Student-mentor pair receives prestigious HHMI Gilliam Fellowship
The exciting news about Baylor College of Medicine graduate student Brittany Jones and her mentor Dr. Indira Mysorekar receiving a prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam Fellowship spread quickly through social media. This year, the HHMI awarded fellowships to 50 graduate students and their advisers selected among more than 700 applications from 43 institutions, the largest competition in the program’s history. These student-adviser pairs are recognized for their outstanding research and their commitments to advancing equity and inclusion in science.
From the Labs sat with Jones and Mysorekar to learn more about them, their research projects and what this award means to them.
FTL: Brittany, tells us about yourself.
Jones: I am from Detroit, Michigan and majored in neuroscience at the University of Illinois in Chicago. I am very interested in maternal health research. During my master’s, I completed a fellowship on women’s health research at a science policy organization, which allowed me to see the policy and the research sides of women health studies side by side.
FTL: What drove you to pursue a doctorate degree in Dr. Mysorekar’s lab?
Jones: I am passionate about women’s health research and very interested in viruses, so I decided to combine both fields for my Ph.D. I can do this in Dr. Mysorekar’s lab since my research interests are well aligned with her research goals.
At the same time, she is an energetic and supportive advisor. She’s what I have been looking for in a mentor. I am now in my fourth year as a graduate student, and she has helped me in every aspect of my journey, providing solid advice both on the professional and the personal levels. I truly appreciate that because a Ph.D. program is very stressful, and it’s important to find the right place.
FTL: Dr. Mysorekar, how did you meet Brittany?
Mysorekar: Brittany had familiarized herself with my research and contacted me about a potential rotation in my lab. We chatted via Zoom. Her passion for women’s health research and innovation as well as her knowledge of the topic were clear. I was thrilled to accept her. From the day she came to the lab for her rotation, I and my postdoctoral fellows, who were her bench mentors, were very impressed. She was always well prepared, had done her homework, was eager to learn and read many papers on all the methods she worked on in the lab. With this incredible drive, passion and work ethic, a spectacular rotation and with her deciding to stay in our lab, she became interested in how the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID can affect pregnancy. COVID in pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction and preterm birth. Personally, Brittany is a lovely, bright and warm person who’s excited about science and discovery and inspires similar enthusiasm all round her.
FTL: Brittany, tell us some of the findings in your research.
Jones: I am studying the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women by comparing placentas of infected and uninfected women. Using biochemical and immunological assays, I investigate whether the infection is linked to damage to the placenta by assessing tissue samples under the microscope. I also investigate whether the infection is associated with changes in markers of preeclampsia. This is extremely important in pregnancy because preeclampsia occurs when a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure, which is a serious condition that can be fatal in most severe cases. Currently, preeclampsia is poorly understood – it’s not clear what triggers it and the only treatment is to deliver the baby. Hopefully, my project will give more insight on this condition in the context of infection.
Mysorekar: This research is important not only because preeclampsia can have serious consequences for both the baby and the pregnant mother, but also because the cardiovascular effects can persist in the mother after giving birth.
Jones: I found that SARS-CoV-2 infection disrupts the integrity of the placental barrier.
The findings have led us to believe that SARS-CoV-2, and maybe other viral infections like Zika and HIV, can lead to similar features seen in preeclampsia. This has not been shown before. The findings increase our understanding of the condition, the effect of viruses and can potentially lead to therapeutic solutions.
FTL: This is exciting, even more so that it contributed to both of you receiving the Gillian fellowship. Tell us what this award means to you.
Jones: When I received the email from HHMI with ‘Gillian notification’ on the subject line, my first thought was, “Oh, I did not get it.” I opened the email and it read, ‘Congratulations!’ I was shocked! I called my mom immediately and she was thrilled with the news!
I’m really excited just because of the nature of the award. The Gillian fellowship will financially support my research project and fund our outreach initiatives, something I am very passionate about and have been organizing since coming to BCM.
Myrosekar: We have initiated programs to recruit high school students from rural Texas and the greater Houston area. Brittany and I have mentored these students, aiming to inspire them to engage in biomedical research through summer lab rotations and mentorship. We collaborate with Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions, Baylor College of Medicine’s Office Community Engagement and Health Equity and the Center for Reproductive Medicine to expose students to reproductive and women’s health research. The HHMI Gilliam Fellowship Advisor award will fund a symposium for these students, allowing them to present their work and see role models in science. Brittany has been instrumental in building these connections and the symposium will highlight BCM’s research and talent in reproductive health.
Jones: I strongly believe that research on women’s health is just as important as any other scientific research, but oftentimes it is overlooked or underfunded. Women’s health research helps not only women, but also their babies and families. If women are healthy and happy, then pregnancies are typically that way and this benefits the babies and society in general. The Gillian fellowship provides resources for us to both pursue women’s health research and spread the word in our communities about the importance of women’s health for everyone.
Mysorekar: Brittany has already been a great ambassador connecting students from our local high schools to research.
For instance, she visited the Rio Grande Valley, bringing the opportunity to hear and see someone like her talk about her research to students who normally don’t have any exposure to research.
FTL: Dr. Mysorekar, what does the Gillan fellowship mean to you?
Mysorekar: The Gilliam Fellowship holds significant importance for me given my background and experiences. Growing up on multiple continents with a multicultural perspective has instilled in me a deep commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity in academia and beyond. This fellowship provides crucial support to advance these values within scientific research and education, aligning perfectly with my personal and professional goals.
My upbringing has sensitized me to the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in STEM fields, including discrimination based on gender, race and socioeconomic status. The fellowship’s emphasis on promoting diversity allows me to further my efforts in mentoring, supporting and inspiring young students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those who may not traditionally see themselves represented in scientific communities.
The Gillian fellowship provides a platform to amplify my voice in addressing systemic barriers and promoting cross-cultural understanding, crucial for fostering innovation and excellence in scientific research.
Jones: Dr. Mysorekar and I are very excited and thankful for the Gillian fellowship. Having the HHMI’s recognition is extremely valuable to us as it will allow us to continue developing both research and outreach projects in women’s health.
FTL: Thank you and congratulations!
Brittany Jones is a Ph.D. candidate in the Mysorekar lab, Baylor College of Medicine.
Dr. Indira Mysorekar is professor of medicine – infectious diseases, of molecular virology and microbiology and E.L. Wagner, M.D., Chair of Internal Medicine at Baylor. She also is a professor in Baylor’s Huffington Center on Aging.
The goal of the HHMI Gillian Fellow Program is to prepare science leaders through paired awards to graduate students and their thesis advisers who, together, are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in science. The Program provides each student-adviser pair with $53,000 in support each year for up to three years of the student’s dissertation research. The support includes funding, professional development and community. Interested in applying? Next competition is scheduled to begin in Fall 2024. Learn more about this program here.
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