Two researchers complete doctoral programs in pharmaceutical sciences, advancing cancer
therapy and genomics research
The USC College of Pharmacy is celebrating two Ph.D. graduates whose groundbreaking research spans from cancer therapeutics to the mysteries of aging.
Bernardo Chavez's dissertation focused on developing a novel approach to combat cancer by targeting the chemokine CCL8, which plays a crucial role in cancer progression. His work centers on creating engineered cytotoxic proteins designed to neutralize CCL8 activity and eliminate responsive cells.
"I've always been fascinated by how drugs work in the body and how we can design therapies to target disease more precisely," Chavez said. The California native chose USC for its specialized pharmaceutical sciences program and the opportunity to experience a new environment.
Chavez will continue his work as a postdoctoral researcher before transitioning to the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
Kim-Tuyen Huynh-Dam’s scientific journey began in Vietnam and Japan. Her doctoral research took a different path, exploring how environmental and genetic factors influence biology through computational methods. Her dissertation, "Circannual and Kinship Cues Shape Reproduction and Epigenetic Aging in Peromyscus," examined how birth season and mating systems impact reproductive success and DNA methylation in deer mice.
Her most striking finding challenged conventional understanding of genetics and aging. She discovered that offspring from genetically related parents sometimes exhibited a "younger" epigenetic age, suggesting hidden genomic mechanisms that may protect against aging.
"The College's support was key in helping me find the research path that was the best fit for me," said Tuyen, who will continue as a postdoctoral fellow at USC.
Their mentor, Hippokratis Kiaris, praised both graduates' contributions. "Tuyen is both an accomplished experimental biologist and bioinformatician," he said. "Bernardo is a skilled scientist in drug development who works rigorously and meticulously to take a basic science discovery and transform it into a drug prototype."
Topics: Graduate Program, Research, Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences