The 22nd Annual Louis C. Littlefield Celebrating Pharmacy Research Excellence Day was held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center and featuring innovative research from across the college community.
Hosted by the College of Pharmacy’s Office of the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, this annual event highlights the accomplishments of Texas Pharmacy researchers at all levels: undergraduate, Pharm.D. and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and residents, as well as research staff and faculty.
The day began with a keynote scientific lecture "Where Research Becomes Policy: An Unexpected Academic Journey to Washington DC" from Inmaculada (Inma) Hernandez, Ph.D. Dr. Hernandez is a Pharmaceutical Policy Scholar, serving as Senior Advisor to the Administrator for Drug Prices at The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The event also included a distinguished faculty lecture from Nicholas A. Peppas, Sc.D., professor of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery. Peppas's presentation was titled "Biomimetic Hydrogels for Therapeutic Delivery, Advanced Recognition and Cell Binding."
Abstract winners shared their current research during a lunch-hour presentation leading into the afternoon scientific poster session. After abstract presentations, attendees went to the poster rooms to see and hear about more research.
2026 Abstract Award Winners
Undergraduate Program:
Roger Freidl
"Structural Insights into the Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Activity of Lasso Peptide Trilenodin”
Mentor: Jie Li, Ph.D.
Pharm.D. Program:
Sullivan Major
"Exploration of Galanin and Galanin Receptor Expression in 3.5-Diethoxycarbonyl, -1.4 Dihydrocollidine Diet Model of Biliary Disease"
Mentor: Sharon DeMorrow, Ph.D., FAASLD
Graduate Program:
Reem Zaki
"Development of Inhalable, Stable Dry Powders of Mycobacteriophages"
Mentor: Zhengrong Cui, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Program:
Nishant Sharma, Ph.D.
"Peripheral HIF-2 Deficiency Attenuates Manganese-Induced Motor Deficits Independent of Brain MN Load"
Mentor: Somshuvra Mukhopadhyay, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.
Resident Program:
Kaelin Randle, Pharm.D.
"Fixed vs. Weight-Based Prothrombin Complex Concentrate for the Reversal of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Intracranial Hemorrhage"
Mentors: Kendall Brickel, Pharm.D., BCPS and Katie E. Dalton, Pharm.D., BCCCP
Staff Scientist:
Daniela Carrizales Sauceda, Ph.D.
"Through the Drinking Glass: The Case of Early Life Stress and Parental Behavior"
Mentor: Regina Mangieri, Ph.D.
2026 Poster Award Winners
Undergraduate Program:
Akanksha Acharya
"Aging Reprograms Circadian Output In Choroid Plexus Despite Preserved Core Molecular Clock Function"
Mentor: Laura Fonken, Ph.D.
Pharm.D. Professional Program:
Eldina Memic
"Preformulation Characterization Of Levothyroxine Sodium Vs. Free Acid For Intranasal Dry Powder Delivery"
Mentor: Hugh Smyth, Ph.D.
Graduate Program:
Andrew Hynes
"Age-Related Circadian Disruption of Immune Cell Migration in the Meninges"
Mentor: Laura Fonken, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Program:
Kimber Long, Ph.D.
"KINETIC MAPPING OF THE FORMATION AND LIFETIME OF THE ACTIVE EEF2K-CALMODULIN COMPLEX"
Mentor: Kevin Dalby, Ph.D.
Resident Program:
Jessica Jaggar, Pharm.D.
"Fast-Track to Extubation: Comparing Dexmedetomidine And Lorazepam For Sedation After Liver Transplantation"
Mentor: Lauren Lozano, Pharm.D., BCCCP
Staff Scientist:
Heather C. Aziz, M.S.
"Chronic Ethanol Impairs Astrocyte Clearance Pathways and Enhances NAC Excitatory Drive: L-Theanine as a Restorative Modulator"
Mentor: Regina Mangieri, Ph.D.
If you missed this event, please visit the Research Day website to access/download the PDF program that includes the event itinerary and listing of trainee abstract award speakers, the Keynote and Distinguished Faculty speakers and a complete listing of the abstracts (requires EID login).
A special thank you to all of the faculty, staff and participants who made Research Excellence Day possible, including its namesake "Cliff" Louis Littlefield.
