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
Q & A with Postdoctoral Researcher Kelly Li, PhD, from the Yip Lab
Blending a love of biology with the power of data science, Kelly Li, Phd, is tackling one of life’s biggest mysteries: aging. In Yuk-Lap (Kevin) Yip’s lab at Sanford Burnham Prebys, Kelly studies how aging cells influence disease, teaming up with collaborators to explore promising new therapeutic approaches.
Can you tell us about your research at Sanford Burnham Prebys? I’m part of a pure computational biology lab, where we analyze complex biological data instead of doing benchwork. My current project focuses on aging and senescence—cells that no longer function but don’t die and can affect surrounding cells through inflammation. We use cutting-edge tools like single-cell multi-omics to study these cells and explore potential therapeutic targets. It’s a highly collaborative effort, especially with Dr. Peter Adams’ lab.
How did you first become interested in science? I’ve always been curious about how things work, especially complex systems like biology. I studied cell and molecular biology as an undergrad and was fascinated—but also frustrated—by how traditional experiments studied one gene at a time. I wanted a more holistic view, so I turned to computational biology during my Ph.D., where I used data science to study diabetic complications. That’s when I really fell in love with using machine learning and data analysis to understand biology.
What brought you to Sanford Burnham Prebys? I followed my mentor, Dr. Kevin Yip, here from Hong Kong. He moved during my Ph.D., and we had ongoing projects, so it was a natural transition for me to join his lab as a postdoc. I’ve been here since October 2022 and am now working on this exciting aging-related project.
What’s it like to collaborate on such a large project? It’s very dynamic. The project involves collaborators across Sanford Burnham Prebys, UC San Diego, and institutions like Yale and the University of Minnesota. We meet regularly, share data and ideas, and refine our hypotheses together. I lead the data analysis side, so after running results, I’ll send them around, and we iterate based on group discussions. These interactions are where new ideas often emerge.
What motivates you about your research? It’s a combination of curiosity and a desire to make a meaningful impact. Curiosity drives me to ask deeper questions and design more insightful experiments. I also find motivation in the research process itself—troubleshooting challenges encourages critical thinking and fosters collaboration with others.
How has the Institute supported your growth? The environment is very collaborative. It’s easy to talk science—even informally in the lunchroom—and that leads to meaningful conversations and collaborations. I’ve also benefited from professional development programs like grant writing and leadership workshops. They’ve helped not just with research but with career planning as well.
You received a Fishman Fund Award. What did that support allow you to do? The Fishman Fund I received is a career development award for postdocs. I used the funding to attend aging-related conferences, which helped me get up to speed in the field. I connected with other researchers, heard inspiring talks, and had great discussions with trainees and leaders in aging research. It really expanded my perspective and helped me refine my research questions.
What are your career goals? I’d love to stay in academia and eventually run my own lab. Whether that’s in the U.S. or back in Hong Kong, I’m not sure yet. But I’m committed to research and continuing to explore how computational approaches can answer big biological questions.
What do you enjoy outside of science? I like hiking and exploring the beautiful nature around San Diego. I also enjoy watching movies, dancing, and going to the gym—I try to stay active. That’s part of the anti-aging routine, right?
Do you have any advice for aspiring scientists—especially those interested in computational biology? Yes! Learn the basics—both programming and biology. You need to understand the data and the underlying biology to really make discoveries. Stay curious and motivated, even when you’re knee-deep in code. And be collaborative—great ideas often come from conversations with others.
Any mentors who’ve had a big impact on your journey? Definitely my PI, Kevin Yip. He’s been my mentor since undergrad. He introduced me to computational biology, was incredibly patient when I was just starting out, and has always supported me. I learned so much from how he approaches writing, research, and mentoring. I’m very grateful.
Postdocs at Sanford Burnham Prebys are pushing the boundaries of science every day through curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. This series highlights their unique journeys, what inspires their work, and the impact they’re making across our labs.
With a deep curiosity about the brain and a passion for solving complex problems, Huijie Huang is a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Dr. Timothy Huang at Sanford Burnham Prebys, where she is investigating the molecular underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease. Her journey began in college with hands-on behavioral pharmacology research and evolved into a focused exploration of depression and neural circuits during her PhD. Now, she is using cutting-edge molecular tools to develop gene-based strategies for treating neurodegenerative disease.
When and how did you become interested in science? In college, I had the opportunity to join a pharmacology lab. This gave me the chance to test how certain drugs effected the animal behaviors. I found it very interesting that these animal behaviors can mimic some types of human behaviors. I was really excited by this.
