The 5^th Guppy Tank Translational Science Pitch Competition, hosted by the ASPET Young Scientists Committee, gives graduate students and postdoctoral fellows the opportunity to work with industry experts to develop a pitch for their research, culminating in competing live at the ASPET annual meeting for the best pitch award.

Sara Puccini, a PhD candidate in the O’Connell lab at the University of Minnesota, earned top recognition for her innovative pitch on a novel α1-adrenergic receptor (α1-AR) antagonist aimed at improving hypertension treatment in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Puccini’s innovative strategy at SEPTICORE aims to address CKD without the current side effects. SEPTICORE addresses this need with its lead compound, α1-705, a membrane-impermeant α1-blocker that effectively lowers blood pressure without the cardiotoxicity associated with the current therapeutic options. Puccini’s well-rounded, translational pitch, grounded in innovative pharmacological design and unmet clinical need, exemplified the spirit of Guppy Tank competition and underscored the importance of next-gen drug development in precision cardiovascular medicine.

Dr. Wassana Yantasee, founder and CEO of PDX Pharmaceuticals, gave the keynote address at the competition, titled “Advancing Next-Generation Combination and Immunotherapeutics Through Academic and Biotech Collaboration.” Dr. Yantasee leads the development of silica-based nanoparticle delivery platforms for cancer immunotherapy. From her research at Oregon Health and Science University, her patented system co-delivers oligonucleotides, peptides, proteins, antibodies, and chemotherapies to both kill cancer cells and modulate the tumor microenvironment. Her innovations, including PETTRA (PLK1 siRNA and EGFR antibody co-delivery) and IL-2 nanoparticle therapies, exemplify her impact in advancing safer, more effective cancer treatments.