Fain selected for Howard Hughes cohort
Today, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) announced the selection of the newest Hanna H. Gray Fellows, a cohort of 25 early career scientists who have demonstrated a commitment to making foundational discoveries while building an inclusive culture in academic science. Among them is postdoctoral research fellow Cori Fain, PhD, a member of the Harty Laboratory within the UI Department of Pathology. Fain is the first-ever Hanna Gray Fellow from the University of Iowa.
“Being selected for the Hanna Gray Fellowship is an incredible honor,” Fain says. “For me, this award validates that my ideas are worth investing in for the future, and that my commitment to pursuing interdisciplinary research is valuable to the scientific endeavor.”
Fain’s research explores how the body’s past pathogen infections can alter the brain’s landscape and function, potentially accelerating brain aging. By investigating mechanisms of tissue-resident memory T cell accumulation in the brain and the role of these specialized immune cells in the decline of the brain’s ability to generate new neurons, she seeks to understand the relationship between immune memory and neuronal memory.
“This work bridges immunology and neuroscience, providing novel insights into how immune challenges may have long-term effects on cognitive and neural function,” Fain says.
HHMI will invest up to $1.5 million in support for each fellow over the course of up to eight years, spanning postdoctoral training through transition to starting their independent lab as a faculty member. This support allows each fellow the freedom to pursue challenging scientific questions at the forefront of their fields. Fain’s eight-year award could have far-reaching impact, she says, influencing medical understanding of learning, memory, and repair after brain injury.
This work bridges immunology and neuroscience, providing novel insights into how immune challenges may have long-term effects on cognitive and neural function.
“Clinically, this work could lead to new strategies to harness the immune system to mitigate neuroinflammation and preserve brain function in conditions involving memory loss, infection, cognitive impairment, mental health disorders, autoimmune diseases, aging and neurodegenerative disease development,” she says.
The newest cohort of Hanna Gray Fellows includes scientists working in research areas ranging from treatment-resistant cancers to sleep dysregulation to how animals evolved to live on land. Through their successful careers, Hanna Gray Fellows will move science forward and will recruit, mentor, and inspire the next generation of scientists from all backgrounds.
“HHMI is committed to investing in scientists who dare to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our lifetime,” said Leslie Vosshall, HHMI vice president and chief scientific officer. “Our Hanna Gray Fellows are not only exceptional scientists, but they are also leaders who have proven their dedication to creating a more inclusive future for science.”
“It means the world to me to know that I have gained this amazing community of scientists who support me in my transition to running my own independent research laboratory,” Fain says. “I am so grateful to join this supportive community and excited to continue the mission of commitment to excellence in science and inclusivity.”
A competition for the next group of Hanna Gray Fellows opens immediately. In 2025, the Institute will again select up to 25 fellows to be announced in early 2026. This competition is open to all eligible applicants and no nomination is required. More information is available on the HHMI website.