 Christopher
Racine, a college student from Davis & Elkins College, had worked
hard for nine weeks on a research project examining how a weed
killer called propanil could damage the kidney. Now after all his
work was completed and analyzed, he was ready to present his
research results to fellow students and faculty from around the
State at the West Virginia IDeA Network of Biomedical Research
Excellence (WV-INBRE) 6th Annual Summer Research Symposium. This
year the Symposium was held on August 2 at Marshall University. “I
was a little nervous about presenting my work, but it was a great
experience”, Racine said.
The Summer Research Symposium of WV-INBRE is funded through a $16
million grant from the National Institutes of Health to Marshall
University (MU) and shared with West Virginia University (WVU). This
program allows Marshall University and West Virginia University to
help the primarily undergraduate colleges and universities
throughout the state strengthen their research efforts. A portion of
the award provides for a nine week summer biomedical research
experience at MU or WVU for undergraduate students and faculty from
the primarily undergraduate institutions around West Virginia. This
year 28 undergraduate students and three faculty members
participated in the summer program. Ten students and one faculty
member conducted their summer research at MU and the remainder
completed their projects at WVU.
“The Summer Research Program is a wonderful experience for students
and faculty and gives them a chance to conduct cutting edge
biomedical research,” said Dr. Gary Rankin, Chair of the Department
of Pharmacology, Physiology & Toxicology at Marshall University and
the leader of the WV-INBRE program. “The Summer Symposium allows the
students the chance to showcase their research findings as well as
interact with students and faculty from most of West Virginia’s
colleges and universities”. This year more than 130 student and
faculty researchers attended the event, which took place in the Don
Morris Room of Marshall’s Memorial Student Center. Dr. Elsa
Mangiarua of Marshall’s Department of Pharmacology, Physiology &
Toxicology coordinated the event.
Dr. Sidney A. McNairy Jr., Associate Director of the National Center
for Research Resources and Director of the Division of Research
Infrastructure of the National Institutes of Health presented a
keynote talk titled “What it takes to succeed in the biomedical
sciences.” Dr. McNairy encouraged the students and faculty to work
hard and to set high goals for their future. He inspired the
students to consider a career in biomedical sciences because “You
are the future of America’s health discoveries!”, McNairy said.
Students and faculty participating in the Summer Research Program
and in the symposium came from Bethany College, Concord University,
Davis & Elkins College, University of Charleston, West Virginia
State University, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Alderson¬-Broaddus
College, Bluefield State College, Fairmont State University,
Glenville State College, Shepherd University, West Liberty State
College, and Wheeling Jesuit University. This year’s symposium
featured 58 presentations from students and faculty from these
institutions. Seven of these researchers gave oral presentations of
their work. Many different areas of biomedical research were covered
in the poster and oral presentations. Some of the topics discussed
included cancer treatment, obesity-associated hypertension, sleep
and memory, diabetes, and toxicology.
The symposium represents something important for all of West
Virginia, according to Mangiarua, “It contributes to establishing a
network of faculty and students, to enhancing research throughout
the state, and to developing a pipeline of outstanding students who
are interested in entering the state’s graduate programs in
biomedical research”.
As for Racine, he is headed back to Davis & Elkins College and
getting ready to apply for dental school. But, after this summer,
conducting research is also part of his plans.
2007 Symposium Schedule [PDF]
Photos of Student Intern & Faculty
Fellow Poster Presentations
2007 Symposium Abstract Titles / Authors
[PDF] |
