Arias-Parbul, Kassandra
University of Notre Dame; Notre Dame, IN
Major: Biology
Project: Relation of Fission Levels in Mitochondria Towards Muscle Atrophy
Mentor: Dr. Glenn Rowe

Branch, Kaleb
Emory University; Atlanta, GA
Major: Anthropology and Human Biology
Project: Role of Pasteurization on Tetraspanin Expression in Breast-Milk Exosomes
Mentor: Dr. Brian Sims

Cabral, Ranphy
University of California-Irvine; Irvine, CA
Major: Biological Sciences
Project: Effects of Female Human Reproductive Exosomes on Neonatal Mouse Intestinal Morphology
Mentor: Dr. Colin Martin

Coger, Kiarra
Cornell University; Ithaca, NY
Major: Biological Sciences
Project: Comparative Analysis of Angiotensinogen, Vasorin, and Vestigial Like Family Member 1in Normal and Preeclampsia Human Placental Tissue
Mentor: Dr. Tamas Jilling

Ghanbari, Farshad
The University of Alabama in Huntsville; Huntsville, AL
Major: Biology
Project: Investigated wether the viral infection by oHSV in the GSC stem cell model generated NK cell memory
Mentor: Dr. Jianmei Leavenworth

Lee, Amy (Year 2)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Champaign, IL
Major: Bioengineering
Project: ETIImproves CFTR Function and Mucus Hydration in Cystic Fibrosis Human Nasal Epithelia
Mentor: Dr. Steven Rowe

Sanvee, Emmanuella "Ella"
Washington College, Chestertown, MD
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project: Mesenchymal Stem Cell Bioenergetic Function Predicts Risk for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Mentor: Dr. Namasivayam Ambalavanon

Un, Kerany
Belhaven University; Jackson, MS
Major: Biology; Criminal Justice
Project: Determine the Frequency of CMV Reinfections During Pregnancy in a Cohort of Seropositive Women Utilizing Strain-Specific Responses
Mentor: Dr. Surresh Boppana

Yang, Jennifer
University of Connecticut; Mansfield, CT
Major: Pharmacy Studies
Project: Understanding the process and specifics of the protein’s roles in the Ras/MapK pathway leads to greater improvement in medicine and care for those with pancreatic cancer
Mentor: Dr. Jeremy B Foote

Bookman, Drew
Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA
Major: Psychology
Project: Control of Early Postnatal Brain Homeostasis by IL-33Signaling and Microglia
Mentor: Dr. Shin-Ichi Kano

Dilworth, Deanine
Amhearst College, Amhearst, MA
Major: Neuroscience and English
Project: Haploinsufficient expression ofSON in ZTTK syndrome leads to aberrant splicing of proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 (PRRT2)
Mentor: Dr. Erin Ahn

Donkor, Katelle
Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA
Major: Political Science
Project: Alternative Splicing Assessment of Developmentally Regulated Neuronal Microexons Associated with Schizophreniaand Autism
Mentor: Dr. Summer Thyme

Durand, Annella
Univeristy of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Major: Biomedical Engineering/Pre-Med
Project: The Effect of Hyperoxia on Hippocampal CA1 GABAergic cells
Mentor: Dr. Tamas Jilling

Elshikh, Ammar
Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
Major: Biology
Project:
Mentor: Dr. Shaida Andrabi

Fay, LaNae
Pacific Univeristy, Forrest Grove, OR
Major: Biology
Project: Chorioamnionitis ImpairsBioenergetics of Lung Fibroblasts and Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Mentor: Dr. Namisavayan Ambalavanan

Fortuchang, Emmanuel
University of Georgia, Fayetteville, GA
Major: Health Promotion
Project:
Mentor: Dr. Laura Volpicselli-Daley

Garcia Hernandez, Yenifer
Unviersity of Houston Clear Lake, Houston, TX
Major: Biology
Project: The Role of Cell Cycle in Enterovirus Production
Mentor: Dr. Sunneier R. Thompson

Graves, Miranda
Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
Major: Biology
Project: Chorioamnionitis ImpairsBioenergetics of Lung Fibroblasts and Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Mentor: Dr. Namisavayan Ambalavanan

Hassan, Muhammad "Shaufe"
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Major: Biology
Project: Identification of genetic links between insomnia and cardiovascular diseaseusing drosophila as a model system
Mentor: Dr. Girish Melkani

Johnson, Elijah
Fisk University, Nashville, TN
Major: Biology
Project:
Mentor: Dr. Abdrew Smith

Johnson, Leign-DeVito
Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA
Major: Biology
Project: Exercise-induced angiogenesis in skeletal muscle is blunted by heparanase inhibition
Mentor: Dr. Glenn Rowe

