Bright Future, Full Speed Ahead
By Keith Hautala
Graduating from college summa cum laude is a noteworthy accomplishment for anybody. To do it while still a teenager is nothing short of remarkable.
But for Kelsey Curd Ladt, who this year became one of UK's youngest and most distinguished alumnae at age 14, finishing her bachelor's of science degree in biology is just one milestone in her academic journey.
"As much as I enjoyed my experience at UK, I'm glad to be finished with my undergraduate work," Kelsey said. "Now I can focus on getting ready to apply to doctoral programs."
Kelsey plans to apply to several competitive M.D./Ph.D programs. Such programs comprise about eight years of rigorous scientific and medical training, culminating in the simultaneous awarding of twin doctoral degrees. The challenging course of study is geared toward graduates who want to make careers out of medical research at both the basic scientific and applied, clinical levels.
Although these programs are highly selective, Kelsey is likely to be a very attractive candidate. She has already acquired considerable research experience. While earning her bachelor's degree, she worked at UK in the laboratory of Dr. Joe Springer within the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, examining the molecular mechanisms underlying spinal cord injuries.
Specifically, Kelsey was looking at the expression of an enzyme called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the injured spinal cord, with an emphasis on a type of nerve cell called reactive astrocytes.
"Reactive astrocytes are very important in the healing of the spinal cord," Kelsey said. "Unfortunately, they eventually end up hurting the spinal cord, in part by inhibiting regeneration. If COX-2 has a causative role, then it may be possible to significantly reduce the effects of secondary injury by using COX-2 inhibitors."
Kelsey is currently working on an article about her project, which she hopes will be accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
In the meantime, any medical schools that want to recruit Kelsey will have to wait until 2010 at the earliest. For at least the next year, Kelsey will be in Bethesda, Md., where she has accepted a post-baccalaureate fellowship to do neurobiological research at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health.
She should already know her way around the place. Kelsey spent last summer at NINDS as a participant in the Summer Program in the Neurological Sciences. She received an Exceptional Summer Student Award for her work there, using magnetic stimulation to better understand how the brain evaluates events in the environment and makes decisions.
While Kelsey's work so far has been focused in the field of neurobiology, she says she's keeping her options open, careerwise.
"I have enjoyed this area thoroughly," she said. "However, I want to keep an open mind for other potential fields."
She's keeping an open mind about where she goes for her M.D./Ph.D. program as well. When it comes to her criteria for choosing a school, Kelsey is, characteristically, level-headed and pragmatic.
"First and foremost, I want a university that is as excited about me as I am about the university," she said. "The most important component to me is finding a good fit in a research lab. Plus, since it’s about an eight-year program, it’s important to like where you live."
