Ismael Maya, a graduating senior in biology, recently won a travel award at the 9th National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence, held on June 16-19 in Washington, D.C. He presented research titled “The Baker’s Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a Model Organism to Elucidate the Causes of Metabolic Reprogramming in Glycolytic Tumors.”
This event, supported by the National Institutes of Health, is a product of the IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program, which funds statewide networks of higher education and research institutions to build biomedical research capacity through support for faculty research and mentoring, student participation in research, and research infrastructure enhancement. The IDeA program supports scientific centers of excellence and trains biomedical scientists in the IDeA-eligible states.
Ismael’s co-advisors were Dr. Jon Ignacio Moreno, an associate professor of biology, and Dr. Marta Piva, an interim chair and professor of biology.
Dr. Piva proudly described Maya’s research. “Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell,” she said. They have their own DNA. Our project aims to elucidate the role mitochondrial DNA plays in switching from a cell metabolism that uses oxygen to produce energy (normal cells) to one that does not (glycolytic tumor cells). We use the baker’s yeast as the model organism because it can produce energy with or without oxygen, mimicking tumor cells.”
The National Association of IDeA Principal Investigators (NAIPI) gives travel awards to outstanding participants based on their review of the scientific abstracts they presented at the conference.
Over 1,000 attendees, ranging from undergraduate and graduate students to postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and staff, participated in the event.
The symposium features high-level scientific presentations in various disciplines, plenary and keynote presentations, and poster presentations of IDeA scientists. Discussion forums and workshops are also hosted, providing opportunities for participants to acquire new scientific and career skills.