Knight, Quintera
Spellman College, Atlanta, GA
Major: Biology
Project: Role of CTSD in mitochondrial function of SHSY-5Y cells
Mentor: Dr. Shaida Andrabi

Lee, Amy
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Major: Bioengineering
Project: Disruption of Muc5b Expression Leads to Chaotic Mucus Flow
Mentor: Dr. Steve Eo

Mosquera-reinoso, Kenneth
Montclair State University, Monclair, NJ
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Effect of acute versus chronicexposure tostress Catecholamines onovarian cancercell viabilityand endothelial cell permeability
Mentor: Dr. Mythreye Karthikeyan

Smith, Jabari
Prairie View A&M Univeristy, Prairie View, TX
Major: Biology
Project: Cigarette smoke induces coronary artery endothelial CXC Chemokine Receptor 2 expression
Mentor: Dr. Gregory Payne

Williams II, Yancey
University of Alalbama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Project: Mathematical modeling of Simultaneous Two-Wavelength Axial Ratiometry microscopy as a tool for studying endocytic vesicle formation.
Mentor: Dr. Alexa Mattheyse

Wilson, Ahmad
Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA
Major: Chemistry
Project: Cardiac desmosomal proteins in a mouse model of Huntington’s disease
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Gray


MARC Participant:
Jones, Aaryana
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Major: Biology
Project: The effect of circadian rhythm disruption on cardiac and skeletal muscle function
Mentor: Dr. Girish Melkani

Baker, Ariana
Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem University, NC
Major: Biology
Project: Glutahione Peroxidase 2 is overexpressed in lung adenocarcinoma and predicts poor patient survival
Mentor: Varambally, Sooryanarayana

*Bibb, Jada
Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL
Major: Biology
Project: Vimentin intermediate filaments increase invasiveness of IPF fibroblasts
Mentor: Surolia, Ranu

*Elam, Madisyn
Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia
Major: Biology
Project:Characterization of Cardiac Function and Histology in MiR-486 Knockout and DMD Mouse Models
Mentor: Alexander, Matthew

Holliday, Alexis
Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA
Major: Biology
Project: Collecting duct NOS1 is critical for high salt-induced changes in glomerular filtration rate
Mentor: Pollock, Jennifer

Hsiao-Sanchez, Nicole
University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Major: Biology
Project: Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Skeletal Muscle Associated with Sarcopenia among Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients
Mentor: McDonald, Merry-Lynn

Lewis, April
Spelman College, Atlanta, GA
Major: Biology
Project: Impact of Altering the Redox Chemistry and Environment of the Cell Cycle Regulator Cyclin E on its Localization and Abundance in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells
Mentor: Mitra, Kasturi

*May, Micah
Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL
Major: Biology
Project: Immunofluorescence Analysis of PINK1 Knock Rats
Mentor: Goldberg, Matthew

*Medina, Anaissa
California State University - Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Major: Biology
Project: Glucose Mediated EZH2 in Heart Failure
Mentor: Wende, Adam

Vann, Carlee
Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee
Major: Biology
Project: BRD2 is a reprogramming barrier for cellular reprogramming
Mentor: Hu, Kejin

Westbrook, Ericka
Spelman College, Atlanta, GA
Major: Biology
Project: Characterization of Tomosyn-1 Knockout Mice
Mentor: Bhatnagar, Sushant

*Returning PARAdiGM Students

Bibb, Jada
Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL
Major: Biology
Project: Age Dependent Variability of Invasiveness of Lung Fibroblast Spheroids
Mentor: Surolia,Ranu

*Garcia, Jacob Alexander (Alex)
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Project: Enhancement of pancreatic islet transplantation via islet encapsulation with a peptide amphiphile nanomatrix gel
Mentor: Ho-Week Jun

Elam, Madisyn
Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia
Major: Biology
Project: Characterization of Cardiac Function and Histology in MiR-486 Knockout and DMD Mouse Models
Mentor: Alexander,Matthew

*Hunter, Melodie
Howard University, Washington, DC
Major: Biology
Project: SIN3A is a key regulator of breast cancer metastasis
Mentor: Hurst, Douglas

May, Micah
Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL
Major: Biology
Project: What Causes Familial Parkinson's Disease? An Immunohistochemical and Immunofluorescence Analysis of PINK1 Knockout Rats
Mentor: Goldberg, Matthew

Medina, Anaissa
California State University - Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Major: Biology
Project: Contribution of epigenetics and gene expression to diabetic heart failure
Mentor: Wende, Adam

*Rivero, Marco
University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
Project: Transfusion of Red Blood Cells Enhances Platelet Adhesion and Aggregation on a Collagen Surface Under Arterial Flow
Mentor: CHen, Herbert

