Tyler Carman, B.S.
Pre-Med Awarded NIH Research Supplement In May 2023, Tyler Carman earned a B.S. in neurosciResearch Supplements to Promote Diversity in Healthence from the University of Michigan. The first college Related Research program, Tyler will complete two graduate in his family, Tyler plans to pursue an M.D. or years of post-baccalaureate training with the team. M.D./Ph.D. But before taking that next step, he’s making His primary focus will be studying a protein-to-protein the most of an opportunity to continue learning—and interaction within the noncanonical Polycomb Represcontributing— in the lab of Kellogg physician-scientist sive Complex 1.6. “The theory is that the members of Rajesh Rao, M.D. this complex work together to close The Rao translational off parts of the chromatin to THE THEORY IS THAT THE MEMBERS OF research lab focuses on ensure cells become their speciTHIS COMPLEX WORK TOGETHER TO the epigenetics of retinal fied type during development,” CLOSE OFF PARTS OF THE CHROMATIN development and disease he explains. “Within our organoid to identify new biomarkers, model, they are fated to become TO ENSURE CELLS BECOME THEIR therapeutic targets and SPECIFIED TYPE DURING DEVELOPMENT, retinal cells.” applications of stem cells Tyler credits Dr. Rao with WITHIN OUR ORGANOID MODEL, THEY for blinding diseases. inspiring him to pursue a career ARE FATED TO BECOME RETINAL CELLS. Tyler began assisting in as a physician-scientist. “Dr. Rao the lab as an undergraduate, is incredibly supportive of every— Tyler Carman, B.S. working with the retinal one in his lab, which has been organoid model under the direction of resident amazing to experience as an undergrad,” he says. Dan Balikov, M.D., Ph.D., and graduate student Brian A highlight of his time with the team was observing Basinski, B.S. His assignments included supporting Dr. Rao perform a human RPE stem cell transplant as studies of retinal organoid vascularization with Dr. part of a first-of-its-kind Phase 1/2a clinical trial for the Balikov and the molecular drivers of North Carolina treatment of dry AMD. macular dystrophy, a rare congenital blinding disease, “What an opportunity,” Tyler recalls. “A big milewith Mr. Basinski. stone for me — observing my first eye surgery—also Tyler is already a recipient of NIH funding at this happened to be a significant scientific milestone.” early stage of his career—with support from the NIH
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