Congratulations to Vanessa A. Lopez, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in our Department of Medicinal Chemistry, on being selected as a 2026–27 ASPET Washington Fellow!
The nine-month American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) program prepares early-career scientists to engage at the intersection of science and public policy through weekly training in policymaking, advocacy, science communication and policy writing.
As a fellow, Vanessa will develop a policy brief for publication in The Pharmacologist and travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with congressional representatives and staff and advocate for biomedical research.
A member of Professor Libin Xu’s lab, Vanessa studies the health effects of environmental chemical exposures and is especially interested in how environmental toxicants affect vulnerable communities. The fellowship will provide a new opportunity to bring her scientific expertise and interests into conversations about public policy.