It is always interesting to know a bit about the path that leads people to pursue a specific field of study. You completed a Ph.D. at UVM in 2021 in the Neuroscience Graduate Program (NGP). Was there something in particular that piqued your interest in neuroscience and/or your specific area of research at UVM?

My interest in neuroscience started with my internship at college where I studied the mechanisms (specifically calcium signaling) of depression in a mouse model. Then, during my master's program, I joined NIH for an internship in a neurobiology lab where I investigated the protective effects of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 in Amyloid beta-induced cytotoxicity. I gained more knowledge on Alzheimer’s disease and decided to apply to Ph.D. programs in order to become a researcher/scientist. During the application and interview process, I was impressed by the scope of UVM's neuroscience research and the supportive environment. Plus, from a lifestyle perspective, I had never lived in any place with that amount of snow in the winter, and I was eager to try something different.

You are currently a scientist at Calico whose mission is to understand the biology of aging and longevity, in hopes of developing interventions that allow people to live longer, healthier lives. At UVM your PHD research focused on physiological function of small distal anastomotic vessels (pial collaterals) and how co-morbidities, such as hypertension or aging, impair collateral function and may damage collateral responsiveness to therapeutic interventions. Is your work at Calico in this same area or another?

My work at Calico is completely different from my Ph.D. research. As a scientist on the Research and Development team, I support early discovery projects and help with new target validation. Instead of focusing on one or two specific diseases, I often find myself in new biological fields. Despite the very different scientific questions and approaches, my Ph.D. training prepared me to think critically, collaborate and work in a team, master new techniques quickly, communicate efficiently, and present my work effectively.

I know that Calico is interested in learning about why human cells and genes more susceptible than other mammals to afflictions like cancer, heart disease or neurodegenerative disorders as we age? What specific age-related diseases does Calico focus on?

We are not a traditional biotechnology company, and we do not just focus on certain specific diseases. Calico’s mission is to better understand the biology that controls aging and lifespan. To that end, Calico has created a community where scientists and engineers have the freedom to explore, take chances, and follow their own scientific pursuits and passions within the aging categories. For example, I'm working on a project that has identified a new target, and we’re exploring the functions of this target in the aging processes of multiple organs/diseases. We don’t limit ourselves but instead ask open-ended questions about how we humans age and about the diseases associated with the aging process.

Would you tell readers a bit about Calico? About how many employees do they have in San Francisco? Is that currently the only location? Is Calico in a period of growth?

Calico is an Alphabet-founded research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies and model systems to increase our understanding of the biology that controls human aging. In the past 9 years, Calico has expanded and grown to a mid-sized company with about 250 employees. We’re located in South San Francisco (yes, this is the only location), a cluster for over 200 biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. And we’re constantly hiring—so, readers should feel free to check our LinkedIn job posts or website for the current opening positions.

Calico's efforts focus on identifying new targets based on an evolving understanding of the biology of aging and age-related diseases. Can you give readers and example of an exciting target that seems promising? I know that Calico and a partner have 20 early-stage drug development programs across disease areas including immuno-oncology and neurodegeneration…

Calico is willing to collaborate with outstanding people and organizations that provide us with access to new biology and technology platforms. Our collaborations are not limited to a certain disease group or therapeutic area, but are designed to facilitate exploration, to try new experiments and to learn. Scientists in the partnership are driven by the mission to understand what makes us age. Calico and our partners strive to harness this knowledge in order to improve the quality of human health and tackle aging-related diseases. One of the exciting targets has led us to the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial at Massachusetts General Hospital. Feel free to read more about this milestone here.

Clearly disease is influenced by both genetics and environmental conditions. Is research showing that genes play less of a role that was previously thought? If so, I presume that is a driving force for Calico.

We’re interested in both genetics and environmental factors if they’re connected with aging and age-related diseases.

Looking ahead, what is your hope for your particular area research?

As a neuroscientist by training, I look forward to working on neurodegenerative diseases, implementing high-throughput approaches in my experiments, utilizing alternative disease models rather than rodents, taking advantage of the human genetic database/biobank and applying GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Study) findings to my research.

What do you miss most about Vermont and/or UVM?

I miss a lot about Vermont, including the Green Mountains, maple creemees, snowy winters, and, of course, the breathtaking foliage in the fall. UVM is such a supportive and friendly community where students can dream big and seek help along the way. The Neuroscience Ph.D. program taught me not to limit myself but to “shoot for the moon”. My advisor, lab colleagues, University staff, and fellow UVM students helped me navigate the post-Ph.D. period and land my dream job.

Zhaojin Li, Ph.D., is a 2021 UVM graduate of the Neuroscience Graduate Program. She is currently a scientist at Calico Life Sciences LLC, and Alphabet-founded research and development company in San Francisco. Zhaojin is interested in advancing knowledge of age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases.