Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s Ocañas recognized as state’s first to receive this national award

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) scientist Sarah Ocañas, Ph.D. has become the state’s first recipient of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s Early Independence Award. 

Ocañas will receive a five-year, $2.2 million grant to fund her research in OMRF’s Genes and Human Disease Research Program. The scientist was selected to receive the award alongside 13 others from institutions across the country as part of the NIH’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program. The award supports junior scientists with the maturity and knowledge to bypass traditional postdoctoral training of three to five years, in launching their independent research careers.  

“Competition for these kinds of federal dollars is intense. This is a tremendous distinction for Dr. Ocañas, OMRF and Oklahoma,” said OMRF Vice President of Research, Rod McEver, M.D. 

OMRF scientist Sarah Ocañas, Ph.D.

“Winning a grant of this caliber is a significant achievement. It speaks highly of OMRF’s research excellence, and we’re proud to have Dr. Ocañas represent the foundation at this level.” 

Ocañas achievement puts OMRF alongside other notable institutions nationwide like the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, California Institute of Technology and Stanford University. 

The scientist will now expand her studies in determining why diseases like Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and lupus progress differently between males and females.  

Alzheimer’s, for example, has been noted as more prevalent and tends to cause greater cognitive decline in females, but often results in an earlier death for males. Ocañas will work to identify gender-specific targets for new treatments.  

“This is a rare opportunity to jump from getting her doctorate to having her own lab in just a matter of months,” said OMRF scientist Bill Freeman, Ph.D., whom Ocañas worked with as a graduate student. 

OMRF scientist Bill Freeman, Ph.D.

“I’m excited for Dr. Ocañas, but also for OMRF because we get to keep a talented scientist who brings strong neuroscience and data science skills that will help several other researchers here.” 

The NIH Director’s Early Independence Award was first awarded in 2011 to support “exceptionally creative scientists pursuing highly innovative research with the potential for broad impact.” 

NIH’s Acting Director, Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D., said the support of the chosen recipients will help advance discoveries in human health and “transform what is known in the biological and behavioral world.” 

OMRF is an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit organization that conducts basic biomedical research to help improve people’s lives. The foundation also serves as a member of the Oklahoma Biotech Innovation Cluster, which was recently awarded $35 million as part of the federal government’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge.