Volume 16 WV-INBRE NEWSLETTER Fall, 2011

Record Numbers Apply for 2011 Summer Program

The 10th Annual 2011 WV-INBRE topics including ethics, bio-safety, pres- Summer Research Program ran from entation skills, and information on apply- May 31 till July 29. Twenty-two stellar ing to graduate school. undergraduate student interns were se- The program culminated in a summer lected, from among 68 applicants (a re- research symposium that brings faculty cord number for the ten-year program), and students together from all the WV- to participate in the nine-week program INBRE participating institutions of intensive research at Marshall Univer- throughout the state to celebrate their ac- sity and University. In complishments. It also allows partici- addition, two faculty fellows from the pants to witness the breadth of research Network Partners Predominantly Undergraduate Institu- endeavors on the different campuses of the WV-INBRE tions (PUIs) also participated in the sum- throughout the state, to open a dialogue mer program. for potential collaborations, and to dis- Lead Universities Interns and fellows conducted bio- cuss ongoing research opportunities dur- medical research projects under the di- ing the upcoming academic year. rection of faculty mentors. The program The 10th Annual WV-INBRE Sum- provides in-depth, mentored research op- mer Research Symposium, was held at Predominantly Undergraduate portunities for these very talented under- the Memorial Student Center at Marshall Institutions (PUIs) graduate interns and fellows, promotes University on Thursday, July 28, 2011. Alderson-Broaddus College awareness of graduate degree programs Highlights included oral presentations by Bethany College and careers in biomedical research and three undergraduate student interns, by Davis & Elkins College helps the students build academic com- an ACoRN-supported project investiga- Fairmont State University petitiveness for graduate school. Labora- tor, by a faculty fellow, and by a WV- Mountain State University tory bench research was complemented INBRE-supported HSTA educator. Salem International University by lectures and seminars on a variety of Inside this issue: West Virginia State University West Virginia Wesleyan College 2011 Summer Research Symposium….p. 1 Wheeling Jesuit University

Principal Investigator message…….p. 2

Dr. Monks - Keynote Speaker……..p. 3

Summer Intern pics……………..pp. 4-7

Opportunities for HSTA Grads…….p. 8

INBRE-HSTA Summer pics…..pp. 9-10

Faculty Development Awards……..p. 11 Bluefield State College intern, Sasha Rich- mond, discusses her project with Symposium 2012 Summer Program set………...p. 11 keynote speaker, Dr. Terry Monks.

Page 2 Message from the WV-INBRE Principal Investigator - Gary O. Rankin, Ph.D. -

