Dr Martinez awarded grant allowing her to expand her research into novel functions of red blood cells in the field of immunology factors causing the high incidence of Rh-negative blood typing among the Basque population, Bridget Martinez, M.D., Ph-D. (PGY2, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. UNR Med, Family Medicine Residency) will travel to Argentina with funding from a Global Studies Graduate Student Research Grant.
Together with the Graduate School the Graduate Student Association (GSA), and the University of Nevada, Reno Office of the Provost, the Ozmen Institute for Global Studies provides exploratory funding for projects that promise significant future interdisciplinary research in global studies.
“I seek to examine the Basque population through an anthropological and physiologic lens,” Dr Martines said.
While the anthropological aspect aims to decipher inconclusive data on genetic flow, the medical focus will explore Rh factors incidences in the Basque population and their associated viral transmissibility and infection incidence compared to other groups.
The Basque population’s high incidence of Rh-negative blood type offers a window into understanding the role of blood types and their potential to mitigate viral transmissibility. According to a study published in the Mammal of Internal Medicine, patients with type O and Rh-negative blood groups may have a lower risk of severe acute COVID-19 infection and illness.