“People think a lot about our genetic code, but our bodies are not made of DNA. They are made of proteins,” said Kostova. “Ribosomes build all these proteins — there is no life without ribosomes.”

Because ribosomes are so essential and are present in such vast quantities, inevitably, they are prone to break down — defective ribosomes accumulating within cells that are not quickly cleared away can lead to diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. Thus, the body must have a mechanism for detecting and removing those that are faulty. A recent discovery from the Kostova Lab identified a ribosome quality control pathway in zebrafish that allowed her team to track defective ribosomes as they were being assembled. Through this pathway, she explained, the team discovered a rich network of quality control factors that identify and remove faulty ribosomes.

Each year, UCSF’s Alumni Early-Career Award honors an alum who has graduated or completed training within the last 10 years, has advanced rapidly in their career, and has displayed significant achievement in the areas of leadership and professional success, pushing the boundaries of science and health care. This year, UCSF honored Kostova.

“Training at UCSF was key for my growth as a scientist, allowing me to tackle big biological questions,” said Kostova. “New ideas come from curiosity — that’s how discoveries are made that can improve human health.”

Read more about Kostova's work here.

View the video honoring all honorees here.