Wednesday, April 2, 2025
7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Health Sciences Innovation Building
Afternoon poster session on the UAHS Plaza
Research Day is an event for basic scientists, clinicians and trainees to share their science and explore the possibilities of interdisciplinary collaboration. Open to researchers and general audiences alike, this annual event highlights the exciting science happening at the College of Medicine – Tucson.
The event will feature dynamic opportunities to connect and share, including a morning session in the HSIB and an engaging afternoon poster session on the UAHS Plaza. Admission is free, and meals are provided for in-person attendees.
Event Schedule
6:45 – 7 a.m. Doors, Registration, Breakfast
7 – 7:50 a.m. Surgery Grand Rounds
HSIB Forum – Small Stage
Grand Rounds: Department of Surgery
Location: HSIB Forum – Small Stage
Session Host: Louis J. Magnotti, MD, MS
Trauma System Development: Importance of the Regional Medical Operations Center
Ronald M. Stewart, MD
Dr. Witten B. Russ Chair in Surgery
University of Texas San Antonio
8 – 9 a.m. Clinical Data Blitz Session
8 – 8:20 a.m.
Clinical Data Blitz: Surgery
Location: HSIB Forum – Small Stage
Session Host: Kenneth W. Liechty, MD
Age-specific metabolite and endothelial changes after injuring older adults
Tanya Anand MD, MPH, MT(ASCP), FACS
Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery
Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Burn & Emergency Surgery
Diabetes depletes systemic CD64+ Ly6C+ monocytes to impair wound healing
Maria Gracia Mora Pinos, MD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Sonoran safety net: A firearm-violence prevention program pilot study
Shamele Battan-Wraith, MD
General Surgery Resident, PGY3
8:20 – 8:40 a.m.
Clinical Data Blitz: Urology
Location: HSIB Forum – Small Stage
Session Host: David T. Tzou, MD
Developing innovative models to address disparities and improve outcomes for patients with renal cell carcinoma
Steffan T. Nawrocki, PhD
Professor, Medicine
Comparing MOSES 1.0 vs. 2.0 for Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate-Is There Really A Difference?
Ava Delu, MD
Resident, Urology PGY-4
Kidney stone composition, microbiota, and endotoxins: An intricate milieu of complex relationships
David T. Tzou, MD
Assistant Professor, Urology
8:40 – 9 a.m.
Clinical Data Blitz: Neurosurgery
Location: HSIB Forum – Small Stage
Session Host: Paul S. Larson, MD
Autologous Cell Transplantation for Parkinson’s Disease
Paul S. Larson, MD
Professor, Neurosurgery
Chief, Neurosurgery, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System
Innovative Strategies for Overcoming Challenges in Brain Tumor Treatment
Kristin Huntoon, PhD, DO
Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery
9 – 9:50 a.m. Keynote Lectures
Location: HSIB Forum – Small Stage
Immune-based detection and treatment of metastatic cancer
Lonnie Shea, PhD
Steven A. Goldstein Collegiate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Surgery
University of Michigan Medical School
Caring for breast cancer patients from bench to bedside
Jacqueline Jeruss, MD, PhD
Professor of Surgery
University of Michigan Medical School
10 – 10:50 a.m. Pod Sessions
Session 1: Regenerative and Restorative Medicine
Location: HSIB Forum – Small Stage
Session Host: Geoffrey Gurtner, MD
4-aminopyridine enhances ORAI1 and pSTAT6 signaling to reduce inflammation and apoptosis while promoting skin regeneration after a burn injury.
Prem Kumar Govindappa, DVM, PhD
Assistant Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery
Characterization of mechanoresponsive, pro-inflammatory myeloid cells during fibrosis and regeneration
Kellen Chen, PhD
Assistant Research Professor, Surgery
Electrical Impedance as a Biomarker for Wound Healing
Erika Krall Kness-Knezinskis, MD
General Surgery Resident, Research Year
Kidney organoids: A novel diagnostic tool for recurrence in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis"
Ashwani Gupta, PhD
Assistant Research Professor, Surgery
Session 2: Brain Health
Location: HSIB 306 – Learning Commons
Session Host: Todd Vanderah, PhD
The latest and greatest in traumatic brain injury
Dedrick Jordan, MD, PhD, MBA, MSEQ
Professor and Chair, Neurology
Using AI to find biomarkers in pain
Ilknur Telkes, PhD, MS
Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery and Biomedical Engineering
The latest and greatest MR sequences for the brain
Nan-kuei Chen, PhD, MS
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Chronic pain and family dynamics
Jennifer Schultz De La Rosa, PhD
Assistant Research Professor, Family and Community Medicine
Mitochondria in Mind: Clearing Lipids to Fight Alzheimer’s
Fei Yin, PhD
