5th year Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Virginia, Danaher Scholar, Lauren Russell, is the MWC fall featured scholar. Her research project addresses designing a biomaterial for growth and differentiation of neural stem cells into oligodendrocytes. Oligodendrocytes are the cells responsible for generating the myelin sheath, an insulating layer around neurons essential for fast and efficient neuronal communications. This is the cell type that is initially damaged in diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Lauren's research has led her to the development of a new drug currently under review at the FDA.