.jpg)
Medical Student
Oregon Health and Science University
My names is James Cahill, BA and I am a second year medical student at Oregon Health and Science University.
My interest in medicine began with a summer EMT course, sparking a desire to deepen my understanding of human physiology and pathology. I pursued this interest through prerequisite medical school courses at Portland State University and later became involved in biomedical research at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). As a researcher in protein chemistry, biochemistry, and structural biophysics, I combined my chemistry training at Reed College with a passion for biology. Under the mentorship of Dr. Matthew Whorton, I learned the fundamentals of protein expression, purification, and biochemical analysis, working to help develop and optimize experiments characterizing sugar transporters implicated as potential pharmacological targets for cancer treatment. Later, in Dr. Isabelle Baconguis’ lab, I developed my skillsets in cryogenic-electron microscopy, protein structure modeling and analysis, and electrophysiology. I led a multi-year neuroscience project describing the complete conformational profile of the neurologically relevant acid sensing ion channel (ASIC) across its full range of physiologically relevant pH conditions. Although mostly known for its role in pain signaling, ASIC is also associated with neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, post-injury cell death, epilepsy, and autonomic cardiac regulation, as well as modulation of fear, anxiety, and aggression.
Medical school has only deepened my fascination with the human nervous system. I’ve sought to further expand upon my neuroscience background through clinical and basic neurosurgery research under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel Cleary and Dr. Kelly Collins. Together we are working on several projects over a range of topics including high intensity focused ultrasound thalamotomy and intracranial EEG mapping of brain networks.
I am eager to continue contributing to the fields of neurosurgery and neuroscience, with the goal of pursuing a neurosurgery residency. Ultimately, I aim to become a neurosurgeon physician-scientist, combining clinical practice with research to improve patient care and expand our understanding of neurological diseases.