Research!Louisville, which took place Oct. 11-14, featured multiple seminars, two nursing symposiums, lectures, workshops, scientific poster competitions and exhibits. In addition, the University of Louisville and Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation/KentuckyOne Health sponsored an in-depth program at the Kentucky Science Center for seventh through 12th grade students interested in S.T.E.M.-related careers and research.
The Louisville Women in Medicine and Science, Greater Louisville Medical Society, and UofL’s graduate student organization, Student Policy and Outreach Program contributed to the success of the KSC event. R!L is sponsored by the University of Louisville, Norton Healthcare, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation, and University of Louisville Hospital, both part of KentuckyOne Health.
R!L accepted 350 abstracts and showcased research by master’s, doctoral basic science and engineering students, dental and medical students, post-doctoral associates/scholars, research associates, research staff, PharmD’s, medical residents, clinical fellows, public health students, nursing graduates, NCI R25 undergraduates, James Graham Brown Cancer Center high school scholars and UofL faculty. Teachers in local middle and high schools are placing a visit to the R!L scientific poster competitions on their field trip schedules. The showcase of research and opportunities to meet with research scientists on campus offers a significant learning experience for students, parents and teachers.
R!L 2016 wrapped up its 21st annual symposium with a keynote address by Linda S. Birnbaum, PhD, director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program, followed by an awards ceremony on October 14 at the UofL Health Sciences Center.
J. Christopher States, PhD, co-chair of R!L and associate dean for research, conducted the closing program and introduced R!L sponsor representatives Gregory Postel, MD, interim executive vice president for health affairs (UofL); Rhonda Hoffman, CCRP, systems director of research administration (Norton Healthcare); and Kathey Sanders, director, major & planned gifts (KentuckyOne Health). David Hein, PhD, UofL vice provost of academic strategy, presented certificates to R!L winners. Photos of the keynote address and awards ceremony are available online.
R!L 2016 Winners are listed below
Master’s Basic Science Graduate Student Award
1st place, Al Hassan Kyakulaga
Withaferin A Alone and in Combination with Paclitaxel Inhibits TGF-ß1 Induced Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition, Invasion and Metastasis of Lung Cancer in Vitro. Mentor: Ramesh Gupta
Doctoral Basic Science Graduate Student Award
1st place, Laila Al-Eryani
Induction of Cell Cycle Pathways in Human Keratinocytes at Early Stages of Chronic Exposure to Low Arsenite. Mentor: J. Christopher States
Master’s & Doctoral Engineering Student Award
Winner: Ahmed Soliman
Detection of Lung Injury Using 4D-CT Chest Images. Mentor: Ayman Elbaz
School of Dentistry Dental Student Award
1st place, Saira Ahmed
Detecting the Presence of Porphyromonas Gingivalis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Mentor: Richard Lamont
Norton Healthcare Medical Student Award
1st place (tie) Erika Chandler
Cardiovascular Function Following Spinal Cord Injury is Intensified by Limiting Activity. Mentor: David Magnuson
1st place (tie) Austin King
Two Nrf2 Inducing Compounds Regulate Renal Tubule Cell Signaling Differently. Mentor: Michelle Barati
Postdoctoral Fellow Award
1st place, Sajedah Hindi
TAK1 is Required for Growth and Maintenance of Skeletal Muscle Mass. Mentor: Ashok Kumar
Research Associate Award
1st place, Harshini Sarojini
Intracellular ATP Delivery Induces Macrophage Polarization and Direct Collagen Production for Faster Wound Healing. Mentor: Sufan Chien
Research Staff Award
Winner, John Zhao
The Benzamide HDAC1 Inhibitor Entinostat Enhances the Therapeutic Potency of Human Cardiac Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in a Model of Chronic Heart Failure. Mentor: Joseph B. Moore IV
School of Medicine Medical Resident Award
Winner, Mehran Yusuf
Peri-SRS Administration of Immune Checkpoint Therapy for Melanoma Metastatic to the Brain: Investigating Efficacy and the Effects of Relative Treatment Timing on Lesion Response. Mentor: Shiao Woo
School of Medicine Clinical Research Fellow Award
Winner, Laxminarayan Bhandari
Anatomic Angulations of Dorsal Cortices of Metacarpals and Its Clinical Significance. Mentor: Elkin Galvis
Public Health & Information Sciences
Master’s Student Award, Stephen P. Furmanek
Automating Process Control Charts in Infection Control Using Open Source Software. Mentor: Timothy Wiemken
Doctoral Student Award, Jasmit Shah
The Impact and Influence of Missing Value Imputation on Down-Stream Analyses of Metabolomic Profiles. Mentor: Shesh Rai
Basic Research in Public Health Award, Collin Stocke
Arsenic Induces Functional Changes of ZRANB2 and Expression of hsa-miR-186. Mentor: J. Christopher States
Research & Practice in Public Health Award, Adaline E. Heitz
Healthy Lifestyle Impact on Breast Cancer-Specific and All-Cause Mortality. Mentor: Kathy Baumgartner
Nursing Graduate Student
Winner, Adam Booth
Nurses’ Experiences Caring for Patients at the End-Of-Life in the ICU. Mentor: Celeste Shawler
NCI Cancer Education Program Norbert J. Burzynski Award Professional Student Category
1st place, Saira Ahmed
Detecting the Presence of Porphyromonas Gingivalis in Oral Squamous Cell. Mentor: Richard Lamont
NCI Cancer Education Program Norbert J. Burzynski Award Undergraduate Student Category
1st place (tie), Delvon Mattingly
Health Behaviors and Breast Cancer Risk in Non-Hispanic White & Hispanic Women. Mentor: Richard Baumgatner
1st place (tie), Mary Ann Smith
Paracrine Induction of Macrophages by Melanoma Exosomes. Mentor: Joshua Hood
Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation Basic Science Research Faculty Award
Winner, Walter Watson
Aging Alters Cystine Transport, Regulation of the Extracellular Redox Environment, and Expression of Extracellular Matrix Components in Primary Mouse Lung Fibroblasts
Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation Clinical Research Faculty Award
Winner (tie), Luz Huntington Moskos
Lung Cancer Prevention: Home Testing for Radon and Secondhand Smoke
Winner (tie), Heather Owens
Identification of Predictors of Weight-Related Behaviors in College Students
JGBCC High School Scholars
1st place, Nivedha Loganathan
Plant-Made Cholera Toxin B Subunit: A Molecular Look at Wound Healing Mechanisms. Mentor: Nobuyuki Matoba
Ruth Greenberg Award for Excellence in Medical Education Research
1st place, Alissa Doll
Clinical Skills Examination-3: Anxiety, Confidence, and Preparation Versus Performance on the Physical Exam. Mentor: Mary Carter
Louisville Chapter-Women in Medicine and Science
1st place, Abirami Krishna
Role of miR-29b-1/a in Acquired Endocrine-Resistant Breast Cancer. Mentor: Carolyn Klinge
Excellence in Health Disparities Research Award
1st place, Colette Davis
Evaluating Quality of Life, Health Behaviors, and Body Mass Index in Cervical Cancer Survivors: New Mexico’s Community Health Survey. Mentor: Kathy Baumgartner