Institute News

Alexandre Colas named 2024 Mentor of the Year at Sanford Burnham Prebys

AuthorGreg Calhoun

Date

October 8, 2024

Alicia Llorente Lope, PhD, a postdoctoral associate at Sanford Burnham Prebys, presented the 2024 Mentor of the Year Award to Alexandre Colas, PhD. Colas is the associate dean of admissions for the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and associate professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program.

Colas was applauded for enthusiastically promoting mentees’ professional and scientific development.

Alexandre Colas, PhD, was named as the 2024 Mentor of the Year at Sanford Burnham Prebys. This honor is jointly awarded by the institute’s Office of Education, Training and International Services (OETIS) and the Postdoctoral Training Advisory Group (PTAG).

Colas is the associate dean of admissions for the Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and associate professor in the institute’s Development, Aging and Regeneration Program.

The Mentor of the Year awardee was determined following a selection process driven by postdoctoral scholars. After a committee reviewed nomination letters submitted by postdoctoral associates and graduate students, Colas was announced as the recipient on September 19 at the 23^rd Annual Biomedical Research Symposium.

“It is evident that Colas has remarkable mentorship skills and a genuine commitment to fostering both the scientific and professional development of his postdocs and graduate students,” said postdoctoral associate and PTAG representative Alicia Llorente Lope, PhD, during her presentation of the Mentor of the Year award.

“Colas’ nominators described him as kind, compassionate and someone who creates a positive, collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment in his lab. His enthusiasm for science is infectious, and it inspires those around him.”

Additional comments from Colas’ nominators include:

“He promotes participation in career development and events, encouraging all his mentees to attend scientific workshops and training events, conferences, talks and symposia that will benefit our scientific and personal growth.”

“As an enthusiastic leader, Colas organized events to celebrate achievements and milestones. He used these opportunities to promote team-building and collaborative efforts among his lab members and beyond the lab.”

“Whether discussing complex scientific hypotheses or the latest developments in our field, Colas has a unique ability to make even the most challenging concepts accessible and exciting.”

“His influence and guidance have allowed me to push myself outside my comfort zone and to become a better scientist.”

“He guides students through difficulties, offering thoughtful advice and constructive feedback that helps us overcome obstacles and strengthens our resilience and confidence as researchers. His mentorship has helped me achieve great scientific discoveries in the lab and grow closer to becoming an independent research scientist.”

“Should I establish my own lab, I aspire to follow Colas’ mentoring and leadership style, which I believe is the epitome of mentoring perfection.”

Institute News

Treasuring science and fun at the 2024 Annual Biomedical Research Symposium

AuthorGreg Calhoun

Date

October 2, 2024

Annual event shines spotlight on research conducted by postdoctoral associates and graduate students at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

“When I reflect on the most fun I’ve had during my career as a scientist, it was during my postdoctoral fellowship,” said Ye Zheng, PhD, Becky and Ralph S. O’Connor Chair and professor in the NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis at the Salk Institute, during his keynote address at the 23^rd Annual Biomedical Research Symposium at Sanford Burnham Prebys on September 19, 2024.

“As a postdoc, every time I woke up, I would think about my scientific projects and then go to lab to work with interesting people and do exciting experiments. I had few, if any, distractions. It’s a unique opportunity, and I hope you treasure it.”

Zheng’s words of encouragement helped set the stage for a day filled with a variety of presentation formats to showcase the work of postdoctoral associates and graduate students at the institute. Peter D. Adams, PhD, director of the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys, underscored the event’s importance in his opening remarks.

“This is how science works. You all convening and discussing your work today provides a platform for building new and innovative collaborations.

“You are the next generation of biomedical researchers, and there is no greater pleasure for me as a scientist than to see postdocs and students partnering with one another and enjoying working together.”

The symposium featured three scientific sessions with keynote presentations, podium lectures and brief “flash talks” in which speakers were limited to two minutes and a single slide to entice attendees to visit their posters. Participants voted in a science art competition and for best podium and flash talks.

Following the scientific sessions, Alicia Llorente Lope, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Brooke Emerling, PhD, presented the 2024 Mentor of the Year Award to Alexandre Colas, PhD, the associate dean of admissions in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and associate professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program.

