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Spotlight Series | The Art in Molecule Connections
MFA Spotlight Series | The Art in Molecule Connections
Join MFA Docent Dorothy Cappadona and scientists from the Tampa Bay Research Institute for a gallery talk that bridges sciences and art. Within the 20th Century Modern Art galleries of the MFA, see how artists get their inspiration from nature and how scientists see artistic elements in molecule connections!
MFA Spotlight Series | The Art in Molecule Connections
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
11:00 AM–12:00 PM
FREE for MFA Members; Included with the cost of admission for Not-Yet Members
Registration required.
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MFA Members enjoy free admission for an entire year, early access to special exhibitions, discounts at the MFA Shop and Café Clementine, special member-only exclusive events, and more. Bring the whole family!
ABOUT AKIKO TANAKA
Akiko Tanaka, Ph.D, is the Senior Member, President, and Co-Founder of the Tampa Bay Research Institute (TBRI), in St. Petersburg, Florida. She earned her B.S. in Pharmaceutical Science and her Ph.D in Medical Science from Showa Medical University in Tokyo, Japan.
Dr. Tanaka founded TBRI in 1981 with the late Dr. Meihan Nonoyama to explore how viruses, cancers, and the immune system interact- a mission that positioned the institute at the forefront of biomedical research.
TBRI later became widely recognized for its pioneering in studies on PPC, a biologically active extract derived from pinecones. PPC is a natural mixture containing multiple compounds.
In response to the current FDA requirements to not approve PPC, Dr. Tanaka launched a new research initiative led by Dr. William Guy Bradley to develop fully synthetic drug candidates in partnership with the University of South Florida’s Department of Chemistry.
Today, the efforts have produced its first synthetic molecule, with the team now awaiting issuance of its inaugural patent.
ABOUT WILLIAM GUY BRADLEY
William Guy Bradley, Ph.D, is Senior Member of TBRI’s Laboratory of Immunology and Professor Emeritus of Biology at Eckerd College. He earned a B.S. with Honors in Biology from Eckerd College and his Ph.D with Honors in Medical Science from the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.
His career spans more than three decades of research at the intersection of virology, immunology, and natural-product discovery. Dr. Bradley has served in numerous academic and advisory roles, reviewed for NIH study sections, and is an inventor on multiple U.S. and international patents.
Today, his laboratory continues to explore small-molecule modulators of the immune system. He brings our community a long-standing commitment to scientific discovery, education, and innovation.
ABOUT MICHAEL J. SHAMBLOTT
Michael J. Shamblott, Ph.D, is a Senior Member of the TBRI’s laboratory of Immunology. He earned his B.S. in Biology from the University of Miami, his Ph.D in Endocrinology of Growth from the University of Maryland and completed postdoctoral training in stem cell biology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he was a part of the pioneering work that first derived pluripotent stem cells from human primordial germ cells-research that helped shape modern regenerative medicine.
His career has included faculty appointments at john Hopkins and the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and as Chief Scientific Officer at Morphogenesis, Inc.
Today, his laboratory leads the discovery of a potent cytostatic compound from a botanical extract, a finding with the potential to benefit millions of patients. His work reflects a commitment to translating scientific insight into meaningful medical advances.
