BT Young Scientist Exhibition Place for Cara

We all know that smoking is bad for us, but a SERC science student decided that finding out exactly how cigarette smoke causes scarring of the lungs would make an interesting research project. That project has been selected for the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSE) in Dublin, 11 – 14 January 2023.

Cara Colvin (18), from Crumlin, is a second year student on the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Science at SERC’s Lisburn Campus. She says “I am thrilled that my project was selected to be part of the Exhibition in Dublin. My project looks at how smoking cigarettes can activate lung fibroblasts over an extended period, leading to chronic obstruction pulmonary disease.  I investigated how smoking affects the heart and lungs and followed background reading on how smoking cigarettes might lead to this lung scarring; my research focused on the mechanism behind the scarring.  I have had fantastic support from my lecturers, Kerri-Melissa Burns and Dr Susan Stokesberry and froom Dr Bettina Schock of Queen's University Belfast.

Cara adds, “I have had the opportunity to participate in a work-study programme at Queen's which focusses on fibrosis (scarring of the lungs). This made me seriously consider, as a smoker, the impact smoking has on my lungs.

“The research has been very exciting as one element has involved growing human lung epithelial cells and stimulating lung fibroblasts in the laboratory.  I exposed these cells to cigarette smoke and incubated them overnight. The next day, I collected the cell media and froze it for future use in my studies of the mechanisms responsible for the long-term activation of the fibroblasts.”

Cara says her father is delighted with her progress, as she is following in his footsteps: “My dad is a scientist with Randox, and there is a bit of banter between us about who will be the first to have two Phds.   He has one, and I have a bit to go yet, but it is certainly my aspiration. I have applied to do the HNC in Applied Science here at SERC and then hope to go on and do a degree in Biomedical Science."

She adds, “I love the College and the facilities are really good.  Also, the lecturers have a great relationship with Queen’s which helped secure my work placement and the opportunity to meet Bettina Schock who is doing research in COPD at Queen’s."

Cara will be joined by fellow Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science students whose projects been selected for the BTYSE Biological & Ecological Category: Jake Stothers - Testing Aspirin Using an IR Spectrometer; and Natali Arnaudova and Taneesha Mccaughran - The Effect of Hypoxia-Induced Lung Injury on Fibroblast Activation.

Find out more about studying science at SERC.