Associate Professor, Pharmacology
Session 3: Clinical and Translational Sciences Awards (CTSA) Program
Location: HSIB 567
Session Host: Sairam Parthasarathy, MD and Justin Starren, MD, PhD
Overview and strategic management (Elements A & B)
Sairam Parthasarathy, MD
Professor, Medicine
Director, Center for Sleep, Circadian and Neuroscience Research
Training and Outreach (Elements C1 & C2)
Daniel Derksen, MD
Professor of Public Health, Medicine and Nursing
Associate Vice President, Rural Health Workforce Development Initiatives, UAHS
and
Francisco Moreno, MD
Professor, Psychiatry
Associate Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion, UAHS
Pilots and Informatics (Element D)
C. Kent Kwoh, MD
Professor Emeritus, Medicine
Director, University of Arizona Arthritis Center
and
Vignesh Subbian, PhD
Associate Professor, Clinical Translational Sciences
Element E
Bridget Murphy, DBH
Assistant Research Professor, Health Promotion Sciences
K12
Jason A. Wertheim, MD, PhD
Professor, Surgery and Biomedical Engineering
Vice Dean, Research and Graduate Studies
11 – 11:50 a.m. Breakout Sessions
Session 4: Cardiovascular Health
Location: HSIB 567
Session Hosts: James K. Liao, MD
Therapeutic approaches for Titin truncating variants (TTNtvs) that cause DCM
Henk Granzier, PhD
Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Unraveling ancestry-based gene-diet interactions driving health disparities in inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes
Floyd "Ski" Chilton, PhD
Professor, School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness
Daily Rhythms in Cardiac Metabolism and the Impact on Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart Disease
Luke Szweda, PhD
Professor, Medicine
Research in the Romanoski Lab
Casey E. Romanoski, PhD
Associate Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Finding new molecular targets to treat calcium-dependent arrhythmias
Shanna Hamilton, PhD
Assistant Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Role of iron and metabolic processes in cardiovascular disease
Hossein Ardehali, MD, PhD
Professor, Medicine
Associate Dean, Translational Research
Session 5: Medical Student Research
Location: HSIB 306 – Learning Commons
Session Host: Keith Joiner, MD, MPH
Risk for primary cephalosporin resistance in Gram-negative bacteremia
Sona Wolf, MPH
MD Candidate, Class of 2025, Scholarly Projects
Scorching Summer Scripts: Clinician Attitudes about Medication Stability in the Heat
Hannah Rosch Newton
MD Candidate, Class of 2025, Scholarly Projects
Microsatellite Instability in Stage IV Colon Cancer Is Associated with Decreased Survival.
Joseph Gunderson
MD Candidate, Class of 2025, Scholarly Projects
Regional Cardiac Mechanics in Ischemic Heart Failure: A Brief Overview of Wall Stress
Jacob Ref
MD Candidate, Class of 2025, Scholarly Projects
Outcomes Following Therapeutic Intervention of Post-Traumatic Vasospasm
Katie Riordan
MD Candidate, Class of 2025, Scholarly Projects
Incidence of Radiation-Associated Cancer in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease
Natalie Caryl
MD Candidate, Class of 2025, Scholarly Projects
Brandon Lee MS
MD/PhD Candidate
Shaping Hearts: Opioids and Congenital Heart Disease
Zak Webber
MD/PhD Candidate
Utilizing Transmembrane Compression to Investigate the Protective Role of CC16 in Asthmatic Epithelial Cell Metabolism
Kayleigh Berthiaume Fox
MD/PhD Candidate
Advancing Precision Medicine in Alzheimer’s Disease: Deep Embedded Clustering to Unravel Patient Risk Phenotypes
Coco Tirambulo
MD/PhD Candidate
11:45 a.m. Boxed Lunch Service
Noon – 12:50 p.m. Medicine Grand Rounds
Grand Rounds: Department of Medicine
Location: HSIB Forum – Small Stage
Kidney precision medicine
Jonathan Himmelfarb, MD
Professor of Medicine
Co-Director of the Mount Sinai Center for Kidney Disease Innovation
Carl Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City
1:10 – 2 p.m. Breakout Sessions
Session 6: Women in Medicine and Science
Location: HSIB 567
Session Host: Hina Arif, MD
Guest Presenter: Jacqueline Jeruss, MD, PhD
Join us for the Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) event, “Sustaining a Meaningful Research Program: Navigating Challenges with Vision and Purpose,” with a session with the keynote speaker Jacqueline Sara Jeruss, MD, PhD.
During this interactive session, we will share strategies for establishing a research program, sustaining long-term success, and navigating today’s increasingly complex research environment. Following the keynote, an open forum discussion will provide an opportunity for faculty to connect, share experiences, and explore practical approaches to overcoming challenges while building impactful and resilient research careers.