Linda Bradley, PhD, a professor in the Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program and the faculty advisor for postdoctoral training, provided the symposium’s closing remarks. She reminded the audience that the symposium was planned for this week because it was National Postdoc Appreciation Week from September 16-20.

“I want to thank our postdocs for their incredible efforts driving the research forward in our labs,” she said. “I hope we can continue to enhance our environment and provide the best possible opportunities for training and mentorship here at the Institute.”

The 23^rd Annual Biomedical Research Symposium concluded with a poster session and happy hour reception. Postdoctoral associate and graduate school alumni were invited to these events to meet with current graduate students and postdoctoral associates and reconnect with their colleagues.

Symposium planning is coordinated by the Sanford Burnham Prebys Science Network, a group of postdoctoral associates and graduate students interested in professional development, networking and social events, and the institute’s Office of Education, Training and International Services.

Tatiana Moreno presenting her post to Soda Diop with other poster presentations in the background — The 23^rd Annual Biomedical Research Symposium concluded with a poster session and happy hour reception. Postdoctoral associate and graduate school alumni were invited to these events to meet with current graduate students and postdoctoral associates and reconnect with their colleagues.

“It was a terrific experience working together to build this year’s program,” said Valeria Guglielmi, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Maximiliano D’Angelo, PhD, and member of the institute’s Science Network. “I’m especially grateful to our speakers, poster presenters and scientific artists for bringing excellent work that we could highlight.”

Additional awards given at the symposium included:

Best podium talk – Judges’ selection
Valeria Guglielmi, PhD
Postdoctoral associate in the D’Angelo lab
Best podium talk – Popular vote
James Marchant, PhD
Postdoctoral fellow in the Colas lab
Best flash talk – Popular vote
Theophilos Tzaridis, MD
Postdoctoral fellow in the Adams lab
Best poster – Judges’ selection
Armin Aabish Gandhi, PhD
Pstdoctoral associate in the Adams lab
Best science art – Popular vote
Carolina Cano Macip
Graduate student in the Tian lab

Speakers at the symposium included:

Scientific Session I—moderated by Michaela Romero and Armin Aabish Gandhi, PhD

Carolina Cano Macip's winging science art image — Participants at the symposium were able to submit votes for a science art competition and the best podium and flash talks. Carolina Cano Macip, a graduate student in the lab of Xiao Tian, PhD, won the science art competition with her piece called “Love is in your gut <3” featuring a heart-shaped section of a mouse colon.

Cheng-Ju Kuo, PhD
Postdoctoral associate in the Kumsta lab
“Temporal and spatial regulation of the autophagy-regulating transcription factor TFEB/HLH-30 in hormesis and aging”
Ximena Diaz Olea
Graduate student in the Ronai lab
“Control of melanoma development by B. rodentium in germ free mice”
Huijie Huang, PhD
Postdoctoral associate in the Huang lab
“SORLA upregulation suppresses global pathological effects in aged taupathy mouse brain”

Scientific Session II—moderated by Katya Marchetti, Namratha Nadig and Chiara Nicoletti, PhD

Adarsh Rajesh
Graduate student in the Adams lab, “A novel role of P21-CyclinD1-CDK6 complex in regulating interferon signaling in senescence and aging”
James Marchant, PhD
Postdoctoral fellow in the Colas lab, “Single-construct cardiac programming gene therapy for heart failure”
Valeria Guglielmi, PhD
Postdoctoral associate in the D’Angelo lab
“The nuclear pore complex component Nup358 regulates intestinal epithelium homeostasis”
Theophilos Tzaridis, MD
Postdoctoral fellow in the Adams lab, flash talk
Evodie Koutouan
Graduate student in the Pasquale lab, flash talk
Sviatlana Zaretski
Graduate student in the Adams lab, flash talk

Scientific Session III—moderated by Linda Chang and Theophilos Tzaridis, MD

Gabriele Guarnaccia
Graduate student in the Sacco lab
“Serum amyloid protein A1 (SAA1) impairs myogenesis and myotube size in pancreatic cancer cachexia”
Jessica Proulx, PhD
Postdoctoral associate in the Adams lab
“Investigating the role and therapeutic potential of HNF4α in loss of hepatocyte cell identity with age”
Michaela Romero
Graduate student in the Colas lab, flash talk
Shanshan Yin, PhD
Postdoctoral associate in the Adams lab, flash talk
Guillem Lambies Barjau, PhD
Postdoctoral associate in the Commisso lab, flash talk

Institute News

Michael Alcaraz awarded Melvin and Phyllis McCardle Clause Scholarship

AuthorGreg Calhoun

Date

September 18, 2024

Michael Alcaraz is a fourth-year graduate student in the Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

The scholarship program for graduate students was created by the Clause family’s generous donation to Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Michael Alcaraz, a fourth-year graduate student in the Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, was selected as the 2024 recipient of the Melvin and Phyllis McCardle Clause Scholarship.

