GSIP Thank You 2022

Summer of 2022 Reflections

THE SUMMER OF 2022 MARKED THE EIGHTH YEAR

of a program that has touched the lives and helped inspire the careers of 162 college undergraduates. It is also a program that will remain a centerpiece of our educational efforts as the Gates Center transitions into the Gates Institute this coming spring (see Historic $200 Million Commitment to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Fuels Advancements in Treatments and Cures).1

Initiated in 2015 by Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine members Drs. Neil Box, Tamara Terzian and Enrique Torchia, the Gates Summer Internship Program (GSIP) was based upon the potential observed in the college interns they regularly hosted in their labs during the summer. Captivated by the hope that such a program might enable the Gates Center to play a formative role in creating a pipeline of researchers and clinicians for the future of the regenerative medicine space, others jumped in to make that dream possible – then and since. These include the late Peter Grant and his wife Rhondda whose gift in 2014 enabled the program’s planning to begin as well as the ongoing philanthropic support of those listed at the end of this booklet.

This group of 21 extraordinary college undergraduates was selected from a talented pool of applicants and joined us from across Colorado, all over the United States, as well as China, Vietnam, Tanzania, Portugal, and The Republic of Mauritius. The class was further joined by two students through an ongoing summer internship arrangement with Berea College in Kentucky – the first college in the Southern United States to be coeducational and racially integrated, which does not charge tuition.

1Scan the QR Code to read Historic $200 Million Commitment to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Fuels Advancements in Treatments and Cures.

The success of last summer’s program is reflected in the individual messages included in this booklet. This talented group of students excelled in their laboratory placements and developed mutually supportive connections with one another and in their respective labs with their mentors and lab staff. Ultimately, their contributions advanced medical research on the Anschutz Medical Campus, and their gratitude for the opportunities provided by GSIP is echoed by each intern.

The summer of 2023 will inaugurate the ninth year of this program and the first year of its sponsorship under the new Gates Institute’s umbrella. Another group of talented interns will be selected to conduct research in Gates laboratories and be exposed to transformative science at CU Anschutz. We thank all the many people mentioned in this booklet who make this comprehensive program possible.

In a world that often seems full of discord and uncertainty, we consider these aspiring scientists and doctors to be a beacon of hope and deserving recipients of our ongoing, collective support.

Medical School (31%)

MD/PhD, Combined Graduate Programs (39%)

PhD, Working in science-related field, Other Graduate Programs (26%)

Other Graduate and Professional Programs (4%)

GSIP 2022 interns share their post-college plans in our program exit survey:

M. Valeria Canto-Soler, PhD,

Doni Solich Family Chair in Ocular Stem Cell Research and Director of CellSight - Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program. Dr. CantoSoler and her colleagues in the Department of Ophthalmology kindly mentored/hosted three GSIP interns during the summer of 2022.

2022 GSIP MENTORS

MENTOR RESEARCH AREA

Gana Batt, PhD

Biomanufacturing - Protein Development

Kristen Boyle, PhD Nutrition

Joseph Brzezinski, PhD Ophthalmology

Valeria Canto-Soler, PhD Ophthalmology

Patricia Ernst, PhD Pediatrics/Pharmacology

Xiying Fan, PhD Dermatology

Santos Franco, PhD Pediatrics

Nicholas Jacobson, MDes 3D/Bioprinting/Cardiology

Jeffrey Jacot, PhD Bioengineering

Sujatha Jagannathan, PhD Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics

Chelsea Magin, PhD Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine

Russell Marians, PhD Biomanufacturing - Cellular Therapies

Karin Payne, PhD Orthopedics

Tania Reis, PhD Molecular Biology

Holger Russ, PhD Pediatrics and Diabetes

Yiqun Shellman, PhD Dermatology

Kunhua Song, PhD Cardiology

Lori Sussel, PhD Cell and Developmental Biology

Ronald Vagnozzi, PhD Cardiology

Maria Natalia Vergara, PhD Ophthalmology

Michael Verneris, MD Pediatrics-Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow

Our interns are bright and highly committed to their research projects; they perform at the level of PhD students!

