Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Archives - Sanford Burnham Prebys

Tag: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Institute News

Erik Hultenius awarded Melvin and Phyllis McCardle Clause Scholarship

AuthorCommunications
Date

September 23, 2026

Erik Hultenius, headshot in lab

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

Erik Hultenius, a third-year doctoral student in the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, was selected as the 2026 recipient of the Melvin and Phyllis McCardle Clause Scholarship.

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

“Receiving this honor is very reassuring for the direction of my project,” said Hultenius. “Receiving positive feedback from the selection committee is encouraging, as is having my research project singled out from a competitive field of proposals.”

Hultenius became passionate about understanding the biology of aging during his undergraduate coursework. He remembers a particular class where he and his peers discussed a manuscript about epigenetic reprogramming to reverse features of aging in mice.

“It was fascinating to me that there are people working on interventions that targeted aging almost as if it was a disease,” said Hultenius. “At that point, I knew I wanted to develop ways to intervene in the biological aging process to prevent age-related neurodegeneration and other diseases before they become too difficult to treat.”   

After graduating in 2023, Hultenius conducted an internship with Altos Labs, a biotechnology company focused on restoring cell health and resilience through cell rejuvenation. He then joined Sanford Burnham Prebys and experienced a “full circle” moment with his PhD program mentor, Xiao Tian, PhD, assistant professor in the Center for Neurologic Diseases.

“I realized that Xiao was one of the lead authors on the paper I read in class that introduced me to this field,” said Hultenius. “He is partly responsible for sparking my research interest to begin with, so it was serendipitous to end up joining his lab.”

Hultenius investigates the brain’s immune cells, which are called microglial cells. He wants to understand how they change with aging and how those age-related changes might contribute to how Alzheimer’s disease progresses.

“Microglia are intimately involved in the processes that help to prevent disease from spreading in the brain,” said Hultenius. “They also mediate inflammation, and we know that increased levels of inflammation correlate with poor outcomes in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.”

Hultenius sees the potential to make a meaningful difference in this ever more prevalent age-related disease.

“There is a tremendous gap in patient care right now as treatment options are limited and lacking in effectiveness for most individuals. I want to make an impact on Alzheimer’s disease for all those affected, and the support from the Clause scholarship will help me advance my research and move closer to my goal.”

Institute News

Biomedical Research Symposium celebrates science, community and 50 years

AuthorCommunications
Date

September 22, 2026

graduate student and postdoc alumni group photo. Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys.
Graduate student and postdoctoral alumni panel. From left to right: Jonatan Matalonga Borrel, Paloma Sánchez Pavón, Miguel Reina Campos, Eric Lau, Carolina Kumsta and Michaela Romero. Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Sanford Burnham Prebys’ 25th annual Biomedical Research Symposium took on special significance this year as scientists and alumni gathered during the Institute’s 50th anniversary to celebrate the discoveries, collaborations and people that have shaped its scientific community.

The symposium showcased research from across the Institute, giving graduate students and postdocs opportunities to present their work, exchange ideas with faculty and colleagues and build new collaborations.

The program opened with a keynote address from Sanford Burnham Prebys alumna Fiona Scott, PhD, who traced a career that has taken her from fundamental research at Sanford Burnham Prebys to biotechnology and drug development. 

“It’s really been built on this idea of maintaining scientific curiosity, maintaining flexibility and open-mindedness,” Scott said of her career.

Scott shared examples from her work translating basic discoveries into potential medicines and reflected on how her experiences at Sanford Burnham Prebys influenced her approach to science. She encouraged trainees to seek out expertise beyond their own areas of study, stay open to unexpected directions and make the most of the people and resources around them.

Fiona Scott, PhD

Fiona Scott, PhD.

The anniversary celebration continued with a special alumni panel moderated by alumna Caroline Kumsta, PhD. Kumsta is associate dean of student affairs in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and an assistant professor in the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases.

Five alumni representing careers in academia and industry discussed how their graduate education or postdoctoral training at the Institute prepared them for what came next. They talked about the value of mentorship and collaboration, learning to communicate science effectively and developing skills and relationships beyond the laboratory.

