An Interview with ICIS ECR Committee Co-Chair, Adriana Forero
- Please tell us your name, degree, where you currently work, position
Adriana Forero, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University College of Medicine - Where did you do your training?
I completed my predoctoral training with Saumen Sarkar at the University of Pittsburgh and my postdoctoral training with Ram Savan at the University of Washington. - Briefly, what is your research about?
My lab is interested in the transcriptional regulation of antiviral innate immune responses to better understand the molecular mechanisms behind unlicensed or unabated interferon-mediated inflammation. - Tell us your thoughts about ICIS: how has being involved in the Cytokine Society help your career?
Being involved in the society has helped me interact with members across the globe and in various stages in their scientific careers. This has helped me take a more interdisciplinary approach to expand the scope of my research. - Are there any particular friendships or collaborations that came specifically out of Cytokines meetings?
Getting to meet the type III IFN enthusiasts has been a blast! - What Cytokines meeting(s) have been your favorites? Tell us about any special memories or anecdotes.
Cytokines 2016 in San Francisco was my first meeting. My favorite memory is from the networking session at Cytokine 2018 in Boston. I reconnected with a peer from my graduate school cohort who had recently become a PI! - What do you like to do when not in the lab?
When I am not in the lab, I like playing video games and discovering new restaurants. - What is the best life/career advice you’ve ever received?
When receiving feedback, focus on the message and not the messenger or the delivery. - What book or TV show are you reading/watching right now that you recommend?
I recommend anything food related! My current favorites are The Bear and Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi. - What is your favorite cytokine?
Interferons. I love all of them equally.
