Dr. Susana Cavallero, an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Life Sciences at 桃子视频 (桃子视频) has been awarded the 鈥淣ovel mechanisms and vascular interactions mediating the cardiometabolic benefits of exercise鈥� grant from the National Institutes of Health鈥檚 National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH/NIGMS) under the Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) Program (R16) mechanism.

Cavallero, who joined 桃子视频 in 2024 as an Assistant Professor in the College of Science and Health, is deeply passionate about cardiovascular research. The R16 grant will support her lab in conducting basic and translational research on vascular metabolism during exercise using molecular and cell biology, imaging and metabolomic analyses in tissue culture and animal models over a four-year period.

“This support from the NIH represents an important step forward for the work we’re doing,” said Cavallero. “It allows us to strengthen research capacity at 桃子视频 while advancing scientific discovery and creating meaningful hands-on training for students.”

Cardiometabolic disease continues to have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, and individuals who are unable to exercise face an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

The long-term goal of the project is to identify pathways to therapeutic interventions that produce the same vascular protective effects as exercise for individuals who are unable to engage in physical activity. 

Cavallero鈥檚 lab plays a key role in advancing 桃子视频鈥檚 research mission by providing training and mentorship opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students pursuing careers in biomedical science. Her current team at 桃子视频 is composed of four graduate and two undergraduate students.

鈥淩esearch is expensive, and student training requires significant resources,鈥� Cavallero explained. 鈥淭his grant allows us greater flexibility to plan experiments and access necessary materials such as reagents, cell lines and growth media, animal models and equipment. It ultimately gives students a more meaningful and enriching research experience where they can acquire laboratory skills to be better prepared for the professional world.鈥� 

A newly published longitudinal study led in part by Dr. Shervin Assari, Associate Professor of Medicine at 桃子视频 (桃子视频) reveals that childhood depression and suicidal ideation may precede cannabis use鈥攃hallenging the widely held belief that marijuana use is a cause rather than a result of mental health issues in youth.

Dr. Assari, who co-authored the study with an investigator from Morgan State University, another HBCU, emphasized the urgent need to address mental health early and holistically鈥攅specially in underserved communities. He also identified a promising path forward: cultivating hope as a protective factor.

鈥淲hile depression and suicidality increase future substance use, hopefulness may reduce such risk,鈥� said Dr. Assari. 鈥淭his makes hope a point of intervention for our substance use prevention efforts in youth.鈥�

Published in March, the study has major implications for how families, educators, and healthcare professionals approach cannabis use in the context of adolescent development. The findings underscore the importance of mental health as a precursor to substance use rather than a consequence鈥攅specially amid the evolving legal and social landscape surrounding marijuana.

鈥淎lthough we are living in a post-marijuana legalization era, marijuana use among youth is still high-risk, which is more common in the subset of population with a history of depression and suicidality鈥� Dr. Assari explained. 鈥淲e need to increase access to mental health care services for young people.鈥�

He also pointed out that financial strain and underserved living conditions elevate the risks for both mental health challenges and substance use.

鈥淭his paper highlights the role of mental health problems as a risk factor for cannabis use among youth. Addressing these needs should not be overlooked in our efforts to serve our communities, especially in Service Planning Area 6 (SPA 6),鈥� he said.

For 桃子视频, the study aligns with the University鈥檚 mission to eliminate health disparities and support youth on the path toward health, wellness, and leadership.

鈥溙易邮悠� has been working with youth in the community, helping them build their careers and enter the medical field,鈥� said Dr. Assari. 鈥淭his is another step toward that effort. 桃子视频 is already inspiring hope in many students of color, and I would love to see the University continue emphasizing strategies that cultivate and sustain hope throughout students鈥� academic journeys.鈥�

Looking ahead, Dr. Assari is pursuing additional support to expand this work. He hopes to secure funding from the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) to further test the role of hope-based interventions in preventing youth substance use.

