Washington Johnson III graduated from Oakwood University in 2020 where he majored in Biology. While at Oakwood University, Johnson conducted microbiology research under the biology department chair, Dr. Elaine Vanterpool. His research centered around identifying cell-signaling pathways in pancreatic cancer cells. Johnson is currently a rising third-year medical student at Meharry Medical College.
He participated in the Vanderbilt Nephrology Summer Research Training Program in the summer of 2021 and worked in the lab of Dr. Lauren Woodard. He assessed if nephron-progenitor cell administration to mice with acute kidney injury, examining nephron regeneration and kidney function. During his time at Vanderbilt, Johnson was awarded a Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR) Grant from Vanderbilt University, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to continue his kidney research in the Woodard Lab. He is greatly honored to have had an opportunity to participate in research at Vanderbilt University through the Nephrology Summer Research Training Program.