Volume 12 WV-INBRE NEWSLETTER Fall 2008

WV-INBRE Investigators, Students Featured in Statewide Biomedical Research Conference

The 4th Annual included students and faculty from the COBRE/INBRE Conference – Building COBRE in Sensory Neuroscience at Biomedical Research in West Virginia WVU, the COBRE for Transcription was held October 26-27, in Morgan- Factors in Cancer at Marshall Univer- town, WV on the West Virginia Uni- sity (MU), the COBRE for Signal versity (WVU) Health Sciences cam- Transduction and Cancer at WVU, and pus. The two-day meeting highlighted the WV-INBRE program jointly run by the accomplishments of the four West MU and WVU. Keynote presentations

Virginia biomedical research initiatives were given by special guests - Fred Institutions of the funded through the Institutional Devel- Taylor, Ph.D., Director of the IDeA WV-INBRE

opment Award (IDeA) program of the Program, NIH/NCRR and Krishan Lead Universities National Center of Research Resources Arora, Ph.D., Program Officer, INBRE (NCRR) of the National Institutes of Program, NIH/NCRR. Taylor dis- Health (NIH). This year the statewide cussed the structure and impact of the Network Research conference was hosted by the COBRE overall IDeA program and Arora pro- Institutions (NRIs) in Sensory Neuroscience, organized by vided insight into NCRR’s small busi- Alderson-Broaddus College Dr. George Spirou (PI) and planned by ness grant opportunities. Fairmont State University Angela Harrison, Administrator. CO- WV-INBRE participation in- West Liberty State College West Virginia State University BRE/INBRE conference participants cluded an introduction by Dr. Gary Wheeling Jesuit University Rankin (MU), WV-INBRE Principal Network Outreach Investigator, to the “INBRE Podium Institutions (NOIs) Inside this issue: Talks” session on the first afternoon of Bethany College the conference. This session was mod- erated by Dr. James M. Sheil (WVU), Davis & Elkins College COBRE/INBRE Conference 1-2 WV-INBRE Program Coordinator. Two WV-INBRE faculty project inves- University of Charleston tigators from predominantly under- West Virginia Wesleyan College Summer Research Symposium 3 graduate institutions presented talks on Extended Outreach their WV-INBRE-funded research: Dr. Institutions (EOIs)

Symposium Poster Presentations 4-6 Robert Harris, West Virginia State Uni- Mountain State University versity (WVSU) discussed his group’s Salem International University research on “Response of Smooth Mus- Students working in the labs 7-9 cle Vascular Cells to Stretch”, and Dr. Yi Charlie Chen, Alderson-Broaddus

College, presented his lab’s research on Message from the PI 10 “Signaling Pathways in Flavonoids- Inhibiting Tumor Growth”. Steering Committee Members 11 Continued on page 2

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Continued from page 1

Several student presenta- dent at WVU, presented his INBRE These included the following: (1) tions from past WV-INBRE interns summer research project in Dr. Tim “Shear Induced Alignment of Vas- were also featured in the INBRE Nurkiewicz’s lab at WVU, entitled cular Smooth Muscle Cells is Ac- “Particulate Matter Exposure and companied by Activation of Akt Microvascular Responsiveness to Signaling” by Robert Harris’ group Adenosine”. Briscoe intends to (WVSU); (2) “Metalloproteinases continue with this project in Released from Apoptotic Glioblas- Nurkiewicz’s lab at WVU this sum- toma Cells Enhance the Invasive- mer. The final presentation in the ness of Non-apoptotic Glioblastoma INBRE Podium Talks session was Cells” by Dr. Albert Magro’s group given by Miranda Hanson, cur- at Fairmont State University; rently a 4th-year Ph.D. candidate at (3)”Molecular Dynamics of Cyto- WVU. She is a former WV-INBRE chrome P450 2C9 Containing an Oxoheme” by Dr. Jarrett Aguilar’s group at West Liberty State College (WLSC); (4) “Creation of Stable SVEC 4-10 AFAP-110 Transfec- tants” by Dr. Robert Shurina’s Tierra Williams group (WJU); and (5) “Stimulation of IL-8 by mm-LDL and ox-PAPC Podium Talks session. Tierra Wil- Treated Human Aortic Endothelial liams, currently a senior at Univer- Cells” by the ACoRN group headed sity of Charleston, discussed her by Dr. Robert Kreisberg (WLSC). INBRE summer research project in Dr. Monica Valentovic’s lab at Miranda Hanson MU, entitled “S- Adenosylmethion- ine Modulation of Acetaminophen summer intern who returned to her Effects on Hepatic Glutathione Per- home institution, Wheeling Jesuit oxidase Activity”. Josh Briscoe, a University (WJU), and continued graduate of West Wesleyan College her research interests with WV- currently a first-year medical stu- INBRE project investigator, Dr. Robert Shurina. Following gradua- tion from WJU, Hanson enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Microbiology, Immunology & Cell Biology at WVU. Hanson discussed her cur- Robert Harris, PhD rent Ph.D. dissertation research, entitled “Immunotoxic Effect of Prenatal Cadmium Exposure on Murine Offspring”. In addition to the oral pres- entations given during the INBRE Podium Talks session, five WV- INBRE poster presentations were featured in the poster session on the Josh Briscoe second afternoon of the conference. Charlie Chen, PhD Page 3

