NSU-MD Investigator Receives National Institutes of Health Award

 

Vlad Beljanski, Ph.D., an NSU Cell Therapy Institute scientist in the Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine won a supplement award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Achieving diversity in the biomedical research workforce is critical to the biomedical research advancement as more diverse teams capitalize faster on innovative ideas and distinct perspectives. NIH provides financial support to principal investigators with current NIH funding by providing a salary support for trainees in order to improve the diversity of the research workforce. Therefore, NIH supports recruitment and supports students, postdoctorates, and eligible investigators from groups that have shown to be underrepresented in health-related research. Using this opportunity from NIH, Dr. Beljanski secured funding for a graduating NSU student,  Andres Irausquin, who will work on part of the project entitled “Modulation of therapeutic cells exosome content by autophagy.”

Irausquin recently graduated from NSU with a double major in Biology and Behavioral Neuroscience. He will be working for one year in Dr. Beljanski’s laboratory where he will be learning skills required to become a distinguished medical researcher, possibly in the field of neurology, immunology, or pathology. Irausquin’s long-term goal is to establish his own laboratory in a university or a research hospital as a medical researcher, discovering and applying new treatments and cures for previously untreatable or incurable genetic, infectious, autoimmune, or neurodegenerative diseases. In Dr. Beljanski’s laboratory, Irausquin will have the opportunity to gain experience and insight in the fields of molecular medicine and immunology. Moreover, he will also be able to observe how laboratories are managed and maintained. This experience will help Irausquin become more competitive when applying to medical schools and will broaden his future career opportunities.