Research Trainee Spotlight: MaKayla O’Guinn, DO
Dr. O’Guinn is investigating the role of a particular molecule in acute intestinal inflammation—and its potential as a therapeutic target.
From the start of her medical education, MaKayla O’Guinn, DO, found herself asking a constant question: “Why?”
“I had a challenging time just taking information at face value,” says Dr. O’Guinn. “I wanted to know the rationale behind everything I learned.”
That inquisitive nature also led her to pursue research along with medicine. A general surgery resident at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center in Iowa, she aims to become a pediatric surgeon and is a Postdoctoral Fellow at CHLA in the lab of Christopher Gayer, MD, PhD, FACS, FAAP.
“Ultimately, my goal is to become a pediatric surgeon and conduct research that improves access to surgical care and outcomes for children,” Dr. O’Guinn shares.
In Dr. Gayer’s lab, she is focused on a molecule called farnesoid X receptor (FXR), which is involved in synthesizing bile acids. Dr. Gayer’s team has found that FXR appears to be associated with protection against intestinal injury.
Dr. O’Guinn is now exploring how this protection occurs—and if it can be a potential treatment target in inflammatory bowel disease or necrotizing enterocolitis (an intestinal condition that affects premature babies).
Originally from Lake City, a small town in Northeast Arkansas, she is enjoying her time in Los Angeles. She and her husband have a 3-year-old daughter, and their favorite destinations are the beach and Southern California’s many amusement parks. “Our daughter loves Knott’s Berry Farm because she can go on some rides by herself,” Dr. O’Guinn says. “She thinks she is grown!”
