ARVO Foundation Announces Recipient of Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority Emerging Vision Scientists
Award will further recipient's research on retinal connectivity
Rockville, Md.—The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) announced today the 2021 recipient of the inaugural Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority (URM) Emerging Vision Scientists — Elizabeth Zuniga-Sanchez, PhD, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Tex. She will receive a two-year grant totaling $100,000, to promote the generation of promising preliminary research results.
This award provides URM investigators who are early in their careers with an opportunity to explore novel and innovative research project ideas. It is intended to provide resources to promote the generation of promising preliminary results that may be leveraged to catalyze success in earning additional, longer-term funding support, as well as the authorship of impactful scientific publications.
Zuniga-Sanchez’s research focuses on identifying key factors that guide wiring of photoreceptors to their respective synaptic targets, information that is critical for developing new forms of therapies to treat patients with retinal diseases — one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. Applying technologies such as single-cell sequencing and CRISPR to rodent models, Zuniga-Sanchez and her team are striving to identify the factors that result in proper retinal connectivity by uncovering the general principles of neural circuit formation.
“Our long-term objective is to make significant contributions in vision research, with the overall goal of preserving and restoring sight in those affected with retinal diseases,” says Zuniga-Sanchez.
In addition to the working grant, URM award recipients are partnered with mentors selected from the ARVO membership to provide support related to career advancement. ARVO Trustee, Maureen McCall, PhD, FARVO (University of Louisville) and 2022 Friedenwald Award recipient Rachel Wong, PhD (University of Washington), will offer guidance and mentorship to Zuniga-Sanchez throughout her award years.
The first recipient of this award, Zuniga-Sanchez embodies the core goal of the Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority Emerging Vision Scientists. “As a daughter of Mexican immigrants that worked as farm laborers in California, I am an advocate for promoting the advancement of underrepresented students in science,” says Zuniga-Sanchez. “I know firsthand the socioeconomic struggles students from disadvantaged backgrounds face.” Understanding the value of her science beyond the lab, Zuniga-Sanchez says, “I want to serve as a role model for those coming from a disadvantaged background…With this award, I will continue my work to teach, inspire and mentor young scientists.”
For more information about the Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority Emerging Vision Scientists, visit ARVO’s website.
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The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include approximately 10,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders. Learn more at ARVO.org.
Established in 2001, the ARVO Foundation for Eye Research raises funds through partnerships, grants and sponsorships to support ARVO’s world-class education and career development resources for eye and vision researchers of all stages of career and education. Learn more at ARVOFoundation.org.
Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit Gene.com.
Media contact:
Erin Hering
1.240.221.2927
media@arvo.org