How has your scientific career evolved? I was so fascinated with the principles of neural regulation of animal behavior, so I chose to focus my PhD on neuroscience. During my PhD, I did a lot of projects related to depression, where I established mouse models to mimic anhedonia and social defeat. These models enabled me to investigate dysfunctions in brain circuits associated with depressive behaviors.
After graduating, I felt the need to pursue deeper research into the molecular biological mechanisms underlying behavioral changes. I’m fortunate to be a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Timothy Huang’s lab, where my project focuses on investigating the molecular mechanisms of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. The lab’s diverse expertise includes molecular biology, genetics and neurobiology, and has allowed me to approach the project from multiple angles and think more broadly and translationally about the impact of our research.
What brought you to the Huang lab at Sanford Burnham Prebys? I was fascinated by the research projects in Dr. Timothy Huang’s lab. After the interview, I realized I would have the opportunity to lead an independent project aimed at developing a new platform to study human risk genes using a chimeric mouse model. This approach would allow me to fully utilize a variety of cutting-edge technologies, and I believed it would be an exceptional opportunity for scientific and professional growth.
What are the key areas of research you focus on? My research focuses on developing novel neuroprotective strategies for Alzheimer’s disease. Current clinical treatments primarily aim to relieve mood-related symptoms, using cholinesterase inhibitors or antidepressants, but these approaches offer only symptomatic relief. The new immunotherapies, such as those targeting amyloid beta plaques, are designed to slow disease progression. However, their clinical efficacy remains limited, patient responses are highly variable, and the treatments are costly.
Given these challenges, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Our work investigates genes and proteins that influence the risk of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease, which may lead to broadly applicable, gene-based interventions.
What motivates you about your research? It’s a combination of curiosity and a desire to make a meaningful impact. Curiosity drives me to ask deeper questions and design more insightful experiments. I also find motivation in the research process itself—troubleshooting challenges encourages critical thinking and fosters collaboration with others.
What do you like about working here? I love it here! The people are all very kind, and you can get help from colleagues, neighboring labs and core facilities. I’d like to especially applaud our core facilities experts for being so professional and efficient. I never have to wait a long time to get our projects and experiments done.
Another important factor is that Tim is very supportive of his team. We have a quite independent but also collaborative environment among colleagues and mentor. When we need help, he will try his best to collaboratively solve the problem or connect us with people in his network with the right expertise.
How would you describe the culture here? Collaboration is ingrained in the culture and quite easy. If you want to discuss something, you just stop by other labs and people are open to working together. Also, we are surrounded here by different labs with experts in many fields. This contributes to a culture of constant learning and collaboration.
There also are many resources here for postdocs. There are opportunities to apply for funding, workshops for career development and the highly engaged Sanford Burnham Prebys Science Network that plans networking and social events and addresses concerns raised by postdocs.
What are your hopes for the next stage in your career? I truly love science, and would like to continue research on neurodegenerative diseases, and I am preparing myself to be independent as a principal investigator or team leader.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not in the lab? I like hiking, cycling and playing table tennis.
Postdocs at Sanford Burnham Prebys are pushing the boundaries of science every day through curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. This series highlights their unique journeys, what inspires their work, and the impact they’re making across our labs.
Meet one of our early-career scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys: Meena Sudhakaran, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Kelly Kersten, PhD. Sudhakaran studies cancer immunology to improve immunotherapy for breast cancer.
When and how did you become interested in science? I was always curious as a child. When one of my family members was diagnosed with cancer, I grew up watching how it affects people. That made me really interested in how diseases work. I wanted to know the causes and the biological reasons beneath it.
What did you imagine you would be doing professionally, and how did it evolve? When I was done with my master’s degree, I was sure I wanted to work in industry. I was determined to join a biopharma company where I could make medicines.
I worked as a scientist and as a senior scientist for three and a half years on a team at Biocon in India developing drugs for head and neck cancer. During my time in the company, I realized that I wanted to do a PhD to dive deeper into understanding the biology of cancer and how every cancer type is different.
During my PhD, I was introduced to immune cells and how immune cells affect tumor progression. I wanted to be in a cancer immunology lab for my postdoctoral training, so the Kersten Lab here was a perfect fit.
What are the key areas of research you focus on? Breast cancer patients do not really respond to most immunotherapy drugs. We don’t yet know why they are ineffective.
Our immune system protects our bodies from pathogens, foreign particles or any abnormal cells like cancer. T cells, a type of immune cells in the tumor environment, can get activated and attack the tumor cells. But what often happens is that they become dysfunctional due to continuous exposure to the immunosuppressive environment and lose their ability to kill. Additionally, there are other immune cells such as macrophages that create a tumor-promoting environment.