Session 7: Arizona for Arizona
Location: HSIB Forum – Small Stage
Session Host: John Galgiani, MD and Clara Curiel, MD
Dual Treat-and-Prevent Strategy Using Oncolytic Viruses for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
Clara Curiel, MD
Professor and Chief, Dermatology
Co-Director, UACC Skin Cancer Institute
Risk Assessment of Severe Valley Fever
John Galgiani, MD
Professor, Medicine
Director, Valley Fever Center for Excellence
Strategies to Promote Late Life Resilience by Combatting Inflammation
Janko Ž. Nikolich, MD, PhD
Professor and Head, Immunobiology
Session 7: Women in Medicine and Science
Location: HSIB 567
Session Host: Hina Arif, MD
Guest Presenter: Jacqueline Jeruss, MD, PhD
Professor of Surgery
University of Michigan Medical School
2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Poster Session
Location: UAHS Plaza (between COM-T, Life Sciences North, and Sarver)
Bianca Anahi Aguilar
Universal Screening Protocol for Preeclampsia Aspirin Prophylaxis: Quality Improvement Project
Research Mentor: Steven Dudick, MD & Heather A. Reed, MD
Topic: Women's Health
Poster Location: 83
Adam Akkad
Aerobic Exercise as a Treatment for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Research Mentor: Jordan Karp, MD
Topic: Neurology
Poster Location: 40
Mohammad Al Ma'ani
Who hits the target? Erector spinae plane block vs. Epidural analgesia
Research Mentor: Bellal A. Joseph, MD
Topic: Surgery & Trauma
Poster Location: 87
Evelyn V. Alexander, MD
Impact of Advanced Practice Providers on Postoperative Outcomes in Pancreatic Surgery
Research Mentor: Taylor S. Riall, MD, PhD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 46
Fatima Al-Khafaji, MBChB
Advanced MR technology for comprehensive placental assessment
Research Mentor: Hina Arif-Tiwari, MD
Topic: Medical Imaging
Poster Location: 115
Qusai Almustafa
Developing a Cloud-Based Data Pipeline and Predictive Framework for Multimodal Wearable Sensor Analytics
Research Mentor: Gustavo de Oliveira Almeida, PhD, MBA
Topic: Health Technology
Poster Location: 148
Travis Alsky, DO
Creating a Buprenorphine Induction Protocol for Patients with OUD
Research Mentor: Margaret Balfour, MD, PhD
Topic: Psychiatry
Poster Location: 35
Geethika Ameneni
Data Quality Control and Assurance with Medical Record Extraction: Ongoing Efforts Among the Cutaneous Oncology Program
Research Mentor: Clara Curiel, MD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 47
Nicholas Amjadi
Understanding Researcher's Perspectives on Inclusion/Exclusion of IDD Populations in Health Studies
Research Mentor: Julie S. Armin, PhD
Topic: Disability Research
Poster Location: 142
Kalyani Ananthamohan, PhD
Alternate splicing of MYBPC3 in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Research Mentor: Sakthivel Sadayappan PhD, MBA
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 9
Juan C. Arias
Duplex ultrasound may lead to missed carotid disease diagnoses: A comparative analysis with high-resolution MRI quantification.
Research Mentor: Craig C. Weinkauf, MD, PhD
Topic: Vascular Disease
Poster Location: 26
Rhea Arvind
Does medial meniscus tear repair in patients with grade 3 and 4 medial compartment osteoarthritis improve symptoms and delay arthroplasty?
Research Mentor: Michael Feldman, MD
Topic: Orthopedic Surgery
Poster Location: 102
Akhil Baby
fMyBP-C is a vital regulator of fast skeletal muscle function during aging
Research Mentor: Sakthivel Sadayappan PhD, MBA
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 10
Duo Bao
Motion Capture in Medicine: Comparing OpenCap and Noraxon IMU Systems
Research Mentor: Gustavo de Oliveira Almeida, PhD, MBA
Topic: Health Technology
Poster Location: 147
Steph Barr
Modeling Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Thick Filament Mutations in Mice to Identify Potential Therapeutic Strategies
Research Mentor: Sakthivel Sadayappan PhD, MBA
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 11
Shamele Battan-Wraith, MD
Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy Offers Survival Advantage for Early Esophageal Cancer
Research Mentor: Stephanie G. Worrell, MD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 48
Rachel Battershell
Oxido-reductive stress and calcium homeostasis in ventricular cardiomyocytes
Research Mentor: Shanna Hamilton, PhD
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 12
Cameron Beard
Testing a Novel Mouse Model for Charcot Marie Tooth Disease
Research Mentor: Ashley Snider, PhD
Topic: Metabolic Diseases & Diabetes
Poster Location: 67
Vivianne Benbrook
A Mixed-Methods Study of 20 Neonates with Opioid Exposure and Congenital Heart Disease
Research Mentor: Tally Largent-Milnes, PhD
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 13
Daniel Benson
Evaluation of Predictive Signatures in Clinical and Pre-Clinical Models of Chronic Ischemic Heart Failure for the Development and Translation of Diagnostics, Prognostics, and Therapeutics for Tissue Repair
Research Mentor: Steven Goldman, MD
Topic: Biomedical Engineering & Devices
Poster Location: 125
Kayleigh Berthiaume Fox
Optimizing a Mechanical Stress System to Investigate the Role of CC16 in Airway Remodeling and Cell Metabolism in Asthma
Research Mentor: Julie Ledford, PhD
Topic: Biomedical Engineering & Devices
Poster Location: 126
Aditi Bhanvadia
Recruitment Eligibility for Clinical Depression Trials: A Story of Advertising Modalities.
Research Mentor: Jordan Karp, MD
Topic: Psychiatry
Poster Location: 36
Efua H. Bolouvi, MD
Implication of miR146a Dysregulation in Pressure Injuries and Its Potential As a Therapeutic Target
Research Mentor: Carlos Zgheib, PhD,
Topic: Basic Science
Poster Location: 135
Cameron Bose
Hospital outcomes of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and moderate and severe congenital heart disease
Research Mentor: Michael Seckeler, MD, MSc
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 14
Nicole Bratsch
Bridging Gaps in Maternal Health: How Mobile Prenatal Care Affects C-Section Rates in Uninsured Populations
Research Mentor: Nicole Person-Rennell, MD, MPH
Topic: Women's Health
Poster Location: 84
Fox Bravo
Acute Hemodynamic Support During and After Cardiogenic Shock: Comparison of Impella Versus VA-ECMO
Research Mentor: Steven Goldman, MD
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 15
Estelle Brugere
The Promise of Prognostication: Metabolite Patterns After Traumatic Brain Injury
Research Mentor: Tanya Anand, MD
Topic: Surgery & Trauma
Poster Location: 88
Kassandra Bruner
Glucagon receptor signaling is indispensable for the healthspan extension response to chronic caloric restriction.
Research Mentor: Jennifer H. Stern, Ph.D.
