Event recording now available for panel discussion with scientists held on October 14, 2025
David A. Brenner, MD, president and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, welcomed members of the San Diego community to the latest event in the “A Conversation About” community engagement program on October 14, 2025.
Attendees participated in an engaging afternoon exploring the connections between aging and metabolic disorders. Brenner moderated the discussion among three featured panelists:
Debanjan Dhar, PhD, associate professor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys
Rohit Loomba, MD, MHSc, professor of Medicine at the University of California San Diego and chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at UC San Diego Health
The event was introduced by Reena Horowitz, founder of Group of 12 and Friends at Sanford Burnham Prebys, whose support has been instrumental in fostering dialogue around science and health within our community.
Watch Recording
The “A Conversation About” series brings together Sanford Burnham Prebys researchers, clinicians, and community members to explore how aging influences key health issues that affect older adults. Each session highlights current findings, innovative collaborations, and opportunities to translate scientific discoveries into improved health outcomes.
Previous events included:
A Conversation About Aging and Cancer: Examined the links between aging and cancer and featured a discussion of a current breast cancer research collaboration. Click here for the recording of the event.
Recipient of the Fishman Awards: Cynthia Schwartz Shenkman Research Excellence Fishman Award Theo Tzaridis discusses his work on pediatric brain tumors, why rigorous preclinical science matters, and how donor support accelerates discoveries.
Established in 2024, the Cynthia Schwartz Shenkman Research Excellence Fishman Award is unique in nature because it recognizes a Sanford Burnham Prebys postdoc for their outstanding biomedical research contributions and demonstrated track record of research excellence.
What’s your current role and focus at Sanford Burnham Prebys? I’m a physician–scientist studying pediatric brain tumors. I focus on diffuse midline glioma (DMG). I joined Rob Wechsler-Reya’s group at the institute and benefited from him as an amazing mentor and his expertise in mouse modeling of brain tumors tremendously. After Rob moved institutions, I joined Peter Adams’s lab. Peter’s aging and cancer perspective gives my immunotherapy work a fresh lens and he is a truly spectacular mentor. We’ve built a DMG “niche” in the lab and I’ve deepened my in vivo skills, which are essential for translating ideas toward the clinic.
What drew you into oncology and neurology? Even in high school I was fascinated by how a cell can go “crazy”, grow uncontrollably and form a tumor. Medicine let me pair that curiosity with real patient impact. My MD thesis work in Heidelberg, Germany, suggested an old chemotherapy could reactivate a tumor suppressor which paved the way for a clinical trial. During my neurology residency in Bonn, Germany, I helped plan, analyze, and published results from a clinical trial that became the first positive glioblastoma study in 14 years. Those experiences were very rewarding and cemented my focus on translational research.
You mentioned that your approach to immunotherapy starts with “back to basics.” What does that mean? Many brain tumor trials borrowed targets from other cancers without confirming those targets exist in the brain tumor microenvironment. We went back to basics, systematically profiled immune checkpoint molecules present in DMG and found CD155 (also called the poliovirus receptor) consistently expressed across models and patient samples. That points to smarter targeting rather than one-size-fits-all strategies.
How has the Institute’s environment shaped your work? The culture at Sanford Burnham Prebys is genuinely team oriented. Core facilities (flow cytometry, mouse) are exceptional partners in experimental design. We also engage in a cross-institution “Brain Tumor Club” on the Mesa and contribute data to a molecular tumor board that informs real treatment decisions. In one case, marker data I generated supported a physician’s plan to pursue a personalized immune therapy known as CAR T-cells for a child which was an incredibly meaningful moment.
Any notable collaborations beyond campus? Yes. Our in vivo expertise enabled joint studies with Emory University, including work on small molecules for pediatric brain tumors. We have also collaborated with Columbia University and the Dana Farber Institute. These multi-site projects help validate findings independently which is critical in pediatrics where patient numbers are limited.
How did the Fishman Awards affect your trajectory? The Fishman Career Development Award I received in 2023, and the Cynthia Schwartz Shenkman Research Excellence Fishman Award I recently received provided fuel at key moments. The Fishman Career Development Award sent me to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conference in 2024, where I met a company carrying the only clinical-grade antibody to my target; after an MTA, we’re now testing it here. I also attended the La Jolla Immunology Conference and received a best oral presentation award which is validation that stretching into complex immunology is worth it. Importantly, the Fishman Award application process itself which includes writing, presenting, getting feedback, built resilience and sharpened my vision.
