Francisco Sánchez-Rivera from Humble Beginnings to Making an Impact at SKI
Since 1988, the United States has recognized National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) as a time to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans with roots in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central, and South America, and Spain, and to honor the accomplishments of Hispanic Americans.
This year, the Black, Latino, Asian and Multicultural (BLAM) Employee Resource Network is privileged to highlight a few members of Sloan Kettering Institute (SKI), who share what the month means to them as well as their thoughts on the importance of representation in academia.
Image of Francisco Sánchez-Rivera
On the night of December 31, 2015, Francisco Sánchez-Rivera, PhD, his fiancée Yadira Soto-Feliciano, and their close friend, Tuomas Tammela, rang in the New Year together while driving a moving truck from Boston to New York City. Drs. Sánchez-Rivera and Soto-Feliciano had just accepted new positions in the Big Apple, and they were eager to start the next stages in their science careers. Dr. Tammela was only there to help the couple move, but coincidentally he would also accept a job in New York City in the fall of 2017.
While they were completing their PhDs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the couple met and became friends with Dr. Tammela, who was finishing up his postdoctoral fellowship at MIT. Both Drs. Sánchez-Rivera and Tammela worked in the laboratory of MIT's Tyler Jacks, a leader in developing genetically engineered mouse models of cancer.
Fortunately, they were able to continue their personal and professional relationship at Sloan Kettering Institute (SKI) when Dr. Sánchez-Rivera joined as a postdoctoral research scholar in January 2016 and Dr. Tammela became an Assistant Member in September 2017. Dr. Tammela now runs his own lab in the Cancer Biology & Genetics Program. "We were all very excited that I was coming to SKI. I had always been attracted to the institution," says Dr. Sánchez-Rivera. "For a cancer biologist who is deeply interested in both basic and translational cancer research, SKI is, without a doubt, the perfect place to build one's career."
Humble Beginnings
Dr. Sánchez-Rivera was born and raised in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. His mother worked as an office assistant for a supermarket chain and his father was a salesman for a supermarket supply company. In 2002, he met his future wife, Yadira, in high school after being introduced by her sister, who was his classmate at the time. They married in December 2016, a year after moving to NYC, and welcomed their son, Francisco Eugenio Sánchez-Soto, or "Geñito," in 2018. Dr. Soto-Feliciano is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Rockefeller University.
Dr. Sánchez-Rivera and his older brother, Tony, were the first in their family to attend college. His brother earned a bachelor's in industrial microbiology and now works for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Sánchez-Rivera was the first in his family to pursue a PhD.
"Neither of my parents had the opportunity to attend college due to various life circumstances, which led me to view education as one of the highest privileges one can have in life," he says. When he was accepted to the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, he considered himself extremely lucky.
He quickly became hooked on science after taking a few courses in college.
"The thought of being the first person to make a biological discovery or develop a novel approach that catalyzes biological research by empowering other investigators in the field is one of the two elements that fuels my motivation," he says. His undergraduate mentor, Carlos Ríos-Velázquez, gave Dr. Sánchez-Rivera an opportunity to do scientific research despite his not having any previous experience in lab work.
"All it really takes to change a life is for one person to realize someone's potential and to guide them in the right direction," Dr. Sánchez-Rivera says. "Carlos Ríos-Velázquez did that for me when I had zero direction, and that opportunity set off a cascade of positive events that led me to where I am right now."
Dr. Sánchez-Rivera was drawn to cancer research and the chance to play a part in preventing or treating cancer. "As a postdoctoral researcher, I am still working to achieve those goals."
Making an Impact at SKI
On January 1, 2016, Dr. Sánchez-Rivera joined Scott Lowe's Lab at SKI. "I had followed Scott Lowe's work very closely over the years, and his work had profoundly motivated some of my own PhD research," he says. "It was a no-brainer for me to apply for a postdoctoral position in his laboratory."
Under the mentorship of Dr. Lowe, Chair of SKI's Cancer Biology & Genetics Program and Chair of the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center, Dr. Sánchez-Rivera has been working to understand the genetic and transcriptional mechanisms that govern cancer initiation, progression, and maintenance, and how these can vary depending on the biological context. To do this, he develops and applies sophisticated genome engineering technologies and uses genetically engineered mouse models to obtain comprehensive biological pictures of cancers.
During his career at SKI, Dr. Sánchez-Rivera has established multiple collaborations with research groups across the institution, including those in the Human Oncology Pathogenesis Program and the Immunology, Computational & Systems Biology, and Cancer Biology & Genetics program areas. "The unique mix of cross-disciplinary research programs combined with the ability to attend both basic research and clinical scientific seminars makes SKI an ideal place for successful cross-pollination between researchers from diverse scientific backgrounds," he says. His long-term career goal is to become an independent investigator focused on characterizing genetic and non-genetic mechanisms regulating tumorigenesis and disease progression.
In 2017, Dr. Sánchez-Rivera was named a fellow of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Hannah H. Gray Fellowship program. As part of the fellowship, he was given up to $1.5 million over the course of four years to supplement his annual salary, research funds, and his work during his postdoc and principal investigator (PI) phases. He has been researching how p53 gene mutations, the most commonly mutated gene in human cancers, wreak havoc in the body, as well as mutations that create proteins with new abilities. His studies may bring about new therapeutic strategies relevant to a range of different cancers.
The Meaning of Hispanic Heritage Month
When Dr. Sánchez-Rivera reflects on his career and thinks of his position in the context of Hispanic Heritage Month, he recognizes the importance of not only being an accomplished scientist, but also being someone who advocates for his fellow scientists from underrepresented communities through mentorship, recruitment, and support.
"I can't help but think that there should be more of us in science and academia, but I know the tide is turning and the next generation of scientists will include a good number of Hispanic scientists," says Dr. Sánchez-Rivera, who was named to Cell Press's 100 Inspiring Hispanic/Latinx Scientists in America List in September 2020. "I strive to use my voice as an accomplished Latinx scientist to motivate and assist the next generation of scientists from traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds as much as possible."
One recent experience solidified his motivation to support Black and Hispanic scientists, other scientists of color, and those from underrepresented communities. On June 11, 2020, Yaihara Fortis-Santiago and Nicola Buchanan, Associate Director for Diversity and Inclusion, hosted a panel at MSK during the #ShutDownSTEM movement to reflect on racism in academia and discuss ways to bring about meaningful change.
"Witnessing hundreds of members of the MSK and SKI communities – some of whom have incredibly busy schedules – come together to share their thoughts on important problems related to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion made me feel proud to be a member of this institution," Dr. Sánchez-Rivera says.
He is thankful to Ushma Neill, Vice President of Scientific Education and Training, and Dr. Fortis-Santiago for their tireless work on making SKI a better, and more equal, diverse, and inclusive place.
"They are absolutely amazing human beings and very important and invaluable assets to our community," he says. "Every institution should strive to recruit people like them to initiate long-term solutions to equity, diversity, and inclusion."