The OIST Foundation is proud to announce the continuation of its partnership with the Cleveland Clinic through a newly awarded research extension for Cleveland Clinic Scholar Maria Gorenflo. Maria, a medical student at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, recently completed 12 months at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), where she focused on protein biochemistry—the essential molecular link between drug development and human health.
Maria’s research centers on drug discovery: creating medicines that bind to specific proteins to improve biological outcomes. Having gained pharmaceutical experience in her undergraduate studies and medical training in health and clinical practice, she identified proteins as the “missing link” in her scientific journey. At OIST, she worked in the laboratory of Dr. Paola Laurino, whose group specializes in understanding how proteins function and evolve.
To further advance her work, Maria requested funding for an additional three months of research at OIST. The OIST Foundation approved her request, and the award was formally presented by OIST Foundation Trustee Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita. Dr. Fujita, a driving force behind the OIST × Cleveland Clinic Scholar Program, celebrated the extension during a special OIST Foundation reception in Washington, D.C., on November 19, attended by distinguished guests including Japan’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Yamada.
This award reinforces the Foundation’s commitment to supporting young scientists and strengthening U.S.–Japan collaboration in biomedical innovation—fueling discoveries with the potential to transform human health.