Topic: Metabolic Diseases & Diabetes
Poster Location: 68
Isabella R. Byington
Glucagon receptor agonist ameliorates obesity-induced hypercholesterolemia.
Research Mentor: Jennifer H. Stern, Ph.D.
Topic: Metabolic Diseases & Diabetes
Poster Location: 69
Francisco Castillo Diaz
The Frailty Mirage: Does Frailty Increase The Risk Of Recurrent Diverticulitis?
Research Mentor: Bellal A. Joseph, MD
Topic: Surgery & Trauma
Poster Location: 89
Lienna Chan
Pediatric Coccidioidal Meningitis: a 39-year Single-Center Retrospective Cohort
Research Mentor: Kareem Shehab, MD
Topic: Infectious Disease
Poster Location: 61
Shuo-Fu Chen
CaMKIα inhibition in mice with chronic neuropathic pain reduces anxiety-related behaviors but does not affect depression or cognitive impairment
Research Mentor: Arthur C. Riegel, PhD
Topic: Pharmacology
Poster Location: 30
Austin L. Chien, MD
X-ray Free Ultrasound Guided PCNL is Feasible, Effective & Safe for Staghorn Calculi
Research Mentor: David T. Tzou, MD
Topic: Urology
Poster Location: 78
Jared Churko, PhD
High-throughput cardiovascular disease drug discovery
Research Mentor: Jared Churko, PhD
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 16
Madolyn Conant
Impact of resuscitation adjuncts on postintubation hypotension in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury
Research Mentor: Tanya Anand, MD, MPH
Topic: Surgery & Trauma
Poster Location: 90
Molly Courtright
Identifying the Impact of Early Exposure to Step-1 Style Questions in Medical Preclinical Curriculum
Research Mentor: Richard M. Amini, MD
Topic: Medical Education
Poster Location: 1
Doug Cromey, MS
RII Core Facilities
Research Mentor: Ryan Sprissler, PhD
Topic: Basic Science
Poster Location: 136
Garrett Crosby
Pathophysiological Significance of Linker and Loop Motifs of Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein-C
Research Mentor: Sakthivel Sadayappan PhD, MBA
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 17
Gavin Culwell
Clinical Applications of Robot-Assisted Transcranial Doppler in Asymptomatic Extracranial Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease
Research Mentor: Craig C. Weinkauf, MD, PhD
Topic: Vascular Disease
Poster Location: 27
Sahar Davoudi
Incidental Finding of S100-negative Melanoma during Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Basal Cell Carcinoma
Research Mentor: Jason P. DuPont, MD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 49
Shivani Desai
Risk-taking and Inhibitory Control based on Emotional Intelligence Ability between the Sexes
Research Mentor: William D.S. Killgore, PhD
Topic: Psychiatry
Poster Location: 37
Jacob Diermayr
Bridging the Gap: "Finding Research Made Easy (FRME)", A Matchmaking Platform to Streamline Undergraduate Research Recruitment
Research Mentor: Kenneth W Liechty, MD
Topic: Medical Education
Poster Location: 2
Cody Diezel
Proteomic analysis reveals acute and chronic neuropathic pain differentially affect protein abundance in the ventral tegmental area
Research Mentor: Arthur C. Riegel, PhD
Topic: Pharmacology
Poster Location: 31
Anna Maria Driesen
Disparities in HPV-Related Anogenital Cancer Risk Among Black Organ Transplant Recipients
Research Mentor: Daniel C. Butler, MD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 50
Kameron Durante, DO
Early Stage Thymoma: Is active surveillance a viable strategy for early stage thymoma?
Research Mentor: Praveen Sridhar, MD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 51
Pujarini Dutta Dey
Nuanced, age-dependent role of epithelial ALDH1A1 in shaping mucosal immune response in health and during enteric infection in mice.
Research Mentor: Pawel R. Kiela, DVM, PhD
Topic: Microbiome
Poster Location: 76
Ahmed Elkamel, MBBS
Recurrence and Metastasis Patterns in Esophageal Cancer Following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy and Esophagectomy
Research Mentor: Stephanie G. Worrell, MD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 52
Catherine Ellis
Fecal Lipids Modulate Intestinal Mucosal Poly(ADP)Ribosylation In The Context Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Research Mentor: Pawel R. Kiela, DVM, PhD
Topic: Metabolic Diseases & Diabetes
Poster Location: 70
Govindaraj Ellur, PhD
Erythropoietin enhances Schwann cell repair, promotes phagocytosis, and supports nerve regeneration following a sciatic nerve crush injury
Research Mentor: John C. Elfar, MD
Topic: Neurology
Poster Location: 41
Francisco Espinoza
Using the arms to help the legs during walking: Implications for gait rehabilitation
Research Mentor: Christopher J. Arellano
Topic: Gait
Poster Location: 146
Arthur C. Evensen, DPM
Impact Of Synthetic Extracellular Matrices In Combination Therapy With Amniotic Allografting In The Treatment Of Diabetic Foot Wounds: A Case Series.
Research Mentor: Jodi Walters, DPM
Topic: Surgery & Trauma
Poster Location: 91
Amanda Feng
Naturally Occurring Case of Autism Spectrum Disorder in an Adolescent Rhesus Monkey
Research Mentor: Katalin M. Gothard, MD, PhD
Topic: Neurology
Poster Location: 42
Temara Fletcher
Glucagon receptor agonism ameliorates age-related decline in glucose and lipid homeostasis in male mice
Research Mentor: Jennifer H. Stern, PhD
Topic: Metabolic Diseases & Diabetes
Poster Location: 71
Taylor Ford
Pathophysiology of Decreased Bone Mineral Density in the Setting of Hemophilia
Research Mentor: Akshay Amaraneni, MD
Topic: Metabolic Diseases & Diabetes
Poster Location: 72
Scott French
Cognitive impairment and pTau-217 are high in a vascular patient cohort
Research Mentor: Craig C. Weinkauf, MD, PhD
Topic: Vascular Disease
Poster Location: 28
Charlie Gallego
Management and Outcomes of Head and Neck Sarcomas: A Single Institution Experience
Research Mentor: Shethal Bearelly, MD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 53
Gabriel Garcia
Closing the Gate: Investigating a No-Cost, Noninvasive, Patient-Driven Approach to Pain Reduction for Trigger Finger Injections: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Mentor: Spencer Stanbury, MD
Topic: Orthopedic Surgery
Poster Location: 112
Diego García
Outcomes of Burn Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Taking Semaglutide: A Propensity-Matched Large Cohort Study
Research Mentor: Dr. Lourdes Castañón
Topic: Surgery & Trauma
Poster Location: 92
Joey Ghotmi
Anterior Subcutaneous Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve: A Retrospective Case Series on Symptom Relief and Recovery in Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Research Mentor: Tolga Turker, MD
Topic: Orthopedic Surgery
Poster Location: 113
Kai Glahn
Three Year Trends in Opioid and Benzodiazepine Prescriptions in a Community Psychiatry Clinic
Research Mentor: Jordan Karp, MD
Topic: Psychiatry
Poster Location: 38
Trevour Greene, MS
Biomechanical Response of Carpal Tunnel Components to Pinching in Different Wrist Postures
Research Mentor: Zong-Ming Li, PhD
Topic: Biomedical Engineering & Devices
Poster Location: 127
Alisia Gunderson
Peripherally Acting Mu Opioid Receptor Antagonists Do Not Improve Resolution Rates in Opioid-Induced Colonic Pseudo Obstruction
Research Mentor:
Topic: Gastroenterology
Poster Location: 64
Alissa Hafezi
The Telehealth Legal Landscape and its Impact on Vulnerable Communities
Research Mentor: Tara Sklar, JD, MPH
Topic: Public Health
Poster Location: 137
Abel Harris
Reducing Free Flap Post-Op Management Intensity
Research Mentor: Tolga Turker, MD
Topic: Orthopedic Surgery
Poster Location: 103
Luis Helfer
Microbial Predictors of Surgical Intervention in Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Retrospective Analysis
Research Mentor: Christopher H. Le, MD
Topic: Otolaryngology
Poster Location: 98
Nikki Henderson, MS
Shear Wave Elastography of Healthy Individual Thenar Muscles During Pinching
Research Mentor: Zong-Ming Li, PhD
Topic: Biomedical Engineering & Devices
Poster Location: 128
Alana Hendrickson
Association Between G6PD Deficiency and Congenital Heart Disease Incidence and Hospital Outcomes
Research Mentor: Michael Seckeler, MD, MSc
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 18
Jared Hill
Calcium Handling Mechanisms that Underlie Diabetic Retinopathy
Research Mentor: Erika D. Eggers, PhD
Topic: Ophthalmology
Poster Location: 114
Madison Hillis
Contrast-enhanced CT for 3D visualization of hand and wrist anatomy: Diffusible versus perfusable iodine with barium latex vascular injection
Research Mentor: Paul M. Gignac, PhD
Topic: Medical Imaging
Poster Location: 116
Yazin Hindosh
Depression as a Predictor of Increased Postoperative Complications and Readmission in Spinal Lumbar Fusion Surgery
Research Mentor: Abduljabbar Alhammoud, MD
Topic: Orthopedic Surgery
Poster Location: 104
Akram Hindosh
Postoperative Risks of Depression in Patients Undergoing Spinal Lumbar Fusion: Comparing Outcomes With and Without Antidepressant Use
Research Mentor: Abduljabbar Alhammoud, MD
Topic: Orthopedic Surgery
Poster Location: 105
Spencer Holmes
Radiomics in Oncology: Advancing Precision Medicine Through Quantitative Imaging
Research Mentor: Hina Arif-Tiwari, MD
Topic: Medical Imaging
Poster Location: 117
Fariba Hossain
Colonoscopic Decompression is Associated with Improved Resolution in Acute Colonic Pseudo Obstruction
Research Mentor: Sasha Taleban, MD
Topic: Gastroenterology
Poster Location: 65
Atsushi Ishii, MD, PhD
Assessment of the 5HT1F receptor agonist, Lasmiditan, in Parkinsonian mice at early and advanced stages
Research Mentor: Lalitha Madhavan, MD, PhD
