Kamena Kostova, Ph.D., a
molecular biologist from Carnegie Science, will open her lab at the
Stowers Institute in Fall 2024.
KANSAS
CITY, Mo., April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --
The Stowers Institute for Medical Research announces the
appointment of Kamena Kostova,
Ph.D., as its newest Principal Investigator. Kostova, an
accomplished cellular and molecular biologist, will join the
Institute as an Assistant Investigator in Fall 2024.
Kostova is currently an Independent Fellow at Carnegie's
Biosphere Sciences and Engineering Division in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Kostova Lab seeks to uncover how complex conditions
such as cancer and neurodegeneration first begin by studying
biological processes within the parts of our cells that produce
proteins. Kostova's team hopes to unlock new insights into how we
could one day better treat and potentially prevent such
diseases.
"We are delighted to welcome and count Dr. Kamena Kostova as our newest Principal
Investigator at the Stowers Institute," said Alejandro Sánchez
Alvarado, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of the
Stowers Institute. "Her expertise and commitment to scientific
innovation add meaningfully and tangibly to the Institute's mission
to uncover fundamental principles of biology with the goal of one
day contributing to the understanding of human disease."
During her time at Carnegie, Kostova received the prestigious
Director's Early Independence Award from the National Institutes of
Health in 2019. This accolade recognized Kostova as one of the
nation's "exceptional junior scientists," providing her the
opportunity to bypass traditional postdoctoral training and
transition directly into her own research lab.
"The appointment of Kamena further enhances the Institute's
robust team of Investigators, each exploring bold topics in the
biological life sciences," Sánchez Alvarado said. "She joins three
other new Investigators recently appointed to the Institute within
the past year, recruited from MIT,
Princeton, and NYU. Together, this new class of early-career
scientists solidifies our commitment to attracting the best and
brightest in their fields."
Kostova's research is centered around a key component of the
cell – the ribosome – the molecular machine found inside a cell
responsible for creating proteins.
"One aspect of my lab's research explores changes to ribosomes
that often accompany human diseases such as cancer and
neurodegeneration," Kostova explained. "We've identified a new
class of defects, and we're investigating how these broken
ribosomes can ultimately facilitate disease initiation and
progression."
"Kamena's research is attempting to fill important gaps in our
knowledge surrounding human health and disease," said Stowers
Institute Scientific Director Kausik
Si, Ph.D. "The Institute's mission is to uncover the
secrets of life and Kamena's work goes to the heart of this
secret."
Originally from Bulgaria,
Kostova's passion for science stems from the boundless curiosity
surrounding unanswered questions in the field.
"Science offers endless opportunities for exploration and
discovery that can truly make an impact on people's lives. I am
excited to embark on this journey at the Stowers Institute," she
shared.
About the Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Founded in 1994 through the generosity of Jim Stowers, founder of American Century
Investments, and his wife, Virginia, the Stowers Institute for
Medical Research is a non-profit, biomedical research organization
with a focus on foundational research. Its mission is to expand our
understanding of the secrets of life and improve life's quality
through innovative approaches to the causes, treatment, and
prevention of diseases.
The Institute consists of 21 independent research programs. Of
the approximately 500 members, over 370 are scientific staff that
include principal investigators, technology center directors,
postdoctoral scientists, graduate students, and technical support
staff. Learn more about the Institute
at www.stowers.org and about its graduate program at
www.stowers.org/gradschool.
Media Contact:
Joe
Chiodo, Head of Media Relations
724.462.8529
press@stowers.org
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SOURCE Stowers Institute for Medical Research