MENTOR (BEREA INTERNS) RESEARCH AREA Xiying

SPEAKER

CLASS OF 2022 REFLECTIONS

Thank you all so much for making this amazing program possible! It surpassed my expectations, I learned so much and had lots of fun. This is certainly a summer I’ll never forget and really helped me figure out what I would like to do in the future. I will never forget everyone’s kindness, generosity, and support. Thank you! Citlali Aguilera-Rico

I want to thank all of the people who put together the GSIP program, the program directors, Jane, Jill, Joe, and the donors. I could not be more grateful for this experience; I have learned an immense amount of knowledge, gained lifelong friends, and experienced the beauties of Colorado.

I also want to thank my mentor Dr. Karin Payne, as well as the rest of the lab group, Stacey Thomas, Francisco Rodriguez-Fontan, and Kristine Fischenich. Coming into the program, I already had a love for orthopedics, but after spending the summer in Dr. Payne’s lab, my love for ortho continued to grow. I really can’t thank my lab group enough for taking me under their wing and showing me the ins and outs of orthopedic research.

Ethan Beltrand St. Olaf College

Mentor: Karin Payne, PhD

Research Poster Title: Characterization of the Immune Response after Growth Plate Injury

Thank you to all the staff behind the GSIP program. Your dedication and encouragement made this summer a great mix of challenging yet fun work. The guest speakers inspired me to reach further into my future dreams.

Jack Bozik

Bellarmine University

Mentor: Sujatha Jagannathan, PhD

Research Poster Title: Understanding the Effect of the Myotoxic Gene DUX4 on the Centrosome

I would like to thank the GATES Summer Internship program and the GATES Center for Regenerative Medicine. I am very grateful to my mentor Dr. Fan and the CU Anschutz dermatology lab. A very special mention to all the donors who made this program possible. I have had a great summer which has enabled me to grow academically and professionally. I have learned so many new skills which will definitely equip me for the future and met amazing people along the process. I am beyond grateful and last but not least thank you to Jill, Joe, and Jane.

Reeya Callychurn

Caldwell University

Mentor: Xiying Fan, PhD

Research Poster Title: Using CRISPR-Cas9 to Knock-out TGFB3 Gene in Skin Tumor Cell Lines

Mauritius

First, to my GSIP mentor Dr. Ronald Vagnozzi and the members of his lab: Ilaria Ferrari, Doron Regev, and Koya (Devon) Conradson. Also to Dr. KC Woulfe and Christopher Hoffer in her lab. With your guidance, patience, and selfless help, I was able to complete the program and proceed with my science. The experience was so sweet and memorable because of you, I cannot thank you more.

Second, to the GSIP team, Jane, Jill, Joe, and everyone else. You guided us and organized the program like our parents, all the activities are arranged so perfectly. You are considerate throughout. Without you, the program would not be so well-organized, and we would not be able to enjoy so much fun and convenience!

Third, to all the sponsors. Without you, the program cannot exist. I truly appreciate you bringing this program to us!

Fourth, to all the GSIP interns. I made good friends, had a fabulous experience, and enjoyed true bonding with you guys!

Yifei Chen

Johns Hopkins University

Mentor: Ronald Vagnozzi, PhD

Research Poster Title: Defining the Role of Fibroblast cGAS and MyD88 in Shaping the Cardiac Inflammatory Response China

Thank you to the GSIP program for making this summer truly memorable. There’s a quote by Emerson that’s always stuck with me - “Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be, and he will become what he should be.” I will always remember GSIP, especially my mentor Dylan Sarbaugh in the Sussel lab, for showing me what I could be, from the seminars to networking events, the program really opened my eyes to what life after college could look like. Finally, thank you specifically to the three Js - Jane, Jill, and Joe - for planning and choosing such a wonderful group of interns. It was truly amazing getting to know you three and the other interns on hikes, rafting trips, and bowling. I cannot thank you enough for taking the chance on me and helping me grow in every aspect.

