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KNOW THE PRIDE

Dr. Richard De La Garza II (BS ‘85) has been a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School and a research scientist at Yale’s school of medicine. He currently is an assistant professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Rather than the longer “Richard,” he prefers being called “Rich,” he says because when he tells people, “Hi. I’m Rich,” it tends to opens up conversational opportunities.
Outside the lab, he loves to spend time with his books but says he is happiest running along a leaf-laden trail with his black Lab, Robbie.
“There is no greater elixir to me than the sound of my feet and his paws, the sound of our breathing, as we run through a desolate trail,” he says.

What is your research about?
People who are depressed have higher rates of nicotine, cocaine and alcohol abuse. People who smoke report that they increase use of nicotine when they are stressed. This is referred to as the “self medication” hypothesis. Namely, people use drugs to alleviate their depression or to pacify their anxiety. We are all exposed to stressors in life (a “role of the environment”), yet, different people respond to the same stress in very distinct ways (a “role of genetics”). One major research interest of our lab is to determine whether a genetic predisposition to depression or anxiety increases susceptibility to drug initiation (when you first start abusing drugs) or drug addiction (the result of repeated exposure).

If your research were to achieve your highest hopes, what would that be?
T o make a discovery that alters the course of depression and drug abuse treatment. To discover something that alleviates the pain and suffering experienced by so many who suffer from these diseases. It is important to mention that most people have no difficulty acknowledging that heart disease, cancer and diabetes are terrible illnesses that should be eradicated. Yet, a shocking number of people still consider depression and drug addiction the result of “bad choices” or a “weakness of character.” Depression and drug addiction are brain diseases, not unlike Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s (involving profound neurochemical and neuroanatomical alterations). We hope to elucidate the genetic aspects of these disorders in order to dispel the myth that the environment is the sole cause.

Rich

How did you get where you are today? My life is very likely the result of good genes and an especially good environment. I must admit that I have had a terribly unfair advantage — the unwavering and unconditional love and support of my parents. They provided me with all the right tools for a successful life. They taught me about integrity, honesty, patience and understanding. They instilled in me an unprecedented work ethic. I arrived on the ET campus ready to forge a life of my own. My time at ET was sublime. Commerce is a simple place, as everyone knows. And ET is a laid-back, not-so-glamorous campus. But for me, it could not have been more perfect.

Is it the process of or the potential in your work that appeals most to you?
The process, absolutely. There is something unexplainably wonderful about setting up for an experiment. Labeling test tubes, mixing reagents, pipeting and vortexing. Also, watching the data emerge “real-time” is a rush. Then sitting down to compile the results, analyze the data and to create the graphs or histograms. Was the hypothesis correct? No matter the outcome, the immediate question is “what experiment should I do next?” It is a seemingly infinite process of questions and answers. Each hopefully advancing scientific understanding of the disorders.

Your professional home is Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Is there something of his life or work that has special appeal for you?
Einstein was quoted as saying, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” I think this must Dr. Timothy L. Ratliff (MS ‘74) is the Andersen-Hebbeln Professor in prostate cancer research in the department of urology at the University of Iowa. He also serves as the research vice chair there.
Tim recently gave a commencement address here at A&M-Commerce. He made the trip, he said, not only because he could share his experience with graduates beginning their first jobs but because “Texas A&M-Commerce is my Alma Mater. The invitation to return and give the speech was an honor that I could not refuse.”
What is your research about?
Our objective is to develop a cure for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, affecting more than 180,000 each year, and the second leading cause of cancer-related death, killing over 30,000 men each year.

If your research were to achieve your highest hopes, what would that be? Truthfully, I would be satisfied with nothing less than a cure. Along the way, we will advance the field of tumor immunology through our studies on host-tumor interactions. My laboratory includes studies on basic immunological phenomena related to immune responses to cancer and clinical trials. The basic laboratory studies will advance the field of tumor immunology whether or not we develop a cure for the disease.

How did you get where you are today?
My time at Texas A&M-Commerce was very important to my development as a research scientist. Two things occurred that changed me forever. I first entered the graduate program with the intent of becoming a field biologist. I began work with Don Ingold on a field biology project but after taking a course in microbiology from Royce Lee, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in microbiology. I spoke to Royce and Don Ingold about my desire to change mentors. Don Ingold reacted very positively and encouraged me to make the switch. I will forever be indebted to him for his gracious actions and enthusiastic support over the remainder of my graduate studies. While I still love the outdoors, I am sure I found my professional niche.
The second thing was working with Royce on my master’s thesis. Royce’s enthusiasm for unraveling the truths of nature through the application of the scientific method was contagious. He awakened in me a passion for discovery that has never waned. I am as excited today by experimental discovery as I was with my first successful experiment. We have many difficult problems to overcome to accomplish our goal of curing prostate cancer, and I view them as intriguing questions not obstacles to developing the cure. I owe this enthusiasm to Royce and only hope that my enthusiasm will likewise awaken passion in my students and postdoctoral fellows.

Is it the process or the potential that appeals most to you?
I n actuality, it is both. While I do not actually perform the experiments today, I still design them. I enjoy interpreting data and designing the next experiment based on the results. I also enjoy seeing the unexpected and figuring out why it should have been expected rather than unexpected, i.e., why the results point to the real truth not my perceived truth. When it comes to writing papers or grants, I like the potential rather than the process. It is difficult for me to write them, but I enjoy the final product — the logic and integration that is present.

You recently gave a commencement address telling our grads to follow their passion, do the right thing, be kind to all, and to “stick with it.” Of all that you might have said, why was this your advice?
T his is an easy one to answer. The content of my commencement speech simply reflects my belief about

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