Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Archives - Sanford Burnham Prebys

Tag: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Institute News

Celebrating research and mentorship during National Postdoc Appreciation Week

AuthorCommunications
Date

September 25, 2025

A.J. Hilton, PhD, giving keynote address. Photo credit Sanford Burnham Prebys
A.J. Hilton, PhD. Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

The 24th Annual Biomedical Research Symposium brought together postdocs, graduate students, staff scientists, administrators, and faculty for a day that celebrated both discovery and community.

Speakers underscored what makes the gathering special: a rare chance to take in the breadth and depth of research across programs, to connect with colleagues from labs across the Institute throughout the day, including at the poster session, and to spot techniques that might enrich one’s projects. They also emphasized that relationships forged during training often endure for an entire career.

This year’s keynote was delivered by A.J. Hilton, PhD, assistant professor of molecular physiology and biophysics at Vanderbilt University, who discussed how ATF4 coordinates mitochondrial remodeling and functional adaptations across models of aging.

His talk offered a compelling look at how stress response pathways can rewire cellular metabolism and organelle function, with broad implications for understanding age-related decline and resilience.

Attendees praised the clarity of the presentation and its relevance beyond any one discipline, a reminder that the best science often bridges fields.

A.J. Hilton, PhD, giving keynote address. Photo credit Sanford Burnham Prebys

A.J. Hilton, PhD. Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

Sanjeev Ranade receiving Mentor of the Year from Jessica Proulx. Photo credit Sanford Burnham Prebys

Sanjeev Ranade, PhD, and Jessica Proulx, PhD. Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

A highlight of the day was the announcement of the Mentor of the Year Award for Postdoctoral Training, which recognizes faculty who create welcoming, supportive environments and advocate tirelessly for early-career researchers. Nominees were evaluated on criteria such as clear communication of expectations and goals, active support of career development, and meaningful participation in training initiatives. This year’s recipient, Sanjeev Ranade, PhD, of the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases, was celebrated for fostering a collaborative lab culture where achievements of all sizes are recognized and trainees are encouraged to think critically and independently. Mentees credited Ranade with reigniting their passion for science, building confidence, and opening doors to new opportunities—proof that great mentorship can be transformative.

The symposium also acknowledged the vital contributions of the Institute’s training community.

Organizers thanked staff and volunteers who made the event possible and recognized a decade of leadership in career and professional development programs that have helped countless trainees refine transferable skills, land jobs, and navigate diverse paths across the biomedical landscape. Practical touches, including food truck tickets for registrants and clear parking reimbursement instructions, rounded out a day designed to make participation easy and inclusive.

As the Institute observed National Postdoc Appreciation Week, the symposium set an enthusiastic tone for the poster session and the Fishman Awards ceremony. If the energy in the auditorium is any indication, the future of the research enterprise is bright—powered by rigorous science, generous mentorship, and a community committed to helping one another thrive.

BEST PODIUM TALK, Judges’ Selection

  • Winner:  Luca Caputo, PhD (Puri lab)
  • Runner-Up:  Sophie Hao (Dong lab)

BEST PODIUM TALK by popular vote

  • Winners: Jessica Proulx, PhD (Adams lab) & Katya Marchetti (Ocorr lab)

BEST FLASH TALK by popular vote

  • Winner: Michael Alcaraz (Adams lab)

BEST POSTERS, Judges’ Selection

  • Winners: Cheng-Ju Kuo, PhD (Kumsta lab) & Caitlin Lange (Kumsta lab)
Institute News

Anis Shahnaee awarded Melvin and Phyllis McCardle Clause Scholarship

AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date

September 2, 2025

Anis Shahnaee, profile photo. Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys
Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys.

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

“I’m thrilled to receive this scholarship, which will help me continue contributing to our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Shahnaee.

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.

