UVA Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program

05/07/2026

Congratulations to our GBS Student Leadership, Michael J. Peach, Jill E. Hungerford and Outstanding Graduate Student Awardees for 2026!

GBS Student Leadership Awardee: Ariana Sabzevari

Michael J. Peach Outstanding Student Awardee: Emir Maldosevic

Jill E. Hungerford Prize in Biomedical Science: Josh Samuels

Outstanding Graduate Student Awardees: Anna Bartosik, Matthew Hoch, Emir Maldosevic, Shelby Cain, Luke Vass, Ian Liyayi, Josh Samuels, Bena Chan, Rachel DeLancey

You can read more about these student awards and our students' research here:

https://med.virginia.edu/bims/whats-new-in-bims/student-awards/

05/07/2026

Madison Turner was awarded the NIH F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Cancer Institute which began on May 1, 2026.

Madison is a doctoral candidate in Microbiology in the lab of Thomas P. Loughran Jr.

Can you tell us about your research?

The Loughran lab studies large granular lymphocyte leukemia (LGLL), a rare lymphoproliferative disorder affecting approximately 1,000 people in the U.S. annually.

My work focuses on how LGLL cells interact with and are shaped by the tissue microenvironment. I am using spatial transcriptomics to define the cellular organization and transcriptional programs within LGLL-infiltrated tissues. I am currently identifying cell populations interacting with LGLL cells in T- and NK-LGLL patient tissues. In parallel, I am comparing gene expression between LGLL and non-leukemic CD8+ T- or NK-cells, focusing on adhesion-related genes such as VCAM1 and ICAM1. Ultimately, this work aims to define how LGLL cells engage the tissue microenvironment to sustain survival and chronic activation, with the goal of identifying new biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

What drives or motivates your scientific pursuits?

My motivation for research stems from my early experience supporting my younger brother through his leukemia diagnosis and treatment, which showed me the emotional and clinical realities of cancer care. That experience, combined with later work in clinical and translational research environments like the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, solidified my commitment to improving outcomes for patients and their families. Today, I am driven by the goal of advancing cancer research that bridges fundamental discovery with therapies that can meaningfully reduce the burden of disease for future patients.

What are your future goals?

I plan to continue my career in cancer immunology after graduation, with a focus on developing novel cancer therapeutics that translate basic discoveries into clinical impact. I hope to work as part of an interdisciplinary research team focused on targeted therapies to contribute to scientific strategy, mentor future researchers, and help shape future cancer treatment development.

04/21/2026

04/16/2026

Research in Motion: Stefanie Redemann, PhD

"By learning about [cell] structure, we hope to develop a knowledge base that will help us to create better treatments, diagnostics, and get a deeper understanding of some of the most devastating diseases we face." —

Stefanie Redemann, PhD, Associate Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics

Originally posted in Medicine in Motion News on April 13, 2026 by [email protected]

You can find more UVA research highlights here:

https://med.virginia.edu/research-in-motion/

04/09/2026

New AI Technology to Speed Drug Development

University of Virginia School of Medicine scientists have developed a bold new approach to drug development and discovery that could dramatically accelerate the creation of new medicines.

UVA’s Nikolay V. Dokholyan, PhD, and colleagues have developed a suite of artificial intelligence-powered tools, called YuelDesign, YuelPocket and YuelBond, that work together to transform how new drugs are created. The centerpiece, YuelDesign, uses a cutting-edge form of AI called diffusion models to design new drug molecules tailored to fit their protein targets exactly, even accounting for the way proteins flex and shift shape during binding.

A companion tool, YuelPocket, identifies exactly where on a protein a drug can attach, while YuelBond ensures the chemical bonds in designed molecules are accurate. Together, the approach is poised to improve both how new drugs are designed and how quickly and efficiently existing drugs can be evaluated for new purposes.

“Think of it this way: Other methods try to design a key for a lock that’s sitting perfectly still, but in your body, that lock is constantly jiggling and changing shape. Our AI designs the key while the lock is moving, so the fit is much more realistic,” said Dokholyan, of UVA’s Department of Neurology. “This could make a real difference for patients with cancer, neurological disorders and many other conditions where we desperately need better drugs targeting these wiggly proteins but keep hitting dead ends.”

Originally posted in Medicine in Motion News April 1, 2026 by [email protected]

Read more on this story here: https://news.med.virginia.edu/research/new-ai-approach-to-speed-drug-development/?j=4605880&sfmc_sub=191645089&l=35_HTML&u=70662225&mid=100026982&jb=1006

04/09/2026

Isabelle Derré, PhD, Awarded $3.6 Million NIH Grant to Research Chlamydia

Isabelle Derré, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, was awarded a new five-year $3.6 million grant from the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for a project titled, “Host lipid acquisition and maintenance of the Chlamydia replicative niche.”

Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infections. No vaccine is currently available. Infections are often asymptomatic, allowing the bacterium to replicate undetected, while damaging reproductive organs. These complications can pose serious risks to women’s reproductive health, including pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility.

