Look Inside the Lab Researching Vaping’s Effects on the Oral Microbiome
Associate Professor of Biology Giancarlo Cuadra and his student team are exploring how exposure to e-liquids changes the function of immune cells — and they're having some fun while they're doing it.Friday, August 15, 2025 00:53 PM
Sara Gill ’29 and Associate Professor of Biology Giancarlo Cuadra work in the lab.In Associate Professor of Biology Giancarlo Cuadra’s lab, he collaborates with students on research that tests how exposure to e-liquids changes the function of immune cells in the mouth, research with important implications for the millions of Americans — including young adults — who vape.
Cuadra and his students also spend time together outside the lab, a reflection of the bond they’ve formed doing the sometimes frustrating work of scientific research.
“One thing that’s struck me about Dr. Cuadra is his immense patience,” says Juliette Amram ’27, a pre-med neuroscience major who works in the lab. “You can tell that he wants to make sure that you understand … what you’re doing and why, because he is so passionate about the work he’s been doing, and when you speak with him about the research, you can’t help but love it too.”
