Emily Hoffman, M-2, explains her research to a faculty judge. Hoffman won first place in the Basic Sciences category among all nursing and medical students, Conley Scholars and undergraduates.

Health Sciences Research Day Draws Record Number of Students

Event showcases newest and brightest stars, Spurgeon Award winners

An unprecedented number of medical, nursing and health professions students described their discoveries at the 2008 Health Sciences Research Day. Eighty-two posters highlighting research on cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, exercise, arthritis and other areas of human health covered the walls of medical and nursing school galleries awaiting faculty judging on Nov. 6.

The Dorsett L. Spurgeon, MD, Distinguished Medical Research Award was also presented during Health Sciences Research Day. The annual award recognizes faculty scientists early in their careers. This year’s co-recipients were Paul Fadel, PhD, and Deyu Fang, MD, PhD, who both joined MU in 2005. Each received a $5,000 cash award and delivered a keynote address in the MU School of Medicine Acuff Auditorium. Immediately following the Spurgeon lectures, 12 students and faculty members were awarded for their presentations.

“The Spurgeon Award is a fabulous opportunity for the School of Medicine to showcase the world-class research generated by our newest scientists,” said Jamal Ibdah, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for research at the MU School of Medicine and director of the MU Institute for Clinical and Translational Science.

Fang recently discovered a gene that is essential to the development of autoimmune diseases. His research could lead to a cure for rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and other diseases. In September, the National Institutes of Health awarded him three grants totaling $3.9 million to support his research. A molecular microbiologist, Fang is an assistant professor in the medical school departments of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology.

Deyu Fang, MD, PhD, is a co-recipent of the 2008 Dorsett L. Spurgeon, MD, Distinguished Medical Research Award.

Fadel, an assistant professor in the medical school’s Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, uses the technique of microneurography to directly assess sympathetic neural activity in both healthy subjects and disease populations. The sympathetic nervous system is the part of the central nervous system that reacts to stressful situations by adjusting the body’s heart rate and blood pressure, often called the flight-or-fight reaction.

Although this reaction normally occurs only when it is needed, in some people with kidney or heart disease the sympathetic nervous system becomes chronically overactive. This places these patients at an increased risk for lethal heart arrhythmias, high blood pressure, stroke and other related medical problems. A primary research focus for Fadel is examining
the underlying mechanisms contributing to the overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system in patients with end stage renal
disease and heart failure. Supported by two NIH grants, his work
provides novel insights into potential therapeutic targets to
reduce excessive sympathetic nervous system activity and its
deleterious consequences.

Paul Fadel, PhD, is a co-recipient of the 2008 Dorsett L. Spurgeon, MD, Distinguished Medical Research Award.

“Drs. Fang and Fadel’s work are prime examples of the phenomenal effort and achievement it takes to improve the health of millions around the world,” said Ibdah, who also serves as the medical school’s Raymond E. and Vaona H. Peck Chair in Cancer Research and director of gastroenterology. “They are a tremendous asset to our University, and we are extremely proud of their stellar accomplishments.”

Health Sciences Research Day is sponsored by the MU School of Medicine, MU Sinclair School of Nursing, MU School of Health Professions and Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital. It has been held annually since the 1980s.

Research Day Award Recipients

Category I Clinical (medical and nursing students, Conley Scholars and undergraduates)

• First Place-$500 Jacob Dey (undergraduate, sponsored by Edward Sauter, MD, PhD, and Susan McKams, PhD, Departments of Surgery and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology)
• Second Place-$250 Adam Fitzgerald (M-4, sponsored by Joseph LeMaster, MD, Department of Family and Community Medicine)
• Third Place-$150 Charles Parker (M-4, sponsored by Benjamin Liess, MD, and Eliav Gov-Ari, MD, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery)

Category I Basic

• First Place-$500 Emily Hoffman (M-2, sponsored by Jennifer Schnabel, Kristen Taylor, PhD, Lynda Bennett, PhD, Charles Caldwell, MD, PhD, Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences)
• Second Place-$250 Jean (Randall) Kelchen (M-2, sponsored by Lynda Bennett, PhD, and Charles Caldwell, MD, PhD, Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences)
• Third Place-$150 Ashley Daniel (undergraduate, sponsored by Matthew Ravosa, PhD, M, and Sharon Stack, PhD, Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences)

Category II Clinical (graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, residents)

• First Place-$500 Colin Young (graduate student, sponsored by Paul Fadel, Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology)
• Second Place-$250 Benjamin Liess, MD (resident physician, sponsored by Karen Calhoun, MD, FACS, FAAOA, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery)
• Third Place-$150 Jennifer Johanning (graduate student, sponsored by Richelle Koopman, MD, MS, David Mehr, MD, MS, James Campbell, PhD, Robin Kruse, PhD, Cherith Moore, MSW, MPA, Department of Family and Community Medicine; Cheryl Shigaki, PhD, Health Psychology, MU School of Health Professions, Karen Smarr, PhD, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology)

Category II Basic

• First Place-$500 Danielle Tartar (graduate student, sponsored by Habib Zaghouani, PhD, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology)
• Second Place-$250 Christopher Manuel (postdoctoral fellow, sponsored by Timothy Hoffman, PhD, Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital and Department of Veterinary Pathobiology)
• Third Place-$150 Matt Gubin (graduate student, sponsored by Ulus Atasoy, MD, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology)