Phan Receives 2022 Major Grant

Palo Alto — Richard Phan, a Mahajan Lab team member, received a Major Grant from The Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE) that will support an intensive ten-week summer research fellowship in the lab.

Richard will be working to develop drug implants that release small-molecule therapeutics into the eye. These implants can be used in models of human eye disease that include retinitis pigmentosa, age related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

VPUE strives to promote intellectual engagement on campus by providing opportunities that connect undergraduates with faculty mentors.  

Richard said, “I am very grateful for the support from the VPUE Undergraduate Research Program. The Major Grant project will be a culmination of the knowledge and skills that I have acquired throughout my Stanford career. It will be an amazing opportunity to apply everything that I’ve learned in the classroom and in the lab setting, including scientific knowledge, experimental design, manuscript writing, and scientific communication.”

Richard will work with Mahajan Lab Group Leader Soo Hyeon Lee Ph.D. who has a background in drug formulation.

Richard said, “Soo Hyeon has taught me so much since I first joined the Mahajan Lab. Her patience, wisdom, and kindness have significantly helped me grow and develop, and I am excited to work with her on this project.”

Dr. Mahajan, Stanford professor and vice chair of ophthalmology research,  said, “Richard has been a very dedicated researcher over the last year and great to have in the lab. Senior lab members have noted that Richard has “great hands“ at the bench. He executes his experiments with consistency and precision.”

Richard said, ““I hope that I will come out of this experience with both a sense of academic fulfillment and a clearer idea about how I would like to incorporate research into my future career goals.”