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- Posted Tuesday July 28, 2015
TGen post-doctoral fellow wins $200,000 Bisgrove Scholars award
Dr. Candace Lewis studies twins to gage the genetic impact of stress on children and how it may affect behavior; lead to therapies
PHOENIX, Ariz. - July 28, 2015 - Dr. Candace
Lewis, a research scientist at the Translational Genomics Research
Institute (TGen), is one of five recipients of the 2015
Bisgrove Scholars award, Science Foundation Arizona announced
today.
The award is accompanied by a $200,000 grant over two years to
support the scholar's research.
"The Bisgrove Scholars award has given me a rare opportunity as a
young investigator to pitch a big concept idea and acquire the
funding for it," said Dr. Lewis, a post-doctoral fellow at TGen and
in the Psychology Department at Arizona State University. "I am
excited to be able to conduct this research into this important
question in Arizona."
Dr. Lewis' big concept is an investigation, based on studying
multiple sets of twins, into how stressful events in the lives of
young children might cause changes to their DNA and RNA, and how
these changes might then influence their behavior - in a positive
or negative way - later in life.
"We are looking at how adverse experiences early in life could
change genetic expression, which later could influence an abnormal
stress response of the type highly prevalent throughout psychiatric
disorders," Dr. Lewis said.
By helping to unravel the molecular mechanisms by which
experiences can shape neurobiology and behavior, Dr. Lewis hopes to
use precision medicine to help advance new pharmacological and
behavioral therapies.
At TGen, Dr. Lewis is under the mentorship of Dr. Matt Huentelman,
an Associate Professor of Neurogenomics and Co-Director of TGen's
Center for Rare Childhood Disorders: "I'm excited to help mentor
Candace in the next stage of her career. Her study design could
have a significant impact on children in Arizona."
Dr. Lewis' Bisgrove Scholars award was one of five selected by
Science Foundation Arizona from top-tier applicants from around the
world. The post-doctoral and early career, tenure track faculty
members will conduct research at Arizona's top research
institutions beginning this summer. Other scholars announced were:
Dr. Heather N. Emady, Dr. Owen Hildreth, Sara Parker, and Dr. Yuji
Zhao.
"Arizona's and the nation's future is interconnected with the
competitiveness and creativity of the next generation of academic
researchers in science and engineering," according to SFAz.
SFAz created the Bisgrove Scholars program with the support of
local humanitarian Jerry Bisgrove, to attract to Arizona
exceptional individuals who have demonstrated substantial
achievement, and possess the potential to transform ideas into
great value for society.
Dr. Lewis is a native of Alaska, where she earned a bachelor's in
psychology from University of Alaska Anchorage. She earned a Ph.D.
in psychology, behavioral neuroscience on a Harry S. Truman
Scholarship at ASU, and recently won a Fulbright Scholarship.
"Arizona's future is dependent on the ability to attract and
retain the best minds in science and engineering," said Bill
Harris, president and CEO of SFAz. "Bisgrove Scholars are
synonymous with top-tier science and engineering research talent.
This program and these select individuals have the ability to
transform their fields of research into direct value not only for
Arizona, but for all of society."
For more information about the Bisgrove Scholars program, visit www.sfaz.org/bisgrove-scholars/.
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About Science Foundation Arizona
Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization initiated in 2006 by the Greater Phoenix Leadership
Inc., Southern Arizona Leadership Council and the Flagstaff Forty
in conjunction with the executive and legislative branches of state
government. SFAz serves as a catalyst for high-wage,
knowledge-based jobs and economic diversity through administration
and strict oversight of research, development and education grants
to public education and other non-profit research performing
institutions. For more information, visitwww.sfaz.organd like us
onFacebook.
About TGen
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused
on helping patients with cancer, neurological disorders and
diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process
of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen
physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of
both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children.
Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical
communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial
contribution to help our patients through efficiency and
effectiveness of the translational process. For more information,
visit:www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]