Jay-Ho Chung

Middlebury College

Mentor: Lori Sussel, PhD

Research Poster Title: Characterization of Potential Interactors with CHD4 in Pancreatic Beta Cells

Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity this summer! I learned so much from this experience from my wonderful mentor and all the people in my lab. This internship has allowed me to gain a better understanding of not only the scientific process but also broadened my knowledge about careers in the medical and scientific fields. I am so grateful to everyone who helped make this summer possible from the donors, my mentors Dr. Reis and Arely Diaz, Jane, Jill, Joe, and all the guest speakers.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this program what it is. I had an amazing summer and learned more than I could’ve even imagined. I went into this program understanding the values of research but unsure if I wanted to pursue it as a career and coming out of it, I know that I really want to incorporate research into my career hopefully as a clinician and researcher. Working in Dr. Verneris’ lab was such a great environment and one that was very supportive and pushed me to develop many new skills and helped me learn how to be a better scientist. The seminars were amazing, and I really enjoyed not only getting to go hear from all of the incredible doctors, but also getting to see the other interns and hear about their labs. Thank you so much again, this is truly such an amazing program and was so valuable to me.

Lucy Egan University of Colorado Boulder Mentor: Michael Verneris, MD Research Poster Title: Small Molecule Inhibitors in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Expansion and Differentiation

Thank you to GSIP and Inworks for a great summer! I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and feel it has helped me solidify my future career plans. It was a pleasure meeting all the interns and everyone in my lab. I am especially thankful to my mentor Nick for pushing me to be more creative and encouraging me to follow through with my ideas. Thank you for exposing me to many different areas in the biomedical field! Thank you to GSIP for the great program and informative seminars.

Enkhsanaa Enkhbayar Stevens Institute of Technology

Mentor: Nicholas Jacobson, MDes Research Poster Title: Morphology of the Pulmonary Tract with Tetralogy of Fallot

I am so grateful to be a member of the GSIP Class of 2022 cohort. I learned so much throughout the program, not just about the research I was conducting, but about myself as well. I am so thankful to all of the GSIP donors, the Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, Jane, Jill, and Joe, my mentor Dr. Jacot, my lab members, the GSIP speakers, as well as my fellow cohort members for making this experience possible.

Kendall Harrington University of California Berkeley

Mentor:

Jeffrey Jacot, PhD Research Poster Title: Exploring the Characteristics of Exosomes Extracted from Cardiomyocytes from Patients with Down Syndrome

This haiku can briefly describe my daily routine this summer, while I was working at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, as an intern student. It is super great to be a student in GSIP 2022. I have learned not only new hands-on techniques in labs but also have known many great people from the program. I enjoyed working in my Dermatology lab, having weekly seminars, and joining many field trips with my colleagues, exploring the breathtaking scenes in Colorado.

I super appreciate all of the benefactors, faculty members at CU Anschutz, and directors of GSIP for their contributions to creating this amazing program. Working at GSIP 2022 is one of the remarkable milestones of my undergraduate years, and it is meaningful in my scientific career path. I hope that in the following years, we can have many excellent students joining our GSIP family. And again, I thank you all for making the ordinary summer of my sophomore year into an extraordinary one.

Nhan Huynh Wabash College

Mentor: Yiqun Shellman, PhD

Research Poster Title: SASH1’s function in proliferation and differentiation of melanocytes

Getting off the bus, head to lab and work till night, for the bright future.

Thank you so much for your help and your support. I had so much fun and would recommend the program to anybody. It was so much fun, and I learned a lot.

Madelyn Jaeger Colorado School of Mines

Mentor: Gana Batt, PhD Research Poster

Title: Protein purification of Indigo-2 (P110502) for Formulation Studies

Thank you so very much for your support and contributions that allowed young scientists like me to discover and consolidate my passion for science. We are so fortunate to have such generous donors and we can never thank you enough for all the support you’ve shown us.

Medrine Kihanga Earlham College

Mentor: Kunhua Song, PhD Research Poster

Title: The Susceptibility and Development of Insulin Resistance in Umbilical Cord MSCs Exposed to High sugar/Fat Cell Media

Tanzania

I would like to thank all the individuals, foundations, and organizations that have made the Gates Summer Internship Program one of the premier experiences of my career. The amount of support provided to me was incredible and the level of sheer skill and expertise carried by my peers was unmatched. Every time I stepped foot on campus, I felt that I was actively contributing to something remarkable. It seems like a shared sentiment at the Gates Center that the work being done has the potential to become nothing short of revolutionary, and I recognized early on that each individual involved has a greater vision for the future of science and medicine. Though it was only for a few months, I was able to participate in this vision. What I gained from the experience, however, will benefit me for a lifetime.

University of Colorado Boulder

Mentor: Kunhua Song, PhD

Research Poster Title: Development of a Novel DualReporter Human iPSC Line to Identify Factors that Facilitate Direct Reprogramming of Cardiac Fibroblasts to Cardiomyocytes

Thank you to Jill, Joe, and Jane for all of the work and time you put into the GSIP program! Every part of it was amazing from meeting everyone involved in the program, to the events and seminars, to the catering you chose for each event. We really appreciate your dedication to making this such a great experience. Thanks, also, to the Franco Lab for welcoming me into your lab group, and especially to Luuli for all of your patience and help in teaching me all about lab techniques and brain development. Finally, thank you to all the sponsors of GSIP for making this program possible. It was an incredible learning experience, and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside the other wonderful interns and mentors!

Sarah Loew

Georgetown University

Mentor: Santos Franco, PhD

Research Poster Title: Notch Signaling Directs Cell Fate Decisions in Dorsal Forebrain Progenitor Cells

I am so honored and grateful for having participated in the Gates Summer Research Internship program. This incredible research experience has given me more confidence in myself as a scientist and has truly inspired me to continue to dream big within the world of science. I met so many amazing people, who have brought both clarity and wisdom to help me decide on a future career pathway. I could not have asked for a better group of interns. I know after this summer I have made friends for a lifetime, and I look forward to seeing how we all grow as young scientists, doctors, and innovators. The GSIP program has truly made my first time out west a memorable experience that I will always cherish. The program opened my eyes to endless possibilities within the field of medicine and showed me that the sky is the limit in what I can do. I am so excited to take the next steps in my journey as a scientist and I’d like to say thank you to the GSIP program and all the donors who have made this summer experience possible. Keep continuing to open the doors, as I know coming out of this program I have changed as a scientist, and I look out to the horizon with excitement and wonder.

Blake Neiderlander Allegheny College Mentor: Chelsea Magin, PhD Research Poster Title: Investigating the Influence of Sex- and Age-Related Biochemical Cues on Pulmonary Arterial Adventitial Fibroblast Activation

Thank you so much to the Russ Lab for all the memories - academics and inside jokes. The Russ lab has accelerated my growth as a student and a scientist. Thank you to my mentors, Rob and Jessie, for teaching me valuable lab and life skills. I have learned protocols pertaining to cells and car problems. Thank you so much to Jane, Jill, and Joe for all the love and support. Thank you so much to all the donors that made this program possible. Your support propelled curiosity, innovation, and science. Thank you to all the GSIP interns. I have had such a memorable summer and fostered genuine friendships. Thank you to everyone that made GSIP possible. It was a pleasure and privilege to partake.

Vrushali Patel

University of Colorado Boulder

Mentor: Holger Russ, PhD

Research Poster Title: Protecting Stem Cell Derived Beta Like Cells with PD-L1 Expression and CAR Treg Technology for Type 1 Diabetes Cell Replacement Therapy

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to spend my summer learning from such amazing mentors and scientists! Seeing firsthand all the incredible research that is being done at CU Anschutz and being able to take on my own project in the lab was a wonderful experience. The GSIP seminars and visits were great to see how the therapies that are being developed in the lab can one day make it into the clinic. The program also went beyond academics and allowed me to explore Colorado and meet other like-minded students! Thank you to everyone who made the program possible, and especially to Jane, Jill, and Joe for making this summer so memorable!

Francisca Rocha Bates College

Mentor: Maria Valeria Canto-Soler, PhD Research Poster Title: Characterization of Human iPSC-derived 3D Retinal Complex

Portugal

It was inspiring to intern at the Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine. I got to learn about cutting-edge research and more about the roles that the scientists and clinicians have at the Institute.

