Center for Research & Discovery Supports 14 Student Research Projects with Mini Grants

In addition to funding, grant recipients will present their findings at the Student Research Conference in the spring, and their work will be cataloged in the University's Institutional Repository.

“I am always inspired by seeing students embrace research opportunities. These opportunities not only advance their academic careers but also significantly contribute to their success, before and after graduation,” Griffin said.

The funded projects span a wide range of disciplines, from Health Psychology and Medical and Molecular Biology to Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy. While the research covers diverse topics, each project reflects the University's vision to promote a healthier, more equitable world. This year's initiatives include studies on women’s mental and neurological health, chemotherapy-induced anemia, and improved insulin regulation for Type 2 diabetes.

“These students are conducting vital research that could lead to long-term innovations in their fields. Their work highlights the importance of fostering a skilled research pipeline, and contributing to the development of qualified researchers as they drive meaningful advancements in health and science,” Griffin said.

Griffin also noted the essential role of faculty mentors, whose guidance and expertise help shape students' research journeys. "The dedication of our faculty to fostering student research is invaluable," she said. "Their support ensures that our students not only gain hands-on experience but also build a foundation for future contributions to health and science."

Here are the 2024-2025 Center for Research and Discover Mini Grant Recipients:

• Thi My Tien Bach, Doctor of Pharmacy: “5-Fluorouracil Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Cancer,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. George Acquaah-Mensah
• Daniel Dong, BS in Medical and Molecular Biology: “Investigating Chlorine Tolerance in Vibrio cholerae: Targeting Key Genes for Enhanced Survival,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Crystal Ellis
• Lenka Kristinova, BS in Pharmacology and Toxicology: “Investigating the role of PAR1/2 activation in Poly (I:C)-induced vascular permeability in endothelial cells Faculty Mentor: Dr. Saravanan Subramaniam
• Jailyn Merengueli, BS in Health Psychology: “A ‘Tail’ of Two Species: Translating a Rat Model of Maternal Immune Activation to Mice,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amanda Kentner
• Penelope Pando, BS in Medical and Molecular Biology: “Tartaric Acid Induced Toxicity in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) Cells,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Greg Landry
• Madelyn Quinn, BA/BS in Health Humanities and Public Health: “Review of Contemporary Literature Depicting Women’s Hysteria Used to Portray Societal Pressure Contrasted Against Women’s Neural Health In Modern Medicine as Depicted in Neuroscientific Research and Public Health Survey Analysis,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Susan Gorman
• Qurbonali Qurbonov, BS in Medical and Molecular Biology: “Investigating Neuroimmune/Tumor Interactions with Human Brain Organoids,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Matthew Gochan
• Mitchell Nelson Lobo, PhD Candidate in Pharmaceutics: “Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Hinokitiol: A Novel Iron Chelator for Improved Management of Secondary Iron Overload,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Iman Zaghloul
• Mufaddal Abbas Mahuvawala, PhD Candidate in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy: “Trends and Disparities in Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Irene Murimi-Worstell
• Naila Mohiuddin, PhD Candidate in Pharmacology: “Mapping the TLR9-Thrombin Circuit: Exploring Endothelial-Leukocyte Interaction Using Flow Cytometry,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Saravanan Subramaniam
• Emily Pham, Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate: “Development of a Quantitative Chemonastic Timelapse Plant Drug Assay: Quantitation of Visual Responses in Pea Seedlings to Replace a Rodent Drug Assay,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Matthew Metcalf
• Minh Tran, Master’s Candidate in Physician Assistant Studies: “The Significance of Early Neurocognitive Assessment in Treatment-Naive High-Grade Glioma Patients,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Afsoon Moktar
• Brinda Trivedi, Master’s Candidate in Medicinal Chemistry: “Synthesis and Testing the Library of Dithiocarbamates as Potential PTP1B Inhibitors for Treatment of Type-2 Diabetes,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ronny Priefer
• Akshay Vora, PhD Candidate in Pharmacology: “SCH-79797, a Potent PAR-1 Antagonist, Induces Apoptosis in Metastatic Human Prostate Cancer (PC-3) Cells by Inhibiting Cancer Cell Proliferation and Survival,” Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mattia Migliore