Where do you want to take this next? I aim to lead an independent lab tightly linked to a clinical trials unit. Success requires basic scientists and clinicians at the same table from day one, plus rigorous preclinical “homework” to identify the subgroups most likely to benefit before launching trials. It’s harder, but in the long run it saves precious time and resources and gives patients better odds.
What is life like outside the lab? I’m a dad of two, so there is hardly time for anything, but we try to do hikes and some beach time. San Diego’s landscapes are a gift. Before kids I did theater; these days, I read when I can, and we take short family adventures (Anza-Borrego is a favorite).
Is there anything you’d like supporters to know? Your support is more than funding, it’s belief. At a time when the value of science may be questioned, you’re helping researchers communicate clearly, collaborate widely, and move ideas toward children who can’t wait. The Fishman Awards exemplify that: they strengthen science and the storytelling that brings people along. Thank you.
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Anis Shahnaee awarded Melvin and Phyllis McCardle Clause Scholarship
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.”
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Sanford receives first Erkki Ruoslahti Award for Transformational Leadership
At a special event December 11, attended by trustees from Sanford Burnham Prebys and featuring brief talks by many of the Institute’s newest faculty, the inaugural Erkki Ruoslahti Award for Transformational Leadership was presented to T. Denny Sanford.
The new award honors recipients whose visionary leadership drives positive change, inspires groundbreaking solutions and contributes to the transformation of industries and society.
It is named after one of the institute’s earliest faculty and its president from 1989 to 2002. Ruoslahti made seminal contributions to the discovery of cell adhesion receptors known as integrins, helped developed a novel class of tumor-homing peptides and advanced the science of nanomedicine.
His past honors include elected membership to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the European Molecular Biology Organization, the Japan Prize, Gairdner Foundation International Award, G.H.A. Clowes Award, Robert J. and Claire Pasarow Foundation Award and Jacobaeus International Prize.
In 2022, Ruoslahti was announced as one of three winners of the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, sometimes called “America’s Nobel.”
Sanford is, of course, one of the institute’s three namesakes, a distinguished businessman and philanthropist who has long supported its work and vision.
“Denny Sanford has been a friend, supporter and mentor for many, many years. He believes in the importance and value of both basic and translational science, of helping patients and the world become better and healthier,” said Brenner.
“His past, present and future support of Sanford Burnham Prebys is critical to our vision and mission. No one has done more. This award is a heart-felt, tangible symbol of our gratitude.”
Watch Award Presentation
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A Conversation About Aging and Cancer at Sanford Burnham Prebys
Event recording now available for panel discussion with scientists held on October 9, 2024
David A. Brenner, MD, president and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys, welcomed attendees to the launch of a new community engagement program called “A Conversation About” in the institute’s Victor E. LaFave III Memorial Auditorium on October 9, 2024.
The initial panel discussion in the A Conversation About series focused on the connection between aging and cancer and included information about a current breast cancer research collaboration. A recording of the event is available online.
Reena Horowitz, the founder of Group of 12 and Friends at Sanford Burnham Prebys, provided introductory remarks. Brooke Emerling, PhD, director of the Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program, moderated the discussion among three featured panelists:
Peter Adams, PhD, director of the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys
Xiao Tian, PhD, assistant professor in the Degenerative Diseases Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys
Kay Yeung, MD, PhD, associate clinical professor in the Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California San Diego Health
By bringing together community collaborators and clinicians with Sanford Burnham Prebys researchers, A Conversation About offers a unique perspective on how clinical research and practice can be used to inform fundamental and translational science.
Watch Event Recording
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Ceremony celebrates recipients of 2024 Fishman Fund awards honoring exceptional postdoctoral scholars
2024 Fishman Award winners. From left: Huijie Huang, Kelly Yichen Li, Chiara Nicoletti, James Marchant, Jessica Proulx, Zinia D’Souza
Six young scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys, whose research spans genetic disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, heart failure and aging, were honored September 17 at the 23rd annual Fishman Fund awards ceremony.
The Fishman Fund was created in 2001 by Sanford Burnham Prebys supporters Mary Bradley and Reena Horowitz to honor Dr. William and Mrs. Lillian Fishman, who founded the institute in 1976. In 2010, Jeanne Jones became a co-founder designee.
The awards are intended to support and promote early career scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Four career development awards provide $10,000 stipends that can be used to attend workshops, network and travel to national and international conferences to learn about the latest developments in their research fields. In addition, the prizes include a two-year fellowship award, and an honor focused on rewarding research excellence. The fund is made possible through the generosity of many donors.
