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Read more about Fred Hutch achievements and accolades.
Fred Hutch Cancer Center developmental biologist Cecilia Moens, PhD, was recently announced as the recipient of the Raisbeck Endowed Chair for Basic Science.
Endowed chairs are one of the highest honors a Fred Hutch researcher can receive, and this position will allow Moens to continue her groundbreaking research, which is focused on understanding early brain development.
Moens’ lab on the Fred Hutch South Lake Union campus includes more than 7,000 zebrafish, which are ideally suited for study because they are almost completely transparent and develop outside their mother. Early zebrafish brain development, specifically in the vagus nerve, follows a similar process as humans, giving Moens and her team invaluable insights into the human brain and a wide variety of disorders, from epilepsy and depression to digestive and immunity problems.
“The kinds of neurons that are in the zebrafish nervous system are similar to other vertebrates, including humans,” Moens said. “Because zebrafish embryos have the optical qualities of water, we can watch these processes happening in real time.”
Moens was also recently elected as president of the International Zebrafish Society.
Shining a light on basic science
This endowment is just the second in Fred Hutch’s Basic Sciences Division, which seeks to understand the foundations of human biology in order to unlock the innovative cures and treatments developed at Fred Hutch. There are currently a total of 38 endowed chairs at Fred Hutch.
“As the fundamental science department at Fred Hutch, we study really diverse problems to gain an understanding of the principles of biology,” said Sue Biggins, PhD, Director of the Basic Sciences Division. “Our mission is to do the basic science that is essential for people to be able to make translational discoveries.” Biggins is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator.
Moens said receiving the endowed chair honor means a lot.
“It’s a recognition of the value of basic science to this institution," Moens said. "It’s a well-respected and valued area of research here at Fred Hutch, and it’s so appreciated.”
A legacy of scientific support
This endowment is made possible by Sherry Raisbeck and her late husband, James, who have generously supported Fred Hutch for more than 20 years. It’s one of four endowments they have funded.
“I really respect science and the fact that each question leads to another question,” Mrs. Raisbeck said. “I love that way of thinking.”
When Moens’ work with zebrafish was proposed as a new home for the endowment, she gave Mrs. Raisbeck a tour of her lab to demonstrate the research in action.
“Mrs. Raisbeck clearly values basic research,” Moens said. “She’s a genuinely curious and interested person who had wonderful questions about everything in the lab.”
Basic research questions can lead to answers that eventually lead to treatments.
“Researching fundamental science within a cancer center is crucial. If we don’t know how the body works, we won’t know how to fix it. This endowment from the Raisbecks paves the way for life-saving breakthroughs,” said Thomas J. Lynch Jr., MD, president and director of Fred Hutch and holder of the Raisbeck Endowed Chair.
Ushering in the next generation of researchers
Moens has been at Fred Hutch since she finished her postdoctoral research more than 25 years ago. With this new funding, she hopes to add a postbaccalaureate researcher to her lab team.
“I’m really excited about the possibility of bringing in a young person who is interested in the research but doesn’t yet have a ton of experience,” she said. “This endowed chair gives us the opportunity to delve into the fundamental question of how neurons find their targets in the embryo so that they can accurately regulate body functions throughout life. I am deeply grateful to the Raisbeck family for making this work possible.”
