Bringing It All Together
The end goal of a BYU education, James Lee says, is to give students chances to apply what they’ve learned. For him, that happened at the Simmons Center for Cancer Research.
Change people's lives at home and around the world
February 2019
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotic-resistant bacteria infect two million Americans every year, causing at least 23,000 deaths. “It’s definitely a massive, massive problem,” says Brian Hilton, a BYU neuroscience student.
For the last two years, Hilton has worked with Paul Savage’s team to pioneer a solution—a new class of antibiotic molecules called ceragenins, synthetic versions of an antimicrobial agent that is naturally produced by the human body. Tests in Savage’s lab show that bacteria are extremely susceptible to the effects of ceragenins and struggle to obtain resistance to them.
In addition to developing an oral antibiotic made from these new molecules, the lab is working on an antimicrobial coating for endotracheal tubes, which are inserted through the mouth or nose to help patients breathe. These devices are highly prone to contamination.
Hilton, who is applying to medical school, recognizes how blessed he is to work in a lab that is making such significant contributions to the scientific community. “This has not only been a huge strength to my application but also solidified my interest in the medical field.”
The end goal of a BYU education, James Lee says, is to give students chances to apply what they’ve learned. For him, that happened at the Simmons Center for Cancer Research.
"Mentored research, service, and some skill with a cello have helped Anne Thomas receive the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Her mentored learning experience as a BYU student has propelled Anne to pursue a PhD in plant sciences at Cambridge this fall."
From farming radishes to entering a doctorate program, Felix Jimenez scaled his Andes-like challenges with faith.