It is hard to believe that on No- ever!) and selected 22 PUI students vember 1, 2011, we were halfway to participate in biomedical re- through Phase II of WV-INBRE. search at Marshall University (11 Time has really flown as we all students) and West Virginia Uni- have worked hard to build our re- versity (11 students). We also had search network and expand our stu- two PUI faculty research fellows dent-based research initiatives. Al- and six HSTA high school teachers though we have made excellent conducting biomedical research as progress developing WV-INBRE, part of the summer research pro- there is still much work to be done, gram. The summer ended with the and there are uncertainties that Summer Research Symposium held loom on the horizon for the IDeA at Marshall University on July 28, programs as I’ll describe later. 2011. During the Symposium, six This funding year (Y11; May 1, oral presentations and 56 research 2011-April 30, 2012) started with a posters were presented. Another 10% cut to our budget. That meant great summer! we weren’t able to fund (or had to I should also mention that Pro- have any questions, don’t hesitate reduce the budgets of) several ini- gram Coordinator Dr. Jim Sheil has to contact Kristen at Marshall Uni- tiatives that would normally start at been working with the Health Sci- versity ([email protected]) or the beginning of the each new ences and Technology Academy me ([email protected]). award period. The problem was that (HSTA) PI, Dr. Ann Chester, and As I mentioned in the last news- Congress had not passed a budget our INBRE-HSTA Coordinator, letter, there is potentially a major for NIH, and therefore, to be safe, Valerie Watson, to establish a reorganization for the location of the National Center for Research working INBRE/HSTA Task Force the IDeA programs (INBRE and Resources (NCRR) reduced all IN- to further develop the interactions COBRE) and the future of NCRR. BRE budgets by 10%. Even though between these two NCRR-funded NIH Director, Dr. Francis Collins, some of our activities had reduced programs. Valerie was also able to plans to establish the new National budgets to start Y11, we were able place eight HSTA graduates in WV Center for Advancing Translational to provide full funding for the sum- -INBRE funded PUI laboratories Sciences (NCATS), pending Con- mer research program and the ma- through our ARRA supplement. gressional approval of the 2011- jor Primarily Undergraduate Institu- Although this supplement ended in 2012 federal budget. As part of this tion (PUI) research projects. When September, 2011, additional funds initiative, he is proposing to move the federal budget was finally have been dedicated from our pri- the Clinical and Translational Sci- passed for 2010-2011, NIH only mary award to continue funding ence Award (CTSA) program from received a 1% reduction in their eight HSTA graduates to work in NCRR to NCATS. All remaining projected budget. NCRR restored WV-INBRE-supported laboratories NCRR programs would then be most of the reduction to WV- during the academic year. moved into other centers, institutes INBRE on August 31, 2011, and This year will also be an impor- or the Director’s Office, and NCRR we were able to restore funding to tant time for major PUI research would be dissolved. most of our programs. award competitions. WV-INBRE is The IDeA programs are slated to Our summer research program currently accepting two-year appli- be moved to NIGMS at that point. had another successful year, thanks cations and will fund up to six new At the SE Region IDeA Meeting in to the hard work and leadership of awards. Budgets are not to exceed New Orleans, LA on September 22- our Summer Program Director Dr. $125,000 per year in direct costs, 24, 2011, the NCRR leadership re- Elsa Mangiarua, WVU Summer and all applications must be re- ported that they didn’t know when Program Coordinator Dr. Robert ceived by Kristen Webb in the WV- or if these moves would occur. At Griffith, and many others. We re- INBRE office at Marshall Univer- the Association of American Medi- ceived 68 applications (the most sity by November 30, 2011. If you (Continuted on page 3) Page 3 Monks Is Keynote Speaker at 10th Annual WV-INBRE Summer Symposium The WV-INBRE 10th An- and many questions from the audi- nual Summer Symposium keynote ence. Throughout his presentation speaker, Dr. Terrence J. Monks, is Dr. Monks encouraged especially Professor and Chair of Pharmacol- the students in the audience to pur- ogy and Toxicology, at the College sue careers in biomedical sciences. of Pharmacy of the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center. * * * The title of Dr. Monk’s lecture was "A Career in Drug Metabolism – From Tea to Ecstasy". Dr. Monks described his successful career path from his be- ginnings as a graduate student in London where he studied the me- tabolism of caffeine and theophyl- line, to his current interests in un- derstanding the neurotoxicity of Dr. Terrence J. Monks, Professor and ecstasy. Chair of Pharmacology and Toxicology, His very enthusiastic pres- College of Pharmacy, University of Ari- entation generated much interest zona Health Sciences Center

Message from the Principal Investigator

(Continued from page 2) P20RR016477) in their abstracts cal Colleges meeting in Denver, and publications. We will begin to CO, I learned that the pending 2011 write a renewal for WV-INBRE -2012 House budget contains funds sometime next year, and we need for NCRR to remain, while the Sen- for everyone to be productive, and This year will also be an ate budget does not. So, stay tuned. please let us know about your suc- Lastly, I want to reiterate how important time for major cesses. Another five years of fund- PUI research award important it is for researchers in the ing will only come if we use the WV-INBRE network to present competitions. funds we have received to advance their research at scientific meetings, biomedical research, increase our publish the results of the work WV- WV-INBRE is currently research productivity and help our accepting two-year INBRE has funded, and seek addi- students enter the biomedical re- tional external funding for your applications and will search professional pipeline. fund up to six new work. Investigators at all the net- awards. work institutions who use equip- * * * ment provided by WV-INBRE should also acknowledge the sup- I hope you all have a port of WV-INBRE (NIH grant wonderful holiday season! Page 4 WV-INBRE Student Interns 2011 Summer Research Program

Arielle Baker Rachel Brown Carissa Dunn West Virginia Wesleyan College Concord College Davis & Elkins College mentor: Dr. James O’Donnell (WVU) mentor: Dr. Patrick Callery (WVU) mentor: Dr. Peter Stoilov (WVU)

Hannah Cavender Joshua Kim Ben Kordusky West Virginia State University West Virginia State University West Virginia Wesleyan College mentor - Dr. Larry Glover (MU) mentor: Dr. Gary Rankin (MU) mentor: Dr. Elaiane Hardman (MU) Page 5 WV-INBRE Student Interns 2011 Summer Research Program (continued)

Ryan Johnson Sara Kurian Gabrielle LaFata Bethany College Shepherd University West Virginia Wesleyan College mentor: Dr. Hunter Zhang (WVU) mentor: Dr. Dr. Bingyun Li (WVU) mentor: Dr. John Hollander (WVU)

