Samantha Morris, PhD, Assistant Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, was recently named a 2020 NYSCF-Roberston Investigator. The NYSCF Investigator Program encourages promising early career scientists whose research holds the potential to accelerate treatments and cures through NYSCF – Robertson Stem Cell Investigator Awards and NYSCF – Robertson Neuroscience Investigator Awards. The awards provide investigators $1.5 million over five years to fund their research.
“The NYSCF – Robertson Investigator Program is such an integral part of our mission to accelerate treatments and cures for the major diseases of our time,” said NYSCF CEO Susan L. Solomon, JD. “The unrestricted nature of these awards allows scientists to pursue the most cutting-edge research, ultimately bringing exciting discoveries out of the lab and into the clinic.”
Dr. Morris will use funding to investigate a method called ‘direct conversion,’ or transforming one adult cell type directly into another adult cell type. She uses genomic technologies to map the molecular changes involved in direct conversion and ultimately develop therapies to regenerate the small intestine in gastrointestinal disease.
Congratulations, Dr. Morris!
Read more about the program here.