Summer Research Program
As the “teacher of teachers,” the Pritzker community sees great value in participating in both basic and clinical research. We highlight this tradition each summer with the NIH-supported Summer Research Program (SRP)—an opportunity for rising second-year students to work closely with faculty mentors to engage in various research projects. This year, 82 students participated in the SRP. Led by Drs. Vineet Arora, Eugene Chang, V. Leo Towle, and William A. McDade, 95 faculty members from throughout the Biological Sciences Division worked closely with the student participants, not only serving as mentors, but as cluster group leaders, judges, and steering committee members as well. On August 22nd and 23rd, participating students presented their research to a panel of judges. The following students received awards during the closing celebration on August 24th:
The Joseph B. Kirsner Research Award for Excellence
Karl Balch
Karl Balch, MS 2
Research topic: Bioinformatic Analysis of BMP9: Implications for Osteogenesis and Stem-Cell Development
Mentor: Tong-Chuan He, MD, PhD
The Brain Research Foundation Award for Best Neuroscience Project
Katherine Liebesny
Katherine Liebesny, MS 2
Research topic: The Role of P188 Neuroprotection and Post Ischemic Spatial Learning Abilities in Male Mongolian Gerbils
Mentor: Jeremy Marks, MD, PhD
The Sigma Xi Award for Impact on Science
Jane He
Jane He, MS 2
Research topic: The Effect of Social Isolation on PTEN Expression and the PI3K Pathway in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Mammary Cancer
Mentor: Suzanne Conzen, MD
Overall Excellence in Scientific Quality, Content and Ability to Respond to Questions in the Performance of Research in Clinical Science
Ryan Lawrence
Ryan Lawrence, MS 2
Research topic: Of Two Minds: Physicians’ Beliefs About Conscience in Medicine
Mentor: Farr Curlin, MD
Tanvi Patel
Tanvi Patel, MS 2
Research topic: Thermal Analgesia in Healthy Newborn Infants
Mentor: Larry Gray, MD
Elaine Lin
Elaine Lin, MS 2
Research topic: Communication and Adaptive Profiles of Young Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Comparison with Preschool Developmental Delays
Mentor: Michael Msall, MD
Overall Excellence in Scientific Quality, Content andAbility to Respond to Questions in the Performance of Research in Basic Science
Shanshan Mou
Shanshan Mou, MS 2
Research topic: Enhanced Osteogenic Capacity of Bone Precursor Cells Cotransduced with Human Telomerase and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 9
Mentor: Russell Reid, MD, PhD
Michael Garland
Michael Garland, MS 2
Research topic: Osteosarcoma and the Effects of Aberrant Runx2, Rb, or Id2 Expression on the Osteogenic Diff erentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Mentor: Tong-Chuan He, MD, PhD
Brandy Blackwell
Brandy Blackwell, MS 1
Research topic: The Role of EKLF in Erythroid Differentiation and Cell Cycle Regulation
Mentor: John Cunningham, MD
Honorable Mention for Excellence
- Jie Wang, MS 2
Research topic: Immunotherapy for Cancer: Loading Tumor Stroma with Exogenous Antigen
Mentor: Hans Schreiber, MD, PhD - Elana Rosenthal, MS 2
Research topic: SNOB: Incorporating Obstetric Factors to Improve Predictions of Neonatal Outcome
Mentor: William Meadow, MD, PhD - Drew Lansdown, MS 2
Research topic: Prevalence of Vertebral Fractures on Chest Radiographs in Post-Menopausal Women of Different Races
Mentor: Tamara Vokes, MD - Shilpa Reddy, MS 2
Research topic: Effect of High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Glycol on Gut Microflora in a Murine Model
Mentor: Eugene Chang, MD - Mary Bister, MS 2
Research topic: Patient and Physician Perceptions of the Aggressiveness of Life-Sustaining Interventions
Mentor: Elmer Abbo, MD - Eric Wagner, MS 2
Research topic: The Risks and Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Mentor: Alessandro Fichera, MD - Caitlin Schaninger, MS 2
Research topic: Improving the Ability of Hospitalized Patients to Identify Their Doctors: The FACE™ Card Intervention
Mentor: Vineet Arora, MD - Charles Kulwin, MS 2
Research topic: Treatment of Glioblastoma with Temozolomide and Nuclear Factor Kappa B Inhibitor in Vitro and in Murine
Glioblastoma Xenografts
Mentor: Bakhtiar Yamini, MD - Jacqueline Kehler, MS 2
Research topic: Genetic Screening for Fragile X: A Survey of Physicians’ Attitudes
Mentor: Lainie Friedman Ross, MD, PhD