Shavers, Alexis
Texas Southern University, Houston, TX
Major: Biology
Project: Increasing oxidative stress with menadione can enhance T Cell responses in Type One Diabetes
Mentor: Tse, Herbert

Williams, Donald
Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL
Major: Biology
Project: Elucidating the role of MALATI and mascRNA in Breast Cancer
Mentor: Edmunds, Mick

*Weupe, Mason
Butte College, Oroville, CA
Major: Biochemistry
Project: u-Optical Coherence Tomography to Characterize Parmacologic Induction of Muc5B in WT and Muc5b KO Primary Ferret Bronchial Epithelial Air-Liquid-Interface Cultures
Mentor: Aller, Steven

*Returning PARAdiGM Students

*Ayokanmbi, Adetokunbo (Ayo)
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham,Al
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Project: Effect of tumor microenvironments on glioblastoma growth; Role of MiRNA-145 on pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis
Mentor: Anita Hjelmeland

Garcia, Jacob Alexander (Alex)
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Project: Enhancement of pancreatic islet transplantation via islet encapsulation with a peptide amphiphile nanomatrix gel
Mentor: Ho-Week Jun

Garcia-Perez, Daniela
Benedictine College, Atchison, KS
Major: Biology
Project: Understanding the phenotypic variability in zebrafish models of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy
Mentor: Matthew Alexander

Hunter, Melodie
Howard University, Washington, DC
Major: Biology
Project: SIN3A is a key regulator of breast cancer metastasis
Mentor: Hurst, Douglas

Juarez, Pablo
University of California Merced, Merced, CA
Major: Biological Science (Microbiology and Immunology)
Project:
Mentor: Sasanka Ramanadham (sramvem@uab.edu)

Otiji, Ogechukwu (Oge)
Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville, GA
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Role of Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase in angiogenesis post-myocardial infarction in mice
Mentor: Halade, Ganesh

Rivero, Marco
University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
Project: Purification of von Willebrand Factor (VWF) from human plasma using DNA Aptamer ARC1172 affinity medium
Mentor: Zheng, Long

*Robersts, Steven
Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL
Major: Biology
Project:Three dimensional cell culture model for drug efficacy testing; In vitro studies of new anticancer natural compounds in neuroendocrine tumor (NET) cell lines
Mentor: Guimbellot, Jennifer; Chen, Herbert

*Thomas, Shantasia
Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS
Major: Biology
Project: Inhibition of HGF activation: A Novel approach to overcome resistance to MET-targeted therapy in lung cancer; The role of calreticulin on extracellular matrix production in diabetic nephropathy
Mentor: Klampfer, Lidija; Murphy-Ulrich, Joanne

Tirado, Brian
Mercer University, Macon Ga,
Major: Biology and Chemistry
Project: Effects of fasting on cardiac glycogen levels
Mentor: Young, Martin

Weupe, Mason
Butte College, Oroville, CA
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Crystallization of yersinia substrate binding proteinYfeA
Mentor: Aller, Steven

*Returning PARAdiGM Students

Ayokanmbi, Adetokunbo (Ayo)
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham,Al
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Project: Effect of tumor microenvironments on glioblastoma growth; Role of MiRNA-145 on pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis
Mentor: Anita Hjelmeland

Chavez, Jennifer
Major:
Project: What role does NreB play in the stress response to Hypochlorous Acid in Lactobacillus reuteri?
Mentor: Gray, Michael

Moronto, Shaidy
Bloomsburg University
Major: Biology
Project: Enhanced gene expression of γ-globin to result in adult persistence of fetal hemoglobin using CRISPR/dCas9-Ldb1 as a therapy for Cooley’s Anemia
Mentor: Ryan, Thomas

Onatunde, Maria
University of Central Florida
Major: Biology
Project: Ten-week targeted training program to improve balance and walking post stroke: A Case Study; Determining whether 14-3-30 inhibition plays a role in the regulation of A-SYN release and toxicity found in Parkinson’s Disease
Mentor: Brown, David; Yacoubian, Talene

Pulliam, Alexis
Tuskegee University
Major: Chemical Engineering
Project: Targeting DNA methylation at Bdnf exon IV using a CRISPR
Mentor: Farah Lubin

Roberts, Steven
Alabama A&M University
Major: Biology
Project: Three dimensional cell culture model for drug efficacy testing; In vitro studies of new anticancer natural compounds in neuroendocrine tumor (NET) cell lines
Mentor: Guimbellot, Jennifer; Chen, Herbert

Thomas, Shantasia
Tougaloo College
Major: Biology
Project: Inhibition of HGF activation: A Novel approach to overcome resistance to MET-targeted therapy in lung cancer; The role of calreticulin on extracellular matrix production in diabetic nephropathy
Mentor: Klampfer, Lidija; Murphy-Ulrich, Joanne

