Three students from Penn State College of Medicine were named among the 42 recipients of the Graduate Student Awards, according to an April 15 announcement. Alexandra Nusawardhana, Ioannis Mouratidis, and Esma Yerlikaya each received the Alumni Association Dissertation Award, which is one of the most prestigious honors for doctoral students at Penn State.
The awards recognize graduate students for their achievements in research, teaching, mentoring, and outreach. Supported by the President’s Office and administered by the Fox Graduate School, these awards highlight work that demonstrates innovation and societal impact across a range of disciplines.
“These remarkable students make us incredibly proud,” said Karen Kim, MD, MS, dean of the College of Medicine. “Their curiosity, creativity, and dedication embody the very best of our College. Through their research, they’re not only advancing science but also helping shape a healthier future for communities here in Pennsylvania and beyond.”
Nusawardhana studies EXO1—a protein involved in DNA repair—to better understand genomic instability in cancer therapy. “My research investigates how EXO1 influences genomic instability in cancer cells and how we can target this pathway to improve the effectiveness of cancer therapies,” Nusawardhana said. She added that her findings could lead to improved targeted therapies with fewer side effects: “My work identifies EXO1 as a potential biomarker for personalized medicine and as a target for new drug development.”
Mouratidis develops computational tools using machine learning to analyze large genomic datasets. His work centers on identifying short DNA sequences called neomers that emerge due to tumor mutations: “Neomers are sequences that are absent from the human genome but emerge in cancer patients due to tumor mutations,” he said. He noted this approach may allow early detection through blood tests: “Diagnosing cancer early allows treatment with curative intent and often full recovery.”
Yerlikaya focuses on diabetic retinopathy—the leading cause of blindness worldwide—by studying SYK protein activity in retinal glial cells: “I discovered that in diabetes SYK acts like a switch that turns on abnormal retinal cell behavior… By keeping this switch turned off we hope to protect the retina and save vision,” she said. Yerlikaya emphasized her goal is prevention rather than treating late-stage disease: “By identifying SYK as a key driver… we have a new therapeutic target.”
The recognition highlights Penn State College of Medicine’s commitment to training clinical researchers who aim to advance science and improve lives.