The ceremony, which included poster presentations, was held at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine. The 2024 recipients are:
Reena Horowitz and Mary Bradley Fishman Fund Award
Zinia D’Souza, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate in the laboratory of Hudson Freeze, PhD, director of the Sanford Children’s Health Research Center and the director of the Human Genetics Program.Her research is focused on identifying new congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs), rare disorders caused by mutations that impair glycosylation—the complex process by which cells build long sugar chains that are attached to proteins called glycoproteins. D’Souza also works to uncover how these rare genetic mutations cause the observed symptoms.
Don Barach Memorial Fishman Fund Award
Huijie Huang, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Timothy Huang, PhD, an assistant professor in the Degenerative Diseases Program. Her research focuses on uncovering the fundamental causes of Alzheimer’s disease AD), a pressing public health concern as the U.S. population ages and faces an increased risk of this leading cause of dementia. Specifically, she studies the SORL1 (SORLA) gene, a known risk factor for sporadic early- and late-onset AD. Huang believes that developing treatments to boost SORLA’s beneficial effects may prove to be an innovative treatment approach.
Fishman Fund Fellowship Award
James Marchant, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Alexandre Colas, PhD, an associate professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program. His research focuses on developing a gene therapy to treat heart failure. Heart attacks reduce blood and oxygen flow to heart muscle, leading to scar tissue that can increase the risk of future attacks. Marchant aims to convert cells within this scar tissue back into healthy muscle cells.
Cynthia Schwartz Shenkman Fishman Fund Research Excellence Award
Chiara Nicoletti, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate in the laboratory of Pier Lorenzo Puri, MD, co-director of the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program. She studies epigenetic patterns, which are genetic changes that don’t alter DNA itself yet modify how genes are expressed to make proteins or other products. She studies epigenetic patterns in skeletal muscle development and disease. Nicoletti hopes to help develop personalized medicine tools for patients suffering from muscular dystrophy.
Jeanne Jones and Kathryn Fishback Fishman Fund Award
Jessica Proulx, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate working in the lab of Peter D. Adams, PhD, director of the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program. Proulx investigates how aging alters our bodies at the cellular and molecular levels, a key factor in the increased risk for diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular disease and metabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes. She uses biological techniques that study the entire landscape of a sample’s genes, proteins or other features. Her work seeks to identify underlying changes that predispose an aged liver to liver disease and liver cancer.
Lenka Finci and Erna Viterbi Fishman Fund Award
Kelly Yichen Li, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Kevin Yip, PhD, a professor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program and the director of the Bioinformatics Shared Resource. She studies a phenomenon called cellular senescence that is associated with aging. Senescent cells no longer grow and divide, which can reduce the growth of cancer, but the condition is also associated with chronic inflammation and age-related diseases. Yichen LI is working to find molecular signatures of senescence to advance aging research, treatments and diagnostics.
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Renovated auditorium and generous gift to strengthen community engagement at Sanford Burnham Prebys
A ribbon-cutting event on August 7 celebrated the philanthropic gift and state-of-the-art auditorium that will enable new community engagement events at the Institute.
Sanford Burnham Prebys unveiled its newly renovated auditorium in Building 12 during a special Happy Town Hall and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. The improved meeting space was renamed as the Victor E. LaFave III Memorial Auditorium, or “the Vic,” in recognition of the generous support of the LaFave family.
Racheal McCabe, senior director of Philanthropy at Sanford Burnham Prebys, opened the festivities by welcoming members of the LaFave family, board members, faculty, staff and friends of the Institute. She provided details about the auditorium’s namesake, including his service in the U.S. Air Force and appreciation of sports, traveling, music, photography and gardening.
“Most of all, Vic showed a deep love for his beloved wife, Sue, and his family and friends,” said McCabe. “We included a hidden, golden turtle above the auditorium’s entrance as a special tribute to Sue’s love for the animal, and we think Vic would be pleased by that.”
“The tortoise and the turtle are universally seen as symbols of wisdom and knowledge, so it is quite fitting for representing the scientific discovery, education and learning that will take place in the Victor E. LaFave III Memorial Auditorium.”
McCabe introduced David A. Brenner, MD, president and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys, who said, “Thank you on behalf of the entire institute. This is going to be a transformational gift for our community engagement strategies and a pivotal place for collaboration and exchanging ideas.”
Brenner and Sue LaFave ceremonially cut a ribbon to formally announce the grand opening of the Vic. Guests entered the new auditorium to learn about the renovations and other updates at the institute.
Brenner discussed plans for the enhanced auditorium to be a prominent space for community engagement through new and ongoing events. The meeting space will help the institute connect with community members, alumni and research collaborators throughout the region and state.
A new community engagement program called “A Conversation About” will launch in the Vic on October 9, 2024. Taking inspiration from the Group of 12 educational discussions and the Insights streaming program, A Conversation About will feature expert panelists from the scientific and medical communities in dynamic discussions about the future of research and health care.
The A Conversation About series will focus on the four disease-focused, broadly collaborative research centers at Sanford Burnham Prebys: Cancer, Neurodegeneration and Aging, Metabolic and Liver, and Cardiovascular and Muscular.
By bringing together community collaborators and clinicians with Sanford Burnham Prebys researchers, A Conversation About will offer a unique perspective on how clinical research and practice can be used to inform fundamental and translational science.
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Hudson Freeze appointed to Distinguished Endowed Chair, thanks to gift from grateful supporter
An endowed chair is among the highest forms of recognition for a faculty member’s research, teaching and service.
Thanks to a generous gift from Dinah C. Ruch, Professor Hudson Freeze, PhD, director of the Sanford Children’s Health Research Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys, has received the William W. Ruch Distinguished Endowed Chair. The newly created chair will support Freeze’s research on congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) and rare children’s diseases.
Freeze is a world-renowned expert on CDGs, a severe group of diseases that affect fewer than 2,000 children worldwide. He has been working on CDGs for more than 25 years and has worked with hundreds of patients from around the world. The condition occurs when sugar molecules on many of our proteins are absent or incomplete, leading to serious, often fatal, malfunctions in various organ systems throughout the body.
In 2007, Ruch established “The Rocket Fund” to support the heroic battle against heartbreaking rare and neglected children’s diseases. Ruch’s interest in CDG research was a result of her own family’s experience.
“My grandson John, whom we called ‘Rocket,’ was born with a CDG,” says Ruch. “Our doctors were able to quickly diagnose the disease, thanks to Dr. Freeze, who has now become a lifelong friend. Though we weren’t able to save Rocket, we are keeping his legacy alive by establishing this endowed chair to support Dr. Freeze and his commitment to finding a cure.”
Freeze’s impact on the lives of families living with CDG extends well beyond the walls of his lab. Since 2010, he has organized an annual Rare Disease Symposium, where scientists, doctors and families gather from around the world to discuss the latest research and meet other families coping with rare diseases.
“Patients are often diagnosed with rare genetic diseases at birth or in childhood, and families are usually overwhelmed by dealing with the diagnosis and complicated care regimens,” says Freeze. “I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to provide support to help these families through our work at the Sanford Children’s Health Research Center.
“I’m so very grateful to receive this honor from Dinah Ruch—and will continue my life’s work to provide education and resources so that people may live with the highest quality of life possible, and may one day, in fact, thrive.”
Sanford Burnham Prebys’ latest gala celebrated an old, dear friend, a brand-new vision and a crowd in fab form.
The event began with an evening filled with gratitude, recognition and, well, a look to the future.
On Saturday night, more than 280 friends, faculty and supporters of Sanford Burnham Prebys gathered at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa to celebrate the event’s theme: “A Future Filled with Discoveries and Cures.”
But more specifically, attendees paid homage to two men: philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, whose long and enduring support has helped shape and sustain Sanford Burnham Prebys; and David Brenner, MD, the institute’s (newish) president and CEO, who is using Sanford’s most recent gift to implement a bold, new strategic plan.
“Denny has always been a friend, guide and mentor,” said Brenner. “He has made much of what I do—what we will do together—possible.”
It was an evocative evening, with sartorially splendid guests arriving to a scene best described as a 1960s-era “lavish London lounge,” featuring vibrant colors and rich materials, roaming magicians; and a strolling trio of trumpet, trombone and tambourine players.
The festivities formally opened with welcoming remarks from Honorary Trustee Malin Burnham, who noted that “the Institute is at a dramatic time and place—with new faces, a new vision and an old friend.”
Burnham, who has served on the Board since 1982, noted that Sanford, who could not attend the event, was watching a live stream of the event from his home in South Dakota. “He can see and hear us,” Burnham said, waving.
Following dinner, Bill Gerhart, the current chair of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Board of Trustees, stepped up to acknowledge Sanford’s long history of support to the Institute and all of the donors, supporters and staff in the room who “make things happen”; and to introduce Brenner as “a guy who really can make things happen.”
Brenner, who also holds the Donald Bren Chief Executive Chair, spoke eloquently about Sanford before briefly detailing strategic plans for the Institute, one intended to put Sanford Burnham Prebys at the forefront of the current biomedical research revolution.
“Here’s my elevator speech,” Brenner said, inviting attendees to follow along by reading a program insert.
Our Mission
We translate science into health.
