Eli Lilly Award for Residents ‘Passionate About Research’

Before her four-week training at Eli Lilly and Company’s Clinical Diagnostics Laboratory in Indianapolis, Couger Jimenez Jaramillo, MD, said her experience in various subspecialties could be more well-rounded.

Having spent most of her previous research time in anatomical pathology Dr. Jaramillo said, “I think that this gap in my experience comes at the expense of a well-rounded education in clinical pathology.”

She continued, “The opportunity to pursue a research project centered on biomarker development would help to consolidate knowledge I have gained through my clinical responsibilities, enhance my studies, and support a broader understanding of the field.”

Thanks to the Clinical Laboratory Science Investigator Award from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Foundation—sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company—in the spring of 2024, Dr. Jaramillo participated in onsite training that focused on improving the discovery, quality, and delivery of novel biomarker assays for use in clinical studies. Not only did her work help further patient care in laboratory medicine, but it also provided unmatched professional development in new subspecialties with leading edge tools and techniques.

“I was guided in the formulation and execution of an original research project specifically chosen to complement my background and professional interests utilizing state-of-the-art techniques including convolutional neural networks, laser microdissection, and mass spectrometry,” Dr. Jaramillo said. “I was exposed to technologies I had only ever read about and would never otherwise have had the opportunity to use during residency.”

While Dr. Jaramillo speaks positively of her residency experiences, she said the Clinical Laboratory Science Investigator Award provided a key step in her ambitions to pursue a career in neuropathology.

Dr. Jaramillo told the CAP Foundation that the relatively short, four-week program provided more than she could have imagined: new clinical studies, lectures and journal clubs, experience as a pathologist in the laboratory industry, opportunities to submit her work for abstracts at national conferences, and more.

She said, “I would highly recommend this rotation to any pathology residents passionate about research, interested in exploring alternative career paths, and looking for ways to broaden their experience as a young professional in pathology.”

Learn more about the Clinical Laboratory Investigator Award and apply before the November 1, 2024, deadline. Also, check out the many other awards and grants offered by the CAP Foundation and its partners.