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences alumni group photo. Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Graduate student and postdoctoral alumni. Image credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Panelists also offered advice to current trainees, encouraging them to build networks, explore different career paths, develop a broad range of skills and remain adaptable as science and technology continue to change.

The conversation took on added meaning during Sanford Burnham Prebys’ 50th anniversary. Asked what it meant to return to the Institute for the milestone, alumni repeatedly described it as a scientific family and a place that continues to feel like home. They recalled the friendships, mentorship and sense of community that defined their time at the Institute and have stayed with them throughout their careers.

The day concluded with a special alumni reception, bringing together current and former members of the Sanford Burnham Prebys community to reconnect, celebrate the Institute’s first 50 years and look ahead.

Institute News

Sanford Burnham Prebys launches new graduate student scholarship as ARCS Foundation San Diego’s newest university partner

AuthorCommunications
Date

September 21, 2026

ARCS Foundation San Diego logo on vector background

This summer, ARCS Foundation San Diego voted to add Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute to its family of educational partners. The ARCS Foundation will fund two ARCS Scholars at the Institute for the 2026-27 academic year, each receiving a $12,500 award to support their research.

“We are extremely grateful and excited to join the ARCS family to help advance graduate education in San Diego,” said Alessandra Sacco, PhD, dean of the institute’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. “This partnership will allow us to launch a new scholarship program providing direct support to exceptional PhD students at Sanford Burnham Prebys. The foundation’s legacy of impact on graduate education in our region is unmatched, and we are honored to be joining such a distinguished group of partner institutions.”

Sanford Burnham Prebys joins ARCS Foundation San Diego’s four existing university partners: San Diego State University, Scripps Research, UC San Diego, and the University of San Diego. In 2026–27, the chapter will provide $650,000 in Scholar awards to 52 graduate students at these five San Diego–area research institutions.

Following the completion of a competitive application process, Sanford Burnham Prebys has named graduate students Laurence Haddadin and Erik Hultenius as its inaugural ARCS Scholars. Each will receive an unrestricted $12,500 scholarship, renewable for up to three years.

“I am over the moon to be one of the first recipients of the ARCS Scholar award at Sanford Burnham Prebys,” said Laurence Haddadin, a graduate student in the lab of Xueqin Sun, PhD, assistant professor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program. “The support that comes with it will fuel my journey into the complexities of cancer epigenetics. I’m thrilled to be part of the ARCS community and look forward to engaging with fellow scholars as we work together to advance the future of science.”

“It is a tremendous honor,” agreed Erik Hultenius, a PhD student working in the lab of Xiao Tian, PhD, assistant professor in the Center for Neurologic Diseases. “This support means a great deal as I continue to pursue my research on brain aging and neurodegeneration. I’m very eager to share my discoveries with the foundation and my fellow scholars in the years ahead.”

Laurence Haddadin

Laurence Haddadin, graduate student in the lab of Xueqin Sun, PhD.

As federal funding for scientific research faces unprecedented cuts, the ARCS Foundation San Diego recently increased its annual ARCS Scholar awards from $10,000 to $12,500. The 25% increase is designed to help exceptional graduate students continue their research at a time when financial support for science is increasingly difficult to secure.

Erik Hultenius

Erik Hultenius, a PhD student working in the lab of Xiao Tian, PhD.

“Given the cuts to federal funding for scientific research, we felt it was especially important to increase our support for young scientists at this critical stage of their careers,” said ARCS San Diego President Ingrid Benirschke-Perkins. “These talented researchers are working on discoveries that will shape our future. We want to do everything we can to help them pursue that work.”

ARCS San Diego has supported scientific research in the region for more than four decades. Since its founding in 1985, the chapter has awarded almost $14 million to 1,784 PhD students in San Diego.

About Sanford Burnham Prebys

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute is an independent nonprofit biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding human biology and disease and advancing discoveries that profoundly impact human health. Our research spans six centers: the NCI-designated Cancer Center, the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases, the Center for Neurologic Diseases, the Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases, and two enabling technology centers, the Center for Therapeutics Discovery and the Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. For more information, visit sbpdiscovery.org.

