ARCS Foundation Orange County President and Scholar Alumni Dr. Nan Hultgren has an especially unique connection to ARCS. Beginning as a scholar with a passion for basic research and now Chapter President who wants to continue sharing her passion for ARCS.  

She began her journey with the organization as an ARCS Scholar from 2014-2016 after starting her doctoral research at University of California, Irvine. Her passion for basic research has continued post-doctoral studies and she now passes on her knowledge and experience to a new generation of ARCS Foundation members and scholars.

Dr. Hultgren describes herself as a curious person and this quality is what led her to begin her career in basic research. To Dr. Hultgren, basic research pushes the boundaries of human knowledge, and how we progress as a society.

Dr. Hultgren explains her true passion for basic research began by asking questions, “Whenever I first see something, I will have a million questions. I want to ask how, what, and why. And I want to know how things work and why they are the way they are…basic research really gives me the freedom to explore my curiosities and solve puzzles.”

Dr. Hultgren studies mitochondria dynamics in healthy and diseased Retinal Pigment Epithelial (RPE). This process uses cutting-edge microscopy technology to observe any change in its shape and distribution and how it interacts with other organs.

Her understanding of how mitochondrial function dynamics explains its role in physiological conditions and how it changes in disease. She chose to concentrate her research on the field of ophthalmology with hopes of discovering new therapeutic targets to help create an earlier therapeutic window for doctors to treat the disease before it progresses.

Dr. Hultgren continues by explaining that a lot of visual degenerations, like impairment and diseases, are progressive. “So as patients get older, it gets worse and worse. But if we can catch it earlier, then we can help our younger patients in their early years.”

As an ARCS Scholar, Dr. Hultgren was able to use her unrestricted funds to broaden her research and experiments. With unrestricted funds, she had the opportunity to try new things, which greatly impacted what she could do and achieve.

“For me, when I first received the award, it was a recognition for my efforts and an expectation to carry on what I do and make the members and people who supported me proud.”

She also benefited from meeting the members and donors that supported and funded her and her fellow scholars and their achievements.

It was more than having a role model for her academically and personally, “it also gave me a sense of community and provided me with networks with scholars and the members, especially since it’s a women-led organization. We face the same challenges as women, and we support each other. And I’ve formed collaborations with other scholars that I wouldn’t have even learned about their research and know the opportunities without ARCS.”

Dr. Hultgren joined the Orange County chapter as a member in 2018 and has been a dedicated and hardworking member since, and was recently named the chapter’s ARCS Light honoree. She begins her new role as Chapter President in 2023. She credits the twenty years of ARCS Orange County members and scholars as her inspiration for her next year in leadership.

“I see all the new scholars and new alumni when they finish, and I see myself in them. This is work that needs everybody’s continued support… I really feel like this is worthwhile and a torch I need to continue and pass on.”