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Research Day Highlights Work from Molecules to Mankind
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS)
student Tramanh Pham discusses her Research Day
poster with John Powers, Ph.D., professor of restorative
dentistry and director of the Houston Biomaterials
Research Center, Dental Branch, and GSBS faculty
member. Photo by Jennifer Canup
More than 180 presentations at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s ninth annual Research Day represented “an enormous amount of effort and interest,” said Peter J. Davies, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president for research. “What’s really striking is the huge range and scope of research – all the way from molecules to mankind.
The Office of Research Services coordinated the Nov. 14 event at the Hornberger Conference Center.
Health Science Center President James T. Willerson, M.D., praised Research Day as “a marvelous opportunity to share ideas and discoveries. We’re committed to discovery in the interest of improving human health.”
Noting that the Texas Medical Center is the largest collection of health-related research facilities in the world (the National Institutes of Health is second), Willerson urged faculty and students to take advantage of opportunities for collaboration.
Willerson pointed out that research expenditures at the health science center have grown 10-20 percent per year for the last several years, reaching more than $150 million in the last fiscal year.
“That support is continuing to increase,” he said, “and many of you are responsible for that. I’m very proud of the work highlighted in today’s activities; I’m proud of all of you for contributing your academic talents for the pursuit of research; and I congratulate you on your accomplishments.”
Faculty judges selected four students and four postgraduate trainees for Biomedical Excellence Awards.
Awards of $500 went to two platform presenters: student April E. Hebert, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS); and postgraduate Silvia C. Amador, M.D., Medical School (MS), Neurobiology and Anatomy.
Awards of $300 for poster presentations went to:
Students Kristine S. Klos, Melissa Drysdale and Paul Cherukuri, all from GSBS.
Postgraduates Stacey L. Mueller-Ortiz, Ph.D., Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of
Human Diseases (IMM); David Alonso-Escolano, Ph.D., IMM; and Anne-Pierre S. Goursaud, Ph.D., MS, Neurobiology and Anatomy.
— by Ina Fried, Public Affairs