2024 YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARDEES

 Mohammed Alqahtani, University of Alberta
FDA-Approved Drug Allosterically Modulates the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR)

Zachary Bomstein, UNC Greensboro

Combined Effects of Environmentally-Relevant Phthalate Exposure and a Western-Style Diet on Colonic Inflammation

Xiao Chang, Tuskegee University
Autism Spectrum Disorder Detection using fMRI imaging with Convolutional Neural Networks

Jyoti Chhimwal, Cedars Sinai
Alcohol Feeding Lowers Nuclear Prohibitin1 Content and Sensitizes the Liver to Colon Cancer Metastasis

Yejin Kim, Gachon University
Effects of long-term treatment with low concentrations of bisphenol A on liver organoids

Roshan Kumari, University of Kansas
Menopause & Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

Emeline Masterson, University of Central Florida
Bridging the Gap: Understanding the Sex Differences in Fat Taste

Ayomide Ogunsanmi, University of Central Florida, College of Medicine
Modulation of Macrophage Polarization by Fatty Acid Signaling Pathways

Abhinav Parashar, NIDCR
Searching for the physiological functions of Copeptin

Darius N.K. Quansah, University of North Dakota (Poster Winner)
Weak-base BACE-1 inhibitor drugs induce lysosome stress and contribute to neurotoxicity

2022 Young Investigator Awardees

Nicholas Fried, Louisana State University Health Science Center
Chronic Inhaled Nicotine-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension and Right Ventricular Remodeling are Mediated by Angiotensin-II Type 1 Receptor

Manoj Jagadeesh, Oklahoma State University
Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) factors down-regulate glutamate transporter expression in human brainstem astrocytes through a paracrine fashion

Emily Kappes, University of Cincinnati
Molecular Characterization of the Inhibin Heterodimer and it's role in Activin Antagonism

Roshan Kumari, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Role of SMAD2/3 on Diet-Induced Obesity and Adiposity

Xiang Li, SUNY Upstate
ABI1 regulates STAT3 transcriptional activity through a DNA binding mechanism*

Zheng Li, Louisana State University
Improvement of cell viability via optimizing bioinks and cell-loading approach for cell-free 3D bioprinting*

Solomon Owumi, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Unfettered antibiotics access, microbial resistance and carcinogenesis

Weiqiong Rong, Louisiana State University 
Roles of Cysteine-rich Secretory Protein LCCL Domain Containing 2 (CRISPLD2) in Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mahdeih Shabanian, University of Tennessee Health Science Center 
Optimal Classification of Small Volumetric Dataset: 2D or 3D CNN in Infant Brain Age Prediction

Vinoth Sigamani, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Protective Effect of scaRNA20-modified Cardiomyocytes Exposed Under Hypoxic Condition

Jiapeng Wang, University of Cincinnati
Disruption of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling impairs adult neurogenesis and leads to increased anxiety/depressionlike behavior in healthy and stroke animals

2020 Young Investigator Awardees

Garen Anderson, University of North Texas Health Science Center
White Mountain Expedition 2019: Peaks and Valleys - Oscillatory cerebral blood flow at high altitude

 Tess Dupre, University of Arizona
Stimulation of 5-HT1F Receptor Increases Vascular Recovery Following Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced AKI

Lucia Barbier Torres, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
The Prolyl Isomerase PIN1 Impairs Methionine Adenosyltransferase α1 Mitochondrial Targeting in Alcoholic Liver Disease

Raisa Monteiro, Oklahoma State University
Obesity-Induced Sympathoexcitation Causes Glial Senescence in the Brainstem

Oishi Paul, Emory University
IL-6 Increases ROS via Rac1, Leading to Mineralocorticoid Receptor and ENaC Activation

Alexander Rosenberg, University of North Texas Health Science Center
White Mountain Expedition 2019: The Impact of Sustained Hypoxia on Cerebral Blood Flow Responses and

Epiphani Simmons, University of Arizona
 Restoration of the blood-spinal cord barrier after spinal cord injury through 5-HT1F receptor mediated mitochondrial biogenesis

Mahesh Kuma Sivasubramanian, Oklahoma State University
Oxidative Stress-Induced Senescence alters Glutamate Transporter Expression in Human Brainstem Astrocytes

Nipuna Weerasinghe, University of Arizona
Modulation of GPCR Function by Membrane Lipids and Water

Hongxia Zhang, University of North Texas Health Science Center
High complement levels in serum exosomes impact brain rewiring after ischemic stroke through microglia-dependent synaptic plasticity

Weinan Zhou, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
FXR regulates metabolic function of fat depots during obesity

2019 Young Investigator Awardees

 

2018 Young Investigator Awardees

 

2017 Young Investigator Awardees

 

2016 Young Investigator Awardees

Steven Brooks, West Virginia University
Pharmacological Inhibition of NAD(P)H Oxidase with the Peptide gp91ds-tat During Ischemic Stroke Reduces Infarct Volume and Improves Vascular Reactivity in Obese Zucker Rats

Sarika Chaudhari, University of North Texas Health Science Center
Store Operated Ca²⁺ Entry Suppressed TGF&[beta]1- Smad3 Signaling Pathway in Glomerular Mesangial Cells

Karen Doersch, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine
Wound Healing in a Model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus may be Delayed by a Lack of Interleukin-2

Rachel Fenske, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Loss of the inhibitory G-protein, G_z, protects against Type I Diabetes-like hyperglycemia by stimulating islet signaling pathways that promote beta-cell function and survival

Kuan-Hsun Huang, Pennsylvania State University
Lipid Emulsions, Rich in n-3 or n-9 Fatty Acids, Reverse the Progression of Parenteral Nutrition-Induced Hepatic Steatosis in Mice

Vasundhara Kain, University of Alabama At Birmingham
Resolution Agonist 15-epi-Lipoxin A₄ Directs FPR2 to Expedite Healing Phase Post-Myocardial Infarction

Gilberto Moralez, UNT Health Science Center
Centrally Acting Perindopril Attenuates the Exercise Induced Increase in Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity during Heavy Dynamic Exercise

Van Ninh, Louisiana State University Health Science Center
Lysyl Oxidase Inhibition Alleviates Fibrosis and Dysfunction in Rodents with Established Cardiac Disease

Jillian Noblet, Indiana University School of Medicine
Role of leptin in coronary vascular dysfunction and proliferation

Stacey Rodenbeck, Indiana University School of Medicine
SERCA inhibition attenuates medial thickening in an organ culture model of coronary artery disease

Cynthia Tchio, Morehouse School of Medicine
Leptin Regulation of HDAC and miRNA affect Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

2015 Young Investigator Awardees

Bryan Becker
University of Nebraska Medical Center
"Reduced Sympathetic Tone by Overexpression of Kv 4.3 in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla (RVLM) of Rats with Heart Failure"

Rebecca Bruning
The Pennsylvania State University
"Characterization of intracellular Ca2+ handling in vascular smooth muscle cells isolated from amputated human limbs"

Jessica Faulkner
University of Mississippi Medical Center
"Treatment with Vitamin D attenuates blood pressure and immune activation in a preeclamptic rat model" 

Ayeeshik Kole
Indiana University School of Medicine
"Collagen-binding Peptide Attenuates Catheter-Induced Coronary Vasospasm" 

Mykola Mamenko, UT Health Science Center at Houston
"Disrupted store-operated calcium entry causes nephrogenic Diabetes insipidus in rats"

Marshall Naimo
West Virginia University
"Elevated Methylation Status in Old Rat Skeletal Muscle Supports Gene Expression Disparities in Response to Injury"

Felix Nau
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
"Allergic Asthma and Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Activation: New Therapeutic Directions"

Anh Nguyen, University of North Texas, Health Science Center
Pyruvate Suppresses Hippocampal MMP-2 Activity Following Cardiac Arrest-Resuscitation

Alicia Schiller, University of Nebraska Medical Center
"Renal Denervation Increases Renal Blood Flow Variability in Conscious Rabbits"

Natalie Scholpa, University of Georgia
"Role of Hippocampal p21 in Reward-Induced Behaviors"

2014 Young Investigator Awardees

Brandon Cherry, University of North Texas Health Sciences Center (Mentor – Bob Mallet)

“Vasopressin instead of epinephrine enhances efficacy of CPR without causing tachycardia”

John Clemmer, University of Mississippi Medical Center (Mentor – Robert Hester)

“Pulmonary permeability after hemorrhage and resuscitation in the obese Zucker rat”

Jonathan Elliott, University of Oregon (Mentor – Andrew Lovering)

“Increased cardiac output, not pulmonary artery systolic pressure, increases blood flow

through intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses and impairs pulmonary gas exchange

efficiency”

Haley Gillham, University of Oregon  (Mentor – Jeffrey S Gilbert)

“Complement components C3a and C5a alter angiogenic balance in placental and endothelial cells"

Peter N. Mittwede, University of Mississippi Medical Center (Mentor – Robert Hester)

“Reactive oxygen species and acute kidney injury after trauma in obese rats”

Alan Mouton, Louisiana State University (Mentor – Jason D. Gardner)

“Ethanol-induced cardiac fibrosis is mediated by NADPH oxidase”

Nagendra Prabhu Ponnuraj, Univ of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Mentor – Rex Gaskins)

“Deoxynyboquinone and its derivatives upregulate glutathione-specific genes

in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells”

Shuang Zhou, North Dakota State University  (Mentor – Dr. Erxi Wu)

“Identification and clinical prognosis of salinomycin binding targets in neuroblastoma”

2013 Young Investigator Awardees

The Burton E. Sobel Young Investigator Awardee:

Jessica Bradley, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
“Differential response of cardiac NOX-2 and -4 to mild and severe pressure overload”

The Kenneth L. Barker Young Investigator Awardee:

Sathish Padi, North Dakota State University
“MiR-627 mediates the epigenetic mechanism of vitamin D in suppression of colon cancer growth both in vitro and in vivo”

2013 Young Investigator Awardees:

Daria Ilatovskaya, Institute of Cytology RAS and Medical College of Wisconsin
“Acute effects of angiotensin II on TRPC6 channels in the podocytes of the freshly isolated kidney”

Joshua Neuman, University of Wisconsin-Madison
“Identification of key signaling molecules downstream of cAMP that regulate insulin secretion”

Meredith Owen, Indiana University, School of Medicine
“Perivascular adipose tissue impairs H2O2-mediated vasodilation in the coronary circulation”

Ankit Patel, Weill Cornel Medical College
“Feedback inhibition of the epithelial Na+ channel (ENac) during acute sodium loading in vivo”

Sulei Xu, West Virginia University, School of Medicine
“The impaired glycocalyx increases the endothelial susceptibility to shear stress resulting in augmented nitric oxide production in microvessels of diabetic rats”