2022 Fall/Winter Highlights of Hope

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RESEARCH Inspiring the next generation of researchers through inclusive postdoctoral training Exceptional science benefits from exceptional diversity, and Van Andel Institute is committed to increasing representation in the biomedical research community through a variety of training programs. One such opportunity is the VAI Inspire Fellowship — a program built to support postdoctoral fellows who identify as members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as defined by the National Institutes of Health. The fellowship offers exceptional research training, a suite of state-of-the-art scientific resources and individualized professional development, all in the name of building a professional foundation from which Inspire Fellows can launch their independent research careers. The Inspire Fellowship began in 2021, with two scientists joining VAI: Dr. Anthony Otero and Dr. Alex Soto-Avellaneda, both of whom were kind enough to share their inspiring stories with the VAI community, revealing their distinct paths to becoming Inspire Fellows. Dr. Otero works in the lab of Dr. Darren Moore, where he investigates Parkinson’s disease with a focus on how brain cells take up information and then recycle or dispose of it. Dr. Soto-Avellaneda, who works in the lab of Dr. Michael Henderson, researches how Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium associated with stomach cancer, might be involved in the development of Parkinson’s. “Science is powered by embracing the idea that innovation blooms when everyone has a seat at the table,” said VAI Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Peter A. Jones. “VAI is deeply committed to fostering an environment in which our exceptional postdoctoral fellows can pursue research at the forefront of discovery. The Inspire Fellowship is one way we support these remarkable early career scientists.” 10 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE DR. NAMAN VATSA, NOAH LUBBEN, DR. ALEX SOTO-AVELLANEDA & DR. MICHAEL HENDERSON
Elevating research through curiosity: The journey of Dr. Alex Soto-Avellaneda A few years removed from his undergraduate studies, Alex Soto- Avellaneda was working in the restaurant industry. A Las Vegas native, he knew the region’s extensive dining and entertainment locales provided plenty of opportunity — but the work was making him miserable. His original plan, an undergraduate degree and medical school, was shaken up when he realized his dreams lay elsewhere: in the science underlying the medicine. In the arduous long shifts of the restaurant world, Soto-Avellaneda was set on becoming a scientist. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get into graduate school right away and became a little discouraged,” Soto-Avellaneda said. “Working through that difficult time and planning for the future made me realize that I belonged in science and I needed to work toward a Ph.D.” After returning to his graduate studies at Boise State University, Soto-Avellaneda presented a poster at his first research conference: VAI’s own Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease. The Institute left a lasting impression, he said, and it was a fortuitous relationship, as he received an invitation to apply for VAI’s Postdoc Preview near the end of his graduate career. This event, which brings promising early career scientists to VAI to explore our training offerings, was the perfect opportunity to build relationships, and it led to a chance to apply for a position in Dr. Henderson’s lab. Soto-Avellaneda’s research focuses on how Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium associated with stomach cancer, might be involved in the development of Parkinson’s. Curiosity powers his research. Experiments may not always be breakthroughs, he said, but they provide increasing insight into the roots of health and disease. As an Inspire Fellow, he believes that research is empowered by diversity. “Groups that are more diverse tend to have more success,” Soto-Avellaneda said. “On a personal level, and being from Hispanic descent, it’s always been a little difficult fitting in with predominantly white communities. Having more people that understand where you come from, understand your background and your history, it makes you feel more welcome and more able to contribute to the community.” Dr. Anthony Otero’s lifelong focus on science and curiosity Anthony Otero knew he wanted to be a scientist when he was 8 years old. He recalls looking at his aunt’s puppy, the smallest of the litter, and noticing it was aggressive. This was fascinating to Otero: this animal of diminutive stature was acting in a paradoxical way, completely opposite of its supposed behavior. It ignited a curiosity, Otero said, and it was the seed for the rest of his career. “I’ve had that curiosity since I was a kid,” Otero said. “It’s only been further fueled by events that changed my perspective when I got older.” One of those events was a distinctly personal challenge, and it still influences Otero’s work today. His grandmother had Parkinson’s disease, which developed into Parkinson’s disease dementia. When she passed, Otero could not be there, and it devastated him. Research was his life, he said, but because of his work, he was not able to be there for his grandmother. Even then, in his deepest grief, Otero found inspiration. “I was able to realize that I was exactly where I needed to be, and that situation is the whole point of our research: working so someone else does not lose their grandmother like I did,” Otero said. His passion brought him to a Gordon Research Conference, where he met VAI faculty, including Dr. Moore. Those meetings left a lasting impact, he said, and it inspired him to want to be a part of the VAI team. As an Inspire Fellow, Otero finds his curiosity validated and his research empowered. He said it’s often difficult to find mentorship like he has found at VAI, and the hands-on approach of the Inspire Fellowship is a natural boon, one that is also delivering the benefits of a diverse cohort. “The more people we have from diverse backgrounds, the more ideas we’ll get, and that’s exactly what we need,” Otero said. “We need more ideas, bigger ideas, and I’m proud to be part of building that with the Inspire Fellowship.” To learn more about the Inspire Fellowship, or if you know someone who may be interested in applying, visit vai.org/inspire-fellowship. VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 11
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