Kiera Sheth
Legacy Magnet AcademyClass of 2025Tustin, California
About
Hello, my name is Kiera Ananya Sheth. My project is a review article on the immune cell mediators and targeted treatments for IBD. I have an interest on understanding the causation of various illness or sickness, specifically auto-immune conditions. IBD in particular is a very fascinating auto-immune diseases, as the two diseases Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis have several similar characteristics/symptoms, but yet differentiate in other ways. My personal goal for this project was to gain more insight on the foundational basics of how auto-immune conditions such as IBD are caused and how they are being addressed to induce remission.Projects
- "What are the primary immune cell mediators that cause or trigger IBD symptoms and how are these being used for targeted IBD therapy?" with mentor Miranda (Nov. 12, 2022)
Project Portfolio
What are the primary immune cell mediators that cause or trigger IBD symptoms and how are these being used for targeted IBD therapy?
Started May 18, 2022
Abstract or project description
In the United States there are around 700,000 diagnoses of Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), which encompasses multiple disease subtypes such as Crohn’s disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) (Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, 2014). IBD is an autoimmune condition where inflammation is localized to the gastrointestinal tract and along with the esophagus, intestines, and colon. IBD patients commonly experience stomach pains, loose stools, frequent bathroom usage, weight loss, and anemia. The definite cause or causes of IBD is not clear, but the pathology and symptoms of the disease can be traced to its immunology. The rapid rise of inflammation in IBD is based upon an overactive immune system, in which immune cells falsely trigger defensive immune cell mediators. Such immune cell mediators can be used to understand and develop possible targets for IBD treatments. This review paper aims to summarize the pathology of IBD, the immune system's cellular and chemical responses, as well as current treatments for the disease in a way that is accessible to a general audience.