Postdoctoral Research Awards 2023

Vicente Kenyi Saito-Diaz is on the cusp of establishing himself as an independent investigator pursuing essential questions related to neural development and dysfunction. He is an outstanding scientist who demonstrates great productivity, creativity and insightfulness in his postdoctoral work. Since joining the UGA Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM) in 2018, Saito-Diaz has complemented his previously developed skills in cell biology and biochemistry with cutting-edge human pluripotent stem cell technology to study the cellular basis of development of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). His research has resulted in 10 peer-reviewed articles in top journals and additional ones in review or preparation. He aims to gain a deep understanding of developmental processes and molecular mechanisms of PNS at a time when few other researchers worldwide are focusing on any aspect of this system. His exciting interdisciplinary research could answer fundamental biological questions that are key to designing new treatments for PNS diseases and other yet-to-be-developed neural contexts.