Dr. Lee's team publishes another research paper of 2022 in peer-reviewed Neurochemistry journal

Sunghee Lee • March 20, 2022

Every day this past summer was filled with unparalleled excitement and energy in the basement of Cornelia Hall , where the research laboratory of Dr. Sunghee Lee is located. After a one year pause from in-person laboratory investigation in 2020, all members of Project Symphony (the name of Lee's research group) appreciated their opportunity to be immersed once again in hands-on research together, while maintaining safety protocols with facial masks.


Now we are enjoying fruits of these incredible efforts, with another peer-reviewed research article just published. The article is titled "Differential Interaction of Cannabidiol with Biomembranes Dependent on Cholesterol Concentration", in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, a publication of American Chemical Society.


This paper is coauthored by six undergraduates, Escarlin Perez ('22 Biochemistry), Jasmin Ceja-Vega ('23 Biochemistry), Michael Krmic ('22 Biochemistry), Alondra Gamez Hernandez ('23 Biochemistry), Jamie Gudyka ('24 Biochemistry), Riley Porteus ('24 ACS Chemistry), under the mentorship of Dr. Sunghee Lee.


This project deals with the Cannabidiol (CBD) molecule, which has gained increasing attention among the public for its potential health benefits, especially related to certain crippling neurological disorders. Our study investigates the impact that CBD molecules have when interacting with membranes containing different amounts of cholesterol. Using a model of a cell membrane, we demonstrate that there is a sensitivity to the interaction of CBD molecules with cell membranes, depending on the quantity of cholesterol present. The significance of this finding is related to the potential use of CBD in pharmaceutical treatments of neurodegenerative diseases, the kind that are linked to varying levels of cholesterol in the central nervous system.


Congratulations to the project team!

Let's keep the positive energy and momentum going for the summer 2022. 

Celebrating Excellence: A Big Congrats to the Project Symphony

By Sunghee Lee • April 17, 2025
I’m so excited to congratulate and celebrate the amazing achievements of our undergraduate research group, the Project Symphony, at this year’s Iona Scholars Day! You all worked incredibly hard, and it really showed. The presentations covered a wide range of interesting and impactful projects that not only highlight your academic skills but also your passion for learning and discovery. Each project was a great example of your creativity and dedication. What stood out the most was how engaged and enthusiastic everyone was about their research. Your energy was contagious, and it was clear you’ve really connected with your topics and learned a lot along the way. A huge shoutout to each of you for your fantastic presentations. Your hard work and passion for research really set you apart, and I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. I’m confident you’ll keep doing great things and making a real impact in your fields. Once again, congrats to everyone on a successful Iona Scholars Day!

Published: Project symphony-Composing a masterpiece in a science laboratory

By Sunghee Lee • March 14, 2025
In this Backstory, Dr. Lee and her students and recent graduates reflect on the development and experiences that shaped their journey through Project Symphony and the resulting skills they’ve learned. The symphony they’ve created together is a testament to the transformative power of collaborative undergraduate research – a melody of discovery that continues to evolve and inspire. You can read the full article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225001464

Exciting News: Our Latest Research Published in Langmuir!

By Sunghee Lee • January 29, 2025
We are thrilled to announce the publication of our collaborative research in Langmuir, the journal of the American Chemical Society. Our paper, titled “Electrophysiological Characterization of Monoolein-Fatty Acid Bilayers,” represents a significant milestone in our ongoing investigation of electrical property of model cell membranes. As an open-access article, our research is now freely available to the scientific community and the public. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c03814 This publication is the culmination of a fruitful collaboration with the research team at University of Tokyo, Japan. The lead author, Caroline Scott (Class of 2025), performed the experiments along with Riley Porteus (Class of 2024, now in a PhD program at Virginia Tech), building on her invaluable experience gained during a summer research trip in Japan last year, made possible by National Science Foundation. Caroline's dedication and perseverance have finally come to fruition. We look forward to continuing our work and sharing more news in the future!
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