Gavin McAllister Traber is the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Highlighted Trainee Author for the January 2023 issue.   Currently, he is a doctoral candidate at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine under the mentorship of Dr. Ai-Ming Yu. The JPET article that earned his selection as a Highlighted Trainee Author is one of the papers in the Special Section on Non-Coding RNA: From Biomarker to Therapeutic Tool titled "RNAi Based Therapeutics and Novel RNA Bioengineering Technologies" and is available at https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.122.001234.

Mr. Traber’s current work is based on RNAi experimental therapeutics and is working to implement noncoding RNAs to new anticancer therapies using novel RNA bioengineering technologies and recombinant RNA molecules. Specifically, his is focusing on the design, production, structure, and functional activities of a recombinant hsa-miR-7-1-5p (miR-7) and delineation of the pharmacological actions of miR-7 in the regulation of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer cellular processes. To do so, he is employing a novel RNA technology to produce recombinant miR-7 embedded in a hybrid tRNA/pre-miRNA scaffold to assess the contribution of miR-7 to tumor progression and metabolism through regulating mitochondrial function, as well as to explore safety profiles of bioengineered miR-7 and a putative anticancer therapeutic.

The anticipated impact of Mr. Traber’s current research is to contribute to understanding the molecular and cellular pharmacology of recombinant miRNA as a foundation for novel RNAi therapeutic strategies to combat cancer and help carve a path for further exploitation of other clinically relevant miRNAs and ncRNAs.

Outside of his work, Mr. Traber enjoys hiking, gardening, reading, playing piano, cooking, and spending time with his wife and family.