Zeguela was awarded an American Society of Hematology Fellowship, which began on July 1, 2026. She received her Bachelor of Science in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology from Towson University and is now a doctoral candidate in Experimental Pathology in the Loughran lab.
We asked Zeguela to tell us about her research and hopes for the future:
Tell us about your research:
My research focuses on understanding how patient-derived STAT3 mutations contribute to large granular lymphocyte leukemia (LGLL), a chronic lymphoproliferative disorder. STAT3 is especially important because activating mutations occur in more than half of patients with LGLL and are associated with distinct clinical phenotypes, yet the functional consequences of individual mutations remain incompletely understood. I developed a lentiviral STAT3 expression system and a panel of twelve LGLL-associated STAT3 mutants spanning multiple functional domains of the protein. I first screen these mutations in HEK293 cells for differences in STAT3 phosphorylation and transcriptional activity, then evaluate selected activating mutants in primary human T cells. I also use proteomic approaches and CUT&Tag to study how these mutations alter protein interactions and genomic occupancy. Ultimately, my goal is to define mutation-specific mechanisms that contribute to LGLL pathogenesis and may inform future therapeutic strategies.
What drives or motivates your scientific pursuits?
My motivation for pursuing science stems from my origins. Growing up in Côte d’Ivoire, I witnessed the impact of sickle cell disease on my community, including losing a young cousin to complications of the disease. That experience shaped my commitment to studying difficult and understudied hematologic disorders.
Today, I am grateful to train in an environment where I can help move the needle forward by uncovering disease mechanisms and contributing to new therapeutic strategies in hematology. My work in LGLL continues to remind me that behind our scientific questions are patients and families who may one day benefit from the answers.
What are your future goals?
I plan to build a career focused on hematologic diseases, whether through clinical trials, translational research, or public health. I hope to contribute to the development of novel treatments, improve access to emerging therapies, strengthen communication between the research community and the public, and mentor the next generation of scientists.