Six BRIN scholars recognized with Future Scientist award

“We want to encourage students to pursue careers in research and reward excellence,” said Sandy Goodman, president of the Coalition for Lifesaving Cures.

“BRIN is a great opportunity to explore the world of research. I would encourage any student who is interested in research to give it a try,” said Richie Nelson, a biochemistry and molecular biology double major at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Pictured from left to right are: (front row) Sandy Goodman, Nebraska Coalition for Nelson, who won first place for his poster Lifesaving Cures president, Kelly Wanzeck, Katie Peterson, Kyla Ronhovde. Back row: looking into what increases the motility of Richie Nelson, John Olley, Timothy Smith and James Turpen, Ph.D., director of the ovarian cancer cells, said he is definitely Nebraska INBRE/BRIN program. going to pursue a career in research once he graduates from Nebraska Wesleyan University. Winners of the 2008 Richard Holland College, took first, second and third place “Because of the experience I’ve had as a Future Scientist Award for undergraduate respectively for oral presentations; and BRIN scholar I have decided that research students from the Nebraska Coalition for Richie Nelson, Nebraska Wesleyan; Katie is something I definitely want to do,” he Lifesaving Cures were announced at the Peterson, ; and Tim said. annual INBRE conference Aug. 13 in Smith, ; were the top Nelson has spent the past two years Grand Island. three winners in the poster session. working in the lab of Surinder Batra, First, second and third place awards The awards were named as such to Ph.D., a professor of biochemistry and were given out to winners of the oral and acknowledge the generous donation and molecular biology at the Eppley Institute poster presentations. The awards were support of Omaha philanthropist Richard at the University of Nebraska Medical accompanied by a $500, $450 or $400 Holland. Center. cash prize. “We want to encourage students to “BRIN is a great opportunity to explore BRIN Scholars John Olley, Creighton pursue careers in research and reward the world of research. I would encourage University; Kelley Wanzeck, Creighton excellence,” said Sandy Goodman, any student who is interested in research University; and Kyla Ronhovde, Doane coalition president. to give it a try,” he said.

Creighton professor receives NIH grant

If the health of living cells depends on their ability to produce energy needed for normal cell function, can health care professionals better diagnose and treat disease by directly measuring the energy production of a cell? And can changes in cell metabolism help explain the onset and progression of age-related hearing loss, cancer or other human diseases? Mike Nichols, Ph.D., would like to find out. An associate professor of physics at Nebraska Wesleyan biology professor Therese McGinn, Ph.D., said she feels lucky to be Creighton University and a research able to pursue both of her passions: teaching and scientific research. associate in the INBRE program, Dr. Nichols, is studying an imaging technique that would let him study the metabolic rate Biology professor finds happy medium of human cells. “Our goal is to do this with living cells between teaching and research in their natural environment as much as possible,” Dr. Nichols said. Nebraska Wesleyan University Joining INBRE has allowed Creighton professor continued on page 3 biology professor Therese her not only to get back McGinn, Ph.D., has the best of into academic research, Dr. both worlds. McGinn said, but to interact As an instructor to undergraduate students with scientists who have The Nebraska INBRE is funded through Dr. McGinn has the pleasure of sharing very successful research a grant from the National Center for her passion for science. Research Resources, a division of the programs. National Institutes of Health. As one of the newest INBRE associates, she gets to share her excitement for Director: Program coordinator: Jim Turpen, Ph.D. William Chaney,Ph.D. scientific research with many of those [email protected] [email protected] same students in the lab. attack is detrimental to the individual even though the body is simply responding to “I find it extremely rewarding to be able Grant coordinator: Editor: whatever triggered it, Dr. McGinn said. Penni Davis Lisa Spellman to do both,” said Dr. McGinn, an assistant “So the more we understand about these [email protected] UNMC Public Affairs professor of biology. 402.559.3316 402.559.4693 receptors and the way they communicate At the prompting of fellow INBRE in cells the more we can use them to associate, Gary Duncan, Ph.D., Dr. enhance beneficial immune responses and Participating Ph.D.-granting institutions: University of Nebraska Medical Center, McGinn formulated a research plan and down regulate unwanted responses,” she joined the program in 2007. Creighton University and the University of said. Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research focuses on toll-like receptors, Dr. McGinn said she shares lab space with proteins that reside on the exterior and Participating undergraduate institutions: another INBRE associate, Jeff Isaacson, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the interior of cells that are used to recognize D.V.M., Ph.D., an associate professor of pathogens and initiate an immune University of Nebraska at Omaha, the biology at Nebraska Wesleyan. University of Nebraska at Kearney, response. Joining INBRE has allowed her not only Creighton University, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Chadron State College, Doane For the most part, the receptors are helpful to get back into academic research, Dr. and fight illness, said Dr. McGinn, and College, Wayne State College, Little Priest McGinn said, but to interact with scientists Tribal College and Western Nebraska there are times when they do more harm who have very successful research Community College. than good. programs. An example would be asthma, she said. “To be able to do that is very intellectually The immune response during an asthma stimulating,” she said. 2 Former BRIN scholar is the first to graduate with a Ph.D.

