Fulbright Research scholar Tyler Pugeda to study investigative treatments for Alzheimer’s disease

Tyler Pugeda, a master’s student with concentrations in cell biology and healthcare entrepreneurship in RIT’s School of Individualized Study, will travel to Germany in September to fulfill the requirements of his Fulbright Research award. Using post-mortem human brains afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, Pugeda will investigate treatments to slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Initially, Pugeda used an interest in philosophy to drive his study of neuroscience and explore how the mind arises from the brain. But, after a visit to MIT’s cognitive science department, he was inspired by how researchers used flickering light to fight Alzheimer’s in mice.

“I was so fascinated by the study that I wanted to deepen my understanding of the disease,” he said.

A former community educator for the Alzheimer’s Association, Pugeda has been able to gain a “humanistic understanding of the disease,” including how it robs patients of memories of loved ones, and how caring for patients impacts relatives and healthcare providers. He also has family members who have lived with dementia.

Pugeda, who earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and philosophy at California State University, Northridge, and completed a post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at Johns Hopkins University, also participates in the Rochester Bridges to the Doctorate program, which helps deaf and hard-of-hearing students pursue doctorate degrees. He hopes his Fulbright award is a stepping stone to gaining acceptance in a M.D./Ph.D. program, leading him to a career as a physician, scientist, educator, and entrepreneur.

“As a future physician-scientist, I am determined to translate scientific discoveries into groundbreaking therapeutics and to improve medical care for patients during their grueling journeys.”

Pugeda will conduct his research in Germany for 8-10 months.