Simrun Sharma

Student NameSimrun Sharma
Faculty Mentor NameAshish, Sharma, MBBS, Ph.D.
CollegeCollege of Medicine
MajorBusiness Administration
MinorN/A
Research InterestsInvestigate Lung Injury ,Tissue Regeneration, Stem Cell Treatment, Economic Footprint in Healthcare
Academic AwardsNAACP’s ACTSO Bronze Medalist Scholarship 2018
OrganizationsCUR Ambassador, UF Honors Program
Hobbies and InterestsReading, Long Drives, Binge Watching Netflix, and My Puppy.

Research Project

Lung Transplant Research Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells?

The purpose of this research project is to isolate and characterize potent and fresh mesenchymal stem cells from human adipose tissue. Subsequently, we will harvest EVs from these MSCs to be used in our animal models of lung transplant injury. Using engineered extracellular vesicles from MSCs, we will load these EVs with specific beneficial microRNAs, which we have determined from our previous studies. We will also use these MSCs and EVs in human lung tissue slices to determine how to regulate inflammation and injury in post-transplant organs. Finally, using a mouse ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) system, we will administer the MSCs and EVs in Steen solution to mouse lungs in a lung perfusion circuit to rehabilitate poor donor lungs and make them suitable for transplants.