Topic: Neurology
Poster Location: 43
Maisam Jafri
Inducing Fibrotic Liver Disease in Mice: A Non-Pharmacological Approach
Research Mentor: Kellen Chen, PhD
Topic: Biomedical Engineering & Devices
Poster Location: 129
Harseerat Jajj
Restrain Responsibly: A Banner Health Policy Review of Shackling In Custody Patients
Research Mentor: Molly Douglas, MD
Topic: Public Health
Poster Location: 138
David Jordan, PhD, MS
Ultrasound shear wave speed of the transverse carpal ligament during pinching
Research Mentor: Zong-Ming Li, PhD
Topic: Biomedical Engineering & Devices
Poster Location: 130
Joshua Juganaru
Strategic Considerations for 177Lu-PSMA-617 Therapy in Prostate Cancer Patients with Liver Metastatic Disease
Research Mentor: Bital Savir-Baruch, MD
Topic: Medical Imaging
Poster Location: 118
Austin Katrynuik
Right Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm: A Rare Finding in a Patient with Multivessel CAD and Remote Trauma
Research Mentor: Tushar Acharya, MD, MPH
Topic: Medical Imaging
Poster Location: 119
Jackie Kelley
Asymptomatic Pulmonary Embolus in a Patient with Prior Heart Transplant
Research Mentor: Douglas Rappaport, MD
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 19
Kaneez Zahra Rubab Khakwani
Magnetic Resonance Imaging based non-invasive accurate diagnosis and characterization of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
Research Mentor: Hina Arif-Tiwari, MD
Topic: Medical Imaging
Poster Location: 120
Rami Khoshaba
Navigating an Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in a Patient with a Duplicated Inferior Vena Cava
Research Mentor: Venkat Ganapathy, MD
Topic: Orthopedic Surgery
Poster Location: 106
Melanie Kueny
Cellular Localization of the Pink Bollworm Cry1Ac Bt Protein Receptor PgCad1 in Cultured Insect Cells
Research Mentor: Monika Schmelz, PhD
Topic: Immunobiology
Poster Location: 124
Erik Larsen, PhD
IMPACT (Individual Molecular Registry of Patients for Accelerated Clinical and Translational medicine), a UAHS strategic initiative for genome data analytics of UACC patients to foster precision research
Research Mentor: Ritu Pandey, PhD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 54
Eli Lefkowitz
Basis of Myocardial Elasticity Derived from Cardiac MRI in a Swine Model of Ischemic Heart Failure
Research Mentor: Steven Goldman, MD
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 20
Vicki Liu
Barriers in Access to Care for Parkinson's Disease-Associated Dysphonia
Research Mentor: Helena Yip, MD
Topic: Otolaryngology
Poster Location: 99
Fiona Anushi Liyanage
Unraveling the Pathology of Head and Neck NUT Carcinoma: Histologic Morphology, Biomarkers, and Genetic Insights
Research Mentor: Christopher H. Le, MD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 55
Carina Magdaleno
The Role of TWIST1 and GATA2 in Disrupted Differentiation in Prostate Cancer
Research Mentor: Cindy K. Miranti, PhD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 56
Jeremy Makar
Clinical Efficacy of Carpal Arch Space Augmentation for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Research Mentor: Zong-Ming Li, PhD
Topic: Orthopedic Surgery
Poster Location: 107
Bryce McWhorter
Silent Suffering: A Case Report of a Tanzanian Suicide Survivor Discharged Without Mental Health Care
Research Mentor: Sommer Aldulaimi, MD
Topic: Public Health
Poster Location: 139
Ivan Menendez-Montes, PhD
Mitochondria Directly Interact with the Nuclear Pore Complex to Regulate Nuclear Energetics
Research Mentor: Hesham Sadek, MD, PhD
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 21
Colton Merdich, Adam Thompson
Retrospective Review of Resource Utilization and Referral Sources for a Student-Run Free Clinic for Underinsured LGBTQ+ Individuals
Research Mentor: Kristopher J. Abbate, MD
Topic: Public Health
Poster Location: 140
Bryce Michael
Silent Suffering: A Case Report of a Tanzanian Suicide Survivor Discharged Without Mental Health Care
Research Mentor: Abduljabbar Alhammoud, MD
Topic: Orthopedic Surgery
Poster Location: 108
Bassam Mitri
Association of Semaglutide Prescription with Improved Joint Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Research Mentor: Faissal Stipho, MD
Topic: Metabolic Diseases & Diabetes
Poster Location: 73
Mehraneh Mohseni Zadeh Harouzi
Management approaches to autoimmune patients at risk or with Coccidioidomycosis
Research Mentor: Fariba Donovan, MD, PhD
Topic: Infectious Disease
Poster Location: 62
Rebekah L. Mokry
Glucose-independent human cytomegalovirus replication is supported by glutamine feeding lipid synthesis
Research Mentor: John G. Purdy, PhD
Topic: Immunobiology
Poster Location: 134
Angela Monetathchi
Integrative Medicine on the Rise- Can Medical Education Keep Up?
