University of Pennsylvania’s Dr. Sophie Hill and Dr. Helena Winstone Named Recipients of Prestigious Honor

Philadelphia Foundation, a leading driver of philanthropic impact in the Greater Philadelphia region for over a century, today announced that Dr. Sophie Hill and Dr. Helena Winstone, both researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, are the 2025 recipients of the Brody Family Medical Trust Fund fellowships for medical research in incurable diseases.

The prestigious fellowships will fund two years of research by Dr. Hill into the causes of epilepsy and by Dr. Winstone into the science behind the lethal coronavirus MERS-CoV.

“The Brody Family Medical Trust Fund fellowships remain a powerful catalyst for groundbreaking research, offering hope to individuals and families facing the challenges of incurable diseases,” said Pedro A. Ramos, President and CEO of Philadelphia Foundation. “By championing exceptional talent like our 2025 Brody Fellows, Dr. Sophie Hill and Dr. Helena Winstone, we are making a meaningful investment in the future of medical science and the health of our community. These remarkable researchers embody the Brody family’s vision—addressing diseases with profound societal impact while expanding the frontiers of medical knowledge. Their work has the potential to drive transformative change, improving lives here in Greater Philadelphia and far beyond.”

About Dr. Sophie Hill

Dr. Sophie Hill completed her undergraduate degree with high honors from the University of Michigan, double-majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. She received her PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Michigan. Currently, she is pursuing postdoctoral training in Dr. Ethan Goldberg’s lab at the University of Pennsylvania where she is researching epilepsy genetics.

Dr. Hill’s work in understanding mechanistic causes of epilepsy and developing novel therapeutic strategies has resulted in four first-author research papers and several awards, including the Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship. Dr. Hill’s goal is to become an independent investigator studying epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disorders to develop new treatments.

About Dr. Helena Winstone

Dr. Helena Winstone received an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science from King’s College London, and a master’s degree in Infection and Immunity from University College London. She then returned to King’s College London to earn her PhD in Molecular Virology, focusing on the mechanism of interferon resistance of HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 viral entry proteins. Currently, she is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is researching virus-host interactions of MERS-CoV.

Dr. Winstone’s research has centered on understanding how pandemic viruses evade immune responses. With a passion for tackling pandemic viruses, Dr. Winstone aims to establish herself as an independent investigator in the field of virus-host interactions, with the ultimate goal of better preparing the world for future pandemics.

About the Brody Fellowships

The prestigious fellowships provide two years of support for full-time postdoctoral fellows in the early stages of their research into cutting-edge treatments for diseases that have a substantial societal impact and for which no consistently effective cure presently exists.

The fellowships are awarded from an endowed fund established by Sara Brody in memory of her brother, Dr. Louis Brody, her parents Dora and Hans Brody, her sister Ida Brody, and her brother Benjamin Brody. Dr. Brody was a police surgeon and a family practitioner.

In selecting recipients, the Board of Managers of Philadelphia Foundation is advised by a distinguished panel of physicians and scientists with expertise in medical research convened by The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Fellowships are available to applicants who will be doing their research at Drexel University College of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, and The University of Pennsylvania.

About Philadelphia Foundation

Founded in 1918, Philadelphia Foundation strengthens the economic, social and civic vitality of Greater Philadelphia. Philadelphia Foundation grows effective philanthropic investment, connects individuals and institutions across sectors and geography, and advances civic initiatives through partnerships and collaboration. A publicly supported foundation, Philadelphia Foundation manages more than 1,000 charitable funds established by its donors and makes over 1,000 grants and scholarship awards each year. To learn more, visit PhilaFound.org.