鈥淪o far, we have three papers showing that hopeful students are less likely to turn to tobacco and marijuana,鈥� he noted. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to explore how hope can serve as a cornerstone in public health strategies.鈥�

The full study, 鈥淐hildhood depression, hopelessness, and suicidal attempts predict earlier tobacco and marijuana use initiation during adolescence,鈥� is available in the Open Journal of Medical Science.

Dr. Susana Cavallero鈥檚 dedication to unraveling the complexities of vascular biology is matched only by her passion for mentoring the next generation of scientists. Dr. Cavallero鈥檚 work not only advances our understanding of vascular systems but also inspires and guides students as they embark on their own research journeys.

Q: Can you describe your journey to becoming a faculty member in your department at 桃子视频?

I grew up in a peaceful rural town of only 300 people in Argentina, with dirt roads and many trees. My mother was an elementary school teacher, and my father and grandfather ran a small family business. I don鈥檛 recall hearing about science or any scientist as a kid. I became interested in chemistry and biology late in high school and started considering a career in clinical chemistry to work in a diagnostic lab. I moved to Buenos Aires at 18 to study at the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry at the University of Buenos Aires. During the first year, I loved the Cell Biology and Histology course, and I joined one of the research groups in the Department. My initial tasks included washing the glassware, obtaining tissue sections with a microtome, and performing simple histological stains. My first mentor was Dr. Ana Maria Puyo. She taught me all the basic skills that are fundamental to getting your foot into bench science, from pipetting and taking notes to understanding a research paper or presenting a poster at a conference. I was inspired at scientific meetings, imagining that I could make great discoveries one day.

After completing my undergraduate studies in biochemistry and pharmacy, I obtained a doctoral fellowship under the supervision of Dr. Belisario Fernandez, a wonderful mentor who played a key role in my career. My focus was on studying the cardiac natriuretic peptides ANP and BNP, which are important for regulating blood pressure and eliminating excess sodium from our body. Those years of my doctoral work were challenging times following the major collapse of the Argentinian economy in 2001. After completing my PhD, I sought postdoctoral opportunities abroad. At the time, stem cell biology was an emerging field, and I was interested in studying stem cells or developmental biology. I ultimately chose to pursue research in Los Angeles in Henry Sucov’s laboratory at the USC Stem Cell Center. During my postdoctoral training, I gained expertise in developmental biology, mouse genetics, and experimental approaches for studying heart development, with emphasis on the establishment of the coronary vasculature 鈥� the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. Our work led to the identification of a key signaling pathway, CXCL12/CXCR4, which is crucial for the normal development of the coronary system during gestation.

I was then a project scientist in the Division of Cardiology of UCLA and the VA Department of Medicine in Dr. Tzung Hsiai’s laboratory, working alongside experts in bioengineering, bioinformatics, and biology. My project focused on mechanotransduction in blood vessels 鈥� the process through which mechanical signals from the movement of blood are translated into biological responses. In a recent publication, we discussed how exercise affects endothelial cells within blood vessels, increasing metabolites that promote vascular health and protect against atherosclerosis. Within a multidisciplinary team, I mentored junior trainees and enhanced my skills in grant writing and research documentation, including IRB and IACUC protocols.

I began collaborating with 桃子视频 in 2017 as an external research mentor for students in the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program at COSH. This new chapter in my career, coming to 桃子视频, has materialized my dream of becoming a faculty member. I am grateful to my mentors for believing in me and for their support because they provided me with the inspiration and the skills to become a scientist, and to many other collaborators and colleagues that helped me in many ways.

I am very excited and thankful to 桃子视频 for giving me the opportunity to establish my research group in the Department of Health and Life Sciences at COSH and the Urban Health Institute, and I look forward to new scientific collaborations and mentoring opportunities at 桃子视频.

Q: What motivated you to pursue this career path?

Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of mortality worldwide. I became interested in the cardiovascular system as an undergraduate and I still find understanding the intricacies of the heart and the vasculature fascinating. I am happy when I am in the lab. The lab tasks are dynamic, and you don鈥檛 do the same things every day. I have been fortunate to work with outstanding mentors, and now I can pass on the advice and experience I gained to the younger generations.