Research Mentor: Randy Horwitz, MD, PhD
Topic: Medical Education
Poster Location: 3
Emilia Mora Pinos, MD
miR-15b as a Key Regulator of Impaired Angiogenesis in Pressure Ulcers
Research Mentor:
Topic: Surgery & Trauma
Poster Location: 93
Anna Morenz, MD
Evaluating Transportation Barriers and Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Adherence
Research Mentor: Gloria D. Coronado, PhD
Topic: Women's Health
Poster Location: 85
Christian Morrill, MD
Cold Ischemia via Retrograde Intrarenal Saline Irrigation During Robotic-Assisted-Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy in Solitary Kidneys: A Patient Series
Research Mentor: Benjamin R Lee, MD
Topic: Urology
Poster Location: 79
Adelle Nkeze
Training Exposure and Likelihood of Prescribing Buprenorphine and Methadone Among Arizona Primary Care Medical Residents
Research Mentor: Beth E. Meyerson, MDiv, PhD
Topic: Medical Education
Poster Location: 4
Marcy Ojeda
Student's perceptions and effectiveness: Coupled anatomical illustrations and cadaver images in gross anatomy education
Research Mentor: James V. Proffitt, PhD
Topic: Medical Education
Poster Location: 5
Samantha Olsson
Evaluating University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson's Motivational Interviewing Curriculum
Research Mentor: Barbara Eckstein, MD, MPH
Topic: Medical Education
Poster Location: 6
Tyler On
Bead-Beating Demonstrates Enhanced Bacterial Detection in Kidney Stone Culture Compared to Traditional Mortar-Pestle Processing
Research Mentor: David T. Tzou, MD
Topic: Urology
Poster Location: 80
Rita Palanjian, MD
The incidence and clinical outcomes for patients with concomitant Fournier’s gangrene and penile calciphylaxis
Research Mentor: Christian O. Twiss, MD
Topic: Urology
Poster Location: 81
Irasema C. Paster, DO
Tumor profiling of advanced urothelial carcinoma: Comparitive analysis based on social determinants of health
Research Mentor: Juan J. Chipollini, MD
Topic: Urology
Poster Location: 82
Lukas Pawlowski
Nasal Polyps as a Marker of Increased Disease Burden in Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Radiologic Analysis
Research Mentor: Christopher H. Le, MD
Topic: Otolaryngology
Poster Location: 100
Karolina Perez
Skin Cancer Disparities Among Organ Transplant Recipients of Color
Research Mentor: Daniel C. Butler, MD
Topic: Dermatology
Poster Location: 66
Sree Vani Poorna Pillutla
Age and sex hormone-based effects on adult neurogenesis in the female brain - a behavioral and histo-stereological perspective
Research Mentor: Lalitha Madhavan, MD, PhD
Topic: Neurology
Poster Location: 44
Claire Pishko
Megakaryocytes and Nerve Fiber Ingrowth in a Rat Annulus Fibrosus Injury Model as Potential Factors in Discogenic Pain
Research Mentor:
Topic: Orthopedic Surgery
Poster Location: 109
Julia Podgorski
ATAT1 Hyperactivation in Pancreatic Cancer Drives Tumor Growth by Enhancing DNMT1-dependent Silencing of NDRG4 Expression
Research Mentor: Nam Y. Lee, PhD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 57
Sangeetha Pugazhendhi
Atypical Guillain-Barré Syndrome with Miller Fisher Variant: Acute Ophthalmoplegia and Hemiparesis
Research Mentor: Holli A. Horak, MD
Topic: Neurology
Poster Location: 45
Suranjana Rahman
Preventing Sudden Death in a Fit 36-Year-Old Veteran
Research Mentor: David Hamilton, MD
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 22
Lauren Riede
Balancing Colonic Tissue Homeostasis through βeta-Catenin Dynamics
Research Mentor: Kelvin Pond, PhD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 58
Jesse Riemenschneider
Development of an Electromagnetic Induction Wireless Charging for Raspberry Pi Pico-Based Atrial Fibrillation Device in Swine
Research Mentor: Steven Goldman, MD
Topic: Biomedical Engineering & Devices
Poster Location: 131
Hannah Rosch Newton
Scorching Summer Scripts: Clinician Attitudes about Medication Stability in the Heat
Research Mentor: Julia B. Jernberg, MD
Topic: Public Health
Poster Location: 141
Fidel Junior Saenz
Assessing the Effects of MALAT1 Inhibitor on Proliferation and Invasion in E0771 Breast Cancer Spheroids
Research Mentor: Kellen Chen, PhD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 59
Titilope Sandra Saheed
Enhancing Confidence in Chest Tube Management: A Targeted Intervention for General Surgery Residents
Research Mentor: Stephanie G. Worrell, MD
Topic: Medical Education
Poster Location: 7
Gia Saini
Non-Thermal Pulsed Electric Field Ablation of DVT Blood Clots Reduces Fibrosis
Research Mentor: Rahmi Oklu, MD, PhD
Topic: Medical Imaging
Poster Location: 121
Alyssa San Agustin
CNP-miR146a accelerates diabetic wound healing by promoting a pro-regenerative immune response
Research Mentor: Kenneth W. Liechty, MD
Topic: Metabolic Diseases & Diabetes
Poster Location: 74
Bekir Sanal
MR Imaging of hilar cholangiocarcinoma: systematic approach to challenging cases.
Research Mentor: Hina Arif-Tiwari, MD
Topic: Medical Imaging
Poster Location: 122
Jonathan Sayegh
Managing Postoperative Fungal Infections: A Case of Candida glabrata Osteomyelitis Following Lumbar Fusion
Research Mentor: Abduljabbar Alhammoud, MD
Topic: Orthopedic Surgery
Poster Location: 110
Caitlin Scott
A Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve Breast Cancer Screening in a Student-run, Free Clinic
Research Mentor: Kristopher J. Abbate, MD
Topic: Hospital Quality Improvement
Poster Location: 144
Caleb Seekins
Terpenes from Cannabis Sativa are Antinociceptive in a Reserpine-Induced Mouse Model of Fibromyalgia
Research Mentor: John Streicher
Topic: Pharmacology
Poster Location: 32
Ali Shaikh
Quantifying Effusion-Synovitis in Knees with Osteoarthritis: A Whole-Knee Multiview Approach
Research Mentor: C. Kent Kwoh, MD
Topic: Medical Imaging
Poster Location: 123
Sonakshi Sharma
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy HBOT as an Adjunct Therapy for Chronic-Nonhealing Wounds.