“I am very excited about being chosen for this scholarship,” said Alcaraz. “I’ll be gaining mentorship opportunities from researchers in neuroscience that complement my lab’s focus on aging.

“This funding will make a big difference as my research moves forward. The scholarship also provides support for professional development, which will allow me to attend conferences to share what I’m studying and grow my network.”

The McCardle Clause Scholarship was established in honor of Phyllis McCardle Clause after her long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The award supports graduate student education in age-related neurodegeneration within the Institute’s graduate school.

Alcaraz conducts research in the laboratory of Peter D. Adams, PhD, the director of the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, with a focus on the mechanisms of aging.

With support from the scholarship, Alcaraz will be investigating the fundamental connections between aging and the increased risk of AD, the most common cause of dementia. His project is focused on the role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), an essential metabolite and building block for enzymes.

NAD+ levels decrease with age in several tissues, including in the brains of humans and mouse models of AD. The decline of this important metabolite is associated with insufficient energy metabolism that is a major hallmark of AD.

“In collaboration with the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, we will test a potential drug to promote production of NAD+ in the brain by activating a key enzyme involved in NAD+ biosynthesis,” said Alcaraz. The compound was developed by the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical G enomics led by Michael Jackson, PhD, senior vice president of Drug Discovery and Development.

“The goal of my project is to raise the levels of NAD+ in mice suffering from an analogous condition to AD and test its effects on improving brain metabolism, function and behavior,” added Alcaraz.

“The objective is to build the preclinical foundation for one day achieving benefits for patients. We all know how devastating AD is for patients and families, and the need for new treatments grows greater every single day.

“This project will require a lot of collaboration between experts in aging, drug discovery, neuroscience and behavioral analysis. We have all this expertise available across the Institute, and I’m looking forward to working with an interdisciplinary team on this effort thanks to the generosity of the Clause family.”

Institute News

Sanford Burnham Prebys celebrates first graduate school Commencement ceremony

AuthorGreg Calhoun

Date

June 7, 2024

Pictured from left to right are Rachael McVicar, PhD ’23; James Kent, PhD ’22; Monica Gonzalez Ramirez, PhD ’18; and Stephen Sakuma, PhD ’24.

The Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences held its first-ever Commencement ceremony to celebrate nearly 20 years of educating future scientists

On Friday, May 31, 2024, the Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences hosted four graduates, their family members and friends as well as current students, faculty members and staff at the Institute’s campus in La Jolla for the school’s first-ever Commencement ceremony.

In addition to honoring the four graduates in attendance, the event also recognized the 62 other alumni who graduated from the Institute’s graduate school in the nearly 20 years since its founding in 2006.

“The graduate school is a direct extension of our commitment to training the next generation of scientists,” said David Brenner, MD, president, CEO and Donald Bren Chief Executive Chair at Sanford Burnham Prebys, during his welcoming remarks. “We focus on cultivating a collaborative culture where students are full participants. Thank you for your dedication to learning and creating new knowledge, and for your contributions to our mission of translating science to improve health.”

Brenner added, “We’re incredibly proud of you!”

Alessandra Sacco, PhD, director of, and professor in, the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys, and dean of the Institute’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, delivered the Commencement address.

“Hold onto perseverance and trust in yourself as you move forward,” said Sacco. “Never forget the sacrifices you have made, the hours in the lab and the failed experiments that have shaped you into better researchers.”

Sacco also remarked, “You are the next generation of scientists. You can make a difference by pushing on scientific boundaries while also having a positive influence on your communities.”

Alessandra Sacco, PhD, director of, and professor in, the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys, and dean of the Institute’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, delivered the Commencement address.

