According to Forbes, three of the nation’s greatest young “game changers, movers, and makers” are CAS alumni, and their ideas are disrupting the fields of science and tech in big ways. Steve Ramirez (CAS’10) earned a spot on the list for his success altering the memories of mice, which could have a huge impact on the treatment of memory-related disorders. Eran Hodis (CAS’07) was recognized for his work identifying significant genetic mutations in cancer cells, which could lead to better treatments for cancer and eventually unravel its causes. Arian Randmand (CAS’08) is the cofounder of CoachUp, an app that connects athletes to private coaches in their sports.
Ramirez, 27, a neuroscience researcher and PhD candidate at MIT, has had his work compared to the science-fiction movie Inception, in which memories are implanted in people’s brains. According to Forbes, he “has successfully created false memories in rodents, and switched negative memories for positive ones.” He and his colleague have now started working with animals that show signs of depression, and are working to reverse or alleviate those symptoms by “placing” positive memories in their brains. Potentially, his work could help treat PTSD and other memory-related disorders.
Hodis, 29, a cancer researcher and MD/PhD student at Harvard University, studied yeast at the beginning of his career. But when his mom was diagnosed with cancer, he switched focus and “discovered a pair of mutations in the genomes of melanoma cells that have turned out to be among the most common mutations in all of cancer.” This discovery could help explain how cancer cells modify themselves so quickly, and what creates melanoma.
Radmand, 29, co-created the app CoachUp so athletes could receive private training from coaches in sports ranging from baseball to squash. Today, the app has raised almost $10 million in funding from companies such as General Catalyst Partners, and Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is now a spokesperson for the brand.
Making Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list is no small feat. This annual list features “today’s brightest stars who are moving minds, markets and a new generation into the future.” Our own alumni are named among celebrities such as Blake Lively and NBA all-star James Harden, as well as a scientist who is working toward using sound waves to perform surgery.
Read more about Ramirez, Hodis, and Randmand, as well as three other BU alumni on the list, in BU Today.