Anya Singh-Varma, a second-year PSTP student mentored by Dr. Lauren Kokai and Dr. Peter Rubin, was awarded 1st place Basic Science Abstract Presentation at the Robert H. Ivy Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery Society’s 67th Annual Scientific Meeting. Her talk was titled “Vitamin D Enhances Adipose Stem Cell Proliferation and Increases Adipocyte Metabolism.” She discussed the metabolic effects of Vitamin D under hypoxic conditions. Her goal is to help the Adipose Stem Cell Center establish Vitamin D as a lipoprotectant for adipose fat grafts as there is a significant clinical need for patients affected by adipose atrophy/wasting following graft implantation.
Anya received her bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in 2018 and subsequently worked at Princeton University before joining the PSTP in June of 2020. In her free time, Anya enjoys dancing, playing tennis, yoga, and spending time with friends and family.