Mireya Pimentel

PhD student, Cellular and Molecular Pathology

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Matthew Brown

Mireya’s research focuses on immunology in Down syndrome and CD18 expression. CD18 is an essential building block in cell surface proteins LFA-1 and MAC-1, both of which are essential for immune cell migration. Down syndrome, or trisomy 21, happens when a person has an extra copy of chromosome 21, leading to significant immune system irregularities. The gene for CD18 is on chromosome 21, and Mireya’s work explores how the extra copy of chromosome 21 affects CD18 expression and, in turn, LFA-1 and MAC-1 expression. The goal of this research is to improve the understanding of Down syndrome immunology and help develop therapies.

Mireya received a WARF-funded Advanced Opportunity Fellowship in 2023-2024 and joined the Science and Medicine Graduate Research Scholars (GRS) community. She said the resources provided by the GRS, such as community support, help in selecting a PI and lab, and information about various fellowship types for graduate students, supported her during her studies. It also helped her secure a GEM fellowship in 2025.

“SciMed GRS was very helpful in guiding me on how to navigate graduate-level education,” Mireya said. “Navigating the unfamiliar world of academia as a first-generation student was a major challenge, but SciMed GRS provided me with valuable strategic insights and essential support.”

As a GEM fellow, Mireya also had the opportunity to intern at Colgate-Palmolive, where she networked and gained industry knowledge that will benefit her after graduation.