After concluding her remarks by wishing the graduates great success throughout their professional journeys, Sacco introduced Stephen Sakuma, PhD ’24, to speak on behalf of the Institute’s 66 alumni.

Stephen Sakuma, PhD ’24, spoke on behalf of the Institute’s
66 alumni.

“The faculty and community at Sanford Burnham Prebys have been tremendous and afforded me the most meaningful opportunities to learn and grow,” said Sakuma. “The journey has been long and, at times, arduous, but it also has been exceedingly rewarding.”

Diane Klotz, PhD, chief learning officer at Sanford Burnham Prebys, then discussed the meaning of the hoods and symbols that are used in Commencement ceremonies. She recognized the Institute’s alumni, both present and across the globe, and explained that all graduates are conferred degrees following the completion of all educational requirements and successful defense of their theses.

The Commencement ceremony, then, represents an opportunity to welcome back and celebrate with our alumni and their friends and family, and to pay tribute to alumni unable to attend who entrusted Sanford Burnham Prebys with their graduate education and preparation to enter the field of biomedical research.

Klotz invited the graduates forward and instructed faculty members to adorn them with the doctoral academic hoods signifying completion of a PhD program.

The graduates who attended the Commencement ceremony were:

Monica Gonzalez Ramirez, PhD ’18, who trained in the Salvesen lab and was hooded by Guy Salvesen, PhD, emeritus professor
James Kent, PhD ’22, who trained in the Marassi lab and was hooded by Dr. Guy Salvesen
Rachael McVicar, PhD ’23, who trained in the Snyder/Leibel lab and was hooded by Evan Snyder, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine and professor in the Human Genetics Program
Stephen Sakuma, PhD ’24, who trained in the D’Angelo lab and was hooded by Maximiliano D’Angelo, PhD, associate professor in the Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program

As the inaugural dean of the Institute’s graduate school, Salvesen provided the ceremony’s closing remarks. He wished the alumni well and supported Sacco’s assertion that their perseverance would be rewarded, which he reinforced with a quote from author and Arches National Park enthusiast Edward Abbey.

“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.”

Graduate School Of Biomedical Sciences

Institute News

The Conrad Prebys Foundation fellows take center stage

AuthorGreg Calhoun

Date

May 20, 2024

Following a year of hands-on training and scientific inquiry supported by a generous grant from the Conrad Prebys Foundation, a diverse group of early-career researchers recently presented their promising progress on translational research projects.

Twelve scientists-in-training at Sanford Burnham Prebys presented research updates at the Conrad Prebys Foundation Fellows Symposium on May 14, 2024, at the Institute’s Fishman Auditorium.

The presentations were the culmination of a yearlong educational program at Sanford Burnham Prebys providing early-career scientists with workshops, mentorship and research experiences focused on how to transform research discoveries into new treatments. The Conrad Prebys Foundation provided critical funding for the program as part of the foundation’s mission to increase the diversity of San Diego’s biomedical workforce.

“This truly has been a pioneering program at the Institute,” says Alessandra Sacco, PhD, director of, and professor in, the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys; and dean of the Institute’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

The graduate students and postdoctoral fellows selected to participate in the program conducted projects at the Institute’s  Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics (Prebys Center), the nation’s leading nonprofit drug discovery center. The Prebys Center specializes in finding new medicines for diseases with a substantial unmet medical need.

Conrad Prebys Foundation fellows poster presentations

“Each participant worked with a pair of co-mentors, one in the laboratory and another in the Prebys Center,” adds Sacco. In addition to extensive mentorship, the program included educational sessions about the drug discovery process.
“This program’s multifaceted approach to training and development has been incredibly rewarding,” says Sacco. Before introducing the symposium’s first speaker, Sacco thanked Michael Jackson, PhD, senior vice president of Drug Discovery and Development at the Prebys Center and director of the Institute’s Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program; Jessica Colomb, associate director of Administration at the Prebys Center; and all the mentors who contributed to the program’s success.

After the conclusion of the fellows’ formal presentations, Lauren Mitchell, MS, program manager for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) at Sanford Burnham Prebys, moderated a discussion for fellowship awardees regarding how this training program enriched their skillset, benefited their career development and contributed to their overall sense of belonging and community, among other topics.

