Dr. Maria Toro Moreno, a postdoctoral fellow at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, was named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna Gray Fellow. Jointly mentored by evolutionary biologist Dr. Harmit Malik and computational and molecular biologist Dr. Arvind “Rasi” Subramaniam, Toro Moreno studies microproteins. These tiny proteins, made up of fewer than 100 amino acids, have been mostly overlooked in biology. Toro Moreno is working to understand whether certain microproteins defend against infections like HIV and influenza, and whether they can shed light on how new genes arise and evolve.
Toro Moreno is one of 25 “outstanding” young scientists recognized by HHMI for their promise. Hanna Gray Fellows receive up to $1.4 million in financial support over eight years. The funding bridges their postdoctoral training and first years as independent investigators leading their own laboratories. HHMI developed the Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program to increase diversity in biomedical science by recruiting and retaining individuals from groups currently underrepresented in the life sciences and by creating inclusive environments in which all scientists can thrive.