Biomedical research is undergoing a revolution, driven by big data, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
We are uniquely positioned to lead because…
We study the toughest diseases: cancer, heart, mind and metabolic. We are forward-looking, unafraid of change or challenge. We are collaborative, flexible, multi-disciplinary and team-focused. We embrace data science. We promote entrepreneurship. We are central to a vibrant, local biomedical community.
A key part of the strategic plan, Brenner said, is embodied in the new cadre of young scientists recently recruited to Sanford Burnham Prebys from “some of the best labs at some of the best institutions in the country.”
Their recruitment (and new hires to follow) are the benefit of a $70 million gift from Sanford to create up to 20 new faculty positions in the next few years in diverse research areas including cancer, neurodegeneration and computational biology.
Four of the six new scientists were in attendance: Sanju Sinha, PhD, from the National Cancer Institute; Sanjeev Ranade, PhD, from Gladstone Institutes; Kelly Kersten, PhD, from UC San Francisco; and Xiao Tian, PhD, from Harvard Medical School.
Sinha joined the Institute in June. Kevin Tharp, PhD, from UCSF, arrives in November. The other four researchers, including Shengjie Feng, PhD, from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and UCSF, officially join Sanford Burnham Prebys in January 2024.
Brenner then introduced a special four-minute video: a visual thank-you to Sanford and a visionary peek at the Institute’s next steps and aspirations. The video ended with a standing ovation.
With the lights still dim, the entertainment portion of the evening began: a live reimagining of John Lennon’s beloved 1971 song “Imagine,” dedicated to Sanford and the new strategic plan.
“Imagine there’s no illness It’s easy if we try…”
“You may say Denny’s a dreamer But he’s not the only one. We hope someday you’ll join us And the world can be as one.”
Then it was the Beatles’ tribute band “Abbey Road Show,“ a 70-minute set of music and narration chronicling the Fab Four, followed by nightcaps, conversation and thoughts about the next day—when the future begins.
Note: For your own free, handy, wallet-sized mission card or more information about how you can support Sanford Burnham Prebys, please contact the Philanthropy team.
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2023 Fishman Fund Award ceremony celebrates postdoctoral scholars
Three talented early-career researchers were presented with prestigious Fishman Fund Awards at the 22nd annual ceremony on September 20.
More than 100 generous benefactors, past award winners, and family and friends joined the celebration held at the Sanford Consortium.
Fishman Fund co-founder Reena Horowitz greeted the audience and shared how she, along with Mary Bradley, established the Fishman Fund Awards in 2001 to honor Dr. William and Lillian Fishman, founders of Sanford Burnham Prebys.
The Fishmans were committed to fostering the careers of young scientists. The award ceremony honors our founders’ dedication to furthering the careers of promising scientists by gathering each autumn to celebrate exceptional postdocs.
Before the awards were presented to the winners, David Brenner, MD, CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys, described how important postdocs are to scientific discovery and why investing in their careers is a vital step toward improving human health.
“The postdoc experience is important, as it provides more training, experience and skills, before entering a more permanent science career,” said Brenner. “Postdocs represent the next generation of imagination and innovation, which much be recognized, encouraged and emboldened.”
Meet this year’s Fishman Fund Award winners
The Reena Horowitz & Mary Bradley Fishman Fund Founders Prize Cheng-Ju Kuo, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Dr. Caroline Kumsta, is studying the biology of aging. Dr. Kuo is unraveling the molecular mechanisms linked to a cellular recycling process that declines with age. His findings could open up new possibilities to treat age-released diseases. Dr. Kuo’s goal is to establish his own laboratory where he will study aging and train the next generation of scientists.
Jeanne Jones and Kathryn Fishback Fishman Fund Prize Alicia Llorente, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Dr. Brooke Emerling, is investigating how breast cancer cells become resistant to therapy. Dr. Llorente combines her expertise in lipid kinases with cancer biology to open possibilities for novel therapeutics for therapy-resistant breast cancer. Her career goal is to combine research with teaching by obtaining a faculty position at a university.
Lenka Finci and Erna Viterbi Fishman Fund Prize Theo Tzaridis, MD, is a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Dr. Peter Adams, where he focuses on aggressive brain tumors. His research led to the identification of a key checkpoint molecule widely expressed in brain tumors, which is a significant step toward improving immunotherapy as a treatment for brain tumors. Dr. Tzaridis plans to become a leader in translating research findings into clinical trials.
Fishman Fund winners undergo a rigorous selection process that includes a personal interview and a presentation to the selection committee. All winners receive a $10,000 career development award that can be used to attend workshops, network and travel to national and international conferences to learn about the latest developments in their research fields.
A special thank-you to the Fishman Fund donors who make these awards possible.