About ARCS

Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) is a national nonprofit organization founded and run by women to strengthen America’s global competitiveness in science and technology. Through its 15 chapters nationwide, ARCS provides financial support to exceptional graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical research. For more information, visit san-diego.arcsfoundation.org.

Institute News

From the Lab to the Clinic: Graduate Student Helps Advance Promising Pancreatic Cancer Therapy

AuthorCommunications
Date

August 26, 2026

Patrick Hagan, headshot

When Patrick Hagan joined Sanford Burnham Prebys as a graduate student, he hoped his research would one day help patients. Today, he is helping research that could translate more than a decade of scientific discovery into a potential new treatment for one of the deadliest forms of cancer.

Hagan, a PhD candidate in the laboratory of Nicholas Cosford, PhD, recently received the top award from the San Diego chapter of Nucleate, a nonprofit organization that helps scientists translate promising discoveries into real-world solutions.

Through the six-month accelerator program, Hagan developed ATG Attack, a venture focused on advancing autophagy inhibitors for pancreatic cancer. The project also received a Biocom Golden Membership at Nucleate San Diego’s Demo Day, recognizing both the scientific promise of the work and its potential to improve outcomes for patients.

“Ultimately, the goal is to improve outcomes for cancer patients,” said Hagan. “That’s why I went to graduate school.”

The project builds on more than 10 years of collaboration between Cosford and director of the Salk Cancer Center, Reuben Shaw, PhD. Together, the teams have been developing compounds that inhibit autophagy, a cellular recycling process that many cancer cells depend on for survival.

“Autophagy is one of the ways cancer cells gain resistance to standard therapies,” Hagan explained. “We’ve reached a point where we believe these compounds have the potential to make it all the way to patients.”

The team’s initial focus is pancreatic cancer, a disease with one of the lowest survival rates among major cancers. Many pancreatic tumors are driven by mutations in the KRAS gene and rely heavily on autophagy. In preclinical studies, the researchers have shown that blocking this process can shrink tumors and enhance the effectiveness of existing treatments.

The experience also reinforced the value of Sanford Burnham Prebys’ translational research environment.

Hagan credits Cosford and colleagues throughout the Institute, including members of the Center for Therapeutics Discovery and its Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, with helping shape his approach to drug discovery.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with scientists who are deeply focused on translating discoveries into therapies,” he said. “Our lab operates almost like a small pharmaceutical company. We have chemists creating compounds, biologists testing them and researchers evaluating how they perform in disease models. Everything is focused on moving promising discoveries closer to patients.”

For Hagan, however, the motivation remains personal.

He keeps a Post-it note on his laptop bearing the names of two researchers he knew who died from cancer at a young age. It serves as a daily reminder of why the work matters.

“Research can feel like a series of very small steps,” he said. “But every experiment, every paper and every collaboration has the potential to move the field forward. If something we do helps another scientist, attracts a new partner or ultimately helps a patient, then it’s worth it.”

For Hagan, those small steps are all part of a larger goal: bringing new hope to patients facing pancreatic cancer.

Institute News

Sanford Burnham Prebys Science Network hosts Community Outreach Symposium showcasing early-career research

AuthorCommunications
Date

June 19, 2026

Anna Checheninia presenting at the Outreach Symposium

Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from across Sanford Burnham Prebys took center stage at the 2026 Community Outreach Symposium, sharing their research with colleagues and mentors from across the Institute, as well as members of the broader community. 

Organized by the Sanford Burnham Prebys Science Network (SBP-SN) and the Office of Learning and Development, the event aims to spark excitement about biomedical research and build trust with the public, while providing trainees with an opportunity to communicate their science to a diverse audience in short 3-minute talks.

The symposium included a Postdoc Pitch Competition, where postdoctoral researchers competed for the opportunity to represent Sanford Burnham Prebys in a mesa-wide competition this fall against peers from Scripps Research, Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the University of California San Diego.

The event also featured a Science Communication Competition, where seven graduate students presented their research and competed for audience votes. The friendly competition highlighted the importance of effective science communication and public engagement.

