Cardiovascular outcomes of wildland fire smoke inhalation: a robust preclinical exposure paradigm to infer the occupational risk of wildland firefighting

Abstract

I want to thank my research advisor, Chiara Bellini. Thank you for your unwavering support, guidance, and collaboration throughout my PhD journey. I will always be grateful for the chance you took on me and the kindness you have shown me. Your work ethic and commitment to producing high-quality research is incredibly inspiring; I cannot wait to see where the lab goes next and what research you will do in the future.To my committee, Rouzbeh Amini, Luke Montrose, and Lee Makowski, as well as my co-advisor Jessica Oakes, thank you all for your support, guidance, and insight. It has been a pleasure to learn from you all. I appreciate all the kindness you have shown me. To all my mentors, teachers, and professors over the years, thank you for always encouraging my curiosity, for your probing to ask deeper questions, and for valuing my contributions; your support and guidance has been instrumental for me both personally and professionally.Thank you to all my lab mates, both past and present. Matt and Yasmeen, thank you for being the best supporters throughout all our exposure projects. Without you two, I would not have survived or completed even a fraction of my research; I am immensely grateful for how you two were always willing to go out of your way to lend a hand. I look up to you both and can't wait to see everything you accomplish going forward. Samar, thank you for answering all my questions, for lending a supportive ear in good times and in bad, and for giving me recipe and restaurant inspiration. This final year of our PhD has been a big push to the finish, and I am so grateful we have been able to do it together. Ana, thank you for being the best distraction and for keeping things fun. On a more serious note, it has been so wonderful to be reminded to take a deep breath and remember to take time for excitement; thank you for the levity, and thank you for the support. Ashley, thank you for making lab work entertaining; we've spent many long hours in the lab together, and it has always been a pleasure to work alongside you. I know life has not been easy, but I admire your grit and determination; I wish the very best for you. Nick, thank you for not taking life too seriously, I appreciate that you always have a smile on your face and are quick to laugh; research can be very trying and exceptionally difficult at times, and I am so appreciative of the levity you bring to the lab. Simone, Victoria, Cindy, and Serena, I wish you all the best of luck; I can't wait to see what you each accomplish, it has been my pleasure meeting all of you and imparting as much wisdom as I could before leaving.To all the undergraduate researchers and co-ops I've had the pleasure to work with, thank you for all your hard work and your contributions to our research. Namely, I would like to thank our co-ops, Alex and Kathrine, who ran our long-term wildland fire exposures; this research truly would not have been feasible without your rigorous efforts and organization. Hannah, thank you for helping me finish my research and for your effor...