November 2025 Inside the Institute Newsletter

A Message from Rob McCarley
Executive Director, The Fralin Life Sciences Institute

As we approach a period of reflection in our lives in the coming weeks, it is important to acknowledge what we and others have done for our individual and collective successes this year. My general impression, as an investigator, is that folks are energized while planning for future endeavors when they use their accomplishments and collaborator contributions to propel them.

This empowering approach allows us to do things we could not do alone and often yields unprecedented synergistic outcomes.

The Institute is fortunate to have the resources to help unleash all the talents of affiliated investigators and students, and institute team members so that they take on what might at first glance look to be “impossible,” and ultimately enjoy the fruits of their labor.

I am thankful to be a small part of that team effort guided by our vision, while also appreciating those endeavors that have been cultured, catalyzed, and communicated by the Institute, which lead to new destinations and unprecedented knowledge at the interfaces of the life and molecular sciences.

It is important to recognize all of this is made possible by support from the Office of Research and Innovation and collaborations with our academic unit and college partners.

It is truly rewarding to see the “A-to-Z” topics in this edition of the newsletter. While I am intrigued by dishes made from “things that should not be here” (crossword hint), that is, invasive plants such as kudzu (whose blooms smell like grape bubble gum), it is also exciting to learn about the molecular basis of memory formation and preservation.

This ubiquitous enthusiasm is amplified when listening to podcasts on cutting-edge virology, urban entomology, and plant disease research, and by learning more about the disease that wiped out swaths of trees in my native Midwest. Importantly, reports on the molecular basis of frost removal and new collaborations on terrestrial-freshwater dynamics add to the newsletter’s key message — FLSI investigators are working at the interfaces of the life and molecular sciences and crossing boundaries!

I hope you’ll continue to enjoy all that brings us hope as we work together in our mission to support and promote innovative life sciences endeavors.

P.S. The latest edition of 'The Fralin Fiddler' crossword puzzle is now featured, along with last month's crossword key.

Let's go Hokies, and let’s go FLSI!