The UAB Department of Pathology recently funded a $500 travel award to Saeed Zakakhosravi, M.S., who presented his research last month.
Zakakhosravi, a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Erin Eun Young Ahn, Ph.D., a professor in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, presented his work at the 2025 American Society of Hematology meeting in Orlando, Florida. He presented the poster, titled, “SON haploinsufficiency in hematopoietic cells disrupts the crosstalk between splicing fidelity and chromatin accessibility, impairing lymphoid lineage commitment.”
Zakakhosravi’s research focuses on understanding how SON haploinsufficiency, as seen in Zhu-Tokita-Takenouchi-Kim (ZTTK) syndrome, affects hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell function and lineage commitment.
“I presented data showing that reduced SON dosage leads to a selective loss of lymphoid potential during hematopoiesis. My work demonstrates that SON is required to maintain proper gene expression programs and chromatin accessibility landscapes that support normal immune lineage development,” Zakakhosravi said.
At the meeting, he received the 2025 American Society of Hematology Abstract Achievement Award for his work on the role of the SON gene in hematopoiesis.
Learn more
Required application materials:
A copy of the submitted abstracted, oral or poster presentation, and copy of email confirmation of submission and acceptance.
A short paragraph outlining what scientific meeting will be attended and how attending this meeting contributes to training.
Brief biosketch/CV of applicant, including years in program, research lab and qualifying exam status (student) or years in lab (postdoc).
A letter of support from PI/mentor.
Application submission:
Email all required materials as a single pdf file identified by the applicant’s name (i.e., LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME) using:
For more information on eligibility, requirements, review criteria, and subsequent deadlines contact Fatima Igdoura at