Raquel Castellon

Dr. Castellon earned her doctorate degree in Tumor Cell Biology from Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. Subsequently, she completed her molecular pharmacology and developmental pharmacology postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. Her career includes leadership roles in life science start-up companies in California, as well as academic appointments at Biola University, Davenport University, Cedars Sinai Medical Center and the University of California, Irvine. Her research interests involve the effect of vascular cells, and factors derived therefrom, on the survival of adjacent tissues (including neurons), as well as the potential modulation of their interactions by pharmacological agents that mimic the protective effect of specific genetic polymorphisms. Of prime importance to Dr. Castellon is the development of pro- and anti-vasculogenic/angiogenic therapies through drug discovery using proprietary assays.

One of Dr. Castellon's greatest satisfactions has been derived from her ability to translate the information obtained in the laboratory into teaching material that is relevant to the student's everyday lives as well as their professions. Using an interactive and engaging teaching style, she bridges theoretical concepts and current problems that include the ethics of research and medicine, the scientific validation of research data and the positive/negative contribution of media in shaping the dialog between the scientific community, students and the general population.

• Tumor Cell Biology, Northwestern University in Chicago, IL
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Molecular pharmacology and developmental pharmacology, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD

• The effect of vascular cells, and factors derived therefrom, on the survival of adjacent tissues (including neurons) and potential modulation of their interactions by pharmacological agents that mimic the protective effect of specific genetic polymorphisms