Postdoc Pitch speakers:

  • Jimmy Massenet, PhD, Puri lab — CTCF: The Pillars That Hold Our Genome
  • Julia Schoenfeld, PhD, Cosford lab — One STEP Forward in the Fight Against Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Ryan Loughran, PhD, Emerling lab — PIPKs: Sorting Out Your Cell’s Delivery System
  • Kokila Shankar, PhD, Sheffler lab — Don’t Stress: Targeting Stress Signaling to Treat Brain Disorders- (First place Judges’ Selection and People’s Choice Award)
  • Jessica Proulx, PhD, Adams lab — Game of Genes: A Song of Activation & Silencing – (Second place Judges’ Selection)

Drs. Kokila Shankar and Jessica Proulx will compete in the Torrey Pines Mesa-wide Postdoc Pitch Competition this fall.

Science Communication Competition presenters:

  • Anamika Yadav, Sinha lab — The Aging Rollercoaster Inside Us
  • Alisha Kirkland, Spruck lab — Cold Breast Tumors Go Viral – (First place People’s Choice)
  • Anna Chechenina, Sinha lab — Your Liver Has a Bad Neighborhood: Finding Where Aging Moves In
  • Sophie Hao, Dong lab — When Yellow Isn’t Mellow: The Race to Cure Biliary Atresia – (Second place People’s Choice)
  • Carolina Cano Macip, Tian lab — Unlocking Nature’s Secrets to Healthy Aging 
  • Erik Hultenius, Tian lab — Anti-Aging Interventions for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Patrick Hagan, Cosford lab — ATG Attack: Developing New Drugs for Pancreatic Cancer

The symposium also featured a keynote presentation by Sanjeev Ranade, PhD, assistant professor in the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases. Ranade shared highlights from his research on congenital heart disease and developmental biology, while also reflecting on the mentors, experiences and scientific communication opportunities that shaped his career.

Drawing on his own career journey, Ranade encouraged trainees to take chances and remain open to unexpected opportunities. He shared how a seemingly small decision to submit an abstract ultimately set in motion a series of events that led to new collaborations, funding opportunities and eventually a faculty position at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Success, he noted, often comes not from following a carefully mapped path, but from being willing to step forward when opportunities arise.

The event concluded with award announcements, followed by a reception hosted by SBP-SN that provided additional opportunities for networking and scientific discussion.

By bringing together members of the Sanford Burnham Prebys community and guests from the broader community, the symposium fostered collaboration, scientific exchange and public engagement while helping early-career researchers strengthen the communication skills needed to share their discoveries beyond the laboratory.

Special thanks to our judges for their time and participation:

  • Nan Eastman
    Fishman Community Advisory Board Member
  • Mitchell Furumoto
    Associate Director, International Services, Sanford Burnham Prebys
  • Liz Hincks
    Director, Communications, Sanford Burnham Prebys
  • Eric Meyer
    Assistant Director, Fleet Science Center
  • Jill Roughan, PhD
    Founder and President of Sciencia Consulting
Institute News

Sanford Burnham Prebys recognizes 10 doctoral degree recipients

AuthorCommunications
Date

June 3, 2026

The graduates recognized at the third annual Commencement ceremony, from left to right: Michaela Romero, Yu-Ling (Linda) Chang, Cedomir Stamenkovic, Sviatlana Zaretski, Jiaqian (Emily) Wu, Ximena Diaz-Olea and Adarsh Rajesh
The graduates recognized at the third annual Commencement ceremony, from left to right: Michaela Romero, PhD ’25; Yu-Ling (Linda) Chang, PhD ’26; Cedomir Stamenkovic, PhD ’25; Sviatlana Zaretski, PhD ’25; Jiaqian (Emily) Wu, PhD ’25; Ximena Diaz-Olea, PhD ’25; and Adarsh Rajesh, PhD ’25. Rema Iyer, PhD ’25; Utkarsha Hemant Paithane, PhD ’26; and Ruslan Nuryyev, PhD ’26, were unable to attend.