Shahnaee conducts research in the laboratory of Jerold Chun, MD, PhD, a professor in the Center for Neurologic Diseases at Sanford Burnham Prebys, with a focus on better understanding the effects of neurodegenerative diseases on brain cells.

“Since joining the Chun lab in 2021 and starting my PhD, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside a wonderful team and within the supportive Sanford Burnham Prebys community,” said Shahnaee. “I’m very grateful for this support and for the opportunity to keep pursuing my research with the guidance of my mentor and colleagues.”

As part of her thesis work, Shahnaee contributed to a study unveiling novel and diverse mRNA sequences transcribed from genes  associated with neurodegenerative diseases (published in eNeuro 2024).

She will now characterize and study the function of the product of a specific novel human RNA isoform that she found significantly upregulated in disease-associated astrocytes in brain tissue from patients with AD.

“By focusing on the novel RNA isoform we discovered in astrocytes, my goal is to uncover how its translation into a protein alters brain function in Alzheimer’s disease, with the hope of identifying a new disease marker.”

“Contributing to this knowledge is both scientifically exciting and personally motivating,” said Shahnaee. “There is so much we still have to learn about the brain.”

Institute News

Two trainees selected for Science in Motion Travel Awards

AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date

August 29, 2025

split image of Gabriele Guarnaccia and Luca Caputo. Image credit Sanford Burnham Prebys
Gabriele Guarnaccia and Luca Caputo. Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys

The Sanford Burnham Prebys Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases recently announced the winners of the 2025 Science in Motion Travel Awards.

Gabriele Guarnaccia, a graduate student in the lab of Alessandra Sacco, PhD, will use his award to attend the 8th Cancer Cachexia Conference being held September 25–27, 2025, in Turin, Italy.

Luca Caputo, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Pier Lorenzo Puri, MD, was selected to attend Frontiers in Myogenesis: Innovations in Myogenesis, From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Interventions, which will be held October 6–11, 2025, in Sunriver, Oregon.

The goal of the Science in Motion Travel Awards is to support conference participation for emerging researchers in labs with a primary affiliation in the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases.

Applications will open again on January 15, 2026.

Institute News

Sanford Burnham Prebys celebrates newest graduate school alumni

AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date

June 4, 2025

2025 Grad School Graduation Ceremony group photo
Left to right: Diane Klotz, PhD; Alexandre Colas, PhD; Ryan Loughran, PhD; Guy Salvesen, PhD; Zhouting Zhu, PhD; Andrei Osterman, PhD; Alessandra Sacco, PhD; Barbara Ranscht, PhD; Jordan Friedlein, PhD; and Caroline Kumsta, PhD. Not pictured: Zong Ming Chua, PhD. Image Credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys.

The Institute’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences held its second Commencement ceremony to celebrate four recent graduates

Family, friends and colleagues gathered at the end of May 2025 to applaud the four newest alumni of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. These early-career scientists are the latest graduates to leave their mark on the institute and carry forth the graduate program’s motto, “Knowledge is the power to heal.”

On Friday, May 30, 2025, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences held its graduation ceremony at the institute’s La Jolla campus in the Victor E. LaFave III Memorial Auditorium.

“Each of you has made significant contributions to your field of science, created new knowledge and demonstrated the ability to perform independent research,” said Alessandra Sacco, PhD, dean of the institute’s graduate school and professor and director of the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program in the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases.

“Today, we celebrate not only your academic journey, but also your years of dedication to get to this point, and the perseverance and intellectual curiosity that enabled you to reach this milestone.”

Following her remarks, Sacco introduced Ryan Loughran, PhD ’24, to speak on behalf of his fellow graduates.

“Graduate school is an experience unlike any other,” said Loughran. “You’re constantly drinking from a fire hose, learning new techniques, running experiments, coding data pipelines, writing and reviewing papers, preparing posters and giving talks.

‘I came to realize that it’s overwhelming by design. Somewhere in that chaos, something incredible happens. You’re forged by the fire. You begin to absorb information with an insatiable hunger. You think more critically and more creatively when confronting problems, and that is the true gift of the PhD experience.”