WV-INBRE Holds 7th Annual Summer Research Symposium

The Robert C. Byrd Health their home institutions also pre- velopment of Carvedilol for Sciences Center of West Virginia sented the results of their research Heart Failure". Dr. Ruffolo de- University was the venue for the 7th activities. Fifty-three poster pres- scribed the effort he directed at Annual WV-INBRE Summer Re- entations were displayed including GlaxoSmithKline in developing search Symposium held on July three from the Summer Under- carvedilol for which he faced sig- 31st, 2008. The symposium featured graduate Research Experience nificant opposition due to precon- both oral and poster presentations (SURE) program held at Marshall ceived ideas about the anticipated by participants in the state-wide University. harmful activity of the drug. His network including faculty and un- The keynote speaker for the belief that the drug would be bene- dergraduate summer interns and a symposium was Dr. Robert Ruf- ficial to patients with congestive summer faculty fellow who partici- folo, President of Research & De- heart failure, in spite of the resis- pated in the WV-INBRE Summer velopment, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals tance he received from within the Research Program. This biomedical and Senior Vice President, Wyeth company, and his perseverance in research program is conducted Corporation. Dr. Ruffolo’s presen- this effort provided an inspirational jointly at Marshall University and tation was entitled "The Trials and message to all in attendance; “If West Virginia University. Faculty Tribulations of a Medical Break- you believe in something, never and students conducting research at through: The Discovery and De- give up.” Page 4

Symposium Poster Presentations

Andrew White, University of Charleston Annie federoff, Alderson-Braoddus College, stands beside his poster presentation entitled stands beside her poster presentation entitled “Plasma Protein Changes following Expo- “Expression of mutant human superoxide sure to Fine and Ultrafine Particles: A Pro- dismutase proteins that cause Amyotrophic teomics Approach.” Lateral Sclerosis in yeast results in increased mitochondrial superoxide production.”

Amanda Seebaugh, West Virginia Wesleyan Alissa Moss, Bethany College, stands beside College, stands beside her mentor, Stanley her poster presentation entitled “Action of Hileman , PhD, West Virginia University, Fibreblast Growth Factor-21 Is Not Mediated with their poster presentation entitled “ The by Changes in Hepatic Gluconeogenesis” Potential Role of Kisspeptin in Puberty On- set in Sheep.” Page 5

Symposium Poster Presentations (continued)

Amanda Estep, University of Charleston, Ashley Berardi, Bethany College, stands stands with her mentor, Michael Moore, beside her poster presentation entitled “The PhD, Marshall University and their poster Role of Inhibition in Shaping Responses of entitled “The Role of Mangese Superoxide Single Units in the Medial Nucleus of the Dismutase in Progestin Stimulation of Me- Trapezoid Body and the Superior Paraoli- tastasis-related Characteristics of T47D vary Nucleus.” Human Breast Cancer Cells.”

Christopher Wolfe, West Virginia Ayodele Akinyemi, Shepherd University, Wesleyan College, stands beside his men- stands beside her poster presentation enti- tor, Maiyon Park, PhD, Marshall Univer- tled “Effect of RPTP-on HCN4 Pacemaker sity in front of their poster presentation en- Channel.” titled “CHMP1A Expression and Function in Colon Tumors.” Page 6

Symposium Poster Presentations (continued)

Cody Nichols, West Virginia Wesleyan Col- Curtis Dean, Shepherd University, stands lege stands beside his poster entitled “The beside his poster entitled “Preliminary Meas- Effects of an Antioxidant Cocktail on Apop- urement and Quantification of Biofilm De- totic Signaling in the Soleus muscles of Aged velopment in Clinical Isolates.” Hindlimb Suspended Rats.”

