When Ricardo Romo (PWS ’25) approached Dr. Rick Jellen with questions about Koolen–De Vries syndrome, a rare condition his brother was born with, he was impressed by how clearly and compassionately Dr. Jellen explained a complex scientific topic. This experience expanded Romo’s understanding of how science is not only about discovery, but also about service and using knowledge to help others understand and heal. Helping others grasp complicated scientific concepts was something that Romo wanted to do, and it’s a skill he’s acquired while working in Dr. John Chaston’s lab.
Romo’s research focuses on how to improve gut health after antibiotic use, utilizing flies as a model organism. After consuming antibiotics, the gut microbiome is significantly damaged, which can influence behavior and negatively impact the digestive system. Romo hopes that his work studying the fly microbiome will be used to help inform future research to improve human gut health.
In his research, Romo aimed to find ways to restore gut bacteria to create a stable microbiome. He used three different test variables: a control group without any microbiota restoration, a fecal transfer group that used feces from a fly with a stable microbiome, and a whole-body homogenate which used the entire body of a stable fly.
This study pushed Romo to think about different ways that a disrupted microbiome could be recovered. He discovered that the fecal transfer group showed signs of microbiome recovery, but the most effective method was the homogenate. Romo's work was recognized at the Life Sciences Research Conference where he won first place in the plant and wildlife sciences category.
Dr. Chaston was an example to Romo of a scientist who does research to help others. “At General Conference, they say that the best sermons are not spoken, they’re demonstrated through being a Christlike example of someone going out and doing good,” Romo says. “And I think that's what Dr. Chaston does.”
Romo wants to share his light, like Chaston, by working to find innovative solutions to problems through research. “I think that educating people or doing science so that, at some point, your research helps somebody produce a paper that cures a disease or that helps create a treatment is what it means to enter to learn and go forth to serve,” Romo shares.
Just as Jellen helped Romo understand his brother’s complex condition, Romo also tries to help others connect with and understand challenging scientific topics. Romo comes from a family where many, including his brother, never had the opportunity to pursue higher education. He enjoys helping them learn about the research he’s conducting as well as other scientific concepts from his classes. To them, his time at BYU and his efforts to help others is “fulfilling not just [his] dreams, but their dreams too.”
Romo hopes to continue his research on the microbiome to help those struggling with the gastrointestinal effects of antibiotics in grad school at the University of Utah where he plans to study medical laboratory sciences.