Research Mentor: Lourdes Castañón, MD
Topic: Surgery & Trauma
Poster Location: 94
Irshad Ali Sheikh, PhD
PARP1 is a novel regulator of Paneth cell degranulation and intestinal antimicrobial defense against enteric pathogen
Research Mentor: Pawel R. Kiela, DVM, PhD
Topic: Microbiome
Poster Location: 77
Ivy Stejskal, DO PGY-2
Heterotrophic Ossification of Midline Laparotomy Incision After Trans Hiatal Esophagectomy
Research Mentor: Stephanie G. Worrell, MD
Topic: Surgery & Trauma
Poster Location: 95
Fawaz Bashar Stipho
Clinical Trial Pre-Screening Optimization Using AI
Research Mentor: Jordan F. Karp, MD
Topic: Health Technology
Poster Location: 143
Alexandra Stump
Title: The Impact of the Posterior Tibial Tendon in Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity at Various Stages of Ligament Failure: A Pedobarographic Cadaveric Analysis.
Research Mentor: L. Daniel Latt, MD, PhD
Topic: Orthopedic Surgery
Poster Location: 111
Adam Thompson, MS
Challenges of Access to Treatment for Substance Use Disorders Among LGBTQ+ Youth
Research Mentor: Andrew Terranella. MD, MPH
Topic: Psychiatry
Poster Location: 39
Beverley Trutter, MD, MPH
The Use of a Silver Antimicrobial Barrier Dressing and A Biosynthetic Wound Matrix in SJS/TEN: A Case Study
Research Mentor: Lourdes Castañón, MD
Topic: Surgery & Trauma
Poster Location: 96
Allison Tulino
3D Bioengineered Patch Promotes Cardiac Tissue Repair/Regeneration in Animal Models of Chronic Ischemic Heart Failure via Immunomodulation
Research Mentor: Steven Goldman, MD
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 23
David Umbertus
D1 and D4 Antagonist effects on light adaptation using ex-vivo ERGs after 6 weeks of diabetes
Research Mentor: Erika D. Eggers, PhD
Topic: Metabolic Diseases & Diabetes
Poster Location: 75
Lakshmi Laasya Vallabhaneni
Lipedematous Alopecia: A Case Report and Review of Current Literature
Research Mentor: Mahdieh Fazel Jedlowski, MD, PharmD
Topic: Women's Health
Poster Location: 86
Daisey Vega
Understanding the stabilizing role of a muscle-tendon unit in vivo
Research Mentor: Christopher J. Arellano
Topic: Biomedical Engineering & Devices
Poster Location: 132
Chase Verdugo
COVID-19 Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of Biologic vs. Conventional DMARDs
Research Mentor: Faissal Stipho, MD
Topic: Infectious Disease
Poster Location: 63
Taylor Veschio
Impact of 2016 Opioid Guidelines: Reduced Opioid Prescriptions and Increased Anticonvulsant Use in Older Adults with Dementia
Research Mentor: Mindy J. Fain, MD
Topic: Pharmacology
Poster Location: 33
Hannah N. Vu
Digital Phenotyping for Clinical Investigation: Detecting Abnormalities in Behavior Using Machine Learning and Smartphone Data
Research Mentor: Eung-Joo Lee, PhD
Topic: Health Technology
Poster Location: 145
Kevin Wang, MD
Effective of Cryo Nerve Block on Post-op Pain and outcomes
Research Mentor: Stephanie G. Worrell, MD
Topic: Pharmacology
Poster Location: 34
Noah Weaver
Building Strategic Pathways and Expanding Opportunities for Orphan Applicants in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Research Mentor: Michael Galvez, MD
Topic: Surgery & Trauma
Poster Location: 24
Nader Wehbi
Investigating tetracaine lollipops as an adjuvant therapy option for neurogenic cough
Research Mentor: Helena Yip, MD
Topic: Otolaryngology
Poster Location: 101
Nekabari Yakpogoro
Somatic symptomatology and Daytime Dysfunction Post-Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Exploring Gender and Age Specific Associations
Research Mentor: William D.S. Killgore, PhD
Topic: Surgery & Trauma
Poster Location: 97
Victoria Yatsenko
Healthcare utilization trends for adolescents and young adults with moderate and severe congenital heart disease
Research Mentor: Michael Seckeler, MD, MSc
Topic: Heart
Poster Location: 25
Sara Youssef
Utilizing a USMLE Step 1 Question-Based Learning Approach to Simulate and Assess Motivational Interviewing Using Real-World Scenarios
Research Mentor: Amy Hu, MD
Topic: Medical Education
Poster Location: 8
Summan Zahra, MBBS
Carotid cognitive index correlates with plasma pTau217 in asymptomatic carotid disease.
Research Mentor: Craig C. Weinkauf, MD, PhD
Topic: Vascular Disease
Poster Location: 29
Hui Zhang
Carpal Arch Space Augmentation Device for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Relief
Research Mentor: Zong-Ming Li, PhD
Topic: Biomedical Engineering & Devices
Poster Location: 133
Ateh Zinkeng
A single nucleotide polymorphism in HNF1A plus a high-fat diet contributes to MASLD and HCC development
Research Mentor: Juanita L. Merchant, MD, PhD
Topic: Cancer
Poster Location: 60
Event Sponsor
Research Day is co-sponsored by the Arizona Biomedical Research Centre (ABRC). ABRC-funded events strive to deliver high-quality educational resources to support Arizona researchers in becoming leaders in biomedical research fields, successfully competing for external support, and translating research findings to address critical medical needs and improve health outcomes.