Students Unveil Ground-Breaking Research Projects

A Westmont professor and a student researcher may be closing in on a cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Eileen McMahon has discovered a strain of mice that spontaneously develops arthritis after about 50 days of age and may represent a new model of rheumatoid arthritis. Student Joel Wilcox will present some of the findings as part of A Celebration of Student Research at Westmont, this Thursday, Sept. 8, from 4-6 p.m. at the Founders Dining Room.

Provost Shirley Mullen will welcome and recognize the students. They will then describe their science research projects and will be available to answer questions. The ground-breaking work on rheumatoid arthritis is just one of 14 projects that will be unveiled.

Dr. McMahon discovered the unusual arthritic symptoms in lab mice she was working with while studying multiple sclerosis at Northwestern University. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s immune system attacks normal tissue in the joint, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. It’s one of the most serious and disabling types of arthritis and mostly affects women. It’s unknown what causes rheumatoid arthritis, but Dr. McMahon’s research indicates a strong genetic influence. Eventually, she hopes to locate the gene that is causing the disease, information that may ultimately contribute to a cure.

“If it’s rheumatoid arthritis, like I think it is, it’ll show us how humans get it,” she says. “This is pretty powerful.”

Thursday’s celebration will include a brief program featuring faculty, students and alumni from the college’s science program.