Torres-Gutiérrez, César
University of Puerto Rico in Ponce (UPRP)
Major: Biology
Project:
Mentor: Ichiro Nakano

Vega, Andres
University of Central Arkansas
Major: Biology
Project: Cytomegalovirus strain diversity in infants with confirmed congenital CMV infection
Mentor: Shannon Ross

Veizaga-Zurita, Melanie
Virginia Commonwealth University
Major: Biology
Project: The Role of miR-214, MiR-219 and miR876 in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasi
Mentor: Charitharth Vivek Lal

Washington, Joshua
Samford University
Major: Sports Medicine Pre-Med
Inducing reactive gliosis using a pediatric traumatic brain injury model; Effects of ghrelin and restricted time feeding on circadian clock rhythm
Mentor: Olsen, Michelle; Gamble, Karen

Arguello, Alexandra
University of Evansville
Project: Dynamin-2 is a negative regulator of NOS1β in the collecting duct
Major: Pre-professional Biology
Mentor: Pollock, Jennifer

Bailey, Thomas
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Project: Transcriptional regulation of metabolic genes in STZ-Induced diabetes; Study of cell stretch due to volume overload from mitral valve dysfunction
Mentor: Adam Wende; Sethu, Palanaiappan

Jones, Alana
Howard University, Washington, DC
Major: Classics-Latin
Project: Platelet-activating factor (PAF) and lung inflammation: effects of hyperoxia
Mentor: Namasivayam Ambalavanan MD

Jones, Keri
Mississppi State University
Major: Kinesiology (Clinical Exercise Physiology) & Biological Sciences
Project: Effects of a protein-blend nutritionalsupplement on resistance exercise-induced protein synthesis signaling within skeletal myofibers
Mentor: Bamman, Marcas

Moronto, Shaidy
Bloomsburg University
Major: Biology
Project: Enhanced gene expression of γ-globin to result in adult persistence of fetal hemoglobin using CRISPR/dCas9-Ldb1 as a therapy for Cooley’s Anemia
Mentor: Ryan, Thomas

Onatunde, Maria
University of Central Florida
Major: Biology
Project: Ten-week targeted training program to improve balance and walking post stroke: A Case Study; Determining whether 14-3-30 inhibition plays a role in the regulation of A-SYN release and toxicity found in Parkinson’s Disease
Mentor: Brown, David; Yacoubian, Talene

Pettway, Yasminye
Duke University
Major: Undeclared
Project: Digeranyl bisphosphonate attenuates pulmonary fibrosis by the modulation of mitochondrial dynamics
Mentor: Carter, Brent

Tshimbombu, Tshibambe
Dartmouth College
Major: Chemistry & Neuroscience
Project: Intrinsic connectivity is related to antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia
Mentor: Lahti, Adrienne

Tymes-Wilbekin, Kristina
Spelman College, Atlanta, GA
Major: Psychology, PreMed
Project: The effect of behavioral interventions on body weight in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis; Analysis of DehydrodolichylDiphosphate Synthase (DHDDS) Ablation in cone photoreceptors
Mentor: Kathryn Kaiser; David Allison

Washington, Joshua
Samford University
Major: Sports Medicine Pre-Med
Project: Inducing reactive gliosis using a pediatric traumatic brain injury model; Effects of ghrelin and restricted time feeding on circadian clock rhythm
Mentor: Olsen, Michelle; Gamble, Karen

Bailey, Thomas
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Major:Biomedical Engineering
Project: Transcriptional regulation of metabolic genes in STZ-Induced diabetes; Study of cell stretch due to volume overload from mitral valve dysfunction
Mentor: Adam Wende; Sethu, Palanaiappan

Jones, Alana
Howard University, Washington, DC
Major:Classics -Latin
Project: Platelet-activating factor (PAF) and lung inflammation: effects of hyperoxia
Mentor: Namasivayam Ambalavanan MD

Kocher, Nicole
Spring Hill College
Major:Cell and Molecular Biology
Project: Quantifying behavioral changes in a murine model of single and multiple mild traumatic brain injury
Mentor: Candace Floyd

Mason, Zavier
University of Alabama –Tuscaloosa, AL
Major:Biologyand Psychology in Arts and Sciences Honor College
Project: Brugada Syndrome
Mentors: Tim Townes

Tymes-Wilbekin, Kristina
Spelman College, Atlanta, GA
Major:Psychology, PreMed
Project: The effect of behavioral interventions on body weight in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis; Analysis of DehydrodolichylDiphosphate Synthase (DHDDS) Ablation in cone photoreceptors
Mentor: Kathryn Kaiser; David Allison