UT Southwestern renewed as Amgen Scholar site with two-year grant

Medical Center part of elite group of 14 U.S. institutions providing undergrads with valuable research experience

Published on: November 15, 2023 By: Sharon Reynolds

Amgen Grant 2023 — Amgen Scholars from UT Southwestern’s 2023 cohort gather for a photo with Arnaldo Diaz Vazquez, Ph.D. (right), who oversees UTSW’s program. UT Southwestern just received renewal of a grant as one of 14 U.S. institutions to provide undergraduates with summer research experience.

UT Southwestern will continue to offer undergraduate students exceptional hands-on research training opportunities, thanks to the recent extension of a grant from the Amgen Foundation. Students worldwide have discovered their potential for success in science and biomedicine through the Amgen Scholars Program at UTSW and other participating institutions, made possible through a commitment exceeding $80 million from the Foundation.

Since 2007, more than 5,300 Amgen Scholars have participated in this intensive summer research program, representing over 900 undergraduate colleges and universities across the U.S. and internationally. Many Amgen alumni have gone on to pursue advanced degrees, and the program has continued to be a springboard into careers in science, particularly in biomedical fields.

2019 Amgen Scholar Keerthana Stanley working in the lab of Todd Roberts, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neuroscience.

In 2018, the Foundation awarded an initial four-year grant to UT Southwestern, which joined an elite group of 14 U.S. institutions and 25 worldwide selected to host this prestigious program. The Foundation’s generous two-year renewal grant to all selected institutions covers 2024 and 2025, enabling UTSW to continue the program for undergrads planning to pursue either a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. degree.

“We’ve been so proud to see the many education and career journeys that our Amgen Scholars alumni have pursued across the sciences. With this new funding, the Amgen Foundation aims to continue to empower the next generation of innovators, dedicated to making significant contributions to the world of science,” said Scott Heimlich, Ph.D., President of the Amgen Foundation.

Arnaldo Diaz Vazquez, Ph.D., Associate Dean of the UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences who oversees UTSW’s Amgen Scholars Program, said he is inspired by the program’s impact.

“The Amgen Scholars Program offers a comprehensive curriculum with mentored research experience, seminars by world-renowned scientists, professional development, and community-building activities,” Dr. Diaz Vazquez said. “The program has given students from different walks of life a platform to gain meaningful research experiences and leverage the skills to take their careers to the next level.”

Amgen Scholars immerse themselves in 10 weeks of science and discovery, becoming active, contributing members of the UTSW collaborative, cross-disciplinary scientific community. Since 2019, 61 undergrads have participated in UTSW’s program, pursuing investigative discovery alongside esteemed faculty scientists while gaining invaluable insights into the planning, discipline, and teamwork involved in innovative biomedical research.

Each summer program culminates with the North American Amgen Scholars Program Symposium attended by Amgen Scholars from the U.S. and Canada. Students interact with leading industry and academic scientists, share their summer research projects with peers, and leave with a better understanding of drug discovery and development.

Todd Aguilera, M.D., wearing white coat, stands talking with Amgen Scholar Isaac Montgomery student seated at counter with test tubes

2022 Amgen Scholar Isaac Montgomery (right) is now a student in UT Southwestern's Postbaccalaureate to Ph.D. Program working in the lab of Todd Aguilera, M.D., Ph.D., (left) Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology. Mr. Montgomery aspires to work as a physician-scientist in oncology.

Designation as an Amgen Scholars institution solidifies UT Southwestern’s stature as an elite biomedical research center and breaks down barriers for students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to engage in science at a top educational and research facility. Financial support – a critical component of the program – ensures that all eligible students can participate, regardless of their status. UT Southwestern’s Amgen Scholars Program is developing future scientists, raising scientific literacy, and empowering the next generation of problem solvers to change the world in extraordinary ways.

“The program has been instrumental in cultivating and attracting talent from across the country to our campus and, combined with our esteemed faculty commitment to mentorship, has taken this initiative to new heights,” Dr. Diaz Vazquez said.

UT Southwestern began accepting applications for the 2024 Amgen Scholars Program on Nov. 1. For more information or to complete an application, visit the Amgen Scholars Program page and follow the program on X at @UTSWNews and @AmgenFoundation.

