Shared By: Jane Alvarez-Hernandez Juan Pablo Palavicini, PhD, from The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) Health Science Center, received a $150,000 University of Texas System Rising STARs (Science and Technology Acquisition and Retention) award to fuel research into the mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease and brain aging. Palavicini, an assistant professor in the Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology at UT San Antonio Health Science Center’s Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, is also an investigator at the institution’s Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies. “The funds from the UT System STARs award will support the creation of a multidisciplinary research pipeline focused on Alzheimer’s disease and brain aging,” Palavicini said. “The award will fund the purchase of an IntelliCage system for advanced behavioral studies, upgrades to equipment for enhanced tissue imaging and updates to an assay platform for live-cell analysis. These resources will enable comprehensive research that benefits both the lab and the wider UT San Antonio and health science center communities. This award reinforces my commitment to the Health Science Center and inspires me continue contributing to this vibrant scientific community.” “It is a great honor for Dr. Palavicini to receive the UT System Rising STARs award as this will certainly advance his independent research career and significantly contribute to the institution’s research mission,” said Blake Rasmussen, PhD, chair and professor in Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology at the Health Science Center and investigator with the Barshop Institute. In August 2004, The University of Texas System Board of Regents approved an allocation of funds to be awarded to UT system institutions to help attract and retain the best qualified faculty across its 13 academic and health institutions across Texas. https://news.uthscsa.edu/ut-system-stars-award-fuels-alzheimers-and-brain-aging-research-at-ut-san-antonio-health-science-center/

Tanvi enjoys the vibrant architecture and timeless heritage of southern India, where her family is originally from. We are thrilled to announce that Tanvi Reddy has joined the Palavicini Lab as a summer student! Tanvi is currently pursuing an Economics major at The University of Texas at Austin, where she has maintained a remarkable 3.92 GPA. Join us in welcoming Tanvi to the Palavicini Lab—where her passion for science, service, and community will undoubtedly make a positive impact. We look forward to seeing all that she will accomplish with us this summer!

We are excited to announce that Dr. Palavicini has been selected to participate in the 32nd Annual Summer Training Course in Experimental Aging Research, hosted by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, California, from September 8–12, 2025. This highly competitive program brings together a select group of early-career scientists from across the country for an intensive week of lectures, hands-on workshops, and discussions led by leading experts in the field of aging research. As part of the training, participants will engage in research proposal development with valuable feedback from senior faculty, simulating the experience of an NIA study section. Dr. Palavicini looks forward to new insights and collaborations that will emerge from this unique opportunity.

Adolfo, an undergraduate at Northwest Vista College and the first Plus+STEM intern in the Palavicini lab We are excited to welcome Adolfo to the Palavicini Lab! Adolfo is an undergraduate from Northwest Vista College and joins us as the very first participant in the Plus+STEM Internship Program. Adolfo’s internship will last one year, during which he will be involved in an exciting research project exploring the effects of ceramide-lowering therapy on genetically diverse (UM-HET3) mice. We’re thrilled to have his curiosity and enthusiasm contributing to this important work over the coming year. Welcome to the team, Adolfo, we look forward to supporting your growth as a scientist!

Adolfo presenting his research at the Northwest Vista College Plus+STEM event. Adolfo shared his research on the effects of ceramide lowering therapy on body weight in a genetically diverse mouse line during the Plus+STEM event at Northwest Vista College. We are proud to celebrate Adolfo as the first Plus+STEM program student to join the Palavicini Lab! The Plus+STEM program (“Portal Leading to Undergraduate Success in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math”) is dedicated to increasing access, success, and degree completion in STEM for students from Hispanic, low-income, and underrepresented backgrounds. The program offers paid research internships, academic support, and robust hands-on learning experiences to help students excel and transfer to four-year degrees. Special thanks to Dr. Prakash Nair (Plus+STEM Principal Investigator and former UT Health San Antonio investigator), whose leadership and commitment have made these opportunities possible for talented young scientists in our community!

Klarisse receives her Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy completion certificate –celebrating her achievement as the first Voelcker Scholar in the Palavicini Lab! Congratulations to Klarisse Echevarria Velazquez for graduating from the prestigious Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy (VBRA) –and for making history as the first Voelcker Scholar in the Palavicini Lab! The Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy is a highly selective, three-year program at UT Health San Antonio that offers outstanding high school students in the San Antonio area an immersive research experience. Scholars work alongside leading biomedical scientists, engage in hands-on projects, and participate in academic enrichment and college-prep activities throughout the school year. Supported by the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund, VBRA is dedicated to empowering the next generation of biomedical leaders. During her time as a Voelcker Scholar, Klarisse contributed to our lab’s research on the effects of ceramide-lowering therapy on lifespan in an inbred mouse line. We are proud to celebrate Klarisse’s accomplishments and look forward to all the future contributions she will make in biomedical science! A heartfelt thank you note from Klarisse, expressing her gratitude for mentorship, support, and the research experiences she gained throughout her time as a Voelcker Scholar. Her words beautifully capture the impact that encouragement and opportunity can have on aspiring young scientists!

Dr. Palavicini was among a select group of six junior investigators invited to participate in the 2025 CCAD Reunion in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Organized by New Vision Research (NVR), CCAD is recognized as a leading, highly selective conference in the Alzheimer’s field. NVR is transforming medical research funding by supporting early-career scientists with innovative ideas-especially those pursuing high-impact, boundary-pushing projects. The CCAD reunion brings together emerging leaders and fosters collaboration to advance Alzheimer’s research. Thank you to NVR for this incredible opportunity! CCAD25 reunion attendees . Top row: CCAD mentors (first row) Joseph Helpern (center), Ralph Nixon (left), and Malú Tansey (right). Do you spot our existing collaborators? (Hint: Sarah Hopp, Miranda Orr, and Valentina Garbarino). We're also excited to start collaborating with new friends like Shannon Macauley and others. Notably, this was Dr. Palavicini’s first visit back to Puerto Rico since graduating from the University of Puerto Rico. JP was joined by his wife and daughter, making this trip a special family occasion. JP with his wife and daughter enjoying a beautiful day in El Viejo San Juan, with the stunning Atlantic Ocean in the backdrop.

Eduardo proudly presenting his poster The Palavicini lab was proud to be represented at the 2025 American Association of Immunologists (AAI) meeting in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Eduardo showcased his research with a poster titled “ In vitro and In vivo Neuroinflammatory Responses to LPS in Plcg2-Deficient Mice ”. This year’s conference brought together over 3,500 scientists from around the world to share the latest advances in immunology and foster new collaborations. Eduardo attended the meeting with his wife, who is also pursuing her PhD and presented her own research at the conference. After the meeting, Eduardo and his wife took a couple extra days to soak up the beautiful Hawaiian sunshine and explore the island together. It was a perfect way to unwind and celebrate their hard work at IMMUNOLOGY2025! Eduardo and his wife, Maria -also an IBMS PhD student-, hiking and enjoying the stunning panoramic views that Hawaii’s lush landscapes and scenic trails have to offer.

Hamid Koroni (left) presenting his award-winning poster alongside his summer mentor Dr. Juan Pablo Palavicini at the 2025 MSTAR Consortium Meeting. We are proud to announce that Hamid has successfully completed the highly competitive MSTAR (Medical Student Training in Aging Research) program. Capping off a summer of outstanding research and learning, Hamid was recognized with a Poster Award at the 2025 MSTAR Consortium Meeting! 👏🏻 This year’s meeting took place July 18–19 in San Antonio, bringing together participants and mentors from UT Health San Antonio, UT Health Houston, UTMB Health, and UT Southwestern. Hamid delivered both an oral and a poster presentation, sharing his research on ceramide-lowering therapy and its effects on metabolic health in aged male mice. His dedication, clarity, and passion were evident to all, earning him a well-deserved award. The Palavicini Lab is incredibly proud of Hamid’s impact and success. Too bad we only had them for 8 weeks, which was enough to come up with a significant discovery about how ceramide-lowering therapy improves glucose tolerance! Congratulations on representing our lab with excellence Hamid!

Eduardo proudly stands after passing his Qualifying Exam with honors We are proud to announce a historic milestone: Eduardo has become the very first PhD candidate from the Palavicini Lab, having passed his Qualifying Exam with honors! This outstanding accomplishment is a testament to Eduardo’s dedication, passion for science, and commitment to excellence. He is not only blazing a trail for future students in the lab but also raising the bar for what it means to be a scholar and researcher. We would also like to acknowledge that Eduardo’s journey as a PhD candidate is supported by a collaborative mentorship. He is co-mentored by Dr. Sarah Hopp, and we are grateful for her invaluable guidance and expertise. Congratulations, Eduardo, on this major achievement –and welcome to candidacy! We look forward to your continued success in this exciting next chapter.

Dr. Palavicini was selected to participate as a "Rising Star" during the AGS/NIA R13 Bench-to-Bedside “ Stress Tests and Biomarkers of Resilience ” Conference, which took place in Bethesda, MD on March 4-5, 2024. In addition, he received a travel scholarship to attend this conference.

Eduardo Gutierrez Kuri, a second year PhD student, was selected to present at the 2024 Masoro Barshop Conference on Aging. He summarized his work regarding the effects of LPS-induced neuroinflammation in the context of PLCγ2 deficiency, a collaborative project with Dr. Sarah Hopp. We are interested in the PLCG2 gene because it has been strongly associated with both Alzheimer's and longevity. Also, Coco Taylor Start, a first year PhD student that rotated in the lab, presented a poster at the Conference, summarizing the effects of rapamycin on lipid metabolism in marmosets, a collaborative project with Drs. Adam Salmon and Amrita Kamat.