I Am a Researcher

Leonie Sarkissian

Pronouns: she/her

Major: Biological Anthropology 

College: Eleanor Roosevelt

UC San Diego graduation year: 2025

Which research programs/experiences have you been a part of? 

• Churchill Scholarship Institutional Nominee (2025)

What are you researching (or did you do in the past)?

At the Dhar Lab at Sanford Burnham Prebys I participated in liver cancer research, specifically the metabolic and genetic factors that cause metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This includes understanding how conditions like fat accumulation in the liver lead to chronic inflammation and fibrosis over time.

My most recent project focused on the role of TREM2-dependent macrophage signaling in regulating liver disease progression and resolution. I studied how macrophages “communicate” with hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells, and how disrupting this signaling impairs fibrosis regression and worsens disease outcomes.

As an undergrad intern for the NIH Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study at UCSD Medicine, I had the opportunity to contribute to a large, multi-site longitudinal study designed to understand how prenatal and early-life exposures influence brain development and long-term health outcomes. The study follows participants from pregnancy through early childhood, collecting data on environmental, biological, and social factors that may shape cognitive, behavioral, and neurological development. Through this experience I learned how early-life environments can influence lifelong health trajectories. It reinforced the importance of studying disease not just at the point of diagnosis, but at its earliest origins, where prevention and intervention can have the greatest impact.

Why and how did you decide to get involved in undergraduate research?

I first became interested in research after attending a lunchtime presentation in high school about the newly emerging field of CRISPR gene editing. However, I was not aware of the opportunities available to undergraduate students until hearing about another student’s research experiences the summer before my freshman year of college.

After that, I searched extensively for any opportunity to gain research experience and took every chance I could to learn. My earliest projects involved topics ranging from nitrogen-fixing bacteria to the fossil remains found in the La Brea Tar Pits. Although these subjects were far removed from my original interest in biomedical research, they provided me with a diverse technical and analytical skill set that I later applied to translational and cancer research projects.

What has been the most exciting/interesting thing you've discovered through your research?

One of the most exciting findings from my research has been the therapeutic potential of TREM2 signaling in liver disease. TREM2 is a receptor expressed on macrophages that helps regulate communication between immune cells and other liver cell types. I found it especially interesting that TREM2 is not just involved in disease progression, but also plays a key role in promoting disease resolution. When TREM2 signaling is disrupted, macrophages are less able to coordinate with hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells, leading to increased inflammation and impaired fibrosis regression.

What makes this even more interesting is that TREM2 plays a very different role in the brain. In neurodegenerative diseases, TREM2 activity in microglia has been associated with disease progression rather than protection. Seeing the same pathway have beneficial effects in one organ but potentially harmful effects in another highlights how context-dependent immune signaling is.

This has been one of the most impactful insights for me, because it shows that developing therapies is not just about targeting a molecule, but understanding where and how it is acting in the body. It emphasizes the importance of precision in designing treatments that promote healing without unintended effects.

What did you gain from this program/experience?

While the technical skills gained through research are extremely valuable, what I appreciate most is how research has deepened my understanding of the scientific concepts that I will continue to apply throughout my career. Working across translational and clinical research environments taught me how to think critically, approach complex problems systematically, and connect basic science to human disease.

Research also showed me how the passion, persistence, and collaboration of many individuals over years of work can lead to discoveries that meaningfully improve human health. Seeing how each contribution builds upon the work of others gave me a deeper appreciation for the collective nature of science and medicine.

Most importantly, these experiences gave me the confidence to identify the problems I believe are most important, dedicate myself fully to solving them, and continue pursuing answers even when those problems initially seem impossible or hopeless.

What advice would you give to students starting research?

This is a phrase I began telling myself when my ambitions and goals for my work far exceeded my current opportunities and skill set. Over time, however, taking every opportunity available to me allowed me to build a diverse range of skills that I still apply today.

I have often found that experiences I once assumed would have little relevance later became some of the most valuable and unexpected parts of my education. Looking back, I am grateful for all of the unconventional and seemingly unrelated opportunities I pursued early in my career, because each one contributed something meaningful to the way I now think, learn, and approach problems.

2. Recognize problems, then pursue solutions. Cynicism is a slippery slope.

Research is almost never glamorous, especially for undergraduate students just starting out. The work can be tedious and pointless. Results are rarely as expected, and as we get deeper into the world of p-values, focus groups, and micropipettes we may see things that devastate or dishearten us. Research and medicine are not the only fields with major issues but they are fields where these issues can feel especially personal because of the impacts they have on the lives of real people and patients.

However, I have learned that progress in science rarely comes from ideal circumstances. It comes
from people who are willing to acknowledge problems honestly and continue moving forward anyway. Even small contributions, repeated consistently over time by passionate and hardworking individuals, can eventually lead to discoveries and changes that meaningfully improve human lives.

When you become disheartened, look to the past and realize how far science and humanity have already come. Then take inspiration from that progress and return to the work at hand.

What are your future plans?

After completing my work at Sanford Burnham Prebys, I moved to Armenia where I am currently working in cancer and vaccine research. This experience is helping me gain a broader perspective on global medicine and public health as well as how research is conducted in different settings.

I also currently hold an offer of study from the University of Cambridge for an MPhil in Clinical Biochemistry beginning in Fall 2026. At Cambridge, I will investigate how GLP-1 signaling affects placental metabolism and function in gestational diabetes using translational laboratory models.

This year, I will be applying to medical school with the goal of pursuing a career as a physician-scientist focused on translational research and worldwide healthcare initiatives.

Anything else you want to share?

There is a misconception that research is only for students at the world’s top institutions and that it is a closed practice inaccessible to everyone else. In reality, curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to learn matter far more than prestige when first entering research. Therefore, I especially want to encourage community college students to pursue any opportunity that allows them to learn the fundamentals of research. Early on, it does not matter whether a lab or project is directly related to your ultimate career goals. Learning how to conduct ethical, accurate, and thoughtful research is itself an incredibly valuable skill that can continue to grow and transfer across many different fields.