90 Second Talks – Morning Session
The Jackson Avenue Center Main Event Center
Start Time 10:15 am – End Time 11:15 pm
The slides and videos of most of these talks are available via
eGrove, UM’s Institutional Repository.
Flipping STEMI – Its not a heart attack!
Rob Rockhold, Deputy Chief Academic Officer, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Science Teaching Excites Medical Interest (STEMI) is an NIGMS-sponsored project to bring the flipped classroom teaching model into high school science classrooms and actively engage students in learning about health concerns of high importance to Mississippians.
Investigating Cardiac Identity
Joshua Bloomekatz, Assistant Professor in Biology, University of Mississippi
How do cells acquire a cardiac identity?
CCTS-Catalyst for Clinical & Translational Science
Leigh Ann Ross, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, School of Pharmacy; Director, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, University of Mississippi
The Center for Clinical and Translational Science opened in 2017 to facilitate research across the translational spectrum on the UM and UMMC campuses. Successful CCTS collaborations will be highlighted and potential future partnerships to advance research will be discussed.
Overview of Natural Products Neuroscience COBRE
Kristine Willett, Professor and Chair Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi
Overview of the Center of Research Excellence in Natural Product Neuroscience and its Pilot Project Program.
Neuropharmacology Core- Natural Products Neuroscience
Nicole Ashpole, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, University of Mississippi
Our Core facility specializes in testing the effects of natural products in vitro and in vivo. Among many services, our in vitro core offers cannabinoid and opioid receptor signaling assays and neuroprotection tests. We also assess effects of natural products in rodents and zebrafish models of pain, anxiety, learning and memory, and seizures.
Chemistry and DM-PK Core Facility-NIH COBRE NPN
John Rimoldi, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Mississippi
Present services offered to investigators through our Core Research Facility; Chemistry, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics.
BITC Augmented Chemo-Radiation in HNSCC Stem Cells
Linda Eastham, Research Scientist in the National Center for Natural Products Research, University of Mississippi
The prognosis of patients with head & neck squamous cell carcinoma is dismal in part because of the presence of therapy resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs). We demonstrated that pre-treatment with BITC sensitized HNSCC-CSCs to the effects of chemo-radiation.
Biological Basis of Disparities in Prostate Cancer
Christian Gomez, Associate Professor of Pathology and Radiation Oncology, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Gene expression panels, including those related to distinct components of disease biology of African American Men such as tumor hypoxia, may provide minority relevant markers that will impact race specific disease prognosis.
Magnetic resonance imaging guided radiotherapy
Ali Fatemi, Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided radiotherapy is a relatively novel technique that has the potential to improve the therapeutic ratio for tumors of brain and head and neck due to its superior ability to visualize soft tissue compared to the computed tomography (CT) imaging.
Neuroimaging Big Data Analysis
Tossi Ikuta, Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of Mississippi
Neuroimaging data have been available in a massive size these days. In my lab, we analyze physiological and anatomical characteristics of pathology and cognitive diversities using brain MRI data, specifically Diffusion Tensor Images and resting state fMRI data.
Molecular Motors: Driving Life at the Nanoscale
Nikki Reinemann, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Mississippi
Molecules and their actions are the basis of life. We are powered by tiny protein machines called molecular motors whose structural changes cause vital movements within the cell and the body. The lab studies motor protein biophysics to understand how they drive life and disease.
Impact of Sleep Hygiene on Learning and Wellbeing
Seena Haines, Professor and Chair Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Mississippi
This presentation will seek collaborators to engage in research either related to student sleep hygiene practices and how to offer strategies to enhance learning and disease prevention and or in the patient arena to offer sleep hygiene prescriptions.
A Sight for Sore Eyes – MS vision research
Federico Gonzalez-Fernandez, Professor of Ophthalmology and Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center
The eye presents unique questions from vitamin A regeneration to causes of blindness, and the search for better treatments. The Mississippi Vision Research Interest Group brings together basic and clinician scientists to uncover new knowledge, and translate to the clinical arena.
Project SCORE – Listening to Students
Marie Barnard, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Administration, University of Mississippi
Project SCORE (Student-Centered Outcomes Research Experience) is growing the next generation of social/behavioral health scientists. SCORE amplifies students’ voices to guide prevention research using a youth participatory approach and near-peer university student mentors.
Enhancing your Research Grants with Evaluation
Sarah Mason, Director, Center for Research Evaluation, University of Mississippi
All around the world people spend money trying to good. But research and grant projects don’t always lead to the outcomes people expect. We will talk about ways to embed evaluation into your research and grant proposals so you can track your progress and maximize your impact.
Exhibition Opportunities in University Libraries
Tess Graham, Library Specialist, University of Mississippi
The University Libraries have a variety of exhibit spaces available to use for displays of projects. We’d love to showcase your work!
Emerging Areas of Support at the UM Libraries
Jason Burton, Lead STEM Librarian, University of Mississippi
This talk will discuss three broad areas of emerging research support at the UM Libraries centered on data, digital scholarship, and scholarly communications. Future efforts will also be introduced.
A Recombinant Varicella- Zika virus vaccine
Wayne Gray, Instructor of Biology, University of Mississippi
Zika virus (ZIKV) causes a febrile disease in children and adults and microcephaly in newborns. In this study, a recombinant varicella-zoster virus vaccine expressing the ZIKV glycoprotein E antigen was developed.
Patient Cohort Explorer
Fremel Backus, Research Program Manager, University of Mississippi Medical Center
This application is designed to support rapid querying and reporting to discover patient and encounter populations that qualify for Research Studies. The Patient Cohort Explorer contains de-identified data from UMMC’s Research Data Warehouse.
The Body in Virtual 3D: Technology Meets Anatomy
Edgar Meyer, PhD Student in Clinical Anatomy, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Anatomy instruction has evolved to incorporate novel learning platforms, such as virtual stereopsis by which viewers take a journey through digitally projected anatomical structures. These virtual models can improve students‚ Äô learning, especially those with low spatial ability.
M Partner: Opportunities for Collaboration
Michaela Cooper, McLean Institute Volunteer, University of Mississippi
Overview and discussion of community-driven projects and opportunities for engaged research, teaching, and service through the M Partner initiative.
Simplifying your Complex Story
Darren Sanefski, Associate Professor of Multiple Platform Journalism, University of Mississippi
As an international award winning data visualization expert, with over 20 years of industry experience, I can take your complex research data (story) and make it more approachable and understandable.
Endogenous Stem Cells after Spinal Cord Injury
Hyun Joon Lee, Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Spinal cord injury activates endogenous stem cells that mostly differentiate into astrocytes. We would like to manipulate SOX2 expressing endogenous stem cells to generate neurons and myelinating oligodendrocytes, which may regenerate lost neural connections after that injury.
Linguistic Differences in L2 and Heritage Production
Teresa Lee, Instructor in Modern Languages, University of Mississippi
The present study examines the performance of 37 English-dominant beginning-level learners (second language and herirage learners) of Korean in their written production of Korean relative clauses with respect to the pattern and degree of linguistic deficits.
Patient Radiation Doses in Diagnostic Radiology
Hamid Khosravi, Assistant Professor of Radiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Evaluation of patient radiation doses in some high dose diagnostic applications of radiation at UMMC, establishing a guidance level and comparing them to national reference levels. Both usefulness of diagnostic application of radiation & harmful effects of it should be considered.