Kelly previously showed that macrophages and T cells interact, creating a communication loop where the macrophages drive the T cells to exhaustion. The focus of my research is to understand how this interaction creates an anti-tumor immune response in breast cancer. This will help us get closer to the ultimate goal of making immunotherapy more effective in breast cancer patients.
What do you like about working here? Kelly is a great mentor. She is very supportive. She is easy to approach, and our discussions are always encouraging yet stimulating. I believe it is really important for a successful lab that trainees feel comfortable discussing ideas and challenges openly.
Outside of my lab, there are lots of shared resources and training opportunities available. Everything is nearby and easy to access. People here are also very open to collaboration, which creates a strong and supportive research environment.
What motivates you about your research? I love doing research! I like being in the lab, planning experiments and looking at the results.
It’s like solving a puzzle, so that keeps me excited.
What are your hopes for the next stage in your career? I plan to return to industry and continue focusing on the translational side of biomedical research. My goal is to combine my experience in both industry and academia to help develop new medicines and improve treatments.
Although I am still early in my postdoctoral training, I can already see how much I’m learning. When I go back to industry, I’ll have stronger problem-solving skills, more knowledge, and more confidence in making decisions. I have definitely made progress, and I know that growth will continue and support me throughout my career.
Postdocs at Sanford Burnham Prebys are pushing the boundaries of science every day through curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. This series highlights their unique journeys, what inspires their work, and the impact they’re making across our labs.
Meet one of our early-career scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys: Ranajit Das, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Nicholas Cosford, PhD. Das is a medicinal chemist focused on designing and synthesizing new potential therapies, with a focus on cancer treatment.
When and how did you become interested in science? During my early childhood education, I developed a deep curiosity about the world around me. Over time, I became more interested in chemistry. I found it fascinating that two colorless things can mix and make something colorful, or that two liquids can merge and produce a solid.
Then, when I was introduced to organic chemistry in my undergraduate years, it was eye-opening. I realized that organic chemistry is connected to nearly everything we use or do in our everyday lives. Everything from the blue dye in denim jeans to fading vegetable colors, fragrances, and even the medicines we take, are made of organic molecules. That realization drew me even deeper into the subject.
As I continued studying organic chemistry, I got into synthetic organic chemistry and building molecules. If you have the right knowledge, you can use simple building blocks that are usually made of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, and assemble them into compounds that can be functional, beautiful and even lifesaving.
How has your scientific career evolved? While earning my master’s degree, I was learning about drug discovery and how organic molecules can be useful for treating human diseases. Then, during my PhD, I trained in how to use those chemical components to build a probe to study a disease and ascertain how to potentially cure that disease.
Ever since, I have wanted to build something which will improve human health. That is the reason I decided to pursue a scientific career.
What brought you to the Cosford lab at Sanford Burnham Prebys? I chose to pursue my postdoctoral training at Sanford Burnham Prebys because of its strong emphasis on drug discovery. The Cosford lab has been working for almost two decades on a wide range of disease models—including cancer, central nervous system and infectious diseases—which are key areas in today’s therapeutic landscape.
This provides an unusual opportunity to gain practical experience with diverse targets. Furthermore, several of the lab’s drug candidates are in preclinical or phase I/II clinical trials, reflecting its strength in translational research.
What are the key areas of research you focus on? Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a natural process in our body. It allows us to remove unwanted cells as we grow and develop. Cancer, however, can disrupt the system of apoptosis.
One way this happens is through the action of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, which block caspases and help regulate cell survival and cell death during cancer. The second mitochondrial activator of caspases, or SMAC, can bind to and neutralize these inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, thereby promoting apoptosis.
We’re trying to make molecules that can mimic SMAC in order to treat cancer.
What motivates you about your research? It’s the creativity and complexity around creating 3D chemical architecture to have potential medicinal properties. As we test and refine the compounds, I enjoy using my knowledge of how they react with protein molecules and how that affects the activity of those proteins, which can be useful for targeting diseases.
It is essential to nurture a feedback loop of biological activity and synthesis that keeps the drug discovery process dynamic and purposeful. For me, it is motivating to see that we are designing something and synthesizing something that is having the biological activity necessary for any potential candidate therapy. From there, we can work on finetuning in terms of potency, selectivity, pharmacodynamic stability and other characteristics of successful treatments.
What do you like about working here? I like the collaborative and supportive research environment here at the institute. We have scientists and students from many different backgrounds and areas of expertise all focused on the same goal, the advancement of biomedical research.