The symposium ended with a poster session and reception celebrating the Conrad Prebys Foundation, participants, mentors and contributors.

“I would like to express my utmost gratitude to the Conrad Prebys Foundation for this fellowship,” says Xiuqing Wei, PhD, postdoctoral associate in the lab of Lorenzo Puri, MD, director of, and professor in, the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Wei adds, “It was a wonderful experience working with my co-mentors on an amazing translational research project.” Wei focused on methods for targeting the abnormal regulation of a key proinflammatory cytokine which is associated with muscle waste under the conditions of nerve injuries and cancer.

The Conrad Prebys Foundation fellows who presented at the symposium were:

Postdoctoral Fellows

Merve Demir
Zhao Lab, Ed Sergienko co-mentor
“Structural studies of MtCK and GCDH enzyme drug targets”
Alicia Llorente Lope
Emerling Lab, Ian Pass co-mentor
“Exploring PI5P4Kγ as a novel molecular vulnerability of therapy-resistant breast cancer” 
Van Giau Vo
Huang Lab, TC Chung co-mentor
“Identifying enhancers of SNX27 to promote neuroprotective pathways in Alzheimer’s disease and Down Syndrome”
Xiuqing Wei
Puri Lab, Anne Bang co-mentor
“Selective targeting of a pathogenetic IL6-STAT3 feedforward loop activated during denervation and cancer cachexia”

Predoctoral Fellows

Michael Alexander Alcaraz
Adams Lab, Steven Olson co-mentor
“Activating the NAMPT-NAD+ axis in senescence to target age-associated disease”
  Shea Grenier Davis
Commisso Lab, Steven Olson co-mentor
“Examining PIKfyve as a potential therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer” 
Aditi Pedgaonkar
Deshpande Lab, Ed Sergienko co-mentor
“SGF29 as a novel therapeutic target in AML” 
Patrick Hagan
Cosford Lab, Ian Pass co-mentor
“Discovery and development of novel ATG13 degrading compounds that inhibit autophagy and treat non-small-cell lung cancer” 
Texia Loh
Wang Lab, Ed Sergienko co-mentor
“Investigating the role of HELLS in mediating resistance to PARP Inhibition in small-cell lung cancer” 
Michaela Lynott
Colas Lab, TC Chung co-mentor
“Identification of small molecules inhibiting ATF7IP-SETDB1 interacting complex to improve cardiac reprogramming efficiency” 
Tatiana Moreno
Kumsta Lab, Anne Bang co-mentor
“Identifying TFEB/HLH-30 regulators to modulate autophagy in age-related diseases” 
Utkarsha Paithane
Bagchi Lab, TC Chung co-mentor
“Identification of small-molecule enhancers of Honeybadger, a novel RAS/MAPK inhibitor”

Institute News

Emily Wu awarded Melvin and Phyllis McCardle Clause Scholarship

AuthorSusan Gammon

Date

September 28, 2023

A scholarship program enabled by the Clause family’s generous donations to the Institute has been awarded to Jiaqian (Emily) Wu, a graduate student in the lab of Nicholas Cosford, PhD, co-director and professor of the Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program.

“This award is special to me because it’s more than a scholarship—it’s inspiring and encouraging for early-stage scholars,” says Wu. “My research goal is to discover innovative treatments of Alzheimer’s disease and enhance our understanding of the disease. Receiving this honor from a family who was affected by this devastating disease makes me even more motivated to advance my research. I sincerely appreciate the support.”

The McCardle Clause Scholarship was established in honor of Phyllis McCardle Clause who passed away after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease in 2008, in San Diego, California. The award supports graduate student education in neurodegeneration and aging within the Graduate Program for Biomedical Sciences.

Wu’s research focuses on a brain-specific enzyme called STEP, whose levels are increased in the human prefrontal cortex of AD patients. Genetic and pharmacological evidence from mouse studies suggest that targeting STEP, a signaling molecule involved in the initial synaptic dysfunction that occurs prior to the loss of neurons, may provide an early treatment option for Alzheimer’s disease.

“We are using a bold approach to screen for potential drugs that modulate STEP,” says Wu. “The strategy holds great potential in overcoming the historical challenges of drug potency, selectivity and blood-brain barrier penetration efficacy for Alzheimer’s disease.”

