Jan R. Cloyde Legacy Awardee Reflection Letters

Elisa Pabon, PhD -  College on Problems of Drug Dependence Annual Scientific Meeting in Portland, OR

Thanks to the generous support of the Jan R. Cloyde Legacy Fund, I had the opportunity to attend the 2026 College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) Annual Scientific Meeting in Portland, Oregon, where I presented a poster on federally funded research investigating how sex and past-month cannabis use frequency influence the appetite-stimulating effects of smoked cannabis.

CPDD is the premier scientific conference in the field of substance use and addiction research, bringing together leading investigators, clinicians, and trainees from across the country. Presenting my poster gave me the chance to share our findings with experts who study cannabinoid pharmacology and appetite regulation, and to receive valuable feedback that will directly inform the next phase of my research, including the drafting of my NIH K01 grant submission. Several conversations at my poster session raised methodological considerations around measuring individual variability in cannabis response, which I plan to incorporate into our ongoing data analysis and future study design.

Beyond the poster session, attending CPDD allowed me to engage with the broader scientific community studying sex differences in drug response, a growing and increasingly important area of addiction science. I attended talks and symposia on related topics, including the influence of ovarian hormones of various facets of physiology. These experiences broadened my understanding of how this work fits into the larger field and introduced me to potential directions for future federally funded research, including new collaborators whose work complements my own.

This experience will meaningfully advance both my research and my career. Scientifically, the feedback I received will strengthen the analysis and interpretation of our current dataset and help shape hypotheses for follow-up studies. Professionally, the opportunity to present to a national audience of addiction researchers, and to network with investigators and mentors in the field, is an important step in establishing myself as an independent researcher in cannabinoid and appetite science. I am deeply grateful to the Jan R. Cloyde Legacy Fund for making this opportunity possible.

Paul Vander - Brain Body Physiology Meeting in Cold Spring, NY

 The Brain Body Physiology meeting at Cold Spring Harbor was a wonderful experience that has significantly contributed to my scientific and professional development. As a late-stage PhD student at a critical crossroads in my academic career, the timing of this conference could not have been more pivotal. The experience has allowed me to gain valuable feedback on my current work as a PhD student, and gain insight into appropriate mentors and research areas for the next stage of my career as a postdoctoral fellow.

My primary objective over the coming months is to finalize my PhD project and share it with the scientific community as a research publication. Discussions during the sessions gave me invaluable insights into how the scientific community regards the project in its current state. While the feedback was mostly positive, I also received critical suggestions regarding data analysis, interpretation, and framing, that I can implement to strengthen the manuscript prior to peer review. Overall, this expert input will be important for maximizing the impact and robustness of our work. 

Beyond immediate feedback on my current project, the conference served as a vital launchpad for my next professional step. As I actively seek a postdoctoral research fellowship, my goal at this meeting was to evaluate the landscape of the field and identify the ideal environment for my future training. The opportunity to talk directly to potential postdoctoral mentors and their trainees in an informal, yet professional, environment allowed me to evaluate the fit in a way that virtual communication over email or zoom never could.

In conclusion, the Brain Body Physiology meeting at Cold Spring Harbor provided exactly what a late-stage graduate student needs: the expert scrutiny to successfully close one chapter, and the professional network to confidently open the next. I left the meeting not only with a clearer path toward publishing my doctoral work but also with a defined, actionable vision for my postdoctoral career. I am deeply grateful for the support that enabled my attendance at this defining moment in my scientific development.

Victoria Rodriguez, PhD, MSW, MPH - American Society of Preventive Oncology 50th Annual Meeting in Denver, CO

Attending the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Preventive Oncology (ASPO) was an incredibly meaningful and enriching experience that will significantly inform both my research trajectory and professional development. This milestone meeting offered a unique opportunity to reflect on the progress made in cancer prevention and control over the past 50 years, while also reinforcing the work that still needs to be done to address disparities across the cancer continuum. In particular, the keynote session focused on HPV and cervical cancer over the past 50 years was extremely informative for my own research focus on gynecologic cancers. Additionally, the session focused on early onset cancer was very informative and related to my current postdoctoral work focused on women with early onset gynecologic cancers.

