Researcher Stories
Get to know the PhRMA Foundation’s award recipients.
Studying a Protein That Could Help Protect and Restore Vision
Bushra Zaman, a PhD student at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, is researching how a specific protein called clusterin can help the eye recover after sudden injury.
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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.
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
Ayobami Aiyeolemi
- University of Texas at Austin
“I am honored to receive the PhRMA Foundation award and deeply grateful for the essential support it will provide as I advance my dissertation research on understanding the health impact of stigma on individuals living with sickle cell disease.”
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.