Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics
ITMAT Education and Training
Pre-doc Preparatory Program (P3) in Translational Research

Alumni Spotlights

Our alumni share a common passion for advancing rare disease research and building careers that integrate science and patient care. Each story reflects why they joined the P3 program—to strengthen research skills, gain insight into translational science, and connect with a supportive community of peers and mentors.

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    Lilia Kazerooni

    2024-2025 P3 Scholar

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    Lilia Kazerooni

    2024-2025 P3 Scholar

    Lilia is the lead Clinical Research Coordinator and Lab Manager for the Strategic Therapies for Overcoming Reactive iMmunology (STORM) Lab at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She manages multi-center collaborations and neurodiagnostic studies focused on Down syndrome and the role of neuroinflammation in comorbid conditions. Passionate about serving underserved communities, Lilia strives to bridge gaps in healthcare access and advocate for diversity and representation in research. As an aspiring physician-scientist, she aims to integrate inclusive healthcare values into her future practice.

    Lilia joined P3 to strengthen her foundational research skills and gain insight into the unique considerations of rare disease research. She describes P3’s diverse curriculum and global guest speakers as instrumental in her personal and professional growth. The program inspired her to pursue a career in medicine as a compassionate physician, creative scientist, and dedicated patient advocate.
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    Vanessa Smith

    2024-2025 P3 Scholar

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    Vanessa Smith

    2024-2025 P3 Scholar

    While participating in P3, Vanessa was a genetic counseling student at Vanderbilt University, conducting her thesis through the GLIA-CTN Myelin Disorders Biorepository Project at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Her research focused on identifying and evaluating clinical outcome assessments for individuals with Beta-Propeller Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration (BPAN). After graduating in May, she accepted a position at CHOP to continue BPAN research and support the genomics core within the Leukodystrophy Center. Vanessa is passionate about integrating research into her career as a genetic counselor to serve and empower rare disease communities.

    Vanessa applied to P3 to deepen her understanding of translational research and bridge gaps in her genetic counseling training. Through the program, she expanded her knowledge of research in clinical settings and valued opportunities to attend conferences, connect with her cohort, and network with professionals. P3 reinforced her commitment to patient-centered research and inspired her to pursue a career focused on advancing care for rare disease communities.
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    Aaliyah White

    2024-2025 P3 Scholar

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    Aaliyah White

    2024-2025 P3 Scholar

    Aliyah is a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Leukodystrophy Center of Excellence at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she supports studies on rare neurodegenerative diseases, including projects focused on Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome. She aspires to become a surgeon and values how her role at CHOP deepens her understanding of how translational research transforms scientific discoveries into meaningful improvements in patient care.

    Aliyah joined P3 to explore how research can shape clinical decision-making and enhance patient outcomes. The program broadened her perspective on the interplay between research and medicine and inspired her to integrate both into her future as a physician. One of the most rewarding aspects for Aliyah was connecting with a passionate, supportive community of peers and mentors committed to advancing science and care.
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    Laura Lentini

    2023-2024 P3 Scholar

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    Laura Lentini

    2023-2024 P3 Scholar

    Laura is a clinical neuroscience research coordinator at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada, specializing in leukodystrophies, particularly POLR3-related leukodystrophy. In addition to coordinating research, she has led studies examining the impact of this disease on caregivers. Laura aims to leverage her research experience to build a career in healthcare.

    Laura applied to P3 seeking guidance and deeper insight into rare disease translational research—from study design to clinical trials. She found that P3 went beyond technical training, offering professional skill development, opportunities to present research, engagement with advocacy groups, and exposure to diverse career paths. Laura describes the program as transformative and credits its strong community for making the experience highly applicable to a career in science and beyond.
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    Ellen Winter

    2023-2024 P3 Scholar

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    Ellen Winter

    2023-2024 P3 Scholar

    Ellen is a Clinical Research Coordinator II at Mass General Hospital’s Center for Rare Neurological Diseases, where she helps manage a gene therapy clinical trial for Canavan disease and conducts independent research on corticospinal tract lesions in adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) to improve pediatric screening. Her work builds on prior experience developing cellular models for fibrolamellar carcinoma, a rare pediatric liver cancer.

    Ellen joined P3 to connect with clinicians, researchers, and advocates dedicated to improving outcomes for rare disease communities. She valued the program’s comprehensive approach to translational research and its emphasis on patient-centered care. Ellen credits P3 with deepening her understanding of what it means to be a physician-scientist, a foundation she plans to carry forward into medical school.
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    Emma Kotes

    2022-2023 P3 Scholar

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    Emma Kotes

    2022-2023 P3 Scholar

    Emma is the lead coordinator for the GLIA-CTN Myelin Disorders Biorepository Project at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, overseeing enrollment of children with leukodystrophies across multiple sites and managing outcomes assessments for natural history studies. She also leads CHOP’s electronic health record extraction project to track key milestones such as g-tube placement and loss of ambulation, and supports the specialized BPAN clinic by facilitating natural history and quality-of-life surveys. Emma plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a pediatrician.

    Emma joined the P3 program to better understand how research fits into her future medical career. She credits P3 with providing mentorship, guidance, and the skills needed to explore the role of clinical research in shaping patient care. The experience strengthened her commitment to becoming a physician-scientist and enriched her professional journey.
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    Nico Modesti

    2022-2023 P3 Scholar

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    Nico Modesti

    2022-2023 P3 Scholar

    Nico is a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Leukodystrophy Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, supporting research projects on Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome. His work includes managing a large natural history study that retrospectively examines neurologic and systemic manifestations of the disorder, as well as contributing to CHOP’s baricitinib clinical trial, which helped pave the way for the medication’s commercial availability.

    Nico joined P3 to learn more about the rare disease community and gain insight into the path toward becoming a physician-scientist. He describes P3 as an exceptional experience that provided mentorship, professional development, and guidance beyond expectations. Nico values the connections he made and looks forward to reuniting with his cohort as they advance in their careers.
  • Photo of Lana Prieur

    Lana Prieur

    2022-2023 P3 Scholar

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    Lana Prieur

    2022-2023 P3 Scholar

    Lana is a clinical research coordinator at Penn Medicine’s Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders Center, where she leads coordination for studies including AMS05, iMSMS, VGL, and IGNITE, recruiting patients with multiple sclerosis and ALSP. She also serves as a phlebotomist for the neurology clinic, drawing blood for hundreds of patients, and facilitates new patient review meetings to set care plans. As an undergraduate at Penn, Lana fenced for the Quakers and conducted research at Platt Labs, publishing a study on leadership and group dynamics in online settings. She plans to become a physician specializing in neurology or emergency medicine and hopes to research ways to improve telehealth interactions.

    Before joining P3, Lana pursued fellowships focused on improving telemedicine and became a Rhodes nominee, Fulbright semifinalist, and Thouron finalist. She realized her proposal was translational but lacked a deep understanding of the field. P3 provided the grounding she needed, teaching her what it takes to make research and change happen—including institutional, political, financial, and emotional considerations. Lana describes the program as transformative, giving her greater maturity and understanding to approach her goals, and she is grateful for the mentorship and enthusiastic peer community.