Maggie Colton Cove PhD Candidate, University of California, San Francisco 2024 PICI RISE Scholar Biography Maggie Colton Cove is a PhD candidate in the Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics (PSPG) program at the University of California, San Francisco, where she focuses on translational cancer research. Her current work in the Okada Lab centers on applying engineered T cells to treat central nervous system (CNS) tumors and improving the efficacy of these immunotherapies. Prior to UCSF, Maggie studied at the University of Chicago, where she investigated small-molecule inhibitors and novel combination treatments for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Her growing interest in immunotherapies continues to shape her research trajectory. She is a recipient of the T32 Translational Brain Tumor Research Training Grant and a Discovery Fellowship. In 2024, she was selected as a PICI RISE Scholar for her work on developing a synNotch-CAR T cell circuit to overcome the hostile environment of Group 3 medulloblastoma, a critical challenge in pediatric brain cancer treatment. Outside the lab, she enjoys playing music, experimenting with new recipes, and co-hosting the science podcast Carry the One Radio.