The core research facilities and interdisciplinary expertise make this place ideal for pursuing very complicated targets for translational research. The Institute also has an emphasis on mentorship and career development, which is very important. I feel I’m growing as a scientist in a community which values curiosity, integrity and teamwork.
How would you describe the culture here? There is a culture of open communication. Sharing ideas, discussing challenges and seeking feedback are encouraged. I’ve found this helps foster personal and professional growth, as well as scientific innovation.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not in the lab? I have a deep appreciation for world cinema, particularly Hollywood classics from the 80s and 90s. Bengali literature holds a special place in my heart, as does Indian classical music—especially the rich, melodic tones of the sitar and sarod.
Postdocs at Sanford Burnham Prebys are pushing the boundaries of science every day through curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. This series highlights their unique journeys, what inspires their work, and the impact they’re making across our labs.
Shaping the future of science at Sanford Burnham Prebys: Sara Ancel, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Will Wang, PhD, who draws on a background in engineering and stem cell biology to explore tissue remodeling and disease mechanisms through cutting-edge spatial omics approaches. Originally from Switzerland, she brings together cutting-edge technology and collaborative science to push boundaries—and inspire the next generation of researchers.
How did you first become interested in science—and what brought you to Sanford Burnham Prebys? I didn’t grow up around science, my parents weren’t in the field, so I didn’t really get exposed to it until high school. But I’ve always been curious, especially about things I didn’t understand. That curiosity led me to study engineering, which gave me the flexibility to explore many scientific fields before focusing on one.
During my master’s studies in Switzerland, I had the opportunity to spend time at Stanford University working in Dr. Helen Blau’s lab. That’s where I met Will Wang, who would later become a principal investigator at Sanford Burnham Prebys. When I was finishing my PhD in Switzerland, he was just starting his lab here. The timing was perfect—and I became his first postdoc.
What drew you to Will Wang’s research? What really stood out to me was the new technology he was developing—an imaging method that lets us look at many biological markers at once. Coming from an engineering background, that kind of innovation was really exciting. I saw a chance to combine everything I’d been learning, for example, stem cell biology, muscle research, and engineering, into one meaningful project.
Plus, joining a brand-new lab was a unique opportunity. I was involved in everything from setting up experiments and training newcomers to handling operations. It was a fast-paced, all-hands-on-deck experience that taught me so much, both scientifically and personally.
What are you working on now? How would you explain it to someone outside of science? My main project focuses on a process called glycosylation, which is how cells add sugar molecules to proteins and fats. These sugar tags might sound simple, but they play a big role in how cells function, and how things go wrong in disease.
I had no background in glycobiology when I started, but I was able to bring in new technologies and combine them with biology to explore this process in a completely new way. I’ve also been fortunate to collaborate with the Freeze Lab here at Sanford Burnham Prebys, which has been incredibly valuable.
What makes Sanford Burnham Prebys a unique place to work? I’ve been so impressed by how collaborative this institute is. It’s a small enough community that people know each other, so reaching out for help or advice is easy. I’ve been able to train on equipment here and at nearby institutions like UC San Diego, and I’ve had the chance to connect with researchers across many fields.
One of the most exciting aspects has been working with clinicians and getting access to real patient samples. That kind of experience really deepens the impact of our research and gives me a broader view of how basic science can connect to human health.
What was one of the biggest challenges you faced when you arrived? Moving from Switzerland to San Diego was a huge adjustment. I arrived and quickly within about a week, I was in a new culture, new lab, and new scientific environment. I was also the only person in the lab at first, which made things more intense.
But I had great support from international services and from the community of researchers here. That support helped me adapt, and it motivated me to dive in and help get the lab up and running.
What do you hope to do next in your career? I’ve developed a wide range of skills here, not just technical, but also communication and collaboration. I’d love to build on that by moving into work that’s more closely connected to patients. Collaborating with clinicians and working with patient samples has been incredibly meaningful, and I’d like to pursue more translational or clinical science in the future.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not in the lab? Since moving to San Diego, I’ve gotten into climbing and bouldering, it’s something I picked up with friends from neighboring labs. I also love hiking and visiting national parks. Coming from Switzerland, I’m used to mountains, but the parks here in the U.S. are spectacular. I’ve started a list and want to see as many as I can!
What advice would you give to young scientists? Stay curious. Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know—see it as an opportunity to grow. Science can be frustrating when things don’t work out, but that’s part of the process. If you accept the ups and downs and keep learning, it can be incredibly rewarding.
