Breast cancer is a battle Sonia del Rincon fights in and out of the medical lab. As a postdoctoral associate at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, del Rincon researches new targets in breast cancer that can be used to develop small molecule inhibitors for breast cancer treatment.

Outside the laboratory, del Rincon, 33, is involved in community outreach with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and has dedicated herself to bridging the gap between scientists and people who have relatives and friends with reast cancer. “Everybody knows somebody with breast cancer,” she says. “This is something that touches everybody’s lives.”

The cancer runs in del Rincon’s family and it is her desire to help give hope for a cure. Her husband, Michael Witcher, is a researcher studying leukemia at the Salk Institute. The two are certified sailors and spend many weekends boating along Coronado. Travel also is a pastime as del Rincon, who came to San Diego via Canada, has family in Mexico. She also spends time in the mountains relaxing and enjoying nature.

Family is important, she says. “I couldn’t accomplish all that I have without the support of my parents Rosa and Eduardo del Rincon.”

Drawing is her escape from science but her dreams take her back to the lab where research is her passion. Her future plans include running her own laboratory and teaching students.