Eric Lee

I am a scholar in the Vagelos Molecular Life Sciences Program and enjoy involving myself as much as possible in communities at Penn and Philadelphia. Currently, I am a research assistant in the translational laboratory of Dr. William Peranteau in the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Though much of my time is spent investigating gene editing and drug delivery tools, I also have a passion for community health, which I developed after learning about compassionate healthcare delivery at the Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai, India and meeting patients as a clinic coordinator in the University Coalition Hospitality Coalition in Philadelphia. Outside of the lab, I am the Development Chair at the Shelter Health Outreach Program, a student-led organization that engages Philadelphia's unhoused population through blood pressure screenings and clinical referrals in over twenty community sites. Together with this group, I have implemented initiatives inspired by lessons I learned from the Aravind Model while in India to enhance healthcare delivery in Philadelphia, such as community vision clinics that meet homeless patients where they are at their shelters. After obtaining my Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Chemistry, I plan to pursue an MD/PhD and become a physician-scientist who leverages biomedical innovation to shape health policy and healthcare interventions.

Research positions/programs and awards:

• Undergraduate Research Assistant in Peranteau Lab, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Department of Pediatric General, Thoracic, and Fetal Surgery (January 2023 - present)
  • Researched delivery of base editor in vivo and after birth to reverse mutation causing spinal muscular atrophy induced by exon skipping; wrote review on efficacy of lipid nanoparticles in drug delivery across fetal blood brain barrier; conduct study on efficacy of base editor and CRISPRoff in treating X-linked myotubular myopathy
• Undergraduate Research Assistant in Ting Research Group, Icahn School of Medicine Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (November 2022 - present)
  • Wrote systematic review on use and benefits of remote monitoring technology in vascular surgery, including carotid endarterectomy and endovascular aortic repair
• Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) Research Internship in Aravind Eye Care System Madurai Branch (June - August 2023)
  • Created standardized list of clinical rules for electronic medical record rule engine and standard operating procedure graphics to reduce errors causing long wait times in Aravind's retina clinic; submitted research project proposal to investigate causative factors associated with long patient visit durations in Aravind's retina clinic
• Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Challenge Award (June 2024)
• Penn Lucid Science Challenge Chemical Sciences Division (awarded First Place in April 2023)
  • Presented research proposal for in vivo injection of base editor to correct point mutations associated with hypoplastic left heart syndrome