Dr. Victor Garcia Empowers the Next Generation of Scientists
Victor G. Garcia, Ph.D. ’15, Opens His Lab to 15 Students from Across the Country and Around the World
Victor G. Garcia, Ph.D. ’15, right, assistant professor of pharmacology, is a dedicated researcher of obesity, cardiometabolic disease and hypertension who knows the importance of opportunities in the world of academia. He understands the struggles that aspiring researchers face when trying to obtain hands-on experience. This summer, he opened his lab to 15 students, providing them with a unique opportunity to embark on a journey of discovery.
Hailing from a background where such opportunities were scarce and lacking guidance on how to contact established researchers or initiate the research process, his own path to becoming a researcher had been challenging. Determined to change this narrative for future scientists, he always says yes to students who want to explore and learn in his lab.
Dr. Garcia's lab recently became a melting pot of talent, comprising of students from local high schools, New York Medical College, Touro College of Dental Medicine, as well as other colleges from across the county and as far away as China.Many students joined Dr. Garcia's lab after learning about his remarkable research discoveries either from exposure in their high school classrooms or through captivating lectures he delivered to their class. Others opted for this research opportunity to fulfill their degree requirements in an area of their interest. The diversity of students in different programs led them to guide each other on possible career opportunities in the sciences.
“I joined Dr. Garcia's lab because I wanted to be part of an environment that fosters individual growth with a focus on career development,” said Danielle Diegisser, a second-year Ph.D. student in pharmacology. “What really captivated me about his lab was its relaxed but motivated environment that empowers each student to excel and make strides towards their aspirations. Dr. Garcia's commitment to our progress is evident as he dedicates considerable time between meetings and experiments to connect with each of us one-on-one, ensuring that we’re consistently on the right trajectory to be successful scientists.”
Benjamin Miller, School of Medicine Class of 2026, first encountered Dr. Garcia’s research during a lecture. “I spoke to him afterwards about possibly joining and he welcomed me with open arms,” he said. Miller wanted to learn more about pharmacology and drug development and saw Dr. Garcia’s lab as the perfect opportunity. As a recipient of Touro University’s Student Research Fellowship Grant Program, Miller became an integral part of Dr. Garcia's dedicated group of researchers. “This was the first time I was in his lab, and I intend on working with Dr. Garcia and his students throughout the year,” Miller said.
The students witnessed first-hand the development of a receptor blocker for 20-HETE’s receptor, GPR75, aimed at preventing diet-induced weight gain. They also saw the impact 20-HETE and GPR75 have on hypertension and other cardiometabolic diseases. This is a part of study Dr. Garcia and Michal Schwartzman, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology, and Regeneron Genetics Center scientists published in 2021 that found individuals who had at least one inactive copy of the GPR75 gene had lower BMI and, on average, tended to weigh about 12 pounds less and faced a 54 percent lower risk of obesity than those without the mutation.
Dr. Garcia collaborates closely with his researchers, establishing schedules that accommodate their academic and career goals. The research students are tasked depending on their comfort level and experience. As a team, they organize, run tests using cutting-edge technology and biological tools. At the end of the summer, they all generated review articles, some of which will be their first published research paper.
Dr. Garcia's mentorship extended beyond the lab and into professional development. He helped students build their professional portfolios, refine their CVs and establish their presence on platforms, like LinkedIn and ResearchGate. The researchers watched him present and analyze his research findings and gained insight into the art of science communication and teamwork. The impact of Dr. Garcia's mentorship is evident in the number of students who returned to the lab, picking up where they had left off and continuing their scientific exploration.
“I hope the students continue their passion and drive for science,” said Dr. Garcia. “They don’t need to be experts on my topic or be pharmacologists. What truly matters is their pride in their academic achievements and personal growth.”
Videos of various NYMC research are available on the NYMC Youtube Channel.
Victor Garcia, Ph.D. '15, right, with his summer research students.