CHRISTINA GUITERREZ FORD

After HHMI predoctoral fellow Christina Gutierrez Ford completes her Ph.D. in pharmacology at the University of Miami, Florida, she would like to integrate a career in scientific research with medical ethics or science policy.

"There should be a watchdog," Ford says, referring to the role of ethicists. "It helps prevent potential abuses in science. There are also many new issues to deal with, like stem cell research and human cloning. The public doesn't necessarily understand the potential abuses or the potential benefits of science. I would like people to be more informed before they form an opinion," she says.

The daughter of immigrants from Cuba, Ford earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. "My research was on plants and why they move in response to signals such as sunlight or the touch of a hand. Learning about the diversity of signaling mechanisms in plants sparked my interest in human cell signaling and biomedical research. I was especially interested in understanding the brain and how neurons send and receive signals. As a result, I decided to pursue a Ph.D. in pharmacology."

Ford's current research is designed to learn more about whether a certain receptor—the M1 muscarinic receptor—in the brain is key in controlling motor movement or the production of seizures. Once the right receptors are identified, scientists may be able to find ways to prevent or treat such neurological ailments as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. In her experiments with rats, Ford uses a nontoxic peptide called m1-toxin, found in the green mamba snake's venom. The peptide binds with the M1 muscarinic receptor, blocking its action. The goal of the research is to use m1-toxin to determine if blocking the receptor can prevent seizures or enhance movement in rats.

Ford urges would-be scientists to pursue seemingly unobtainable goals, such as securing grants to further their studies. "Everybody has potential. You never know what you might achieve."