Chahaynni

Chahaynni
Greater Lawrence Regional Technical School
Andover, MA

Mentor: 
Alicia Vaca
Flow Cytometry
 

Chahaynni applied to BSSP, excited by “the opportunity to work alongside renowned researchers” during her summer at the Broad Institute. While at the Flow Cytometry Facility, she and her partner developed protocols for a novel method called sequential immunofluorescence (seqIF). Tissues are intricate environments where various cell types interact with one another and with non-cellular components, making seqIF’s fully automated approach to detecting multiple proteins within a single tissue sample particularly valuable. The process begins with staining a tissue section with primary antibodies for specific markers, followed by the addition of fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies. Images are captured, and the antibodies are then removed with an elution buffer. Subsequent staining rounds allow for visualization of additional markers, and the images are stacked to create spatial relationship maps. By optimizing seqIF, Chahaynni and her partner contributed to a simpler method for scientists at the Broad Institute and beyond to inspect the cellular diversity of tissues. By the end of the summer, Chahaynni noted, “Thanks to BSSP, I was able to meet some amazing people who are masters in their field. As well as make some life-long connections.”