The Institute’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences held its third Commencement ceremony to celebrate new alumni

The Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences hosted 10 recent doctoral degree recipients and their family members, friends and colleagues during the school’s third annual Commencement ceremony on May 29, 2026.

These new graduates join the ranks of Institute scientists and alumni that have propelled 50 years of discovery at Sanford Burnham Prebys and 20 years of graduate education.

The graduation ceremony was held at the Institute’s La Jolla campus in the Victor E. LaFave III Memorial Auditorium.

“As you reflect on your first days as a graduate student, I hope you recognize how far you have come, not only as scientists, but also as thinkers, collaborators, mentors and individuals,” said Alessandra Sacco, PhD, the dean of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and a professor in the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases.

“The growth you have demonstrated through this remarkable journey is extraordinary, and today we celebrate both your accomplishments and the dedication that made them possible. It has been an honor to be part of your journey.”

Following her remarks, Sacco introduced David Brenner, MD, the president and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys.

“Yesterday, you were graduate students, today you are graduates and tomorrow you are alumni,” Brenner said. “I want you to feel like this is your second home where you’ll return as peers and colleagues to tell us about your triumphs and contribute to our seminars and symposia as active members of our community.” 

Following Brenner’s comments, Michaela Romero, PhD ’25, spoke on behalf of her fellow graduates.

“Here at Sanford Burnham Prebys, we’ve been immersed in a culture of collaboration where science is not a solo act,” Romero said. “This has not happened by accident and has been built one conversation at a time. 

“Cultures like this need to be nurtured with care, so I hope you create something that feels just as special as this place wherever you go in the future.” 

Romero turned the podium over to Cosimo Commisso, PhD, the deputy director of the Institute’s NCI-Designated Cancer Center and a professor in the Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program, who provided the Commencement address.

Commisso spoke about the importance of carefully contemplating the motivation behind your science and how it can change over time, which he punctuated with a story from his scientific journey about an event he attended for pancreatic cancer patients, survivors and their family members.

“I gave myself permission to evolve and realized that I wanted to dedicate my life’s work specifically to pancreatic cancer research,” he said. “If something like this happens to you, if such an event impacts you in a profound way, I hope you listen to your internal compass and remember that what motivates you today at graduation may likely look very different years later. 

“Evolution of your ‘why’ is a feature and not a bug,” he added. “Let your own ‘why’ be the force that pushes you beyond the familiar to make a difference.”

Diane Klotz, PhD, the chief learning officer at Sanford Burnham Prebys, then provided attendees an overview of the meaning of the hoods and symbols that are used in Commencement ceremonies. She asked faculty members to place the doctoral academic hoods upon the graduates to signify completion of their degrees.

This year, the following graduates were acknowledged:

  • Adarsh Rajesh, PhD ’25, who trained in the Adams lab and was hooded by Peter Adams, PhD, director of and professor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program
  • Sviatlana Zaretski, PhD ’25, who trained in the Adams lab and was hooded by Adams
  • Yu-Ling (Linda) Chang, PhD ’26, who trained in the Colas lab and was hooded by Alexandre Colas, PhD, associate dean of admissions in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and associate professor in the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases
  • Michaela Romero, PhD ’25, who trained in the Colas lab and was hooded by Colas
  • Jiaqian (Emily) Wu, PhD ’25, who trained in the Cosford lab and was hooded by Nicholas Cosford, PhD, professor in the Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program
  • Ximena Diaz-Olea, PhD ’25, who trained in the Ronai lab and was hooded by Andrei Osterman, PhD, her thesis committee chair, vice dean and associate dean of curriculum of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and a professor in the Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases
  • Cedomir Stamenkovic, PhD ’25, who trained in the Sacco lab and was hooded by Sacco
  • Rema Iyer, PhD ’25, who trained in the Deshpande lab and was unable to attend the ceremony
  • Utkarsha Hemant Paithane, PhD ’26, who trained in the Bagchi lab and was unable to attend
  • Ruslan Nuryyev, PhD ’26, who trained in the Snyder lab and was unable to attend

Graduate school vice dean Osterman provided the ceremony’s closing remarks.