A highlight of my experience was presenting preliminary qualitative work from my postdoctoral research on gynecologic cancer survivorship among young women diagnosed before the age of 50. This was the first opportunity that I’ve had to present my work more broadly and get feedback and insights from leaders of the field. Engaging and discussing with other cancer researchers about these preliminary findings provided valuable feedback that will strengthen the ongoing analyses and inform the development of future manuscripts. It was also reaffirming for me and my own identity as a researcher to see so much interest in this topic and the recognition that these findings are incredibly important and significant.

Beyond my presentation, the conference created numerous opportunities to build and deepen professional connections. I engaged with researchers, clinicians, and trainees (both old and new relationships) in discussions on my research trajectory and professional development. Networking and building relationships such as these are instrumental at this point in my career.

I also contributed to the conference with my involvement in the Cancer Disparities Special Interest Group (SIG) Leadership Council. As a SIG we organized and hosted a breakfast session focused on cancer disparities both globally and within the U.S. as well as organized poster awards for work focused on cancer disparities. Serving as a poster judge allowed me to engage critically with emerging research and supporting trainees in refining their work. Additionally, connecting in-person with other members of the SIG was very helpful and reinforced the relationships and works in progress that we currently have together.

Overall, attending this conference has left me reenergized and motivated to advance my work in gynecologic cancer disparities and survivorship. The knowledge gained, feedback received, and connections established will directly inform my ongoing research, support the dissemination of my findings, and contribute to my long-term goals of becoming an independent investigator committed to achieve health equity in gynecologic cancer outcomes.
 

Katherine Hampilos - American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, LA

Dear Members of the Jan R. Cloyde Legacy Award Committee,

Thank you for supporting my attendance at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions in New Orleans. This experience played a meaningful role in my growth as a researcher, giving me the chance to present my work at a national cardiology conference, clarify my goals in research and clinical training, and connect with mentors and colleagues in the field.

At AHA, I presented my poster titled “Sex Differences in Acute Hemodynamic Response to Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Compared to Placebo: Impact of Cannabis Use Frequency.” This project, which I conducted under the co-mentorship of Ziva Cooper, PhD, and Holly Middlekauff, MD, examines how acute exposure to combusted THC affects blood pressure and heart rate responses in men and women, and how these effects vary based on long-term cannabis use frequency. Presenting this work allowed me to discuss our findings with other investigators and clinicians who have expertise in sex-based cardiovascular differences and substance use research. Their questions and insights gave me new ideas for how to approach future analyses and helped me think more clearly about the next steps for this project.

Beyond my presentation, attending sessions throughout the meeting gave me the chance to explore my interest in women’s cardiovascular health and learn about areas directly related to my long-term goals. For example, I attended talks on cardiovascular disease during pregnancy and the peri-partum period, heard emerging work on sex differences in response to tobacco exposure, and learned more about conditions that disproportionately affect women, such as coronary microvascular dysfunction. These sessions broadened my knowledge base and inspired research questions I hope to pursue in the future. The meeting also offered meaningful opportunities for mentorship and networking. I was able to spend time with cardiology faculty and trainees from UCLA as well as from outside institutions, allowing me to learn about different training environments, career paths, and ways of integrating research with clinical responsibilities.

Overall, attending AHA strengthened my confidence as a presenter, broadened my understanding of current work in cardiology, and affirmed my interest in women’s cardiovascular health. It also helped me build relationships that will be important as I continue my clinical training. I am grateful for the support that made it possible for me to attend, and I look forward to carrying what I learned into the next stages of my career.
 

Sincerely,
Katherine Hampilos