HIV Breakthroughs in the Izumi Lab: A CAS Conversation
Dacia, Grace, and Hasset at the Mathias Student Research Conference
At ĢƵ, undergraduate students are making real contributions to one of the world’s most pressing health challenges: HIV. In the Izumi Lab, housed in the Department of Biology, students work under the guidance of Professor Taisuke Izumi on cutting-edge research aimed at curing HIV and improving the lives of those who live with it. With projects spanning from immune system activation to novel drug evaluation tools, the lab is a training ground for the next generation of scientists.
This year, three students—Hasset Tibebe, Dacia Marquez, and Grace Hillmer—led projects that have already made an impact in the scientific community, with published papers, national conference presentations, and most recently, a co-authored research study led by Hasset and Dacia featured on the cover of the March issue of the prestigious journal. In addition, Grace published and a in Viruses journal.
“Grace, Hasset, and Dacia have demonstrated exceptional commitment, innovation, and scientific rigor,” says Izumi. “Their contributions have significantly advanced our research on HIV biology and serve as inspiring examples of undergraduate excellence in the sciences at ĢƵ.”
We sat down with the three students to talk about their work, what they’ve learned, and where they’re headed next.
What made you choose to study biology—or in your case, Hassett, biochemistry?
Dacia Marquez presenting at the Mathias Student Research Conference
Dacia: My passion for medical biology stems from my lifelong experience navigating chronic illness. Since the age of two, I have lived with autoimmune diseases, requiring constant infusion treatments and lifelong medications. I have continuously sought to understand the mechanisms behind my treatments and, more importantly, why cures for chronic immune diseases remain unknown. Thus, why I expose myself to as many immunology opportunities as I can.
Hassett: When I was first exposed to biology, I was very interested in how our bodies work, as well as why they worked in that way. Both chemistry and biology courses helped answer these questions, which encouraged me to major in biochemistry. By switching, I was able to learn more about what was happening on the molecular level.
Grace: I grew up surrounded by STEM, so I’ve loved science ever since I was a kid. What really sealed the deal for me, however, was watching the 1997 movie GATTACA in my AP Biology class. Learning more about the underlying mechanisms that make everyone so unique is what my passion for biology is rooted in, and the questions that GATTACA had me thinking about inspired me to pursue a career in biology specifically.
How do you see your HIV research making a real-world impact in the future? And what do you want people to know about it?
Dacia: I think our HIV research will make a real-world impact in the future because it focuses on the one key factor of why HIV has no cure and why combined retroviral therapy (cART) is a long-term treatment. I want people to know we are one step closer to developing an effective HIV cure due to Latency Reversal Agents efficacy.
Hassett: After future in vivo studies, I hope this research provides an alternative function cure strategy for the treatment of HIV. As the utilized inhibitors have already been approved by the FDA for use in cancer treatments, we hope it leads to faster implementation! I hope these steps towards the creation of an HIV cure can reduce stigmas often associated with HIV.
Grace: I hope that the system I am assisting in developing will allow for better health outcomes for those living with HIV. From a social perspective, there is still a lot of stigma against the LGBTQIA+ community that comes with hearing “HIV.” As someone who belongs to this community, I hope that my work will contribute towards eliminating harmful stereotypes by continuing to raise awareness for HIV as a global public health challenge that we should strive to develop effective treatments for.
It’s impressive that undergrads have the opportunity to publish their research in such prestigious journals. How did that come about?
Grace Hillmer and Professor Izumi
Grace: Lots of late nights and early mornings! Research is a huge commitment, but going that extra mile is worth it when you see that your results can have a significant impact on the research community. I also received the CAS Fellowship last summer, so I was able to really dive deep into my research and gain a more comprehensive understanding as to the implications of my work.
Dacia: I would have to say our lab is very hard working. We contribute a lot of time there, and our data proves it. Our hard work has paid off, and without Dr. Izumi's guidance/support, we wouldn't be in the positions we are in today. Our publications are our little “trophies” of dedication.
Hassett: Many hours in the lab led to the publishing of these works. Research takes time and patience to see positive results. Keeping consistent throughout the process is essential when pursuing a project. I joined Dr. Izumi’s lab junior year, and it has been amazing to see all the progress made in these past two years!
What are your plans and dreams for after graduation?
Hasset Tibebe, Dacia Marquez, and Professor Izumi
Dacia: I plan to take a gap year after graduation and join the Peace Corps to serve undeveloped Spanish-speaking countries in need of medical services. Following that, I want to work in the National Institute of Health (NIH) in an immunology-based lab focusing on Rheumatoid Arthritis and autoimmune diseases. I’m very passionate about helping my chronically ill community and advocating for them!
Hassett: I will be taking the MCAT and applying to medical school this summer. I hope to become a surgeon while staying active in research. These past few years have shown me how vital research is in creating positive change both in the realm of medicine but also in our communities.
Grace: After I graduate this spring, I hope to attend graduate school for genetic counseling. All the skills I learned through participating in research, such as the importance of scientific communication, have inspired me to pursue a career that advocates for effective communication with patients as they navigate difficult healthcare decisions. At some point, I also hope to combine my research and clinical experiences together for a PhD.
What advice would you give fellow budding scientists at ĢƵ?
Dacia: I would tell them not to get discouraged when they face adversity in the laboratory or the classroom. If you feel strongly about something, never take no for an answer. Stay optimistic and focus on putting energy into your strengths. You are the only person capable of making yourself succeed.
Hassett: Never limit yourself when thinking about topics/ interests to pursue. A lot of different projects have overlapping aspects you can explore! If a topic you would like to learn more about isn't a current ongoing project, pursue an independent research project, there are many amazing faculty members willing to help!
Grace: Embrace collaboration every chance you get, never be afraid to put yourself out there, and give yourself recognition! Imposter syndrome is everywhere, but just know that you deserve every achievement you get, and every mistake you make is a chance to learn and grow both as a person and scientist.
More about Hasset, Dacia, and Grace
Professor Izumi shares some words about his students:
"Hasset, the first undergraduate student to join my lab in August 2023, began as a Dean’s Office-funded research assistant supporting mammalian cell culture work during the fall semester. She later led an HIV cure study investigating FDA-approved cancer drugs. Hasset has authored four publications, including a first-author paper in Viruses, and presented her research at both the Mathias Research Conference and the Rising Stars in Cell Biology Symposium hosted by Johns Hopkins University in 2024. She received the 2024 CAS Summer Undergraduate Fellowship and is currently pursuing an Independent Study in Biology.
"Dacia joined my lab as a freshman in spring 2024, trained under Hasset during the summer to master cell culture techniques, and assumed cell culture maintenance responsibilities in the fall 2024 as a Federal Work-Study-funded research assistant. She has contributed to three publications, including equal authorship with Hasset on our latest HIV cure article in Viruses. Dacia presented at the 2025 Mathias Conference alongside Hasset and will present independently at the Rising Stars in Cell Biology Symposium this year. She is a 2025 CAS Summer Fellowship recipient and a candidate for the Honors in Biology program.
"Grace joined my lab in spring 2024 by taking my BIO-401: Mechanisms of Pathogenesis course in fall 2023. She developed a novel microscopic technique to visualize single HIV virions and has co-led two publications as co-first author, with three total publications to date. As a 2024 CAS Summer Fellowship awardee and Honors in Biology student, Grace presented her work at the 2024 Rising Stars Symposium and the 2025 Mathias Research Conference."