CoM holds research Discovery Day
By: Sravanthi Dama
Issue date: 10/7/05 Section: Sci-Tech
Originally published: 10/7/05 at 1:46 PM EST
Last update: 10/7/05 at 3:26 PM EST
Originally published: 10/7/05 at 1:46 PM EST
Last update: 10/7/05 at 3:26 PM EST
- Page 1 of 1
|
Similar to the College of Arts and Sciences' Research Day, Discovery 2005 is a long-standing DUCoM tradition. The event showcases the most recent clinical accomplishments discoveries of the CoM's medical and undergraduate students, as well as clinical research coordinators and other researchers affiliated with the college.
In recent years, the CoM has become a "focal point for development of professional master's and certification programs in clinical research that are attracting both national and international attention." In fact, in the fall of 2005, the CoM matriculated its largest class of Ph.D. and research-track Masters students. A welcome letter, written by Discovery Committee members, Dr. Richard V. Homan, Dr. Bill Stephenson, Dr. Barry Waterhouse, and Dr. James M. Burns wrote that it was "a day to be collegial and share our enthusiasm for discovery in the biomedical sciences. It is truly rewarding to witness the success of our training efforts and ... be enlightened by the discoveries being made in our hallways."
The day began with a host of poster presentations from the CoM's various departments, which were then followed by the Walter Rubin Memorial Lecture, delivered by Dr. Kenneth S. Kosik of University of California Santa Barbara and the Joseph R. DiPalma Lecture, delivered by Dr. William R. Jacobs Jr., of Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Platform presentations were given by graduate students, including one by Heather Ward, a fourth year Neurosciences Ph.D. candidate of the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology whose project was entitled "Irreversible Antagonism of Mu-Opioid Receptors (MOR) in the Lateral Parabrachial Nucleus (LBPN) Prevents MOR-Agonist Stimulated Consumption of a Palatable Food and Persistently Decreases Chow Intake."
Also presenting her work was fourth year Ph.D candidate, Heather Painter, who presented her project entitled "Survival and Death in Erythrocytic Stages of Plasmodium Falciparum Treated With Anti-mitochondrial Drugs."
Painter, who is a part of the Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics Program in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology is also President of the Graduate Students Association which represents over 500 students from a variety of disciplines at the CoM including the M.S./Ph.D. program, as well as other research, medical, veterinary, and masters programs.
In a letter to the participants of Discovery 2005, Painter commented on the role of Discovery for graduate students saying that "for them Discovery presents a formal setting to facilitate interaction with peers in and outside of their respective fields as well as accomplished scientists and renowned outside speakers." Scientists and students were also nominated for various faculty awards such as Outstanding Basic Scientist, Outstanding Clinical Scientist, and Outstanding Young Investigator.
is a member of the 
