Press Release
26 September 2024
Stowers scientists uncover a critical component that helps killifish regenerate their fins
The findings are a step toward closing the gap on how we could one day deploy regenerative medicine in humans
Read Article
Press Release
Stowers Institute President and Chief Scientific Officer named Hypothesis Fund Scout
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, Ph.D., receives recognition as a leader and expert in regenerative biology and its potential to transform human health.
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, Ph.D., examining planarian flatworms in the planarian facility at the Stowers Institute
KANSAS CITY, MO – March 27, 2025 – The Stowers Institute for Medical Research is proud to announce President and Chief Scientific Officer, Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, Ph.D., a leader in the field of regenerative biology, has been named a Scout for the Hypothesis Fund, a pioneering initiative dedicated to identifying and supporting early-stage, high-risk scientific research with transformative potential.
The Hypothesis Fund provides catalytic seed grants to researchers exploring bold new ideas in foundational science. The fund’s unique approach relies on a network of esteemed scientists—Scouts—who identify underfunded but high-impact projects.
As a world-renowned leader in cellular, tissue, and organ regeneration, Sánchez Alvarado has dedicated his career to understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms that allow some organisms to repair themselves after injury. His research has identified crucial genes and genetic programs responsible for tissue maintenance and repair, laying the foundation for potential breakthroughs in regenerative medicine and the treatment of degenerative diseases in humans.
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research
“Dr. Sánchez Alvarado’s extraordinary contributions to the field of regeneration, his keen eye for pioneering science, and motivation to support other scientists make him an exceptional addition to the Hypothesis Fund’s network of Scouts, all of whom are pursuing bold, innovative scientific research,” said David Sanford, Hypothesis Fund CEO and Founder.
Research in the Sánchez Alvarado Lab at the Stowers Institute is centered around the planarian flatworm. Not satisfied with existing research organisms, Sánchez Alvarado sought a more suitable model for studying regeneration, leading him to planarian. His decades of pioneering work established this organism as a key model in the field, enabling groundbreaking discoveries in the molecular and genetic underpinnings of tissue repair following injury.
“I emphasize the importance of embracing uncertainty and taking calculated risks,” said Sánchez Alvarado. “Some of the most significant discoveries come from venturing into uncharted territory. I encourage researchers in my lab to be bold, question assumptions, and explore unconventional ideas."
Currently, the Sánchez Alvarado Lab is investigating regeneration across multiple species, including apple snails and killifish, to uncover shared principles of biological renewal and their potential applications for human health.
“I am honored to join the Hypothesis Fund as a Scout. Science thrives on curiosity and the courage to explore the unknown,” Sánchez Alvarado said. “This initiative is critical in identifying and supporting unconventional, but potentially transformative ideas that might otherwise go unexamined. I look forward to contributing to the mission.”
Sánchez Alvarado is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, a lifetime fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Emeriti.
For more information about the Hypothesis Fund, click here. To learn more about Sánchez Alvarado and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, visit stowers.org.
Media Contact:
Joe Chiodo
Head of External Communications and Media Relations
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
724-462-8529
jchiodo@stowers.org
Related News
News
24 September 2024
New Investigators open labs, begin research at the Institute
Four new Principal Investigators recently opened their labs at the Institute. Learn about their research and the impact of their science.
Read Article
News
04 June 2024
Three insights regarding regeneration
Learn what regeneration is, why scientists at the Stowers Institute study it, and discover the incredible regenerative capacity of research organisms in our latest installment of our #BioBasics series!
Read Article
News
19 October 2022
Stowers Executive Director wins 2023 Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science
The Stowers Institute for Medical Research is proud to announce that Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, Ph.D., is the recipient of the 2023 Vilcek Foundation Prize in Biomedical Science.
Read Article
