Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Assistant Professor Corina Amor Vegas has been named a 2025 Freeman Hrabowski Scholar by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Freeman Hrabowski Scholars are appointed for up to two five-year terms and receive up to $8.6 million to support their research.
“This will provide us with the resources and the freedom to explore new, high-risk, bold ideas in aging research that we wouldn’t be able to do with traditional funding sources,” Amor Vegas says.
Amor Vegas studies cellular senescence—when cells stop dividing but don’t die. Senescent cells can contribute to chronic inflammation. They play a key role in aging and have been linked to cancer, fibrosis, and dementia. Amor Vegas recently harnessed the power of CAR T cells to eliminate built-up senescent cells in mice.
The HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholars program supports outstanding early-career scientists who have a strong potential to become future leaders in their fields.
“A big plus of this program is that it also provides mentoring and professional development resources to enhance scientific leadership skills,” Amor Vegas says. “I’m excited to learn from this opportunity and to develop my skills both within my lab and with the external scientific community.”
Written by: Nick Wurm, Communications Specialist | wurm@cshl.edu | 516-367-5940