Biomedical Sciences student Aden Patel selected for Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Posted on June 12, 2026 by Daniel Curtis
Aden Patel, a senior Biomedical Sciences major with a minor in General Business, is
spending the summer conducting research through the University of South Alabama’s
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program.
Patel is working with Dr. Terry Ravine in Biomedical Sciences and Dr. Aishwarya Prakash in the Mitchell Cancer Institute and Whiddon College of Medicine. The competitive 10-week fellowship gives students the opportunity to conduct focused research and share their findings through the USA Undergraduate Research Symposium. Patel is scheduled to present his work as a poster at the symposium on Oct. 22, 2026.
His project focuses on antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a growing global health concern. Patel is studying Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that can cause serious infections and is especially difficult to treat because it can pump antibiotics out of the cell before the drugs can work.
“Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming a major health problem around the world,” Patel said.
The project explores whether nanobodies, which are very small antibodies designed to attach to specific targets, can block a pump channel called OprM. If successful, the approach could help restore the effectiveness of existing antibiotics and offer a promising strategy in the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections.
“If successful, this approach could provide a new way to combat antibiotic-resistant infections while making better use of existing, low-cost antibiotics,” Patel said.
The project reflects the kind of hands-on research experience available to students in the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions and the important role undergraduate research plays in preparing future healthcare and science professionals.