Do you have any publications or projects in the works? Yes! I’m finishing a methods-focused paper on the technology I’ve been developing, and we’ve filed a patent on it thanks to support from the Institute’s intellectual property team. I’m also co-authoring a review article with a researcher from Stanford on drug discovery for muscle aging. It’s been a great opportunity to step back and reflect on everything happening in the field.
Postdocs at Sanford Burnham Prebys are pushing the boundaries of science every day through curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. This series highlights their unique journeys, what inspires their work, and the impact they’re making across our labs.
The scholarship fund was established at the institute to remember Eric Dudl, a postdoctoral researcher whose life was tragically cut short by cancer at the age of 33. Since 2007, 17 postdoctoral scientists have received support for their research from the endowed scholarship fund.
Tzaridis is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Peter Adams, PhD, director of the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys. He studies ways to enhance immunotherapy for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), the deadliest brain tumor in children.
Tzaridis found that targeting a checkpoint molecule called CD155 leads to an enhanced immune response and tumor control. He presented the work at the annual American Association for Cancer Research conference. There he established a collaboration with a company that produces the only available antibody against CD155, enabling Tzaridis to continue his research by testing the antibody’s potential efficacy for treating DIPG in order to pave the way for a clinical trial to improve survival for patients.
David Brenner, MD, Kevin Yip, PhD, and Peter Adams, PhD, with Robert James and Barbara Dudl and scholarship recipient Theo Tzaridis, MD.
The Eric Dudl Endowed Scholarship at Sanford Burnham Prebyswas established at the institute to remember Eric, a postdoctoral researcher whose life was tragically cut short by cancer at the age of 33.
Tzaridis has garnered recognition and extramural funding throughout his career as a physician-scientist, including the 2023 Lenka Finci and Erna Viterbi Fishman Fund Award from Sanford Burnham Prebys and the best oral presentation from the American Association of Immunologists during the 2024 La Jolla Immunology Conference. His career goal is to advance research findings into clinical trials that benefit patients, including trials regarding the effective use of immunotherapy as a treatment for brain cancer.
“I’m truly grateful for the support of The Eric Dudl Endowed Scholarship,” said Tzaridis. “Eric’s inspiring legacy as an immensely dedicated postdoctoral cancer researcher lives on through the important work the scholarship helps fund.”
“Theo is an outstanding physician and a superb scientist,” said Adams. “I have no doubt that he will advance the science of brain cancer while also contributing to meaningful improvements for patients and their families.”
For more information on setting up a scholarship or to learn more about our philanthropy program, please contact giving@sbpdiscovery.org.
Institute News
Guglielmi awarded grant to further investigate genetic condition that results in soft, deformed bones and lost teeth
Valeria Guglielmi, PhD, postdoctoral associate in the D’Angelo lab.
Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare genetic disorder in which bones and teeth fail to take up sufficient calcium and phosphorus needed to achieve proper hardness and strength. Defective mineralization results in bones that are soft and prone to fracture and deformity, and the loss of teeth. Occasionally, HPP can cause death due to complications.
Prevalence varies by severity and age of onset. It is rarest but most severe at birth (1 in 100,000 live births), with lower prevalence and milder forms in later years. The condition can manifest at any age.
The cause of HPP is a mutation in an enzyme called tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), which plays a critical role in skeletal and dental mineralization. In 2015, an enzyme replacement therapy developed by José Luis Millán, PhD, a professor in the Human Genetics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys, was approved to treat pediatric onset HPP, dramatically improving patients’ lifespan and quality of life.
But the effects of TNAP deficiency appears to extend beyond faulty mineralization. HPP patients also experience altered immune responses, suggesting TNAP might have a role in immune cells.
Recently, Soft Bones, an advocacy group for HPP patients, awarded Valeria Guglielmi, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in Maximiliano D’Angelo’s lab, with a one-year, $25,000 seed grant to further investigate the involvement of TNAP in inflammatory responses and immune cell functions.
“This study is in line with my broad interest for immune cells and their contribution to tissue homeostasis and diseases,” said Guglielmi. “I am excited to explore an entirely new area of investigation on HPP.
“Indeed, very little is known about the role of TNAP in the immune system and only a few studies have provided evidence of TNAP involvement in immune cell function. By uncovering how TNAP deficiency affects inflammatory responses, our research represents the first step toward designing interventions to improve immune system dysfunctions in HPP patients.”
Read Soft Bones’ full news release on the award to Guglielmi on Facebook and Instagram.
Institute News
Treasuring science and fun at the 2024 Annual 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.
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
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
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.
