November’s Paper of the Month finds that neuronal recycling pathways remain stable across sexes, simplifying future studies of aging and disease.

Neuroscience PhD student Mya Rodriguez has uncovered that male and female neurons maintain equivalent recycling capacity as they age. The findings, published in Molecular Biology of the Cell, simplify how researchers design future studies of aging and neurodegeneration — showing that the core autophagy process remains remarkably stable across sexes. Read how Rodriguez and her mentor, Andrea Stavoe, PhD, pieced together this unified story of neuronal resilience.

Kopchick Fellowship advances Cancer Biology student Andrew Gillard’s work on brain tumor therapies

Cancer Biology PhD student Andrew Gillard is using the Dr. John J. Kopchick Fellowship to advance promising oncolytic viroimmunotherapy strategies for brain tumors. The fellowship allows him to focus full-time on exploring how to make cancer-targeting viruses more effective — work inspired by personal experience and driven by the goal of improving outcomes for future patients. As part of the Kopchick Fellows community, Gillard helped to shape the November 3 biennial Kopchick Symposium for students and faculty, themed Overcoming Barriers in Science.

Recognizing excellence: Mya Rodriguez receives 2025 Terry J. Crow, PhD, Scholarship in Neuroscience

Congratulations to Neuroscience PhD student Mya Rodriguez, who has been awarded the 2025 Terry J. Crow, PhD, Scholarship in Neuroscience for her academic excellence and leadership. Her research explores how brain cells sustain their health and function as we age.