would recommend not giving up. There are not many PIs as generous as Dr. Griendling who are willing to take a chance on a high school student with minimal research experience. When I was looking, I got a lot of rejection letters or non-responses. I emailed probably around 100 PIs before I was able to find my place at the Griendling lab. But as they say, it only takes one ‘yes’ for success.
Vandana: I would just say to others the same thing I always tell Rhea – ‘Follow your heart!’ If you do something that you love, it never feels like work. I have seen her give up time with her friends, and time on weekends and holidays with an enthusiasm that always surprises me in someone so young. It is just that she loved her work so much, she chose to be here. Once you find your passion, everything else comes automatically – so just go for it!
To learn more about Research Day 2019, visit our blog recap post.
To view more photos from the event, visit our Facebook page.
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