Karina Almeida

Biography

About me
My name Karina Almeida. I was born in Ecuador but I moved around a lot a child, living in Turks and Caicos before my family moved to Canada. After finishing my last year of high school in Calgary, I decided to pursue a BSc in Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge. In my last year of the undergrad I met Dr. Wilson who offered me a graduate position in his lab which I accepted. I am currently in pursuing an MSc in Neuroscience.

My research
My research focuses microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), and the role that these might play in modulating sympathetic activity in the spinal cord associated with asthamic responses. This work will be done under the supervision of Dr. Richard Wilson.

BRAIN CREATE program aspirations
I am most excited about the possibly to travel through the Brain CREATE program. Currently my lab is planning an expedition to Bolivia in the summer that I have been invited on. I am also very excited about the prospect of getting to travel to attend conferences in different countries and through this build a wide professional network. I would also love the opportunity to be part of an academic exchange, hopefully somewhere in Europe.  

Commercialization
My research focuses on finding new therapeutic approaches to treat asthma.
 

Awards

Brain CREATE Graduate Scholarship
University of Lethbridge Shinning Student Award