“More approaches to stemming Alzheimer’s disease are desperately needed. I’m hopeful that our research will contribute to the field and help people suffering this disease.”

Institute News

Scientific leaders of tomorrow present at 2023 Annual Trainee Symposium

AuthorSusan Gammon

Date

September 22, 2023

An accomplished group of early-career researchers including postdoctoral scholars, graduate students and staff scientists showcased their work at Sanford Burnham Prebys’ 22nd Annual Trainee Research Symposium on Thursday, September 21st.

After introductory remarks by Sanford Burnham Prebys Professor Guy Salveson, PhD, former dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the scientists gave 20-minute podium presentations about their research, which were judged by a panel of Sanford Burnham Prebys faculty and staff.

Speakers included:

Patrick Hagan (Graduate Student, Cosford Lab)
Alessandra Cecchini, PhD (Postdoctoral Associate, Sacco Lab)
James Kent, PhD (Postdoctoral Associate, Osterman Lab)
Theophilos Tzaridis, MD (Postdoctoral Fellow, Adams Lab)
Jimmy Massenet, PhD (Postdoctoral Associate, Puri Lab)
Merve Demir, PhD (Postdoctoral Associate, Sergienko Lab/CPCCG)
Guillem Lambies Barjau, PhD (Postdoctoral Associate, Commisso Lab)
Michaela Romero (Graduate Student, Colas Lab)

After the first session of presentations, a keynote speech for the symposium was given by UC San Diego Professor Gene Yeo, PhD professor at UC San Diego titled, “Challenges and opportunities in RNA biology for understanding and treating human diseases.” Dr. Yeo is a leader in developing technology and algorithms to explore how RNA-binding proteins influence RNA processing and how dysfunction is associated with human disease.

Following closing remarks from Sanford Burnham Prebys CEO David A. Brenner, MD, a poster session was held where more than 25 early-career scientists were given the chance to present their work.

A panel of judges selected the poster of Cynthia Lebeaupin, PhD (Kaufman Lab) for the top prize. Dr. Lebeaupin’s research focuses on how fatty liver disease—an increasingly prevalent health condition—leads to liver cancer.

Winner of the judges’ selection for “Best Podium Talk” was awarded to Michaela Romero for her presentation, “Novel role of proteoglycan sulfation as a barrier to direct cardiac reprogramming.”

The event also featured the presentation of Sanford Burnham Prebys’ Mentor of the Year Award to Alessandra Sacco, PhD, who was recently named the new dean of the graduate school.

Congratulations to all the participants in this year’s Symposium, and a special thank you to the staff at the Office of Education, Training, & International Services (OETIS) for organizing the event.

Aaron Havas presenting Alessandra Sacco with Mentor of the Year award

Institute News

Sanford Burnham Prebys graduate student selected for prestigious Women in Science scholarship

AuthorMiles Martin

Date

June 20, 2023

Katya Marchetti has had her heart set on research since childhood. Today, she’s a bright, confident scientist making her dream a reality at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Katya Marchetti, a first-year PhD student in the lab of Karen Ocorr, PhD, was recently awarded an Association for Women in Science (AWIS) scholarship. This competitive award encourages outstanding women pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields at San Diego colleges and universities.

“Receiving this recognition highlights the importance of advocating for women’s empowerment in STEM and fostering an inclusive and diverse scientific community,” says Marchetti.

Marchetti grew up in Bakersfield California and finished her undergraduate degree from UC San Diego in just three years. Last year, she enrolled as a graduate student at 21 years old, making her one of the youngest PhD students to ever join the Institute. For her, the AWIS award is a culmination of a lifelong enthusiasm for science, inspired and encouraged by her family.

“I’m a very curious person,” says Marchetti. “I just inherently have to know how everything works, and my dad is the one got me inspired and interested in exploring things. I am so grateful for the opportunities that he fought for me to have, because he gave me everything that he didn’t.”

With the enthusiastic support of her family, Marchetti began her research career at the ripe age of nine years old.

“My first-ever science project was heart research,” she says. “My favorite song was “Kickstart My Heart” by Mötley Crüe, and I wanted to see if it would raise blood pressure. I tested myself and my family, and we actually found that it did, obviously.”

