Ivana Daniels is a fourth-year PhD student in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Indiana University School of Medicine. Her research, conducted with the Gaston Laboratory at the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, is dedicated to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a leading cause of respiratory illness in children. However, Ivana’s interests extend far beyond her scientific work. When she’s not in the lab, Daniels is a musician, a dedicated mentor, and an outer space enthusiast. Her unique background brings fresh perspectives to her scientific work, showing that real innovation can come from a culmination of passions and interests.
Academic Accomplishments
In July 2024, Daniels received the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-IU T32 award, formally known as the Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant, for Molecular Physiology and Clinical Mechanisms of Lung Disease. This prestigious award provides funding for predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers in areas with a shortage of medical research. With this funding, Daniels can focus on her professional development, present her research and engage with committees that offer guidance on her next steps. The award also covers travel for conferences, supplies and a yearly stipend.
In September 2024, Daniels was honored with the Student Mentor of the Year award from the Pharmacology and Toxicology Department. This annual award recognizes a doctoral and a predoctoral student who demonstrates a genuine desire to mentor their peers. Throughout the year, Daniels mentors several undergraduate students, particularly those preparing for their qualifying exams. She also provides support as a wellness coach and DEI representative for the Pharmacology and Toxicology Department.
“People feel very comfortable coming to me and discussing their needs so that I'm able to mentor them,” Daniels noted, “Even though it can be challenging to make time for mentoring, I do it because it’s extremely vital and because we're going through things together.”
In July 2024, Daniels was also renewed as a NASA Doctoral Fellow through the Indiana Space Grant Consortium, which helps cover additional expenses associated with her PhD studies, such as conferences and laboratory supplies. This fellowship is renewed annually based on her dissertation progress, published research and conference attendance. Most importantly, she was able to receive this fellowship based on her current research in virology, focused on RSV. There is a need to establish novel and accessible treatments for astronauts during space travel. Therefore, her research may result in treatments that may be used in space.
Early Inspiration and Educational Background
Daniels' interest in science and space began in elementary school. She was accepted into a prestigious STEM program called Math Science Investigators (MSI) Enrichment Program in sixth grade. She stayed with that program until 9th grade, where she conducted her first lab experiment studying the hippocampal region of maternal and virgin rats to understand changes in adaptability and memory.
For high school, Daniels attended Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts and Technology in Petersburg, Virginia, majoring in instrumental music with a concentration in flute and piano. Her typical class schedule was about half core curriculum classes and half music courses like piano, orchestra, conducting, musical theater, and recording technology.
In 10th grade, she took her interest in science and brought it to aerospace when she started conducting research with NASA. She did this until 12th grade and later became a NASA-Virginia Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate Fellow throughout her undergraduate years.
She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia, majoring in biology and religious studies. Reflecting on her diverse academic interests, Daniels humorously stated, “I don’t know where the religious studies came from; it was just interesting and taught me how to be a better writer.”
Her undergraduate research focused on pulmonary hypertension, investigating novel therapeutic targets to improve health outcomes. She conducted experiments using animal models to assess how genetic mutations affected survival rates, reinforcing her motivation for a career in translational research.
Choosing IU School of Medicine
Daniels' academic journey has been marked by significant accomplishments dating back to elementary school, and the IU School of Medicine has provided the ideal environment for her continued growth alongside mentors from her home state.
After completing her undergraduate degree, Daniels was on a search for a job. That’s when she discovered a position as a research technician at IU under Billie Lou Wood Professor of Pediatrics Benjamin Gaston, MD, who also attended the University of Virginia. Although they never ran into each other at the University of Virginia, their connection allowed them to click right away.
After a year in that role, Daniels realized how much she enjoyed her work and wanted to pursue it, so she applied to the IU School of Medicine and was accepted. While many PhD students take time to choose their lab mentors, Daniels already knew she wanted Gaston to be hers.
She described him as “one of the sweetest people [she’s] ever met.” On top of that, Gaston’s extensive experience has allowed him to adapt his mentoring style to each student.
“I can be hyper-independent, but I also appreciate people who recognize when to step in and offer support,” Daniels explained, highlighting his ability to balance guidance with independence. Despite his busy schedule, Gaston prioritizes providing her with resources for both academic and professional pursuits.
“She’s very bright,” Gaston remarked about Daniels, “She's very thorough, always upbeat and great at finding solutions to problems that come up. Her transformation as a researcher has been remarkable. She's evolved into somebody who could be an independent investigator who can really think on her feet and present beautifully, and to do what everybody agrees is remarkable work.”
Daniels also works alongside her co-mentor Michael Davis, PhD, an associate research professor of pediatrics, who also happens to share her Virginia roots. Davis went to the University of Lynchburg for his undergraduate studies and Virginia Commonwealth University for his graduate studies.
“It’s like I left Virginia but I came back to Virginia,” Daniels said with enthusiasm.
Current Research
Daniels’ dissertation research investigates RSV, which primarily affects pediatric populations. RSV enters human airway epithelial cells through a pH-dependent mechanism known as endocytosis. Severe symptoms include wheezing, difficulty breathing and extreme fatigue. Without treatment, these symptoms can escalate, potentially leading to lower respiratory infections and, in severe cases, death.
Unlike many viruses, RSV does not induce long-term immunity, allowing for recurrent infections. Currently, no vaccines or antiviral medications are available for pediatric patients suffering from RSV.
Daniels stated, "RSV season is among us and it is vital we work together to keep our pediatric community safe! Through research and innovation, we have the opportunity to turn the tide against RSV. By advancing our understanding and developing novel treatments, we can protect the most vulnerable and change the course of this disease for future generations."
The Gaston Laboratory has developed a drug called Optate, an inhaled buffer designed to increase airway pH and downregulate endosomal trafficking genes. Daniels aims to elucidate Optate's efficacy as a novel therapy for RSV in vitro and investigate how pH modulation impacts antiviral effects.
Their lab has obtained an Investigational New Drug (IND) certificate for Optate, indicating that enough safety data supports its advancement to clinical trials in the near future, offering hope to families affected by RSV.
Life Outside the Lab
When Daniels is not in the lab, she still picks up her flute and sits down to play the piano. Her favorite songs to play are “Romeo and Juliet (Fantasy Overture)” by Tchaikovsky in orchestra and “Gigue” by J.S. Bach as a soloist. Her creative pursuits also include arts and crafts, such as sculpting with air-dry clay and painting. She maintains a fitness routine that includes Pilates and yoga at The Hot Room in downtown Indianapolis, where she has been a member for two years.
Looking to the future, Daniels hopes to obtain her instructor's license at The Hot Room and aspires to join the IU School of Medicine Orchestra one day. However, her primary focus for now remains on making a significant impact through her research.
Daniels’ ultimate goal is to become a virologist focused on translational research, where her laboratory work will directly contribute to medical interventions. While she’s not exactly sure where this path will lead, she is ecstatic at the idea of one day working at NASA—a dream she’d be thrilled to make a reality.
Through her dedication to research, mentoring, and community engagement, Ivana Daniels exemplifies the qualities of a committed scholar and compassionate leader in the field of pediatric medicine.
