Hello! My name is Shreya Balasubramanian. I am a rising senior here at the University of Arizona, majoring in Neuroscience and Spanish with a minor in Biochemistry. I have been working in the Largent-Milnes laboratory since the winter of 2021 on several different projects, including exploring the role of the 2-AG endocannabinoid system in migraine alleviation and imaging cannabinoid-2 receptors in various cell lines. The endocannabinoid system is established to be a factor in causing migraines, and it has been established that the endocannabinoid receptor agonists 2AG and AEA are lower in those with functional pain disorders. Cannabinoid-2 receptors are known to be prevalent in the pain pathway, and quantifying these receptors can help give an understanding of how they may play different roles in different areas of the brain. I am also a scribe at a gastroenterology clinic at Oro Valley Hospital, which has been a very enriching experience thus far. Working at both a laboratory and a clinic simultaneously has shown me that there are multiple facets to science that are equally interesting to explore. My main goals in the future include applying to medical school after a gap year, during which I am planning to continue migraine research and work in a different clinical setting. Outside of work, I enjoy reading books, traveling, going to the gym, and spending time with friends and family.