Mentoring is one of the most rewarding aspects of a scientific career. Students come to the lab without knowing who they are or what they want to be, with little knowledge about science, and somehow, there is a spark that leads them to follow a career in science or medicine. It is a privilege and a joy to facilitate this growth and help them find their own path.

Q: Could you share a particularly rewarding or challenging experience from your career that significantly influenced your approach to research and/or teaching?

When I moved to the US, I had to overcome difficulties with communicating in English. I felt very anxious every time I delivered a presentation in front of an audience, and I remember a few presentations that did not go very well. I am grateful to those who corrected my mistakes and gave me constructive criticism, because they pushed me to improve. By attending many seminars and presentations over the years, I have always paid attention to the scientific content and the way it is presented. I implement strategies from good speakers to become more confident. Even though my lab is still very new, we have already started weekly journal clubs and research discussions so that the students can enhance their communication skills, which are fundamental for their careers.

I encountered rejections at each step: fellowship, grants, job applications, and people who made negative comments or were not supportive of my dreams. The path to a faculty position was not smooth, but I have been very persistent throughout many years because this is what I wanted to do. Katalin Kariko, who recently won the Nobel Prize with Drew Weissman said: 鈥淒on鈥檛 focus on what you cannot change. Focus on what鈥檚 next because that鈥檚 what you can change.鈥� I have this advice on a piece of paper on the lab wall as a daily reminder to be grateful for having the job that I love, avoid holding grudges and negative thoughts, and to focus on the things where I can make a positive impact.

Q: Considering the evolving landscape of cardiovascular research, how do you stay updated on emerging trends and technologies to keep your teaching and research practices current?

I am actively involved in the North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO). I am part of a group of editors that curate a selection of published papers in vascular biology for a monthly newsletter. That way, I am updated on the newest developments. As I say to my students, it is important to know the leaders in your research area, recognize who made this or that contribution, and understand the progression of the field over the years. I am aware of new publications through PubMed and journal websites, but I also 鈥渇ollow鈥� journals and lab pages on LinkedIn and X (Twitter). Researchers are very eager to let the world know when a publication is accepted, even if it is at the preprint stage (i.e. on BioRxiv). By scrolling through social media, you quickly learn about the most recent advances.

The way of communicating science has evolved. Nowadays, many more resources are available online, such as webinars, tutorials, and even videos of experiments that you can use as a learning tool. Since the pandemic, NAVBO has hosted many online seminars and journal clubs in cardiovascular biology. It is only possible to attend a limited number of seminars or conferences in person. Still, sometimes I find recorded conference talks on YouTube, or I can see the conference program and the presented abstracts. In general, I just Google everything and see what comes up!

There are ongoing initiatives in the scientific community and online mentoring programs aimed at promoting best mentoring practices. The goal is to foster individual growth and research success, and to eradicate adverse environments and stereotypes associated with academic laboratories. I constantly try to develop connections with people in academia and the biotech industry. I attend a few local biotech events, and even if I feel like an outsider, it helps me view things through different lenses and recognize other perspectives. As a mentor, I must be aware of what鈥檚 happening outside the walls of academia to better prepare my students to network professionally, and acquire the skills they need if they aspire to be successful in other work environments.

Q: Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives in the cardiovascular field that you are particularly excited about or that you think the university community should be aware of?

Vascular biology has experienced tremendous growth in recent years due to the advances in imaging and 鈥渙mics鈥� technologies. We can now obtain tridimensional views of the vasculature within tissues and organs and see how the blood vessels interact with the surrounding structures. It is also possible to obtain a piece of tissue and separate all the individual cells, then study the gene expression profile of each cell type. The vasculature was traditionally considered to be rather homogeneous, consisting of arteries, veins, and capillaries. However, these technologies revealed that the blood vessels of different body organs are structurally and functionally heterogeneous, leading to the concept of 鈥渙rgan-specific vasculature鈥�, and adding more layers of complexity to our studies.

