Researcher Stories
Get to know the PhRMA Foundation’s award recipients.
Applying Lessons From Parenthood to Drug Discovery Research
Kan Li, a PhD candidate at Rutgers University, is researching therapeutic targets for enteroviruses, which can cause illnesses ranging from cold-like symptoms to serious neurological complications, particularly in children.
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Using AI to Predict Which Cancer Mutations Matter
Jessica White, a PhD candidate at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is using AI and genomic data from cancer patients to identify overlooked mutations and help more people benefit from precision medicine.
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Measuring the Hidden Impact of Stigma in Sickle Cell Disease
As a PhD student at The University of Texas at Austin, Ayobami Aiyeolemi is developing a first-of-its-kind tool to measure sickle cell disease stigma and improve patient care.
Read MoreReprogramming Immune Cells From Cancer Allies to Cancer Fighters
Dr. Anastasia Varanko, a postdoctoral trainee at Vanderbilt University, aims to make existing immunotherapies more effective to expand their benefit to a broader range of patients and cancer types.
Awardee Spotlight
Ahmad Salman Sirajee, MS
- Rutgers University
“This fellowship will help me accelerate my research on non-invasive monitoring of bladder cancer using cell-free DNA. As an international student, this recognition is especially precious. Receiving this fellowship is both a major milestone and a relief.”
Combining Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy for Better Cancer Treatment
Kaitlyn Pierpont, a PhD student at Weill Cornell Medicine, is researching how to improve cancer treatment by combining two therapies: chemotherapy and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.