“What is happening today is because of your genuine accomplishment and is a product of your creativity, genius, effort and everything you invested in the research project that you completed,” Osterman said. 

“Now you will take all you have learned during your time here and choose your own path forward, and a new and exciting adventure begins.”

Institute News

Eric Wang named Educator of the Year by Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

AuthorCommunications
Date

May 14, 2026

Alessandro Sacco, Eric Wang and Andrei Osterman

Sanford Burnham Prebys is pleased to congratulate Assistant Professor Eric Wang, PhD, on being named Educator of the Year at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences’ retreat.

The Crystal Apple Award, presented by Alessandra Sacco, PhD, dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and Andrei Osterman, PhD, vice dean and associate dean of curriculum, recognizes outstanding contributions to graduate education, mentorship and support for the graduate school community.

Wang has quickly become a valued mentor and educator at the Institute. In addition to mentoring a graduate student in his laboratory, he serves on five graduate school thesis committees, is a member of the Graduate School Admissions Committee and is chair of the Institute’s Education and Training Committee. He also serves as course director for Modern Drug Discovery Technologies, helping train the next generation of biomedical scientists in approaches that bridge chemistry, biology and translational research.

Wang joined Sanford Burnham Prebys in 2021 as part of the NCI-designated Cancer Center and the Center for Therapeutics Discovery. His research focuses on developing chemical tools to better understand human biology and identifying new therapeutic strategies for disease. His lab combines expertise in chemistry, biology and drug discovery to study challenging biological targets and to uncover new approaches for precision medicine.

The Educator of the Year recognition reflects Wang’s dedication not only to scientific discovery, but also to fostering a supportive and collaborative learning environment for students and trainees across the Institute.

Congratulations to Eric on this well-deserved recognition.

Institute News

La Jolla research meeting convenes scientists studying aging

AuthorCommunications
Date

March 25, 2026

La Jolla Aging Meeting speaker Anamika Yadav. Image credit: Anamika Yadav, Sanford Burnham Prebys.
La Jolla Aging Meeting speaker Anamika Yadav, a research assistant in the lab of Sanju Sinha, PhD, discussed her work studying aging by detecting structural alterations in cells and tissues over time captured in images taken of routine medical biopsies. Image credit: Anamika Yadav, Sanford Burnham Prebys.

Scientists gathered at the 9th annual La Jolla Aging Meeting on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in the Salk Institute’s Conrad T. Prebys Auditorium

The event brought together 286 attendees and featured short talks from San Diego-based postdoctoral researchers and students studying the biology of aging.

Anamika Yadav, a research assistant in the lab of Sanju Sinha, PhD, at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, discussed her work studying aging by detecting structural alterations in cells and tissues over time captured in images taken of routine medical biopsies. She used data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project, a major National Institutes of Health Common Fund initiative that gathered samples from 970 non-diseased individuals aged 20 to 70. Yadav trained a computational model on more than 25,000 histopathology slides from 40 tissue types to define aging patterns in different tissues. By this approach, Yadav defined distinct patterns of aging in different tissues which ultimately can help to predict specific diseases of aging.

Beatrice Silvestri, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Yu Xin (Will) Wang, PhD, at Sanford Burnham Prebys, shared findings from her work on an enzyme called 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH). Researchers have defined 15-PGDH as a gerontological enzyme or “gerozyme” due its connection with aging in multiple tissues. Silvestri presented results from studying the effects of blocking 15-PGDH to ameliorate the degeneration of the connection between motor neurons and skeletal muscle fibers. Inhibition of this gerozyme might have potential for healthy aging and prevention of many diseases of aging.

In addition to these podium presentations, four Sanford Burnham Prebys scientists shared their research results during the meeting’s poster sessions:

The 2026 La Jolla Aging Meeting concluded with a keynote address by Ana Maria Cuervo, MD, PhD, Distinguished Professor and Robert and Renée Belfer Chair for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Peter Adams, PhD, director of the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys, co-organized the La Jolla Aging Meeting with Alessandra Sacco, PhD, dean of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and a professor in the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases, and Salk Institute faculty members Jan Karlseder, PhD, and Gerald Shadel, PhD.

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.”