est. 2022

The Powell Gray Lab is a lively collaboration, driven by intense curiosity, shared discovery, and sometimes shared baked goods.

Our vision

We’re using nucleic acid chemistry and biology to create tunable drugs and imaging agents for a variety of disease states.

Traditionally antibodies have been considered the gold standard of targeting ligands, able to specifically target desired cellular targets with high affinity. Aptamers, small nucleic acid ligands, are targeting ligands with antibody-like affinities and specificities at a fraction of the size. Our lab selects novel, stable RNA aptamers against different disease-related targets and utilizes the unique properties of those aptamers to better detect, image and treat the diseases. Our ultimate goal is to develop new clinically relevant therapeutic and imaging agents to improve patient outcomes.

Lab culture

Diversity, equity and inclusion are central to our lab dynamic. We respect different lived experiences and perspectives and are committed to an inclusive, diverse and safe environment. Our differences bring new insights that make us stronger, better and more innovative scientists. Bethany is dedicated to creating a welcoming lab environment that values all lab members and to providing individualized mentoring tailored to each member’s needs.

lab news

  • December 9, 2024 – Welcome to CBI rotation student Natalie Waschbusch!

  • September 23, 2024 – Welcome back to Pharmacology rotation student Salma Saenz!

  • May 28, 2024 – Welcome to our summer student, Damian, an Amgen Scholar from Johns Hopkins University!

  • April 2024 – Congrats to Freddy for receiving a fellowship and to Hannah for an Honorable Mention through the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)!

  • September 15, 2023 – Congrats to Hannah on winning a poster award at the 19th Annual CBI Retreat!

  • September 8, 2023 – Welcome to JHU sophomore Kaiyuan Du!

  • July 24, 2023 – Hannah officially joins the lab!

  • May 31, 2023 – Welcome to our summer student, Salma, an Amgen Scholar from The University of Texas at El Paso!

  • May 18, 2023 – Welcome to CBI rotation student Hannah!

  • March 29, 2023 – Freddy officially joins the lab!

  • January 23, 2023 – Welcome to Pharmacology rotation student Madison!

  • November 30, 2022 – Welcome to BCMB rotation student Raygan!

  • November 8, 2022 – Welcome to Pharmacology rotation student Freddie!

  • September 26, 2022 – Welcome to Pharmacology rotation student Tommie!

  • August 18, 2022 – Darlene joins our lab as a Doctoral Diversity Program Scholar!

  • March 28, 2022 – Josean joins our lab, starting as a Pharmacology rotation student!

  • February 7, 2022 – Reema joins our lab, starting as a Pharmacology rotation student!

  • February 1, 2022 – The Lab Opens!!!