Alvaro Arjona

Alvaro Arjona (Animal Sciences) is receiving the Dean's Award for Excellence in Research by a Graduate Student for Circadian Regulation of Natural Killer Cell Function. Mr. Arjona has brought to light a novel aspect of Natural Killer cells, critical components of the innate immune system against infection and cancer. He has discovered that these cells maintain a circadian rhythm that is suppressed by alcohol and went on to describe their molecular clock mechanisms. These findings could lead to new immunotherapy and chronotherapy protocols for cancer and other immune-related diseases. Mr. Arjona works in the laboratory of Professor Dipak Sarkar.