DoBin Choi, Wheeling Jesuit University Michelle Duckworth, Alderson-Broaddus stands beside her poster entitled College, stands beside her poster entitled “Mechanism for Inhibition of Lipogenic En- “The Modification of Manganese Superox- zymes in Liver by Dietary Fat: Chylomi- ide Dismutase following a Systemic Inflam- cron Remnants Enriched in Polyunsaturated mation.” Fat Inhibit Lipogenic Enzymes.” Page 7

Summer Students Working In The Labs

Allison Teter, a student from Chris Wolfe, a student from West West Virginia Wesleyan College, Virginia Wesleyan College, worked worked in Dr. Hongwei Yu’s lab in Dr. Maiyon Park’s lab at Mar- at Marshall University . shall University.

Amanda Estep, from the University Amanda Seebaugh, a student from of Charleston, worked in Dr. Mike West Virginia Wesleyan College, Moore’s lab at West Virginia Univer- worked in Dr. Stan Hileman’s lab sity. at West Virginia University. Page 8

Students Working In The Labs (Continued)

Katie Sterner, a student from Shep- Hillary Miller, a student from Shep- herd University, worked in Dr. herd University, worked in Dr. Mario Laura Gibson’s lab at West Virginia Scuri’s lab at West Virginia Univer- University. sity.

Lee Ann Reed, a student from the Univer- Jessica Johnson, a student from Shepherd sity of Charleston, worked in Dr. Vince University, worked in Dr. Zhongxin Wu’s Sollars’ lab at Marshall University lab at West Virginia University.

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Students Working In The Labs (continued)

Faculty Fellow-

Dan Palmer, a student from West Vir- ginia State University, worked in Dr. Gary Rankin’s lab at Marshall Uni- versity.

Luke Huggins, PhD, from West Virginia Wesleyan College, worked in Dr. Linda Vona-Davis’ lab at West Virginia University.

Tierra Williams, a student from the University of Charleston, worked in Dr. Monica Valentovic’s lab at Marshall University. Page 10 Message from the WV-INBRE Principal Investigator Gary O. Rankin, Ph.D

It is hard to believe that we Mangiarua with 26 undergraduate are in the final year of the current interns and one primarily under- WV-INBRE award from the Na- graduate institution (PUI) faculty tional Institutes of Health (NIH). member participating in research at But, we are. Looking back over the lead institutions. The program what we have accomplished during culminated with 57 research pres- the last four years and what lies entations from network faculty and ahead this year is very gratifying. students during the 7th Annual WV- We now have an established, inter- INBRE Summer Research Sympo- active biomedical research network sium held on July 31, 2008 at West with Marshall University and West Virginia University. Dr. Mary Virginia University serving as lead Davis also worked to train network institutions. Major research projects students and faculty in bioinformat- have been funded at Alderson- ics through workshops held over Broaddus College (Dr. Charlie the summer at the lead institutions. State. Our application was reviewed Chen), Fairmont State University To date, over 130 network students in October, 2008 by a special NIH (Drs. Flood and Magro), West Lib- and faculty members have received Study Section, and we will know erty State College (Drs. Aguilar and training in bioinformatics areas the funding decision from the Na- Kreisberg), West Virginia State thanks to workshops organized by tional Center of Research Re- University (Dr. Harris) and Wheel- WV-INBRE. sources (NCRR) in early 2009. ing Jesuit University (Dr. Shurina). To continue to build on this This review process will also help These institutions have formed our foundation, we submitted a com- us identify areas of strengths and Network Research Institutions petitive renewal application for the areas that need improvement. To (NRIs). In addition, there are now WV-INBRE program to the NIH on that end, I would remind all net- ten colleges and universities that July 22, 2008. This proposal has work faculty of the need to publish form the Network Outreach Institu- requested five years of funding to the results of their research projects tions where biomedical research support biomedical research pro- and acknowledge support for the projects are beginning to develop. jects at network research partners, WV-INBRE grant. Please include a The Appalachian Cardiovascular continue the summer research pro- statement in the acknowledgement Research Network (ACoRN) pro- gram, and expand the ACoRN pro- section of your papers that indicate gram involved two NRI investiga- ject into Eastern Kentucky (another your work was “…supported (or tors to continue projects started un- IDeA state). We have proposed supported in part) by NIH grant der the BRIN award from NIH and working more closely with the 5P20RR016477 to the West Vir- developed three new areas of inves- Health Science Technology Acad- ginia IDeA Network of Biomedical tigation related to cardiovascular emy (HSTA) and COBRE pro- Research Excellence”. disease. grams in West Virginia to help pro- We have also been very ac- mote the “pipeline” of students in- tive training undergraduate students terested in biomedical research in biomedical research through re- from the high school level into Looking back over what we have search projects funded by WV- graduate programs in the health sci- accomplished during the last INBRE as well as via our summer ences. We have also proposed to four years and what lies ahead research program. This summer we continue the bioinformatics core to this year is very gratifying. had another successful summer pro- train West Virginians in these im- gram coordinated by Drs. Mark portant areas and to support ongo- Reasor, Robert Griffith and Elsa ing biomedical research across the Page 11

