01 May Announcing the 2025 Cohort of ITHS KL2 Scholars
The Institute of Translational Health Sciences is pleased to introduce the 2025 cohort of scholars for the ITHS KL2 Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Career Development Program. ITHS will provide Reya Mokaio, Stephanie Chen and Alexi Vasbinder with research time, funding, mentorship, and other necessary resources to foster the development of their clinical and translational research skills. These early career investigators started with us on March 2nd and will spend three years in our post-doctoral program.
In addition to receiving training tailored to their particular research and career development needs, the three will learn more about the full spectrum of health sciences research in this NIH-sponsored program. They will attend interactive seminars along with the 2023 and 2024 cohorts, getting training in the core competencies for translational research developed by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) institutes. Scholars will also have the opportunity to enhance their presentation and writing skills.
When asked to reflect on his time as a KL2 scholar (2022–2025), Kristopher Kerns, PhD, MPH, told us, “You’re forced to have this interaction with people that you would probably never interact with, and that stimulates thinking and it stimulates collaboration…More than ever now we need institutes supporting people that are bringing multidisciplinary teams together. It’s made my career. It is the future.” We look forward to seeing what great ideas are launched by our latest group of promising scholars!
The 2025 Cohort
Stephanie Chen, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery who specializes in cerebrovascular, endovascular, and brain tumors at the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center. She graduated from New York University, summa cum laude, with a BS. in neuroscience. She received her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh with highest honors and completed residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. She completed two cerebrovascular/endovascular fellowships at the University of Miami and University of Washington. Dr. Chen’s research focuses on inflammation in acute stroke as well as the development of new therapies and clinical trials for cerebrovascular disease.
Reya Mokiao, MD, MS, is an Assistant Professor in the UW School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics and the Seattle Children’s Division of Nephrology. Dr. Mokiao is from Honolulu, HI and enjoys learning about Indigenous cultural practices with her loving husband and two children. She is a pediatric nephrologist dedicated to co-developing culturally relevant cardiometabolic health programs for youth through partnership with Indigenous communities. Through this work, Dr. Mokiao hopes to build lasting relationships with Indigenous communities and empower youth and strengthen their health.
Alexi Vasbinder, PhD, RN, is a nurse scientist and Assistant Professor the Department of Biobehavioral Nursing & Health Informatics in the UW School of Nursing. Her research aims to aims to improve the lives of cancer survivors by developing clinically relevant methods for risk stratification and devising multidisciplinary strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of cancer treatments, including cardiotoxic effects and symptom burden. Dr. Vasbinder’s proposed research project will pilot CAREFit-BMT, a progressive, home-based exercise prehabilitation program, for bone marrow transplant candidates at high risk for cardiovascular complications. By evaluating implementation factors, including participant-specific barriers and facilitators, the study seeks to optimize cardiovascular health prior to HSCT, while addressing key considerations for successfully translating exercise-based prehabilitation into clinical practice.
The KL2 program is funded by the National Institutes of Health through ITHS’ grant with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Part of the KL2 program mission is to provide an entryway for early investigators to the field of Translational Science. Visit the ITHS Education pages to learn more about the KL2 program and other education offerings from ITHS.
