UNE undergraduate student presents research at global neuroscience conference

Charlotte Esancy
Charlotte Esancy (CAS, '18)

Medical Biology student Charlotte Esancy (CAS, ’18) and Derek Molliver, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, recently showcased their research at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. The conference, which took place November 12-16 in San Diego, California, drew over 30,300 scientists from around the globe.

Esancy presented her research conducted with Molliver, titled "Eukaryotic elongation factor 2-mediated activity-dependent inhibition of translation in mouse sensory neurons: Impact of metformin and ptersilbene." In this project, Molliver and Esancy examined the regulation of translation mediated by EEF2 (eukaryotic elongation factor 2) in sensory neurons. The research also investigated the impact of metformin and ptersilbene, two drugs used by diabetic patients. They hypothesize that this pathway may be therapeutic in chronic pain models.

Reflecting on the meeting, Esancy said, “This conference, for me, emphasized not just how little we know about our own bodies, but how new advancements are being made every day for a collective greater understanding of how the nervous system works.”

Esancy, who has worked with Molliver since the spring of her freshman year, noted that the experience allowed her to step outside of her comfort zone and interact with international experts in many different disciplines of neuroscience.

“I gained a greater appreciation for this field,” she continued, “and am very excited and motivated to continue this research at UNE under Dr. Molliver's guidance.”

 

To learn more about the College of Arts and Sciences, visit www.une.edu/cas

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions

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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.