OHIO research student gives thanks to mentor and donor

Alison Brittain poses for a photo with Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis during the 2018 Student Research and Creative Activity Expo. Photo by Meagan Hall

Alison Brittain is a dual degree student at Ohio University, pursuing a PH.D. in biology and a D.O. degree from the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University and bachelor’s degree in biology from University of Cincinnati, Brittain researched and applied to various medical schools in Ohio. Upon discovering John Kopchick’s role as a scholar and professor at Ohio University, her decision to attend OHIO was simple.

“John has a reputation, and it’s true,” Brittain said. “He conducts great research, so to be able to do four years here and get my PH.D. with John is really what sold the program for me.”

As a selfless mentor and a donor to OHIO’s research division, Kopchick helps students, such as Brittain, conduct groundbreaking research and become successful research and medical professionals.

“I think he’s got a real gift at understanding what students need,” Brittain said. “He’s really good at reading … how you’re going to learn best and helping you with that.”

As a two-time recipient of the John J. Kopchick Molecular and Cellular Biology/Translational Biomedical Sciences Research Fellowship Award, Brittain has reaped the benefits of Kopchick’s generosity. After proposing a research project that correlated with her dissertation, she received $10,000 of funding to conduct it.

Brittain’s funding went toward researching growth hormone’s effect on the kidney, which has a detrimental effect and causes a disease called sclerosis. Her research looked for a method to mitigate or lessen the degree of kidney disease for individuals who overexpress growth hormone.

In addition to her research takeaways, Brittain explains that the process of applying to a grant is a practical skill to learn while at university. Researchers are often tasked with writing grants, so she found that writing an institutional grant of that magnitude was educational.

Thanks to fellowships and awards from generous donors, OHIO students like Brittain can fully pursue their research without financial restrictions.

“Here [at Ohio University], it’s like, ‘You need a resource? Alright. We’re going to do what we can to get you that resource,’” Brittain said. “You don’t get that anywhere else.”