![\"Henry](\"https:\/\/med.virginia.edu\/bims\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/390\/2025\/05\/Henry-De-Hoyos-252x300.png\")
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Henry was awarded an NIH F30, an individual Predoctoral MD\/PhD Fellows Award from the National Cancer Institute which began on May 1, 2025. Henry is a doctoral candidate in Molecular Biology in the lab of Jung-Bum Shin.<\/p>\n
Henry received his Bachelor of Art degree from the University of Virginia with High Honors and a minor in Art History.<\/p>\n
We asked Henry to tell us about his research and hopes for the future. Here\u2019s what he said:<\/p>\n
Can you tell us about your research?<\/strong><\/p>\n My research investigates how phospholipid homeostasis regulates hair cell function and viability, using mouse models deficient in the phospholipid flippase ATP8B1, which exhibit rapid onset hearing loss. These models offer a platform to study the relationship between lipid dynamics and auditory function. Previous studies suggest that ATP8B1 deficiency leads to hair cell degeneration and deafness, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear (Stapelbroek et al., 2009). We hypothesize that ATP8B1 is essential for sustaining the lipid environment required for proper hair cell mechanotransduction throughout the lifetime of the animal.<\/p>\n What drives or motivates your scientific pursuits?<\/strong><\/p>\n My scientific work is driven by a deep curiosity about how sensory systems function at the molecular level, particularly within the auditory system. I\u2019m drawn to microscopy as both a technical skill and a as way of uncovering the intricate architecture of cells that enable us to hear. Being passionate about music gives me a unique perspective on the science of hearing and the profound impact of hearing loss. As a future physician-scientist, I\u2019m committed to bridging basic science and clinical practice to advance patient care<\/p>\n What are your future goals?<\/strong><\/p>\n My long-term goal is to complete my MD\/PhD and pursue residency training, followed by postdoctoral research to build the skills and independence needed to lead my own lab. Ultimately, I hope to work at an academic medical center where I can combine research, patient care, and teaching.<\/p>\n Congratulations on winning this award, Henry!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Henry was awarded an NIH F30, an individual Predoctoral MD\/PhD Fellows Award from the National Cancer Institute which began on May 1, 2025. Henry is a doctoral candidate in Molecular Biology in the lab of Jung-Bum Shin. Henry received his Bachelor of Art degree from the University of Virginia with High Honors and a minor […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2214,"featured_media":4743,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-graduate-student-fellowships"],"acf":false,"yoast_head":"\n