![](\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260604919422\/en\/2824623\/5\/Elmezzi_Grad-81.jpg\")
<\/a><\/a>![](\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260604919422\/en\/766145\/5\/Feinstein_logo.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/a><\/a>\nThe Elmezzi Graduate School is a PhD program for physicians seeking careers in biomedical research. Elmezzi students conduct research in Feinstein Institutes laboratories to develop new biomedical knowledge, therapeutic approaches and diagnostic tools. The Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine is supported, in part, through a generous endowment from The Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Foundation.<\/p>
\n\u201cThis year\u2019s Elmezzi commencement is a testament to the Feinstein Institutes\u2019 dedication to producing knowledge to cure disease,\u201d said Bettie M. Steinberg, PhD<\/a>, interim dean of the Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine and professor in the Feinstein Institutes\u2019 Institute of Molecular Medicine<\/a>. \u201cOur graduates represent the vital next generation of scientists, positioned to transform groundbreaking discoveries from the lab into tangible, life-changing therapies for patients.\u201d<\/p> \nDr. Bekiaridou\u2019s research under Stavros Zanos, MD, PhD<\/a>, associate professor in the Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine<\/a> at the Feinstein Institutes, focused on the intricate relationship between the spleen and its innervation in regulating immune cell programming during Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). Dr. Bekiaridou\u2019s findings, which demonstrated how splenic norepinephrine can influence the migration of myeloid cells from the spleen to the lung in the diseases and offers insights that could support the development of novel treatments targeting inflammation in PAH.<\/p> \nFellow graduate Dr. Hollis \u2013 whose research under Ping Wang, MD<\/a>, chief scientific officer at the Feinstein Institutes, and Monowar Aziz, PhD<\/a>, associate professor in the Institute of Molecular Medicine<\/a> at the Feinstein Institutes \u2013 investigated new treatments for mesenteric ischemia, a deadly disease in which the small intestine\u2019s blood supply is cut off. Dr. Hollis analyzed how the peptide MOP3, developed in Dr. Wang\u2019s lab, prevents overactivation of the immune system when toxins from the injured intestine are released. MOP3 scavenges these toxins, namely eCIRP, and helps convert macrophages to anti-inflammatory immune cells. This process limits the damage to vital organs and promotes recovery.<\/p> \n\u201cThroughout the history of medicine, physician-scientists have fueled new innovations and discoveries that are essential for a healthier world,\u201d said Kevin J. Tracey, MD<\/a>, president and CEO of Feinstein Institutes and Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research. \u201cOur Elmezzi graduates are prepared to lead the development of breakthrough therapies and diagnostics.\u201d<\/p> \nThe two honorary degrees recipients were Dr. Bargmann, the Torsten N. Wiesel professor and head of the Lulu and Anthony Wang Laboratory of Neural Circuits and Behavior at The Rockefeller University, and Dr. Mak, the senior scientific staff at the Ontario Cancer Institute and professor in the Departments of Medical Biophysics & Immunology University of Toronto, Ontario. Dr. Bargmann was recognized for her groundbreaking work on the relationships between genes, neural circuits and behaviors, particularly her insights into sensory recognition and innate behaviors. Dr. Mak was recognized for his pioneering discoveries in the genetics and molecular biology of cancer and the immune system, including cloning the human TCR\u00df chain (foundational for CAR-T therapy) and identifying CTLA4\u2019s role in T cell regulation (paving the way for checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies). Dr. Mak was also recognized for his entrepreneurial impact, including co-founding companies that have developed FDA-approved cancer treatments.<\/p> \nTo find out more about the Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine and its programs click here<\/a>.<\/p> \nAbout The Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine\n \nAbout the Feinstein Institutes\n