Wierenga Selected for 2019 Gina M. Finzi Memorial Student Summer Fellowship Program

August 27, 2019

EITS graduate student, Kathryn Wierenga, was selected as one of six recipients to receive the prestigious 2019 Gina M. Finzi Memorial Student Summer Fellowship from the Lupus Foundation of America. The fellowship program was developed to cultivate an interest in lupus research among young scientists. The projects from this year's awardees emcompass a multitute of scientific areas that are critical to moving the lupus reserach field forward, inlcuding lupus nephritis, genetics, neuropsychiatric lupus and disease education. The six awardees are mentored by an established lupus investigator, ensuring they receive the support and guidance they need. The results of research by the awardees will contribute to new therapies, prevention strategies and educational interventions to better understand, detect and treat people with lupus. Since its founding, the Gina M. Finzi Memorial Student Summer Fellowship Program has supported the work of nearly 200 young investigators throughout North America.

Wierenga is mentored by IIT-affiliated faculty member, Dr. James Pestka, and was awarded for her project, "Unraveling How Omega-3 Fatty Acids Suppress Lupus Flaring." 

To read more about the fellowship program and the recipients this year, please visit: https://www.lupus.org/gina-m-finzi-student-fellowship/summer-2019-gina-m-finzi-fellows.