Andre Lamyaithong Emma Levin-Nielsen Daniel Mai Wheeling Jesuit University West Virginia Wesleyan College University of Charleston mentor: Dr. Monica Valentovic (MU) mentor: Dr. Richard Egleton (MU) mentor: Dr. Jung Han Kim (MU) Page 6 WV-INBRE Student Interns 2011 Summer Research Program (continued)

Sarah Monsheimer Niraj Nepal Kyle Oney University of Charleston West Virginia State University Alderson-Broaddus College mentor: Dr. Simon Collier (MU) mentor: Dr. Eric Blough (MU) mentor: Dr. Mike Schaller (WVU)

Kathleen Roberts Emily Sechrest Rebekah Sine West Virginia Wesleyan College Bethany College Alderson-Broaddus College mentor: Dr.Mark Olfert (WVU) mentor: Dr. Rosana Schafer (WVU) mentor: Dr. Maria Serrat (MU) Page 7 WV-INBRE Student Interns 2011 Summer Research Program (continued)

Megan Smith Alderson-Broaddus College mentor: Dr. Hongwei Yu (MU)

Phil Thomas West Virginia Wesleyan College mentor: Dr. Philippe Georgel (MU)

Anthony Thorpe Alderson-Broaddus College mentor: Dr. Robert Brock (WVU)

Kiril Tuntevski University of Charleston mentor: Dr. Slawek Lukomski (WVU) Page 8 WV-INBRE Enhances Opportunities for HSTA Graduates

The WV-INBRE/HSTA Task master’s degree in Biomedical Sci- School in Inwood worked with Dr. Force is behind the WV-INBRE ences at Marshall University. Jake Seung-yum Kim at Shepherd Uni- initiative to provide outreach to Wagoner is pursuing employment versity; Tiffani Smith from Hunt- high school graduates of the Health opportunities; last we heard he was ington High School and Timothy Sciences Technology Academy interviewing at Mylan Pharmaceu- Clifton from Herbert Hoover High (HSTA), also funded by the NCRR. ticals. Amber Wilson will continue School in Clendenin worked with WV-INBRE creates opportunities to work in Dr. Aguilar’s lab and Dr. Robert Harris at West Virginia for WV undergraduates, who have Sasha Richmond will continue to State University; Brian McNeel demonstrated an interest in health- work in Dr. Belay’s lab during this from Cabell Midland High School related career opportunities through academic year. Funding is avail- in Ona worked with Dr. Richard their involvement in the HSTA pro- able for 8 research internships dur- Egleton at Marshall University; and gram while in high school, to par- ing the 2011-2012 academic year Rene Normal from Sissonville ticipate in biomedical research at through April 30, 2012. High School in Charleston worked one of the WV-INBRE partner in- Another component of this pro- with Dr. Dean Reardon at the Uni- stitutions (PUIs). gram provides opportunities for versity of Charleston. During the second year of this high school science educators to All research interns presented partnership, 8 HSTA students par- participate in biomedical research posters of their research at the 10th ticipated in this program: at Blue- for up to nine weeks during the Annual WV-INBRE Summer Re- field State College, Christina Sar- summer with a mentor at West Vir- search Symposium in Huntington gent and Sasha Richmond worked ginia University, Marshall Univer- on July 28, 2011. Denise Gipson with Dr. Tesfaye Belay; at Concord sity, or a funded mentor at one of also delivered an oral presentation University, Jeremy Lloyd worked the PUIs. Participation is open to at this symposium, summarizing with Dr. Darrell Crick; at West Vir- high school science educators who the research of Dr. Seung-yun ginia State University, Anthony taught in the state of West Virginia Kim’s lab during Summer, 2011. Johnson worked with Dr. Robert during the previous academic year. Harris; at West Liberty University, The goal of this part of the program Amber Wilson worked with Dr. is to provide research opportunities Jarrett Aguilar and Kyle McGill for interested science teachers so * * * worked with Dr. Robert Kreisberg; they can take their research experi- at West Virginia Wesleyan College, ence back into their classrooms and Jacob Wagoner worked with Dr. inspire their students to pursue bio- Timothy Troyer and Morgan Miller medical research endeavors once worked with Dr. Luke Huggins. they enter college. Additionally, it The partnership is designed to All students presented their re- is anticipated that the techniques encourage undergraduate search at the 10th Annual WV- they learn from the research will students who have demonstrated INBRE Summer Research Sympo- enhance the scientific teaching ex- sium in Huntington WV on July 28, perience in the classroom. an interest in biomedical 2011. Of these 8 students, four During this past summer, 7 high research ... to participate in have graduated: Jeremy Lloyd, An- school science educators were biomedical research once they thony Johnson, Kyle McGill, and awarded 9-week research intern- Jake Wagoner. ships: Johnathan Baldwin from enroll in one of the partner Jeremy Lloyd plans to attend the Scott High School in Madison institutions (PUIs). Mountain State University Physi- worked with Dr. Gerald Hankins at cian’s Assistant Program. Anthony West Virginia State University; De- Johnson will be attending medical nise Gipson from Jefferson High school at Marshall University and School in Shenandoah Junction and Kyle McGill will be pursing his Wendy Lee from Musselman High Page 9