Steering Committee Members Gary Rankin, PhD Mary E. Davis, PhD Robert Kreisberg, PhD Principal Investigator Director, Bioinformatics Core West Liberty State College Dept. of Pharmacology, Physiology & West Virginia University Natural Sciences Toxicology—BBSC PO Box 9229 Arnett Hall, Room 103 BSC 435F Morgantown, WV 26506 West Liberty, WV 26074 Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine [email protected] Marshall University Kathy Harper, PhD 1 John Marshall Drive Michael J. McCarthy, MA West Virginia State University Huntington, WV 25755 Information Technology Coordinator Biology Department [email protected] Dept. of Information Technology PO Box 1000 Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Institute, WV 25112-1000 James M. Sheil, PhD Marshall University Program Coordinator HSL Room 2405 Robert Shurina, PhD West Virginia University 1600 Medical Center Drive Wheeling Jesuit University Room 2113 HSN Huntington, WV 25701 Biology Department PO Box 9177 [email protected] 316 Washington Avenue Morgantown, WV 26506 Wheeling, WV 26003 [email protected] Vickie Sanders, MA Administrative Associate NOI Representative John Maher, PhD WV-INBRE Office VP for Research West Virginia University HSC Luke Huggins, PhD MURC Executive Director Room 2113 HSN Department of Biology and Marshall University PO Box 9177 Environmental Science Coal Exchange, 13th Floor Morgantown, WV 26506 West Virginia Wesleyan College 401 11th Street [email protected] 59 College Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 Buckhannon, WV 26201 [email protected] Kristen Webb, BS Administrative Associate External Advisory Committee Donald A. Primerano, PhD WV-INBRE Office Director, ACoRN Marshall University Alice Lee, PhD Dept. of Biochemistry & Microbiology Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Professor, Dept. of Biology Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center Washington & Jefferson College Science Center—Room 336F 1 John Marshall Drive 60 S. Lincoln Street Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Room 301E Washington, PA 15301 1 John Marshall Drive Huntington, WV 25755 Huntington, WV 25755 [email protected] Ken Ramos, PhD [email protected] Professor and Chair, Department of NRI Representatives Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Mark J. Reasor, PhD University of Louisville Director, Outreach Core Yi Chen, PhD Louisville, KY 40292 West Virginia University Alderson-Broaddus College PO Box 9229 Biology Department Kenneth Tew, PhD Morgantown, WV 26506 College Hill Road Chair, Dept. of Cell and Molecular [email protected] Philippi, WV 26416 Pharmacology and Experimental Thera- peutics Charles L. Harris, PhD Steve Roof, PhD Medical University of South Carolina Evaluations Coordinator Fairmont State University Hollings Cancer Center West Virginia University Hardway Building 86 Jonathan Lucas Street PO Box 9142 1201 Locust Avenue Room H0612F Morgantown, WV 26506 Fairmont, WV 26554 Charleston, SC 29425 [email protected] Jamie Fornsaglio, PhD Seton Hill College One Seton Hill Drive Greensburg, PA 15601 Supported by:

TEL: 304-293-0775 FAX: 304-293-4426

WV-INBRE West Virginia University Health Sciences Center North Room 2113 PO Box 9177 Morgantown, WV 26506-9177 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED