Vincent Peng, an MD/PhD student in the Colonna Lab in the Department of Pathology & Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine, and Renee Wu, an MD/PhD student in the Murphy Lab in the Department of Pathology & Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine, were recently selected as Olin Fellows. Olin Fellowships are presented to PhD and MD/PhD students conducting research in the biomedical sciences in any Washington University graduate program who have made significant contributions, and demonstrated the potential to become outstanding research scientists. Olin Fellows are recognized at a dinner held in their honor and receive a $1,000 award, courtesy of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).
Both Peng and Wu are MSTP students. Peng’s research in the Colonna Lab focuses on a class of innate immune cells called innate lymphoid cells, which are lymphocytes that lack specific antigen receptors, and their potential impacts on human health and diseases.
“This award is an important recognition of our work on understanding innate lymphoid cells and their role in autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. All of this would not have been possible without the immense support of my mentor Dr. Marco Colonna and the opportunity to conduct exciting and impactful science in his lab. My scientific growth also benefitted from the collegiality and scientific insight of the Immunology Graduate Program under the leadership of Dr. Gwen Randolph,” Peng said.
Wu’s research in the Murphy Lab focuses on how to overcome limitations of current cancer immunotherapies.