INBRE/HSTA Summer Participants

Amber Wilson stands beside her poster entitled Kyle McGill stands beside his poster entitled “OxPAPC “Expression and purification of Cytochrome Stimulated IL-6 Production is Dependent on Geranyl- P450 2C9”. She worked with Jarrett Aguilar, geranylated Proteins”. He worked with Robert Kreis- PhD at West Liberty State University. berg at West Liberty State University.

Timothy Clifton with his poster entitled “Effect Tiffani Smith with her poster entitled “Effects of Trans of Slippery Elm Bark (Ulmus rubra) Extract on -resveratrol and Extracts of Resveratrol Supplements Proliferation and Migration of Smooth Muscle on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells”. She worked with and Tumor Cells.” He worked with Gerald Robert Harris, PhD at West Virginia State University. Hankins, PhD at West Virginia State University. Page 4 Page 10

INBRE/HSTA Summer Participants - continued

Sasha Richmond stands beside her poster enti- tled “Decreased Production of Immune Cell Rene Norman (left) worked with Dean Reardon, PhD Stimulatory Cytokines and Chemokines in Chla- (right), at the University of Charleston, on their project mydia trachomatis Infected Stress Mouse entitled “In vitro combinatorial therapy with somatostatin Model.” She worked with Tesfaye Belay, PhD at and taxol: modulation of tumor cell growth and metas- Bluefield State College. tatic potential.”

Johnathan Baldwin stands beside his poster en- titled “Response of Genes that are Dys-regulated Wendy Lee stands beside her poster entitled in Meningiomas to Female Steriod Hormones “Modeling and Simulation of Malaria and Medica- and Epigenetic Agents in Meningioma Cells in tion Interaction using Petri Net.” She worked with Vitro.” He worked with Gerald Hankins, PhD at Seung-yun Kim, PhD at Shepherd University West Virginia State University. Page 11 WV-INBRE Faculty Development Awards

A major component of the WV and their projects were selected in guanosine monophosphate syn- -INBRE program consists of Fac- Spring, 2011, for funding through thase”, $10,000; ulty Research Development the FRDA program for the current Awards (FRDAs). This program 2011-2012 fiscal year: Dr. Haitao Luo, Alderson- provides smaller awards annually Broaddus College, to faculty at the predominantly un- Dr. Gagan Kaushal, Univer- “Chaetoglobosin K and angioipre- dergraduate institutions (PUIs) to sity of Charleston, “D-cycloserine vention in ovarian cancer cells”, conduct biomedical research at transdermal formulation develop- $40,000. their home institution. ment based on an enhanced treat- FRDA grants are awarded on a ment”, $13,200; Over the years of funding competitive basis through an ap- through the FRDA program, many plication procedure using standard Dr. Sueng-yun Kim, Shepherd projects have been quite success- NIH forms followed by review of University, “Petri nets-based mod- ful, resulting in papers presented at the applications by faculty at eling of human systems: towards national meetings in their relevant WVU and Marshall. Proposed drug trial modeling and simula- fields and leading to increased research projects must engage un- tion”, $28,800; funding through major awards. dergraduate students in the re- search plan and be clearly bio- Dr. Rebecca Linger, Univer- medical in orientation and scope. sity of Charleston, “Investigating * * * The following investigators the allosteric signaling in

Announcement

2012 Summer Program to be held May 29 – July 27, 2011

The 11th annual WV-INBRE Summer Research Program will be held May 29 – July 27, 2012 at the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia University and at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine of Marshall University. The program is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at the 14 partner institutions who have not graduated by August 1, 2012. Participants will conduct a biomedical research project under the mentorship of an experienced faculty member and present the results of the research at the Summer Research Symposium to be held at WVU, July 26, 2012. A stipend of $4,500 will be paid for participation in the 9-week program. Application forms will be available by January 1, 2012, on the WV-INBRE website (www.wv-inbre.net) under the 2012 Summer Program link Supported by:

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

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