In this new project, Dr. Derré and her team will study the role of a Chlamydia protein that maintains the stability of the Chlamydia-containing vacuole by facilitating the acquisition of host lipids, creating a membrane barrier that allows the bacterium to persist and evade detection.

Using a multidisciplinary approach, results from these studies will help to further define the fundamental biological mechanisms by which Chlamydia survives and causes disease, while highlighting pathogen-specific targets for potential therapeutics or vaccines.

Originally posted in Medicine in Motions News March 9, 2026 by [email protected]

Read more here: https://news.med.virginia.edu/research/isabelle-derre-phd-awarded-3-6-million-nih-grant-to-research-how-chlamydia-survives-and-causes-disease/?j=4560590&sfmc_sub=191645089&l=35_HTML&u=69824974&mid=100026982&jb=1007

04/09/2026

Research in Motion: Hui Li, PhD

"We do three things in the lab. One is conducting cutting-edge basic science discovery, and some of our findings are challenging existing dogmas. Second is we’re conducting clinically-driven translational research. And the last is really educating the next generation of scientists and physicians."

— Hui Li, PhD, Professor of Pathology

Originally posted in Medicine in Motion News March 9, 2026 by [email protected]

You can find more research highlights here:

https://med.virginia.edu/research-in-motion/

04/09/2026

The Graduate Biosciences Society Research Symposium was a success!

We were honored to hear from two outstanding keynote speakers, Dr. Erica Pimenta (WIMS-hosted) and Dr. Dan Needleman (GBS-hosted), whose presentations were highlights of the day. We also heard talks from each Outstanding Student, and hosted a poster session!

Congratulations to all of our award winners:

Poster Awards

1st: Zehra Demir (Sheybani Lab)
2nd: Claire Williams (Cowardin Lab)
3rd: Julia Zulawinska (Guler Lab)

Community’s Choice Poster Award (Sponsored by WIMS)

Elina Zhou (Qi Lab)
Claire Williams (Cowardin Lab)

Outstanding Student Awardees

Anna Bartosik (Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Wang Lab)
Matthew Hoch (Biomedical Engineering, Price Lab)
Emir Maldosevic (Biophysics, Jomaa Lab)
Shelby Cain (Cell Biology, Hirschi Lab)
Luke Vass (MCBD/Experimental Pathology, Fox/Loughran Lab)
Ian Liyayi (Microbiology, Criss Lab)
Josh Samuels (Neuroscience, Lukens Lab)
Bena Chan (Pharmacology, Levental Lab)
Rachel DeLancey (Physiology, Kuyumcu-Martinez Lab)

GBS Leadership Award

Ariana Sabzevari

Jill E. Hungerford Prize

Josh Samuels

Michael J. Peach Outstanding Graduate Student Award

Emir Maldosevic

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, presented, and helped organize this amazing event, we couldn’t have done it without you! Already looking forward to next year! 🔬🧪🥼🧬

04/09/2026

The School of Medicine is excited to introduce the first Research in Motion (RIM) Team Science video, a special variation on the RIM video series that started in 2023. Sparked by a new SOM grant to train the next generation of epilepsy researchers, this expansion of the RIM video series features faculty and other SOM employees discussing the work they accomplish together as a team to make groundbreaking discoveries that impact patients’ lives. The new RIM Team Science videos follow a similar Q&A format as the original series, with additional insight into the research and working relationships among team members.

In this first RIM Team Science video, Manoj Patel, PhD, professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, and Hannah Grote, PhD student in the Coutinho-Budd Lab, discuss their epilepsy research and the importance of collaboration and mentorship. Hannah is a recipient of the Epilepsy T32 grant, an NIH-funded mechanism that provides for specialized, high-quality research training in health-related fields. It covers stipends, tuition, travel, and training-related expenses for up to 5 years. The $1.59 million grant was procured by Patel and Mark Beenhakker, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology. There is only one other active epilepsy training grant in the U.S. Two other graduate students — Daphne Gyamfi and Caeley Reever — benefit from this grant and contribute to the research.

The long history of success in attracting T32 funding to UVA is a testament to the vitality and quality of graduate research training within the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program. Upcoming Team Science videos will showcase other collaborations and mentorship programs at UVA.

Originally posted in Medicine in Motion News April 6, 2026 by [email protected]

To watch more Research in Motion videos in this series visit:

https://med.virginia.edu/research-in-motion/

03/12/2026

Applications for the 2026 Neurosurgery Research Symposium hosted by the UVA Department of Neurosurgery are now open. The Symposium will take place on June 12, 2026 from 9-11:30AM in the Jane Conference Room.

The application is open to all UVA Resident Physicians, Medical, PhD, MsC, and Undergraduate students conducting neurosurgery, neurology, neuroscience, or related clinical/translational research.

The Symposium will offer selected students the opportunity to showcase their work through oral presentations and a traditional poster session designed to foster meaningful discussion, mentorship, and networking. Awards will be presented at the conclusion of the symposium.

Scan the QR code to apply!

01/08/2026