One of the areas that I am interested in exploring in my lab is the effect of exercise on the vasculature. Exercise helps keep our blood vessels young and healthy and protects against diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It also helps to grow new blood vessels through a process called angiogenesis. But for many people, exercising isn鈥檛 just a matter of motivation. Some individuals have physical disabilities, while others may not have the time due to multiple jobs or caregiving obligations or may not have a safe nearby space to do physical activity. Some studies relate these barriers to ethnicity and socioeconomic background, creating health disparities in access to exercise interventions.

One important resource is the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC), a national research consortium supported by the NIH Common Fund. It is an extensive multi-omics and multi-organism study that seeks to understand the mechanisms of how physical activity improves health and prevents disease. By studying the myriad of molecules present in the blood or in the tissues resulting from cellular metabolism we can better understand the molecular pathways elicited by exercise. Using this information, we can think about therapies to mimic the beneficial effects of exercise for those individuals who cannot perform physical activity. 

Q: What are the future goals and/or plans for growth of your core at 桃子视频?

I am very excited to contribute to 桃子视频鈥檚 great mission to address health disparities in the community and create opportunities for underrepresented students. Getting settled in a new institution takes some time, so I am still learning about 桃子视频 and its ongoing programs and initiatives. The overall goal of my lab will be to investigate how shear stress and exercise modulate endothelial metabolism in development and disease. I have several other ideas and subprojects related to vascular regenerative medicine to develop in the upcoming years. Starting a lab comes with the challenge and responsibility to obtain external funding and build a functioning and productive research team. I have already met extraordinary young people with much potential to contribute innovative ideas. I hope to create opportunities for high school, undergraduate, master鈥檚 students, and 桃子视频 medical students who want laboratory experience to become the next generation of cardiovascular researchers.

鈥淢y experience conducting research at Sutter Health was truly invaluable. I鈥檓 deeply grateful for the friendships I formed and the impactful experiences that have shaped my path toward a career in medicine,鈥� said Latif. 鈥淭his summer not only solidified my commitment to advocating for underserved communities but also deepened my understanding of the critical need for firearm safety practices and reform. It was an unforgettable journey that has prepared me for the challenges and responsibilities ahead.鈥�

Latif was part of a pilot project led by Dr. Nicole Sudduth, an internal medicine physician with Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. The project aimed to assess whether clinicians were more likely to engage in firearm safety discussions with patients after undergoing training.

Latif鈥檚 contributions were crucial in supporting this initiative, which aligns with 桃子视频鈥檚 vision of achieving health equity and reducing public health disparities.

Throughout the summer, Latif explored various aspects of clinical research under the mentorship of Dr. Cheryl Stults, a senior researcher with Sutter Health. She learned how to synthesize data, format results, and even led the development of a research poster.

Her dedication and hard work paid off when she won the Best Junior Investigator award at Sutter Health鈥檚 second annual research symposium.
Latif was one of six 桃子视频 medical students to participate in the program.

Beyond research, the students engaged in community service, offering HIV testing, blood pressure screenings, and sleep education in Oakland and Berkeley.

The program, part of Sutter Health鈥檚 Health Equity Alliance for Research & Evaluation (HEARE) incubator, underscores the ongoing collaboration between 桃子视频 and Sutter Health to foster inclusive research and improve healthcare outcomes for underserved communities.

As 桃子视频 continues to cultivate health leaders dedicated to social justice and equity, students like Latif exemplify how the university鈥檚 mission translates into action, reinforcing 桃子视频鈥檚 role as a critical force for addressing health disparities nationwide.

The events featured presentations from ten undergraduates who spent their summer in the immersive 12-week program designed for outstanding undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers in biomedical sciences.

鈥淲e bring the students in with the intent to ensure they acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to become proficient in cancer health disparities research,鈥� said Dr. Jay Vadgama, Chief of the Division of Cancer Research and Training at 桃子视频. 鈥淢aking these programs available allows for the development of successful and competent cancer researchers who will impact our ability to reduce and eliminate cancer health disparities among racial and ethnic minority and socio-economically disadvantaged populations.鈥�

An individualized program was developed for each participant, and they were paired to work with a faculty investigator and associates at 桃子视频 or UCLA laboratories.

