Three members of the Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine (PNWU-COM) Class of 2028 spent their summer immersed in groundbreaking diabetes research at the University of Washington Diabetes Institute, gaining hands-on experience that will shape both their futures as physicians and the communities they one day serve.
Student Doctors Michelle Graham, Sejal Dhaliwal, and Beyza Cardakli were selected for the prestigious program, which is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Together, they joined teams of scientists tackling some of the most complex questions in diabetes care and treatment.
Opening Doors to Discovery
Student Dr. Dhaliwal spent her summer exploring how cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may impair insulin secretion. Her project revealed that the issue lies not in the number of insulin-producing cells, but in how they function — a finding that adds to the understanding of statin-related diabetes risk.
Meanwhile, Student Dr. Cardakli worked with the Schwartz Lab – led by Dr. Michael Schwartz, a global leader in the study of the brain’s role in diabetes – to investigate the critical role that specialized brain cells called tanycytes play in diabetes remission. Her project examined how fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) acts in the brain to alter disease progression in rodent models.
Similarly, Student Dr. Graham’s time was spent studying diabetic kidney disease in the Kanter/Bornfeldt Lab, where she focused on how elevated lipids damage podocytes, the kidney cells responsible for maintaining the body’s filtration system. Through her work, she successfully established podocyte cultures for the lab — a novel step that will enable new research directions.
Learning Through Collaboration
Beyond their projects, all three students were struck by the collaborative energy of the program.
“Research is not about competition, but collaboration,” Student Dr. Dhaliwal reflected.
“Each study builds on the contributions of others, adding data point by data point to create a stronger foundation of knowledge.”
Student Dr. Graham agreed, noting the impact of working alongside both PhD scientists and clinicians.
“I saw how their perspectives complemented one another,” she noted. “One bringing depth in basic science, the other grounding discoveries in patient care: it gave me a deeper appreciation for the back-and-forth between discovery in the lab and translation to the bedside.”
Connecting Research to Mission
For the students, the work was never just about data, but instead, about connecting discoveries to real people.
For Student Dr. Dhaliwal, the project resurfaced lessons from her experience volunteering at a free foot care clinic.
“Research isn’t just about mechanisms,” she said, “it’s about ensuring discoveries translate into safer, more effective treatments for communities who are already at higher risk and often left behind.”
Student Dr. Graham agreed, highlighting the importance of access.
“Even with exciting new diabetes treatments, many patients in rural areas may not have access to specialists, or the resources to travel to them,” she explained. “That gap contributes to higher complication rates, which makes this kind of research even more critical.”
An Invaluable Experience
PNWU leaders say opportunities like this reflect both the promise of PNWU’s students and the university’s mission-driven partnerships.
“It is so important to highlight these student research experiences,” said Dr. Kathleen Briggs Early, Interim Vice President of Research. “They emphasize our collaborative, interprofessional spirit, and participation in these programs strengthens residency applications while expanding career pathways.”
Dr. Julie Randolph-Habecker, Director of Research Laboratories, added: “If we really want to revolutionize rural healthcare, then we need to invest in research geared to those communities. By collaborating with places like UW, our students gain invaluable experience and help communicate the needs of rural patients to larger research centers.”
Learn more about how PNWU students and faculty are advancing research to support healthier communities across the Northwest: Research @ PNWU