Today, Marchetti’s heart research is a bit more sophisticated. She studies hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a rare disease in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped and unable to effectively pump oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. HLHS is a congenital disease that is nearly always fatal without heart surgery. Marchetti’s research focuses on uncovering the genetics that underpin this disease to find new ways to prevent and treat it.

“Researching heart disease is very rewarding in and of itself, but it’s also really motivating to work on a disease that occurs in one of the most vulnerable populations,” says Marchetti.

Marchetti is also heavily involved on campus at the Institute, as one of just two graduate students to serve on the Institute’s Education and Training committee, part of the Institute’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Council. She has also mentored interns for the Institute’s CIRM-sponsored SPARK program, which provides research experiences to high school students from underrepresented backgrounds.

“I really love mentoring people who don’t have a lot of lab experience,” says Marchetti. “It’s my favorite thing I’ve done in graduate school so far. I think that’s kind of my way of paying forward the opportunities that I’ve had.”

Marchetti will use the funds from the AWIS scholarship to further support her HLHS research. She also maintains that even after finishing her PhD, her long-term goal is to continue working in the San Diego research community.

“If were to describe myself as a city, it would be San Diego,” she says. “It’s really the perfect place for me.”

Institute News

Presenting The Conrad Prebys Foundation fellows

AuthorMiles Martin

Date

May 15, 2023

Thanks to a generous grant from The Conrad Prebys Foundation, a diverse group of early-career researchers will gain hands-on experience in drug discovery and translational medicine.

A new educational program at Sanford Burnham Prebys has welcomed a diverse group of early-career scientists to learn how to transform research discoveries into treatments for human diseases. The program was made possible by a generous grant from The Conrad Prebys Foundation as part of its mission to increase the diversity of San Diego’s biomedical workforce.

“Our mission at The Conrad Prebys Foundation is to create an inclusive, equitable and dynamic future for all San Diegans,” says Grant Oliphant, CEO at The Conrad Prebys Foundation. “San Diego is one of the top areas in the country for biomedical research, and we’re pleased to partner with Sanford Burnham Prebys to help strengthen the pipeline of diverse talent in life sciences research.”

Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows selected for the program will complete projects at the Institute’s Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics (Prebys Center), the nation’s leading nonprofit drug discovery center. The Prebys Center specializes in finding new medicines for diseases with a substantial unmet medical need in order to develop better therapies.

“Thank you to The Conrad Prebys Foundation. I am beyond grateful for their support,” says predoctoral Prebys fellow Michael Alcaraz, who will complete his project on the links between aging and brain disease with Professor Peter D. Adams, PhD, and Steven Olson, PhD, executive director of Medicinal Chemistry at the Prebys Center.

To help fulfill the Foundation’s mission, Sanford Burnham Prebys students and postdocs from historically underrepresented groups were encouraged to apply for the new program.

“Promoting diversity in the biomedical workforce is a founding principle of our educational program,” says Alessandra Sacco, PhD, vice dean and associate dean of Student Affairs in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Sacco will oversee the new program alongside Dean Guy Salvesen, PhD, and Professor Michael Jackson, PhD

“Working actively to train people from all backgrounds gives opportunities to people who may not otherwise have had them—and it also improves the quality of the research itself,” she adds.

“Translational research is one of the biggest priorities in biomedicine right now because it’s how we turn discoveries into actual medicines,” says Sacco. “This program gives students and postdocs an opportunity to build the skills they need for translational research jobs in academia or industry.”

The fellowship will culminate in a final symposium next spring, where the fellows will present their research to their peers and to the wider community.

“I’m looking forward to gaining more experience and making my contribution to the translational science at the Prebys Center,” says predoctoral Prebys fellow Merve Demir, who will complete a structural biochemistry project with Assistant Professor Jianhua Zhao, PhD, and Eduard Sergienko, PhD, director of Assay Development at the Prebys Center.

