University of Iowa graduate student Pravda Quiñones-Labernik has been named to the 2025 cohort of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam Fellows Program.
The Gilliam Fellows Program launches promising PhD students into impactful scientific research careers with up to three years of dissertation support and numerous opportunities to connect with peers, program alumni, and HHMI scientists at every career stage.
“To me, this award is more than encouragement, it’s affirmation that I’m on the right path,” Quiñones-Labernik says. "This award is a recognition that basic science is essential to driving innovation, developing new therapeutic targets, and advancing patient care. Just as importantly, it affirms what I have always known: that the University of Iowa is a place where high-level biomedical research thrives because of its collaborative spirit, strong mentorship, and shared commitment to discovery.”
Quiñones-Labernik, whose PhD advisors are Ted Abel, PhD, and Sarah Ferri, PhD, was selected from more than 800 applicants to the fellowship program. Currently supported by funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) predoctoral training program in pharmacological sciences, her research project examines the neurobiological mechanisms that might explain why neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism, are more common in boys.
“For Pravda this will be an exceptional opportunity to join a prestigious community of supportive and accomplished leaders in the field, foster her growth as an independent scientist, and communicate her research to a broad audience,” says Ferri, UI assistant professor of pediatrics-developmental and behavioral pediatrics. “This award also highlights the impactful work being done at the University of Iowa and within the Iowa Neuroscience Institute and the quality of our students who are the future of science.”
“This fellowship makes it clear to Pravda the importance of her work, and the significance of her accomplishments thus far, providing not just financial support but energy for the path forward in her research,” adds Abel, who is the Roy J. Carver Director of the Iowa Neuroscience Institute and professor and DEO of neuroscience and pharmacology in the Carver College of Medicine.
The project is connected to the Hawkeye Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research Center, the Iowa Neuroscience Institute and the Departments of Pediatrics and Neuroscience and Pharmacology.
Pravda's research
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are conditions that affect how the brain develops. They include autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and intellectual disability, among others, and tend to be more common in males. NDDs are complex and vary widely from person to person, but many share challenges in areas like social interaction, which can affect how people connect with others, engage with the world around them, and experience a sense of belonging.
“There are also clear sex differences in when symptoms appear, the types of symptoms that emerge, and how severe they are. Yet, we don’t fully understand why these differences exist,” Quiñones-Labernik says. “By identifying the pathways that make males more vulnerable, or protect females, we can work toward developing targeted therapies that better support social and cognitive challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals.”
One key factor that may contribute is a testosterone surge that occurs during mid-gestation in humans, a process that can be modeled in mice during the neonatal period. Elevated testosterone during this critical window has been linked to increased risk for NDDs, but it's unclear how or why this happens.
“Together, we aim to advance our understanding of the brain mechanisms that contribute to vulnerability to neurodevelopmental disorders with the goal of improving risk assessment, diagnosis, and early intervention,” Ferri says.
A connected scientific community
An important and unique aspect of the Gilliam Fellows Program is how it supports connection among scientists at all stages of their careers. Both graduate students and their faculty thesis advisors are supported by the program and recipients benefit from tailored professional development programming as they become part of HHMI’s vibrant scientific community. It’s something the UI cohorts find extremely valuable.
“Exposure to various research approaches will challenge how I think about my own work and inspire new directions for collaboration,” Quiñones-Labernik says. “I believe the best science happens when we connect with others, when we ask each other questions, challenge assumptions, and combine perspectives.”
Abel agrees, adding that the connections through the fellowship program — including meetings with community with peers at Gilliam annual meetings — will increase their scientific knowledge, and gain important insight and advice from leading scientists at HHMI scientific gatherings.
"This provides fellows with the tools to transform science through their talents and experiences,” he says. “Often the highest impact scientific advances come from the questions that researchers outside of your specific field ask.”