COM MSII student awarded prestigious research fellowship to study dry eye syndrome

Second-year medical student Amirala Pasha has received a fellowship from the Sjogren’s Foundation to perform research on the causes of dry eye syndrome.  Under the guidance of his research advisor, Ian Meng, Ph.D., Pasha will determine whether non-painful cooling of the cornea can induce tearing and blinking in normal human volunteers. 

Understanding the regulation of tears by neurons innervating the cornea is important in developing new treatments for those suffering from dry eye syndrome.

The project also represents an important step forward for the newly formed Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, demonstrating the translational research being conducted by the faculty.

 

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.