Appreciation Luncheon and Tour at Emory National Primate Research Center

On April 23, 2025, the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies hosted ARCS Atlanta members for a tour and Appreciation Luncheon at the Emory National Primate Research Center & Emory Vaccine Center. The program and luncheon highlighted the vital basic science and translational research conducted at Emory—work that impacts not only the Atlanta community but also communities around the world.

We were welcomed by Monica K. Polisetty, Senior Managing Director of Development, James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies and Dr. R. Paul Johnson, Director, Emory National Primate Research Center.

The fascinating three-part tour included
- the Rengarajan Lab where Dr. Jyothi Rengaragan’s research program seeks to understand the mechanisms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis and host immunity to infection,
- a Parkinson’s disease conversation with Dr. Thomas Wichmann, Deputy Director of the Primate Center & A. Worley Brown, Professor of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine,
- and a demonstration of personal protective equipment (PPE) along with a discussion of the importance of safety in research.

After a delicious lunch, Dr. Jyothi Rengarajan, Co-Director, Emory Tuberculosis Center & Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, gave a very interesting talk about tuberculosis research. We were also treated to insightful remarks from our former Herz Global Impact Scholar, Ana Enriquez, who is now a Research Microbiologist at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

Thanks from Scholar Kira Newman

"I can only begin to express how grateful I am for the freedom to pursue an independent line of research without having to worry about how I will pay for the necessary lab supplies or training. This award is allowing me to answer broader and more valuable questions than I had previously thought possible... Thank you so much for your kindness, generosity, and belief in my potential as a scientist."

Thanks from Alum Collette Miller, Postdoctoral Fellow at US Environmental Protection Agency

"Thank you all for reaching out and the support over the years. It's been a rocky few years following the passing of my doctoral research mentor a few weeks prior to my dissertation defense. Trying to rebound from his loss, finishing my dissertation, and figuring out where to go from there was challenging to say the least ... Thank you again for your support. Honestly I did not know how much I would have ended up relying on the generous gift that the Atlanta Chapter of ARCS Foundation provided when it was first received. However, it was vital in helping me launch a new chapter in my career when I found my plans collapse when my mentor passed. Again, THANK YOU!"

Thanks from Alum Alejandro Toriella, PhD, Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering, Georgia Tech

Thank you very much for your support. It meant a lot. I had the opportunity to return to Tech as a faculty member last year. I’m very happy to be back and hope I can advise a future ARCS scholar soon!

Appreciation Luncheon and Tour at Emory National Primate Research Center

Recent ARCS Events

Thanks from Scholar Kira Newman

Thanks from Alum Collette Miller, Postdoctoral Fellow at US Environmental Protection Agency

Thanks from Alum Alejandro Toriella, PhD, Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering, Georgia Tech