Viswatej Avutu
MS1, MD Candidate
The University of Texas at Austin, BS Biochemistry 2010

Past Research Experiences
Vishu’s research experience began with the Welch Summer Scholar Program after his junior year of high school. Working in Dr. John Sibert’s Lab at UT Dallas, he worked on the synthesis of a novel inorganic compound. After his freshman year at UT Austin, he joined Dr. Andrew’s Ellington Lab where he completed an undergraduate honors thesis concerning the multivalency potential of an aptamer specific for the epidermal growth factor receptor. During the summer after his sophomore year at UT Austin, Vishu completed a research internship at the Universität Hamburg as part of the German Academic Exchange Service’s Research Internship in Science and Engineering in conjunction with the American Chemical Society. There, he worked in Dr. Ulrich Hahn’s Lab continuing to learn about aptamer SELEX against interleukin-6. Following graduation from UT Austin, he began work at Dr. Kathlynn Brown’s Lab at the Simmons Cancer Center studying the uptake of specific peptides by non-small cell lung cancer cells.

Current Areas of Interest & Research
Vishu remains interested in the development and testing of novel treatments for cancer, especially in the field of targeting therapy. He is interested in branching from basic and translational research to clinical research to better understand the flow of research from the lab to the clinic. 

Current  Professional Trajectory
Vishu hopes to complete the MD with Distinction in Research Degree. His interest in oncology both clinically and academically suggests the possibility of pursuing such a specialty at a medical institution where he will be able to pursue both aspects of medicine.

Personal Words of Wisdom
“The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along.” Plan carefully for the future but be flexible in those plans; it never hurts to start early.

Meetings and Abstracts
Avutu V, McGuire MJ, Brown KC. Peptide H2009.1 Uptake by αvβ6 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells [abstract]. In proceedings of the 49th Medical Student Research Forum; 2010 Jan 18; Dallas, TX. Dallas (TX): UT Southwestern; 2010. p 4. Abstract nr 3.
Avutu V, Meyer C, Gerstle K, Hahn U. Selection of RNA aptamers specific for lysozyme and interleukin-6 [abstract]. In proceedings of the 236th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition; 2008 Aug 17-21; Philadelphia, PA. Abstract nr 236.
Avutu V, Sibert JW. The Synthesis and Properties of an Electrochemically Robust para-Wurster’s Thiacrownether. In proceedings of the Welch Summer Scholar Program; 2005 July; Dallas, TX.