RUNC: Juan Castillo
Juan Castillo explores how alcohol use disorder affects the brain.
By UNC Research
February 26, 2025
Q: How did you discover your specific field of study?
A: I originally became interested in neuroscience following my grandfather’s diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease. Though it is not my current focus, the field is vast, and the work is rewarding, intersecting with various other sciences. After an internship at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), epigenetics and environmental health also piqued my interest. Now, I work in a lab that does work at the intersection of neuroscience, epigenetics, and environmental factors.
Q: Academics are problem-solvers. Describe a research challenge you’ve faced and how you overcame it.
A: One process necessary to our research is called RNA extraction. In this, we take brain tissue from a specific region and grind it down to a very small size so that we can use the resulting solution to analyze gene expression in that tissue. Last summer, a brain region I was focusing on – the raphe nucleus which is already small – was much smaller than usual, resulting in a tiny quantity of RNA. This would make it very difficult to use, so by calculating a new dilution for this solution, we were able to maintain its concentration at a usable level. This allowed for the RNA to be used in making cDNA, and we were able to analyze specific levels of gene expression in the raphe nucleus.
Q: Describe your research in five words.
A: Exploring alcohol’s effects on brains.
Impact Report
In 2022, nearly 5,800 people died from alcohol-related causes in N.C. and 32,000 people visited local emergency rooms for acute alcohol intoxication, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety.
Undergraduates like Juan Castillo represent the next generation of scientists who will work on pressing public health topics like this one.
Q: Who or what inspires you? Why?
A: My mother. When she was my age, she had already left her home country for the United States and was starting her life here. I feel motivated by and grateful for the work she put in so that I could have the opportunities I do today. Though we work in different fields, her advice often applies to how I balance school and life.
Q: If you could pursue any other career, what would it be and why?
A: A pilot. I’ve been fascinated by aviation since I was very young, and I enjoy traveling, so it would be a double win.
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