Lab Retreat 2025, Catskills — NY
Glamping in the Catskills
Drone footage by Oscar M. Rodriguez Fiallos
This fall, the Victor Lab left the bustle of New York City behind and headed to the Catskills for our first lab retreat. We traded pipettes for hiking boots, explored the trails leading to Haines Falls, and soaked in the breathtaking colors of peak leaf-peeping season. Surrounded by crisp air and golden foliage, we had the chance to connect with nature and with each other.
We spent the evening around the fire pit, roasting marshmallows for s’mores, sipping warm apple cider, and sharing stories. Between hikes and campfire laughter, we also held team work sessions and a scientific brainstorming discussion that sparked new ideas for our research.
The retreat was the perfect mix of adventure, reflection, and collaboration, a reminder that great science grows from great connections.
WALK to end Alzheimer’s 2025, Central Park — NY
Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Central Park
Our lab was proud to join thousands of participants at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Central Park, an annual event that brings together families, caregivers, scientists, and advocates committed to ending Alzheimer’s disease. In partnership with the Blanchard Lab, we raised four thousand dollars to support the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association.
It was a meaningful day for our team. We walked together, celebrated loved ones affected by the disease, and strengthened our commitment to advancing the science that will lead to better diagnostics and treatments. Dr. Victor wore a shirt stamped with #ALZFunded, a reminder of the critical support the Alzheimer’s Association provides for our research in the Victor Lab.
This event was a moment for our lab to connect with the broader Alzheimer’s community, honor the urgency of our work, and reaffirm why we push the science forward every day.
Guest lecture at Barnard College: Spring 2026
Brain Organoids for studying Neurodevelopment: Cells Yearn to be in 3D!
This spring, Nicolas Velez-Angel, Nainika Roy, and Hannah Yoder from the Victor Lab were invited to guest lecture in Professor Alexis Hill’s Neurodevelopment course at Barnard College. The lecture introduced students to the use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to model brain development and disease, tracing a path from foundational stem cell biology to the emergence of three-dimensional brain organoids. Through case-based discussion and experimental examples, students engaged with key questions in the field, including how to study gene function in the human brain and how to evaluate the strengths and limitations of different model systems. Thank you to Barnard College for hosting the lab and for a great day of discussion as we shared our excitement about building new frontiers in disease modeling with patient-derived stem cell systems.