Forty-two posters highlighting research in nutrition, population health, mental health care, health education and chronic conditions were featured at the College of Community Health Sciences 16th Annual Research and Scholarly Activity Day Nov. 20.
The annual event highlights research being conducted by CCHS faculty, graduate students, resident physicians, fellows and medical students.
“We have had a significant growth in research activity throughout the College and this year we have an impressive number of posters,” Dr. Martha Crowther, CCHS associate dean for Research and Health Policy, said in welcoming remarks. “Our Research Day continues to grow and has even had other colleges across campus interested in participating.”
“The College is forming into an excellent culture of research with lots of innovative, creative ideas,” added CCHS Dean Dr. Richard Friend.
Dr. Bryan Boudouris, University of Alabama vice president for Research and Economic Development, also provided remarks at the event. He thanked CCHS for its commitment to advancing research.
“The reason we do research is for impact,” Boudouris said. “I know we get caught up in the dollars, but the best part of research is the impact it makes on our communities and the patients you serve throughout Alabama.
This year’s program included a new 3MT (Three-Minute Thesis) Competition, during which CCHS graduate students presented their research in three minutes using only a single PowerPoint slide. Competitors included:
Bala Vikash Ramesh — “Cyclosporine A Nanoparticles Combined with Urolithin A Mitigate Osteoporosis in Ovariectomized MRL/lpr Mice”
Swetha Reddy Allamreddy — “Exploring the Effects of Nano-Enabled Oral Insulin and Anti-Inflammatory Agent in Mitigating Ocular Complications in Type 2 Diabetic Rat Model”
Salem Khalaf — “Multilevel Stigma Around Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and Medications for OUD: Patient Perspectives Across Alabama”
Ramesh won the competition.
Following the 3MT presentations, faculty, fellows, residents, medical students and graduate students met in groups, based on their research interests, for CCHS Research Café discussions.
Research poster awards were presented in two divisions:
Medical Student Division
• First place: Kabirat Babalola for Effective delivery of cyclosporine prevents immune-vascular balance in lupus in the MRL-lpr mouse model: co-authors: Dr. Raghu Ganugula, CCHS assistant professor of biomedical sciences; Dr. Meenakshi Arora, CCHS associate professor of biomedical sciences; and Dr. M.N.V. Ravi Kumar, CCHS Distinguished University Professor.
• Second place: Udita Shiromani for Tailoring Polyester Topologies for Efficient Oral Drug Delivery Systems: co-authors: Yirivinti Hayagreeva Dinakar; Dr. Meenakshi Arora, CCHS associate professor of biomedical sciences; Dr. Raghu Ganugula, CCHS assistant professor of biomedical sciences; and Dr. M.N.V. Ravi Kumar, CCHS Distinguished University Professor.
• Third place: Likhitha Purna Kondapaneni for Dual-Function Polyester Nanoparticles Alleviate Systemic Insult-Driven Ocular Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Endotoxin-Induced Uveitis: co-authors: Neha Choudhary; James Asenso; Dr. Meenakshi Arora, CCHS associate professor of biomedical sciences; Dr. M.N.V. Ravi Kumar, CCHS Distinguished University Professor; and Dr. Raghu Ganugula, CCHS assistant professor of biomedical sciences.
Faculty, Residents, Fellows and Research Staff Division
Dr. Shabnam Naher, a postdoc working with the CCHS Department of Community Medicine and Population Health, won first, second and third place in the division with her research: “Exploring provider and patient experiences in an integrated women’s wellness clinic: A descriptive study”; “The Influence of Physician-Participant Demographic Trust Concordance on COVID-19 Vaccine Intentions Among Mississippians”; and “Advancing clinical confidence in maternal mental health care: A five-year comparative analysis across residency and fellowship training levels.”
Judges for the event were: Drs. Abbey Gregg, Randi Henderson-Mitchell and Yuhui Yao, assistant professors of community medicine and population health with CCHS; Dr. David Hardy, associate dean for Research and Services for the UA College of Education; Dr. James Geyer, a professor of neurology with CCHS and interim director of the College’s Institute for Rural Health Research; Dr. Grier Stewart, an associate professor of internal medicine with CCHS; Dr. Keri Barron, assistant professor of nursing with the UA Capstone College of Nursing; and Dr. Antonio Gardner, associate professor of community medicine and population health with CCHS.