Loughran turned the podium over to Guy Salvesen, PhD, the inaugural dean of the graduate school, who provided the Commencement address.

“The graduates in front of you display the success of the program,” he said. “More importantly and more fundamentally, though, they have reached this milestone based on the merits of the hard-won accomplishments that they share with their mentors.”

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

This year, the following graduates were recognized:

Andrei Osterman, PhD, the graduate school’s vice dean and associate dean of curriculum and a professor in the Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases, provided the ceremony’s closing remarks.

“While today is primarily a celebration of individual intellectual achievements, it also recognizes your meaningful contributions to and interactions with the scientific community,” he said. “You have grown through peer review and collaborating with others, and these experiences will benefit you wherever your career takes you.”

More on this year’s graduates

Zong Ming Chua, PhD ’24, was born in Singapore. He developed a deep and early interest in biology after reading Darwin’s seminal work “On the Origin of Species” and various books by Richard Dawkins.

At Sanford Burnham Prebys, Zong Ming investigated the mechanisms that link cellular senescence and epigenetics. He discovered a new role of the histone variant H2A.Z R80C. He found that the histone variant influenced the transcriptomic profile of senescent cells.

Zong Ming moved to the Bay Area after graduating and is currently a computational biologist at GigaGen.

Jordan Friedlein, PhD ’24, was born and raised in Minnesota. From an early age, he expressed a desire to understand how the world worked. In high school, biology and physiology were his favorite classes.

Jordan joined the Bagchi Lab in 2019 and worked on investigating the role of circular RNA derived proteins in Myc-driven cancers. During his five years, Jordan enjoyed contributing to cutting-edge research and building lasting relationships with other grad students and institute members.

Ryan Loughran, PhD ’24, was born and raised in Greensburg, Penn. Growing up in a family with four generations of pharmacists, Ryan always imagined following in their footsteps and taking over the family-owned Loughran’s Pharmacy.

However, his path took a different turn during his undergraduate studies when he had the opportunity to spend a summer in New York City as an intern in the Emerling lab at Weill Cornell Medicine. He later moved with Emerling to help establish her new lab at Sanford Burnham Prebys as her lab manager. He later joined the Emerling lab as a graduate student.

Ryan plans to undertake a short postdoctoral position before transitioning into the pharmaceutical industry, where he aims to apply his knowledge and experience in cancer research to real-world applications.

Zhouting Zhu, PhD ’24, grew up in Changzhou city in the Jiangsu province of China. After completing a Master of Science in Surgery degree from Nanjing University in 2018, Zhouting joined the graduate program at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

She conducted her doctoral research in the lab of Tariq Rana, PhD, an educational affiliate professor in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Zhouting focused on RNA biology and cancer immunotherapy. Her work explored immune cell dynamics in tumors and spleens under various treatment conditions in mouse cancer models.

Zhouting is currently working toward MD-equivalency certification, with the long-term goal of becoming a board-certified physician-scientist.

Institute News

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

AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date

October 8, 2024

Alicia Llorente Lope, PhD, presenting the 2024 Mentor of the Year Award to Alexandre Colas, PhD
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 23rd 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

Ye Zheng giving keynote address at 2024 Biomedical Research Symposium

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 23rd 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 23rd 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 23rd 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, headshot in lab
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 Genomics 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

Left to right are Rachael McVicar, PhD; James Kent, PhD; Monica Gonzalez Ramirez, PhD; and Stephen Sakuma, PhD
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.”

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Graduate School Of Biomedical Sciences

Institute News

The Conrad Prebys Foundation fellows take center stage

AuthorGreg Calhoun
Date

May 20, 2024

Conrad Prebys Foundations fellow symposium panel of speakers

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.

Conrad Prebys Foundation fellows poster presentations

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

Emily Wu headshot

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.”