The MSTPS program offers students a flexible, hands-on experience that extends beyond the classroom. Students have opportunities to engage in laboratory research, explore entrepreneurship and innovation, build connections with mentors and industry professionals, and gain practical insight into how scientific discoveries move toward real-world application.
For our students, MSTPS is a place to explore multiple dimensions of translational science while developing a clearer sense of their future path. The program supports experiences that can span research, drug development, bioinformatics, entrepreneurship, and professional skill-building, helping students connect their education and training to meaningful careers and next steps in science, medicine, and beyond.
Explore the information below to learn more about our students and the paths they pursued during and after MSTPS.
Derek Lake was summiting a mountain in South America when he realized he wanted to pursue a career in medicine.
Well, perhaps it wasn’t that precise moment. But as Lake was backpacking from Mexico to Patagonia,often volunteering as an emergency medical technician to accompany climbers on their mountaintop quest he saw the disparities plaguing certain regions, especially related to healthcare access.
He knew medicine was how he could make a difference.
Five years later, after earning a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and gaining extensive genomics research experience at Northern Arizona University, Lake completed the Master of Science in Translational Pharmaceutical Science at CWRU.
As Lake expanded his pharmaceutical, bioinformatics and entrepreneurial knowledge in the program, he quickly jumped into the opportunities available: He gained experience as a researcher in the Marvin Nieman Lab (CWRU Pharmacology) working on protein purification and cryo-electron microscopy, was a part of National Institutes of Health’s I-Corps entrepreneurship training program, and was a Case Venture Mentorship Program fellow.
Through the Master of Science in Translational Pharmaceutical Science, Lake has gained invaluable experiences networking with pharmaceutical company founders or working in an academic research lab.
“I’m looking to apply my research in the real world,” Lake said, “and this program has already given me the practical, applicable skills to do exactly what I want to do.”
After graduating from the MSTPS Program in 2025, Derek Lake began his PhD journey after accepting a place in CWRU SOM’s Biomedical Sciences Training Program. He is now a Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Graduate Student Researcher in the Pathology Department’s Cascalho Lab.
His goal: returning to Mexico to open a precision medicine clinic working to improve the healthcare disparities he’d witnessed years ago.
After working full time as a research assistant in academia, Alexis Dimatteo realized she wanted to pursue a master’s degree that would connect bench research more directly to patient care.
While she enjoyed the laboratory work, she sometimes felt lost in the translation of academic research to real-world clinical impact. That led her to Case Western Reserve University’s Master of Science in Translational Pharmaceutical Science program, which stood out because it bridges the gap between the research environment she was accustomed to and the patient outcomes she hoped to help advance.
What especially drew her to the program was its balance of scientific training and professional development. In addition to deepening her knowledge of the scientific principles behind translational research, the program emphasized skills that extend across career paths—helping her grow not only as a scientist, but also as a team member, listener, communicator, leader and well-rounded person.
One of the most rewarding parts of her studies has been the opportunity to continually challenge herself and expand her knowledge through the program’s diverse curriculum.
Over the past year, Alexis has explored contemporary approaches to drug discovery, developed a mock regulatory strategy for a medical product, designed a clinical trial protocol, and built valuable professional and networking skills. These experiences pushed her to think in new ways and apply what she learned to realistic scenarios, giving her a deeper understanding of the field while strengthening her confidence and helping her build meaningful connections with faculty, staff and fellow students.
Coming into the program with a background primarily in molecular genetics, Alexis had little prior knowledge of pharmacology. Since then, she has developed a much broader understanding of the development process for drugs, biologics and medical devices, and has come to appreciate just how much work is required to move a product from an initial scientific idea to something that can ultimately benefit patients.
Her coursework also introduced her to many aspects of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that were previously unfamiliar to her—knowledge she believes will be especially valuable as she pursues a career in industry.
The program has also provided important hands-on experience. During the summer, Alexis was selected for a 12-week internship at Sarepta Therapeutics in Columbus, Ohio, where she worked with the nonclinical research science team.
Through that internship, she gained insight into the industry side of research and developed valuable skills from the colleagues and mentors she worked alongside. She is also excited to gain more laboratory experience in her final semester by working with Dr. Jason Mears and his team in CWRU’s Department of Pharmacology.
After graduation, Alexis hopes to pursue a research career in industry, applying the knowledge and research skills she has developed throughout her time at CWRU.
She says the MSTPS program has helped prepare her for that goal by providing more laboratory practice while also challenging her to master difficult material and think critically. Those experiences helped make her a stronger and more competitive candidate for her internship at Sarepta Therapeutics, which in turn gave her valuable exposure to research in an industry setting and may help provide a pathway into her post-graduation career.
For prospective students, her advice is simple: Be yourself and be willing to learn—you do not have to have your whole life figured out right now.
She emphasizes that the CWRU community is full of compassionate and knowledgeable people who are willing to help, and encourages applicants not to be afraid to reach out with questions or for guidance. In her own experience, speaking with Dr. Tawna Mangosh before applying was especially insightful and played a vital role in her decision to join the program.
Among her courses, her favorite was MGRD 425: Leadership and Professional Development Skills for Biomedical Sciences with Dr. Tessianna Misko.
Alexis especially valued that the course not only provided practical skills she can carry into the future, but also helped her better understand how she learns, thinks and works in ways she had not recognized before. She describes Dr. Misko as kind, approachable and always willing to help students, and says the class discussions and activities were consistently enjoyable and helpful.
MSTPS at a Glance
