WSU Applebaum College Research Day 2021 award winners announced

On Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences hosted its 18th annual College Research Day live on Zoom, with nearly 300 students, faculty, staff and alumni in attendance.

Dr. Arthur Kim's keynote address
Infectious diseases expert Arthur Kim, MD, presented the keynote and fielded questions.

Dr. Arthur Kim of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital delivered the keynote lecture, "Hepatitis C Virus: From Evolution to Revolution," and participated in a Q&A session ahead of the research awards presentation.

If you missed the event, take a look at the recording.

When you're in our buildings in the next few days, keep an eye on the digital signage monitors, which will feature a slideshow of research project titles and authors.College Research Day

We were incredibly impressed by the breadth and depth of the research projects submitted this year. Congratulations to the following research teams, who were announced as winners during the event.

Student awards

Postdoctoral Scholars

  • First place: Sara Alosaimy, Abstract PD01 
    Standardized Treatment and Assessment Pathway Improves Mortality in Adults with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: STAPH-Study
    Authors: Sara Alosaimy, Abdalhamid M. Lagnf, Taylor Morrisette, Sarah CJ Jorgensen, Trang D. Trinh, Evan J Zasowski, Marco R Scipione, Jing J Zhao, Ryan Mynatt, Shelbye Herbin, Sorabh Dhar, Teena Chopra, James Janisse, Nicholas Rebold, Jason M Pogue, Michael J. Rybak
  • Second place: Somrita Dey, Abstract PD02
    Overcoming drug resistance in pancreatic cancer using novel gemcitabine analogs
    Authors: Somrita Dey Ph.D, Samaresh Sau Ph.D, Hariprasad Aruri Ph.D, Navnath Gavande Ph.D, Arun K. Iyer Ph.D
  • Third place: Duy Luong, Abstract PD08
    Folate Functionalized Lipid Nanoparticles for Targeted Therapy of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
    Authors: Kushal Vanamala, Ketki Bhise, Hiram Sanchez, Razieh Kebriaei, Duy Luong, Samaresh Sau, Hosam Abdelhady, Michael J. Rybak, David Andes, Arun K. Iyer
  • Honorable mention: Ashlan Kunz Coyne, Abstract PD05
    Effectiveness and safety of beta-lactam antibiotics with and without therapeutic drug monitoring in patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia or bacteremia
    Authors: Ashlan J. Kunz Coyne, PharmD; Mohammad H. AlShaer, PharmD, PhD, BCPS; Anthony M. Casapao, PharmD, MPH; Veena Venugopalan, PharmD; Carmen Isache, MD; Jason Ferreira, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, FCCM; Christopher A. Jankowski, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP

Health Care Sciences Graduate Programs

  • First place: Luke Gray, Physical Therapy, Abstract H12
    A Comparative Study of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) Techniques for Preclinical Studies
    Authors: Gray, L, Odeh, B, Ameye, M, Atwood, Z, Begam, M, Roche JA
  • Second place: Erin Edwards, Physical Therapy, Abstract H06
    The Influence of Cognition on the Relation between Backward Walking and Falls in Multiple Sclerosis
    Authors: Erin Edwards, BS; Ana Daugherty, PhD; Nora Fritz, PhD PT DPT NCS
  • Third place: Sarah Abdallah, Physical Therapy, Abstract H01
    Stress Levels and Availability of Resources for Graduate Students in Health Care Professional Programs: A Pilot Study
    Authors: Dickson J., Abdallah S., Bell K., Munroe K., Selby A., Maher S.
  • Honorable mention: Alexis Campbell, Occupational Therapy, Abstract H05
    Graduate Students’ Perceptions of a Canine-Assisted Stress-Reduction Intervention
    Authors: Alexis Campbell, MOT, OTRL & Christine Kivlen, Ph.D., OTRL

Abstract book   Video presentations   Event recording   Entry slideshow     

Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Programs

  • First place: Lana Alghanem, Abstract PSC01
    Effect of Pioglitazone on PP2A Activity in Primary Human Skeletal Muscle Cells
    Authors: Lana Alghanem, PharmD; Berhane Seyoum, MD, Zaher Msallaty MD, Abdullah Mallisho MD, Xiangmin Zhang, Ph.D. and Zhengping Yi, Ph.D.
  • Second place: Noah Gleason, Abstract PSC08
    Regulatory Functions of Rho Guanine Dissociation Inhibitors in Pancreatic Beta Cells
    Authors: Noah Gleason, M.S.; Anjaneyulu Kowluru, PhD 
  • Third place: Courtney Campbell, Abstract PSC06
    Elucidating the Role of the ISCU Scaffold Protein during [2Fe-2S] Cluster Formation in Cardiomyocytes and in vitro
    Authors: Courtney J. Campbell, Ashley E. Pall, Kalyan Kondapalli, Timothy L. Stemmler
  • Honorable mention: Hainan Li, Abstract PSC11
    G Protein-coupled Receptor 35 suppression prevents deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt-induced blood pressure elevation by protecting vascular endothelial cell functions
    Authors: Hainan Li, MS, Huong Nguyen, Ph.D, Sai Pranathi Meda Venkata, MS, Jie-Mei Wang, MD, PhD.

Clinical Doctorate in Pharmacy

  • First place: Michelle Dierker, Abstract PPR09
    Evaluations of Ceftazidime/avibactam vs. Aminoglycosides and Polymyxins in the Treatment of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative Organisms
    Authors: Michelle Dierker, PharmD Candidate; Sara Alosaimy, PharmD, BCPS, AAHIV, MPH Candidate; Abdalhamid Lagnf, MPH; Andrew Mannino, PharmD; Ashlan J. Kunz Coyne, PharmD; Nickolas Kipreos, PharmD Candidate; Paige Witucki, MPH Candidate; Michael Rybak, PharmD, MP
  • Second place: Paige Hanke, Abstract PPR11
    Older Adults’ Perspectives of Healthcare Providers’ Communication Skills and Attributes
    Authors: Paige Hanke, 2023 PharmD candidate; Brittany Stewart, RD, PharmD; Aline Saad, PharmD; Jennifer Mendez, PhD
  • Third place: Joana Arapi, Abstract PPR04
    Hypertensive Effects of Lead (Pb) Exposure in Children and Adolescents
    Authors: Joana Arapi, PharmD. Candidate; Wanqing Liu, PhD; Victoria Tutag Lehr, PharmD
  • Honorable mention: Regina Pacitto, Abstract PPR18
    Evaluation of the Effect of High-Dose versus Standard-Dose Dexamethasone on Mortality Among Mechanically Ventilated COVID-19 Patients: A Preliminary Report
    Authors: Regina Pacitto, Pharm.D Candidate; Lauren Krumm, Pharm.D. Candidate; Anna Hejnar, Pharm.D Candidate; Pramodini B. Kale-Pradhan, Pharm.D; Christopher Giuliano, Pharm.D; Leonard Johnson, MD

Undergraduate Students

  • First place: Emily Myers, Neuroscience, Abstract UG02
    Augmented Balance Training in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Series
    Authors: Myers E, Kloos A, Kegelmeyer D, Fritz NE
  • Honorable mention: Mark Sabit, Radiation Therapy Technology, Abstract UG03
    Comparing Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy Fractionation Schedules: A Look at Recurrence and Survival
    Authors: Mark Sabit; Brianna Zettel

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