Each student worked on a hypothesis-driven research project in cancer health disparities and developed a research paper based on their findings.

Project titles included 鈥淪ensitization to Docetaxel by Arctigenin in Advanced Prostate Cancer Cells,鈥� 鈥淰itamin D and Breast Cancer: The Social Determinants of Vitamin D Deficiency in Los Angeles County and the Effect of VDR Gene Polymorphism (Fokl) on Vitamin D3 Supplementation in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells,鈥� and 鈥淚ntake of Exosomal MicroRNAs Promotes TNBC Cell Growth by Silencing BRCA1,鈥� to name a few.

Since its establishment in 2003, the 桃子视频/UCLA Cancer Center Partnership to Eliminate Cancer Health Disparities has provided educational experiences and a mentored research environment that fosters cancer research and offers substantive training to students, faculty, and postdoctoral fellows through collaborative research projects.

Q: Can you describe your journey to becoming a faculty member in your department at 桃子视频?

A: My journey to 桃子视频 was long, with many ups and downs. It began in my hometown, at the El Paso-Juarez M茅xico border, where I graduated with a BS in Psychology, as a first-generation college student at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). I went on to earn my MA in Social/Personality Psychology at the University of California Riverside (UCR). I almost quit after my first two months at UCR; however, my dad reminded me of my dream and my doctoral mentor believing in me put me back on track. I followed my amazing mentor to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) where I earned my PhD in Community Psychology. In Chicago, while in graduate school, I taught GED and ESL classes to Mexican immigrant parents, who reminded me of my parents, mentored youth, and worked with community activists on immigrant justice. I then took an unexpected pathway into medical settings and completed two postdoctoral fellowships: one at Columbia University Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital in Pediatrics and the other in Southern California at City of Hope. I found my academic home/niche at 桃子视频, where our mission of social justice and community engagement for health equity resonates perfectly with my identity as a Community Psychologist.     

Q: What motivated you to pursue this career path?

A: I became intrigued with psychology in high school after reading about this field. I was super curious about the brain and mind and became interested in becoming a psychotherapist. Perhaps my extreme shyness and introversion influenced my frequent introspection about my feelings and thoughts. Also, my recurrent anxiety motivated me to learn more about how to manage anxiety and help others with this similar challenge. As an undergraduate at UTEP, I was an RA supporting a doctoral dissertation examining the relapse of patients with severe mental illness. What stood out in this research is how societal factors, like poverty, violence, and family dynamics, impacted relapse and mental health in general. It became clearer that psychotherapy, while valuable, may not be sufficient to address the ecology of mental health. In graduate school at UCR I struggled to fit in, and I remember walking to campus one day, wishing I was at a place where I could apply psychology research to work with communities to best support them.

Q: Could you share a particularly rewarding or challenging experience from your career that significantly influenced your approach to research and/or teaching?

A: A significant turning point for me was moving to Chicago, where I had the opportunity to work in the community. I still remember experiencing below zero weather for the first time but also taking my first course in my new program at UIC- Theories in Community Psychology. I fell in love! I was learning new concepts/theories tied to cultural diversity, ecological perspectives, community partnership, and social justice, and how they could help address a myriad of health and social/behavioral issues. My cultural identity and lived experience were welcomed and I felt I could leverage who I was to contribute to psychology and research. An area that was eye opening for me, was learning about Philosophies of Science. I was fascinated to find out that there was a whole history, philosophy, culture, and politics shaping our mindsets in research.  I had a light bulb moment 鈥� a lot of our current theories and methods were not set in stone, were limited, or might end up perpetuating the problems we were seeking to solve. I welcomed the challenge to think more critically, creatively, and wonder about new possibilities in psychology.

