Each month, the editors of three of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutic’s (ASPET) journals choose who they call their Highlighted Trainee Authors. These early-career scientists are recognized for their innovative research published in The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Drug Metabolism and Disposition, and Molecular Pharmacology. This feature showcases selected young scientists, demonstrates what drives them and reveals why pharmacology is important to them.
Gavin Traber
“My passion for science began in the fifth grade in my hometown of La Crescenta, California while learning about cellular structure and substructure, as well as how these basic units of life come together, organize, reproduce, and function to sustain life,” stated Gavin Traber who recently received his PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of California Davis School of Medicine.
Growing up, Gavin was “captivated by the work of naturalist Sir David Attenborough, through his novels and documentaries as well as Mr. William (Bill) Nye, who took the intricacies within many scientific concepts and processes and made them approachable for young and aspiring scientists at the time, such as myself.” This inspired his undergraduate studies where he was introduced to the impacts and biological functions of both coding and noncoding RNAs by his genetics professor, Dr. Rebekah Rampey, as well as exposure to basic scientific research and study design.
Additionally, Gavin owes his scientific curiosity as well as his philosophy and approach to science to his undergraduate professors at Harding University Department of Biology, astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, his former mentors Drs. Daniel Hornburg and Sara Ahadi, and chiefly his primary investigator and mentor for his graduate training and this study, Dr. Ai-Ming Yu.
When asked about plans for his career and research, Gavin shares that his near-term career plan is to serve a postdoctoral fellowship under Dr. Kathlene Sakamoto at Stanford University School of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics studying pediatric acute myeloid leukemia and hematopoiesis. While his long-term plans to pursue a career as a research scientist in the San Francisco-San Jose Bay Area of California, “and to use my skills to contribute to a better understanding of the molecular roots behind disease at institutions focused on the development and translation of basic science and research to helping the lives of patients and ultimately pass along my knowledge and experiences to coming generations of future scientists.”
Gavin’s study helps establish the pharmacological actions, therapeutic potential, and molecular functions of microRNA-7 as well as the reliability and robustness of this novel RNA molecular bioengineering platform technology to allow in vivo fermentation production of target BioRNA/miRNA agents. He hopes that his research will provide a step forward in the use of microRNAs and other non-coding RNAs as novel therapeutic strategies and illustrate the potential for RNA and/or small molecule/current standard of care combination therapy as a potential route to combat NSCLC tumor progression.
When asked what being published in the January issue of Molecular Pharmacology means to him, Gavin explains that “ASPET is a premiere society focused on the support of researchers, educators, and students in pharmacology. The key tenets of the ASPET mission are to advance the science of drugs and therapeutics to accelerate the discovery of cures for disease. With these characteristics in mind, being published in the ASPET journal of Molecular Pharmacology is an absolute honor.”
Sejal Sharma
It was in high school when Sejal Sharma fell in love with chemistry and biology and was fascinated with how they connected drug discovery to treating diseases. This interest led to him studying pharmacy and then eventually becoming a pharmacist. Later, he wanted to focus on research, which inspired him to pursue his PhD in pharmaceutical sciences to understand the science behind drug development. Now, Sejal is currently a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at the University of Washington’s Department of Pharmaceutics.
While Sejal’s career decisions were driven by his own interest, it was also the unwavering support of his parents and family. “My dad, an educator, emphasized the value of education and a thoughtful career choice. My uncle, who completed graduate school in the U.S., also inspired me by sharing insights into research opportunities and the potential for growth in the field.”
Sejal’s future plans include staying focused on pharmacokinetics and building on his background in drug metabolism and transporters. As part of his postdoctoral work, Sejal aims to advance and contribute to the major discoveries in transporter science.
“I hope my research will impact pharmacology by uncovering key transport processes for molecules across biological barriers. This understanding can improve pharmacokinetic parameters, aid drug development, and ultimately help deliver effective treatments to patients.”
For Sejal, being published in the January issue of The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics is a significant honor. “It’s a prestigious platform, and my PhD mentor had his own PhD/post doc papers published here, which has always inspired me.”