The full list of fellows includes:

Postdoctoral Fellows

– Karina Barbosa Guerra [Deshpande Lab, Ed Sergienko co-mentor]
“SGF29 as a novel therapeutic target in AML”

– Merve Demir [Zhao Lab, Ed Sergienko co-mentor]
“Structural studies of MtCK and GCDH enzyme drug targets”

– Jerry Tyler DeWitt [Haricharan Lab, TC Chung co-mentor]
“Investigating the unique molecular landscape of ER+ breast cancer in black women”

– Alicia Llorente Lope [Emerling Lab, Ian Pass co-mentor]
“Exploring PI5P4Kγ as a novel molecular vulnerability of therapy-resistant breast cancer”

– Van Giau Vo [Huang Lab, TC Chung co-mentor]
“Identifying enhancers of SNX27 to promote neuroprotective pathways in Alzheimer’s disease and Down Syndrome”

– Xiuqing Wei [Puri Lab, Anne Bang co-mentor]
“Selective targeting of a pathogenetic IL6-STAT3 feedforward loop activated during denervation and cancer cachexia”

Predoctoral Fellows

– Michael Alexander Alcaraz [Adams Lab, Steven Olson co-mentor]
“Activating the NAMPT-NAD+ axis in senescence to target age-associated disease”

– Shea Grenier Davis [Commisso Lab, Steven Olson co-mentor]
“Examining PIKfyve as a potential therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer”

– Patrick Hagan [Cosford Lab, Ian Pass co-mentor]
“Discovery and development of novel ATG13 degrading compounds that inhibit autophagy and treat non-small-cell lung cancer”

– Texia Loh [Wang Lab, Ed Sergienko co-mentor]
“Investigating the role of HELLS in mediating resistance to PARP Inhibition in small-cell lung cancer”

– Michaela Lynott [Colas Lab, TC Chung co-mentor]
“Identification of small molecules inhibiting ATF7IP-SETDB1 interacting complex to improve cardiac reprogramming efficiency”

– Tatiana Moreno [Kumsta Lab, Anne Bang co-mentor]
“Identifying TFEB/HLH-30 regulators to modulate autophagy in age-related diseases”

– Utkarsha Paithane [Bagchi Lab, TC Chung co-mentor]
“Identification of small-molecule enhancers of Honeybadger, a novel RAS/MAPK inhibitor”

Institute News

Peter Adams named Mentor of the Year at 21st Annual Research Trainee Symposium

AuthorMiles Martin

Date

September 23, 2022

Peter Adams, PhD, has been named Mentor of the Year, a new honor from the Institute’s Office of Education, Training and International Services (OETIS) and the Postdoctoral Training Advisory Group (PTAG).

The award was based on nomination letters submitted by postdocs and graduate students on the Sanford Burnham Prebys campus, and the winner was selected by a committee of PTAG members. The award was announced on September 22 at the 21st Annual Trainee Research Symposium.

“Professor Adams creates an environment that supports his postdocs in pursuing their research projects by motivating his trainees to experience new techniques, take on challenging projects and help them to decide the direction in which they want to move forward,” said postdoctoral associate Marie Berenguer, who presented the award to Adams. “He helps his trainees expand their professional networks and further develop their technical and transferable skills. Every trainee from the Adams lab submitted an abstract for this year’s Annual Trainee Research Symposium, a sign of Peter’s commitment to their training.”

trainees and posters — Trainees present their research to peers and faculty at the poster session

In his comments when accepting the award, Adams spoke to his mentoring philosophy: “Some of you have asked me, ‘What’s the most important thing in a student or a postdoc?’ What I’ll say is that the most important thing is to take ownership of your project, so my mentoring strategy is, in a way, to put the burden on you. But I can only put that burden on you if you can rise to it and take that on, and clearly you do. You do a great job, so that makes my life very easy.”

Reading from nomination letters submitted by postdocs, Berenguer added, “Your positive vision and passion for science, your willingness to collaborate and help, and your kind personality were highly praised and stated as the major reason that you are a one-of-a-kind mentor who has positively impacted your lab members and also many other researchers across Sanford Burnham Prebys.”

In addition to the award presentation, the day consisted of opening remarks from Hudson Freeze, PhD, and Alessandra Sacco, PhD; presentations by graduate students and postdocs from labs across the Institute; and a keynote presentation from Principal Investigator Karissa Sanbonmatsu, PhD, from Los Alamos National Laboratories, about her work in epigenetics. President and CEO David Brenner, MD, delivered closing remarks, which were followed by a poster session.

“Mentoring is one of the most important things senior faculty can do to advance the careers of their students and postdocs,” said Brenner during his comments. “It’s such a pleasure to join you all for this symposium today.”

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