Molly Thorson, Ph.D.
Kellogg Post-Doc Receives Prestigious NIH Grant Molly Thorson, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at Kellogg, have much to learn about how it’s built and maintained has received a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research through the life of the cell.” Service Award (NRSA), or F32, from the National InstiThe outer segment is constructed of stacks of tutes of Health (NIH)/National Eye Institute (NEI). Dr. flattened membranous disks. Using a mouse model, Thorson has been part of the lab of investigator Jillian Dr. Thorson has identified several proteins involved in Pearring, Ph.D., since 2020, focusing on retinal cell that specialized architecture. Her work will provide a biology. more detailed blueprint of how This fellowship provides those proteins form the disk THIS AWARD IS REALLY A TESTAMENT postdoctoral scientists with architecture in a healthy cell, TO KELLOGG’S COMMITMENT TO AND three years of funding for laying the foundation for studLEADERSHIP IN BASIC SCIENCE EYE research and professional ies of how changes in specific development to maximize their proteins might alter the architecRESEARCH. IT’S A WIN FOR US ALL. potential for success as investure, possibly contributing — Molly Thorson, Ph.D. tigators in their chosen health to retinal degeneration. specialty. The F32 award recognizes The F32 is among the most highly sought after not only the potential impact of Dr. Thorson’s work, but government awards in academic medicine. By some the depth and breadth of resources and support availestimates, as few as 500 to 700 individuals across all able at Kellogg. “In addition to a rigorous evaluation of NIH medical specialties receive support from an F32 my proposed research, the reviewers considered the fellowship each year. The NEI awards only 14 to 16 F32 many ways Kellogg makes projects like mine possible,” grants each year. Dr. Thorson says. That includes the impressive track The projects funded by Dr. Thorson’s F32 involve record of Dr. Pearring and her lab, and the training, the study of the outer segment of rod photoreceptors research cores and data analysis capabilities available within retinal cells. here. “The outer segment is highly organized to maxi“This award is really a testament to Kellogg’s mize light capture,” she explains. “It’s within that tiny commitment to and leadership in basic science eye architectural marvel that vision originates, yet we still research,” she adds. “It’s a win for us all.”
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