Scientists from the Scripps Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute and their colleagues at Boston University have described their discovery of several novel drug-like inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). These new inhibitors have the potential to substantially widen the current options to treat HCV infection.
Scientists from the Scripps Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute and their colleagues at Boston University have described their discovery of several novel drug-like inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). These new inhibitors have the potential to substantially widen the current options to treat HCV infection.
Challenges can make people crumble and surrender or spur them to fight harder to succeed.
Donny Strosberg, a biochemist at The Scripps Research Institute's Florida campus in Jupiter, falls into the later category.
A professor in the department of infectology, Strosberg has experienced his share of challenges — what he calls head winds — but those obstacles have not been able to dampen the hearty enthusiasm he has for his research, his family and life.
A team from The Scripps Research Institute has found a way to inhibit viral production of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The advance has the potential to accelerate future research on the virus life cycle and to aid in the development of novel HVC drugs.
By Laura Biedron
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS
The promise of local participation in Palm Beach County’s burgeoning bio-tech industry was among the many things promised by those who supported taxpayer subsidy of Scripps Florida and others in locating here.
And that local participation is coming to pass.
Recently three local high school students and three local returning university students completed a Scripps Florida summer intern program at the Scripps Florida facilities on the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Jupiter. The students were:
• Christine Chapman, of Boca Raton Community High School, interned in the Department of Informatics.
• Shekinah Fashaw, of Atlantic Community High School, interned in the Deptartment of Cancer Biology.
• Aruna Khan, of Florida Atlantic University, a 2006 high school intern at Scripps, interned in Department of Molecular Therapeutics.
• Samantha Klasfeld, of Spanish River High School, interned in the Department of Infectology.
• Maria Narvaez, of Saint Andrew's School, interned in Translational Research Institute Discovery Biology.
• Mike Qian, of Atlantic Community High School, interned in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences.
These six individuals were among the 17 students selected from a record number of 130 applicants, said Deborah Leach-Scampavia, the education and outreach administrator for Scripps Florida.
Samantha Klasfeld -- Spanish River High School’s (SR) only student to be selected for an internship -- said she was president of the biotech club at SR -- studying genetic modification of plants -- when her teacher suggested she apply for the intern program.
Klasfeld, 17, said she worked in the Scripps Florida lab for six weeks, Monday through Friday, 8-5 pm, and resided on the nearby FAU campus. On campus, her time was spent in the Department of Infectology, working alongside Professor A. Donny Strosberg, PhD, teacher and mentor, specifically studying the structure and background of Hepatitis C, she said.
According to Klasfeld, Professor Strosberg has been working to design a vaccine for Hepatitis C – a virus, she said, which has no current prevention method, only a treatment.
Since three percent of the world is chronically infected with Hepatitis C, Klasfeld said she was very excited to be involved in such a groundbreaking study – and grateful for “lab time.”
“Getting a head start at 17 years old is the coolest thing ever,” said Klasfeld, adding she will use the lab experience and techniques acquired well into the future.
This year is also the first time since the program’s inception four years ago, that intern alumni, currently university students, returned as interns, said administrator Leach-Scampavia. According to Klasfeld this was a very beneficial addition to the program; she was able to look up to these returning interns as mentors.
Having graduated, all interns who participated in this year’s intern summer program have returned home to resume the summer.
“Cross country camp,” laughed Klasfeld.
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A team from The Scripps Research Institute has found a way to inhibit viral production of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). To view more: click here.