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UTSW Amgen alumni share inspirations

Below are spotlights of past UTSW Amgen Scholars destined to make their marks in biomedical science based on their experience in this program.

Emma Parks
UTSW Amgen Scholar 2019 (inaugural class)

Emma Parks was studying chemical and biomedical engineering as an undergrad at Carnegie Mellon University at the time she was accepted into UTSW’s inaugural Amgen Scholars Program. Drawn by UTSW’s unique breadth of medical and scientific expertise and wide range of laboratories, she immersed herself into science – an experience that solidified her passion for research.

Ms. Parks’ Amgen Scholars project focused on nanoparticle-mediated cancer immunotherapy under the mentorship of Wen Jiang, M.D., Ph.D., former Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at UTSW. She studied how a certain type of immune cells – called dendritic cells – respond to cancer radiation therapy. Surprisingly, based on the sex of the mice, she discovered significant differences in the cancer-targeting ability of dendritic cells after radiation.

“As a woman in science, I really loved researching sex differences in immune response because it is such an important and understudied topic,” she said. “All my lab members were really invested in my training, and I learned many new scientific techniques that I didn’t have access to at my undergraduate lab.”

After spending her summer in the Amgen program, she decided to return to UT Southwestern and enroll in the M.D./Ph.D. program. Ms. Parks plans to pursue a career as a physician-scientist in an academic medical setting.

“As a researcher, I intend to study how and why the immune system handicaps itself to ignore cancer cells. As a doctor, I will study internal medicine and treat cancer patients in the hospital when they are at their most vulnerable. I believe that using my research to inform my medical care, and vice versa, is the best way to bring novel therapies to patients in need.”

Ian Costello
UTSW Amgen Scholar 2023

Current status: Senior at The University of Tulsa

UTSW mentor: David Mangelsdorf, Ph.D., Chair and Professor of Pharmacology, Professor of Biochemistry, and a member of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center

Amgen project: Identified target regions of activity of a stress hormone called FGF21 in the brains of mice.

Reflection: “I chose UTSW because it offered great projects relevant to my field of interest. My experience as an Amgen Scholar gave me insight into a career in research and reaffirmed my decision to pursue graduate school. I was supported by outstanding mentors who taught me so much about finding success in science. Now I am confident that the path I’m choosing will be fulfilling and promising.”

Madeline Brown
UTSW Amgen Scholar 2022

Current status: A 2022 graduate of the University of California San Diego, Ms. Brown works as a Research Associate in the Skeletal and Translational Research Laboratory at UCSD and is applying to M.D./Ph.D. programs.

UTSW mentor: Daniel Siegwart, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Biochemistry and a member of the Simmons Cancer Center

Amgen project: Altered the chemical structure of permanently cationic selective organ-targeting (SORT) lipids to define proteins that play critical roles in organ targeting.

Reflection: “Before becoming an Amgen Scholar, I was undecided about my career path, trying to choose between my passion for research and my burgeoning interest in medicine. I was introduced to the M.D./Ph.D. career path through Amgen and immediately everything clicked. UTSW appealed to me due to the caliber and scope of research and the collaborative nature of the campus. This experience solidified my desire to pursue a career as an M.D./Ph.D.”

Isaac Montgomery
UTSW Amgen Scholar 2022

Current status: A 2023 graduate of Baylor University, Mr. Montgomery is a student in the Postbaccalaureate to Ph.D. Program at UT Southwestern and works in the lab of Todd Aguilera, M.D., Ph.D.

UTSW mentor: Dr. Aguilera, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology and a member of the Simmons Cancer Center

Amgen project: Determined how Axl modulates the ability of dendritic cells to present tumor antigens in T cells.

Reflection: “My Amgen experience was incredibly positive. I learned important techniques that I brought back to my undergraduate institution, participated in journal clubs, and attended lectures that helped me understand what is happening in research today. I would not have been accepted into the UTSW Postbaccalaureate to Ph.D. Program without the connections I made and skills I learned as an Amgen Scholar. I hope to earn a dual M.D./Ph.D. degree and work as a physician-scientist in oncology.”