Antonio Salcido-Alcantar University of Colorado Boulder

Mentor: Russell Marians, PhD Research Poster Title: Developing a Potency Assay for Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cells

I cannot express how grateful I am for having the opportunity to participate in the Gates Summer Internship Program. I learned so much about myself and my joy for being surrounded by people with the same love for research and learning. I will be recommending this internship to my fellow peers back at Colorado College, and I cannot wait to share with you all what I will be doing after I graduate this year. This experience has solidified my passion for medicine and my pursuit of medical school. Lastly, I have never seen a program that had more planning, effort, and organization than GSIP. The staff is amazing (Jill, Jane, and Joe), and I am proud to call myself a GSIP alum.

Lindsey Smith Colorado College

Mentor: Patricia Ernst, PhD Research Poster Title: Designing Peptides to Interfere with Specific KMT2 Family Proteins for AML Killing

Thanks to everyone who made this summer possible! It was an incredible experience. I appreciate all the effort that went into this program and feel as though it was very helpful for my personal and professional development.

Corey Tesdahl

University of Colorado Boulder

Mentor: Joseph Brzezinski, PhD Research Poster Title: Characterizing the Complex Regulation of Otx2

BEREA 2022 INTERNS

Thank you so much for everything you did to make this year’s program amazing! Being a part of the GSIP program really defined my interest in the sciences. I am so glad I got to experience this.

Oreoluwa Ladele

Berea College

Mentor: Xiying Fan, PhD Research Poster Title: Investigating the Role of Endoglin (ENG) in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression

Thank you. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to chase our dreams. Thank you for your encouraging words, the brilliant lunches and activities, and everything you do for the GSIP interns. I could say thank you repeatedly for a lifetime, and it still wouldn’t be enough.

Jennan Lahamer

Berea College

Mentor: Igor Kogut, PhD Research Poster Title: Constructing a Fluorescent Plasmid for Tagging Endogenous ITGa5 Locus in Skin Organoid Dermal Papilla Cells

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Since its inception in 2015, the Gates Summer Internship Program has been made possible by generous philanthropic support from the following individuals, foundations and organizations:

Avita Medical

Jill T. Cowperthwaite and Charles P. Jones Davidson College

Yvette and Chris Frampton

Tim Gardner and Deborah Froeb

The Glendorn Foundation Dana Gordon Rhondda and the late Peter Grant Wayne and Joyce Hutchens Illumina Inc.

Shelly Kilgas

Anya Bilousova, PhD, and Igor Kogut, PhD

Allison and Jeff Krebs

Frank and Monty Kugeler

Penelope H. Lewis

Middlebury College

Kelly and Mark Petrash, PhD

Jane Rech, PhD and Christopher Toll Kevin and Ann Reidy

Matthew B. Seefeldt, PhD

The Bawmann Group Inc. A. Sheffield Tulp

Walter S. Rosenberry, III Charitable Trust Christina and Willis Wright

We want also to thank Edward DeCroce of DeCroce Photography for his thoughtful expertise and patience in creating headshots for each of our 2022 interns and helping us chronicle the summer of 2022.

2022 GSIP TEAM

I want to thank all of the people that support the Gates Summer Internship Program. Your support allows me to host fabulous undergraduate students in my laboratory each summer. These students push the science forward and are a joy to mentor and watch grow after they leave the lab. Thanks again for your support- we can’t do it without you.

I am inordinately proud to be a part of GSIP, which is playing a profound role in exposing exceptional students to the rich and intriguing world of biomedical research and regenerative medicine. I can’t think of anything more thrilling and heartening than helping ignite and advance the hopes and dreams of such bright, diligent, and thoughtful young people. These interns and those who have preceded them – truly aspire to make the world a better place, and they clearly cherish having had this opportunity in preparation to do so.

I am a new member of the Gates staff, and I am looking forward to helping advance, improve and sustain this obviously successful program and to supporting the talented interns it serves.

I love working with the faculty, staff, and students in GSIP. Everyone involved in the program takes exceptional care to ensure a challenging, engaging, and supportive experience. Our interns are talented, earnest, and contagiously enthusiastic! Their curiosity and excitement fueled by opportunities on the Anschutz Medical Campus provide them the best possible launch pad. I look forward to seeing where they go from here and am grateful to be part of their journeys.