Always seeking answers to how and why, on to graduate school,” Dr. Turpen said. Marko Jovic’s pursuit of science started at “He now is the first scholar to graduate a young age. with a Ph.D.” The son of an anesthesiologist and oral Jovic joined the INBRE program as a surgeon, Jovic, is a graduate student scholar in 2003. The program, he said working in Dr. Steven Caplan’s lab at the helped him develop the critical thinking University of Nebraska Medical Center. skills essential for doing scientific research. Steve Caplan, Ph.D., is an associate professor of biochemistry and molecular Initially a computer science major, Jovic biology in the UNMC College of said it was INBRE that introduced him to Medicine doing research on cellular the world of molecular biology. trafficking. “That is the real strength of the program,” “We are looking at how different he said. “INBRE gives students a chance molecules move around in the cells,” Jovic to explore science in a fun and educational said. atmosphere.” In January Jovic will defend his Dr. Caplan has enjoyed watching Jovic Marko Jovic dissertation to earn his Ph.D. grow into a confident junior investigator. An accomplishment that Jovic and his “Marko was the first student to join my Both Jovic and Dr. Caplan represent how family look forward to with pride, along lab when I came to UNMC and I have the interaction between the two IDeA with someone else. enjoyed observing and helping to facilitate programs – INBRE and CoBRE – work his transition from a very inexperienced for the benefit of both scholars and faculty, As director of the INBRE/BRIN program, beginner to an outstanding Ph.D. student,” Dr. Turpen said. James Turpen, Ph.D., is happy to see one he said. of his former BRIN scholars do so well. “Dr. Caplan, who started under the Jovic, Dr. Caplan points out, has CoBRE grant, acquired his own NIH “Marko represents a major milestone for successfully published several research funding with the support of that grant. the INBRE program in Nebraska. He papers and is being courted by top labs Both Jovic’s and Dr. Caplan’s successes was a member of the first class of BRIN both in the U.S. and in Europe to carry out clearly show that IDeA and INBRE are scholars and the first of the scholars to go his post-doctoral studies. having an impact in Nebraska,” he said.

Creighton professor continued from page 2

The National Institutes of Health seems to think he is on to something and awarded Dr. Nichols a R15 grant for a total of $150,000 for three years. Dr. Nichols said he is excited to have his own grant, especially since this is the first time he is the primary investigator. “I’ve been a co-investigator on several other grants, but never the P.I., until now,” he said. Mike Nichols, Ph.D., (far left) with students who have worked in his lab. Pictured left to Dr. Nichols hopes his research will help right are: Robbie Thomen (seated next to Dr. Nichols), Jorge Vergen, Maria Hansen, Matt further understanding about how cells Bassett, Jeff Tonniges, Tim Smith and Sarah Smith. produce energy and the rate at which they produce energy. be competitive enough to apply to the Nichols did the research that he used to Three undergraduates are currently program,” he said. apply for the R15 grant. working in the lab with Dr. Nichols, all of Since he joined the INBRE program as an “The INBRE program has had a huge whom he said plan to apply to the INBRE associate in 2003, Dr. Nichols has worked impact on our campus,” he said. “The program when they are eligible. with Rick Hallworth, Ph.D., a professor demand from the students to do research is “The interest in research and the INBRE of biomedical sciences at Creighton growing and the institution is recognizing program is so high that our students University. the value of faculty doing high quality need to work in the lab for a year just to Under Dr. Hallworth’s mentorship, Dr. research and sharing that with students.” 3 INBRE success reflected in accomplishments of faculty and students

As the final the first, but won’t be the last, as there are An overriding aspect of the INBRE year of funding many more former scholars who are also program is related to developing a for this phase pursuing a Ph.D. culture in Nebraska that recognizes the of the INBRE Not only are a large percentage of our importance of biomedical research to program draws to students pursuing professional careers the future of our citizens. While this is a a close, I would but many are entering the biomedical challenging task, I believe the generous like to highlight workforce. support of the Nebraska Coalition for a few of our Lifesaving Cures provides evidence of accomplishments The feedback I am getting from progress in this rather subjective area. laboratories that have hired our former over the past five Thanks to the coalition we were able years. scholars is that these students are really James Turpen, Ph.D. smart and well trained. to provide six more scholars with One of our primary the Richard Holland Future Scientist goals is to provide undergraduate students Along with keeping talented Nebraska Award for a second year. These awards with the opportunity to determine if they students in the state, another goal is to document community involvement with have the talent and interest to pursue a increase the research accomplishments of our project, demonstrate an investment career in biomedical research. our undergraduate faculty. by the community in supporting our next I am pleased to say that a large fraction of In past issues we have had features on generation of scientists and highlight the our students (29%) have pursued research two of our faculty who received national abilities of our INBRE scholars. careers and another large group (32%) is funding and that trend continues with This phase of the INBRE will end on April enrolled in health professions programs. Creighton University physics professor, 30, 2009. We submitted our competitive Michael Nichols, Ph.D. Marko Jovic joined the program during renewal in July and are waiting to learn its first year and has successfully Dr. Nichols’ awarding of NIH funding is the results of the review. Thanks to the followed that long and challenging road a further indication that we can do serious combined efforts of all our faculty and research on our undergraduate campuses. students I am optimistic that our efforts to completion of his Ph.D. degree. He is

will be well reviewed.

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