Meet the Future of Translational Science: KIICS Student Spotlights
Through immersive clinical experiences at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and engagement with Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, the Kids-Inspired Innovation for Careers in Science (KIICS) Program bridges the gap between scientific discovery and patient care. Meet some of the incredible students who participated in the program; they are leaders who are redefining what it means to be a scientist by integrating research, clinical insight, and compassion to shape the future of human health.
Justin Anair
Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience PhD Program
Justin Anair’s interest in neuroscience began with formative experiences in high school. In an anatomy class, a goat-eye dissection sparked his curiosity about the brain and how it processes sensory information. Later, in an advanced placement psychology class, he became fascinated by how specific brain regions and neuromodulators shape both healthy and disordered behavior.
His interest deepened through four years of volunteering at Camp Sunshine, where he worked with individuals with neurological and neurodevelopmental disabilities. “That experience showed me both the resilience of these individuals and the gaps in our understanding and treatment of brain disorders,” he reflects. These moments ultimately set him on pursuing a career in sensory neuroscience and research focused on brain disorders.
While Justin developed a strong foundation in basic science during his time earning his PhD, he recognized a gap in his understanding of how discoveries translate to patient care. “KIICS gave me the opportunity to see how therapies developed in the lab are actually used in clinical settings,” he shares. The program provided valuable exposure to how research becomes real-world intervention.
KIICS reinforced Justin’s goal of working at the intersection of academia, clinical medicine, and industry. Observing how these sectors interact highlighted the importance of scientists who can bridge those gaps. He gained a deeper appreciation for the complexity of clinical trials and the individualized nature of patient care, particularly in neurology.
“KIICS pushed me to communicate my research more effectively to physicians and to think more critically about its clinical relevance,” he says.
Justin hopes to pursue a career in medical science writing or as a medical science liaison, where he can translate complex scientific findings into meaningful insights for clinical and industry audiences.
Donte Garcia
Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience PhD Program
Donte Garcia’s passion for biomedical research is rooted in a desire to improve human health, particularly in neurological diseases where effective treatments remain limited. He is especially drawn to neuroscience for its ability to connect cellular and molecular mechanisms with complex human behavior. Learning about the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease, including its complexity and lack of effective therapies, motivated Donte to study the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and contribute to future therapeutic development.
Donte wants to become a principal investigator at an NIH-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, where collaboration between scientists and clinicians drives translational discovery. He aims to contribute to the identification of novel cellular and molecular pathways that can be targeted for therapeutic intervention.
Donte joined KIICS to deepen his understanding of clinical medicine and strengthen the translational impact of his research. Through clinical shadowing and journal clubs, he gained firsthand insights into how neurological diseases are diagnosed and managed and where gaps in treatment remain.
“KIICS helped me think beyond the bench,” Donte says. “It gave me a clearer understanding of the real-world challenges clinicians face and how research can be better aligned with patient needs.” The program also enhanced his ability to communicate complex scientific ideas to clinical audiences—an essential skill for translational scientists.
Donte encourages future participants in the KIICS program to be curious and willing to try new experiences. “Be proactive—ask questions and engage with clinicians whenever possible,” he says. “The more you immerse yourself, the more you’ll gain. Developing the ability to communicate science in a clinical context is one of the most valuable parts of the experience.”
Grayce Mores
Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences
Grayce Mores is fascinated by the intersection of people and infectious disease—from how outbreaks emerge at the population level to how infections impact individuals. This dual perspective has guided her academic path, leading her to explore both the molecular mechanisms of disease and their real-world clinical implications.
Grayce aspires to combine research, education, and science communication to improve how scientific knowledge is translated to clinicians and the public. She is passionate about training future scientists while also making research more accessible and actionable.
Her research focuses on a rare infection that only occurs in infants, and she wanted to better understand how clinicians approach care when treating patients with complex infectious diseases. KIICS provides a front-row view of how physicians evaluate patients, interpret clinical data, and make nuanced treatment decisions.
“KIICS gave me a more holistic view of infectious disease diagnosis and management,” she explains. “I saw firsthand how research informs clinical care and how each patient requires individualized decision-making.”
Grayce wants future participants to know that their work will have an impact. “Approach KIICS as a chance to place your research in a broader translational context. Even if your work isn’t directly tied to a therapy, it contributes to the bigger picture of improving human health.”
Karla Soriano
Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience PhD Program
Though Karla Soriano has long been interested in neurodevelopment from a basic science perspective, her experience in a neurodevelopment lab focusing on early childhood pathology expanded her perspective and deepened her appreciation for the clinical implications of this work. This evolution motivated her to apply her scientific training in more translational and clinically impactful ways.
Karla aims to join a clinical research team after she earns her PhD, where she can engage more directly with patients and contribute to meaningful improvements in their lives. She is particularly passionate about advancing novel therapeutics for neurodevelopmental disorders that currently have limited treatment options.
“KIICS helped me refocus on the bigger picture,” Karla shares. “As researchers, we can become narrowly focused on individual experiments, but this experience reminded me that our ultimate goal is to improve patient care and quality of life.”
The KIICS program broadened Karla’s perspective on how she can meaningfully contribute to her field through clinical research. As a result, she is now eager to pursue a career that is closely aligned with clinical research.
Claudia Stroupe
Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences
Reading the book Spillover by David Quammen while in high school sparked Claudia Stroupe’s interest in infectious diseases. The book introduced her to zoonotic diseases and outbreak science, revealing a path where her passion for biology could directly impact human health. That early curiosity led her to HIV research, where she now studies how broadly neutralizing antibodies can be targeted to key sites of HIV-1 infection to prevent transmission.
Claudia wants to be an independent researcher and focus her work on developing vaccines and antibody-based therapeutics for persistent and emerging infectious diseases. She is particularly driven to create solutions that reduce both acute infection and long-term complications. Beyond the lab, she is passionate about public education and hopes to engage communities—especially those experiencing vaccine hesitancy—to ensure scientific advances are both understood and effectively implemented.
“As an HIV researcher, I’m part of a field rooted in community engagement, but it’s easy to lose sight of that at the bench,” Claudia says. She joined KIICS to reconnect her work with the people it ultimately serves and to better understand what matters most to patients and clinicians.
Through clinical shadowing, Claudia gained insight into the complexity of patient-centered care. “I saw how factors like mental health, access to care, and social context influence treatment decisions,” she explains. “It reinforced how important it is for research to be not just effective, but also accessible and realistic for patients.” This experience deepened her appreciation for the importance of collaboration and communication across patients, clinicians, and researchers in advancing translational science.
