Amy Messersmith-Love is a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Sciences at the University of South Carolina, School of Medicine.  She received her M.S. in Microbiology from Clemson University in 2004.  Amy is currently working with the Carolina Women’s Care Study to determine polymorphisms associated with HPV persistence.  From study samples she determines the presence of polymorphisms and their association with factors such as cytokine protein levels, HPV persistence and other factors relevant to immune response to HPV.  Using these data we hope to determine biomarkers that could be used to identify patients to receive more appropriate treatment for cervical abnormalities.    

  
            Additionally, Amy is responsible for the design and maintenance of the database that houses all of the data generated by the Carolina Women’s Care Study.  The database allows for the sharing and querying of all data generated by the CWCS including data generated by biochemical and genetic analyses as well as survey and clinical data.