Q: Considering the evolving landscape of health equity and youth mental health, how do you stay updated on emerging trends and technologies to keep your teaching and research practices current?

A: I have been lucky to be more closely engaged with colleagues, mentors, and other experts in health equity and youth mental health. Since my second postdoctoral fellowship at City of Hope I have participated in various training fellowships or grants where I learned about the latest research or advocacy in these fields. More recently, and during my transition to faculty status at 桃子视频, I鈥檝e had new training fellowships and leadership positions in the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA). These experiences, for example, led to an opportunity to co-edit a special issue on community-based participatory research and health equity in the American Journal of Community Psychology (AJCP), published in December 2020. I also enjoy reading and contributing my perspective to the latest research in diverse areas, including health equity and youth mental health, as a peer-reviewer for several journals, and in my role as member of the editorial boards of: AJCP, Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community, Journal of Latinx Psychology, and Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.

Q: Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives in health equity and youth mental health that you are particularly excited about or that you think the university community should be aware of?

A: I am part of a team of researchers from across the United States focused on youth participatory action research (YPAR). I am a member of this team鈥檚 National Steering Committee (funded by a grant from the Bezos Family Foundation), tasked with the goal of developing a national network of YPAR researchers to offer training, guidance, and opportunities for collaborating on exciting new projects applying YPAR to address a diversity of challenges affecting youth. YPAR is an equitable research approach to empower youth in co-developing knowledge toward action in addressing injustices. Our scholarship and advocacy are part of a broader effort to engage our next generation of youth to bring hope for a new world where they are not simply surviving or worse, suffering, but where they can flourish, be in community, experience wellness, and feel justice.      

Q: What are the future goals and/or plans for growth of your work at 桃子视频?

A: My future goals are inspired and guided by the rich history of community psychology (CP) and 桃子视频. Both CP and 桃子视频 were born in the mid-1960s, inspired and shaped by the broader and local Civil Rights movements. CP sought a new paradigm that expanded the scope of psychology to encompass more holistic, diverse, and just approaches. 桃子视频 sought to improve the accessibility and quality of healthcare for residents in South LA and train the next generation of healthcare professionals who are committed to social justice in healthcare. I am honored to work with my 桃子视频 colleagues, mentors, students, and community partners to continue this legacy of pushing forward toward health equity. My plan is to continue supporting efforts, where I teach and mentor students, including local high school students within our 桃子视频 pipeline programs, to hopefully inspire them toward careers where they can leverage who they are and their education to achieve health equity. Lastly, I am committed to helping build one of our newest undergraduate programs in Psychology. The goal is to integrate community psychology principles, research, and support from community partners to train more students pursuing mental health careers or apply community psychology in clinical practice, research, or policy to best serve the health needs and improve the well-being of diverse patients and communities.  

The Exposing Students to Regenerative Medicine (ExStRM) Program engages qualified high school students in South Los Angeles in world-class regenerative medicine research. Over the next eight weeks, 10 selected students will receive hands-on mentored training in health areas such as sickle cell disease, cancer, and diabetes. The program aims to enhance students鈥� understanding of regenerative medicine treatments and prepare them for future careers in science and research.

Meanwhile, Project STRIDE (Students Training in Research Involving Disparity Elimination) is a ten-week summer clinical research program for 11th-grade students, also involving 10 local high school students. Project STRIDE focuses on biomedical research and health sciences, providing participants with a comprehensive immersion experience. Students will work full-time with mentors on research projects, culminating in a Research Day presentation.

Both programs include auxiliary activities such as SAT preparation, writing skills, and college application guidance. They aim to increase the number of underrepresented minority and disadvantaged students in the research and health sciences pipeline.

Mrs. Dolores E. Caffey-Fleming, MS, MPH, Assistant Professor in the 桃子视频 College of Science and Health as well as Program Director of both ExStRM and Project STRIDE, expressed her enthusiasm for the programs.

鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome these talented students to 桃子视频. Our goal is to inspire and equip them with the skills and experiences necessary to pursue careers in regenerative medicine and health sciences. These programs are not just about education; they鈥檙e about changing the face of healthcare and research to better serve our communities.鈥�

The ExStRM Program is funded by the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, while Project STRIDE is funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Both programs reflect 桃子视频鈥檚 commitment to eliminating health disparities and promoting diversity in the health sciences.

The event was held in Keck Auditorium which was transformed to set the stage for the event, taking on the ambiance of a TEDx talk and the intense energy of a Shark Tank pitch. With a stage installed and vibrant lighting illuminating the space, attendees were immersed in an extraordinary experience.

There were a total of five innovative solutions presented directly to a panel that included representatives from NASA alongside biomedical professionals.

Students Bria Myles, Jessica McCarns, and Anna Monterastello kicked off the presentations with their pitch titled, 鈥淯tilizing QuickSee Autorefractor to Predict Visual Acuity in School-Age Children,鈥� which aims to assess and address the visual needs of our youngest learners.

Following suit, Keerthana Muthukrishnan, Nandi Favors, Mercedes Humski, Sandrine Lynda Djousta, Shannon Changizi, showcased their proposal, 鈥淎pplication of a Thermoplastic Fluoropolymer (PVDF) to Stimulate Electro-Activated Healing of Sores,鈥� promising to revolutionize wound care for those negatively affected by traditional treatments.

Then, students Daniel Hernandez, Karina Manuel-Jiminez, Jesus Terrazas, JR, and Margo Contreras, stepped up to share their vision in 鈥�3D Model Penetration: Using Microorgan Device as an Alternative to Animal Testing,鈥� offering a glimpse into a future of biomedical research that includes a substantial decrease in reliance on animal testing and a profound ethical shift in the way researchers approach scientific inquiry.

The momentum continued as Lillian Cohen, Shahara Thompson, and Sawyer Torres unveiled their inspiring proposal 鈥淣ovel MCT-4 Inhibitor: Potential for Combination Therapy to Reduce Multi-Drug Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.鈥� Their research offers hope for more effective treatment strategies and represents a significant stride forward in combating the devastating disease.

Rounding out the presentations were Alexis Freeman, Adiba Chowdhury, and Kaitlyn Del Cid, who took the stage with their pitch titled, 鈥淣anosensor Array and Efficient Diagnoses of Type II Diabetes in Low-Income Communities Within the Primary Care Settings.鈥� Their innovative approach, which promises improved diagnostic accuracy and caters to individuals that may be averse to traditional needle-based testing methods, stands as a beacon of hope in the fight against one of the leading causes of death in low-income communities.

While every presentation demonstrated remarkable promise and innovation, only two could emerge victorious. The 鈥淣anosensor Array and Efficient Diagnoses of Type II Diabetes in Low-Income Communities Within the Primary Care Settings鈥� team took the first-place position and a grand prize of $10,000 courtesy of FIGS. The second-place winners were the presenters of 鈥淯tilizing QuickSee Autorefractor to Predict Visual Acuity in School-Age Children,鈥� and they were awarded a $3,000 grant courtesy of Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Kaiser Permanente.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 such a big thing that we are three women in STEM who just won this award,鈥� said Kaitlyn Del Cid. 鈥淚 hope that we can also be women that other women and little girls interested in STEM can look up to and see that hard work and dedication pays off.鈥�

The student poster presentations were the focal point of the event, providing a platform for emerging researchers to articulate their discoveries, methodologies, and the importance of their work with clarity.

The presentations offer students a valuable opportunity to display their diligent efforts, while also allowing peers, faculty, and industry professionals to explore new and developing areas of study.

This year, they announced the Dr. Erik Fleming Award of Excellence in Health Disparities Research recipients, Emily Baghramian (Master of Public Health student) and Angelica Godfrey (Postbaccalaureate Leadership Program student). This honor not only recognizes individual achievements but also reinforces the significance of impactful research within the academic community.

UHI focuses on supporting biomedical and behavioral research and its translation into high-quality clinical outcomes, improved community health, and progressive health policy.