Iona College Students Publish Research Paper in Peer-Reviewed Neurochemistry Journal
Project Symphony, the research group of Dr. Sunghee Lee at Iona College, has just published a peer-reviewed education article, “Differential Interaction of Cannabidiol with Biomembranes Dependent on Cholesterol Concentration,” in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, a publication of the American Chemical Society.
The article explores the Cannabidiol (CBD) molecule, widely known for its potential health benefits, especially related to certain crippling neurological disorders.
Project Symphony investigated the impact that CBD molecules have when interacting with membranes containing various amounts of cholesterol. The group demonstrated that there is a sensitivity to the interaction of CBD molecules with cell membranes, depending on the quantity of cholesterol present. The significance of this finding relates to the potential use of CBD in pharmaceutical treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, which link to varying levels of cholesterol in the central nervous system.
Unparalleled excitement filled the halls of the lower level of Cornelia Hall, home to the research laboratory of Lee, during the summer of 2021 as she prepared to welcome Project Symphony to conduct in-person research together once again.
“Now we are enjoying the fruits of the groups’ incredible efforts,” said Lee. “I am proud of Project Symphony for pushing through the challenges presented throughout the pandemic. There is nothing like immersing in hands-on research together and this publication is proof of the all of the hard work the students put in every day. Congratulations to the project team!”
Under Lee’s guidance, six members of Iona’s undergraduate research program coauthored the project:
- Escarlin Perez '22, Biochemistry
- Jasmin Ceja-Vega '23, Biochemistry
- Michael Krmic '22, Biochemistry
- Alondra Gamez Hernandez ’23, Biochemistry
- Jamie Gudyka '24, Biochemistry
- Riley Porteus '24, ACS Chemistry
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.