The 15th Annual Louis C. Littlefield Celebrating Pharmacy Research Excellence Day was April 17, 2019 during The University of Texas at Austin’s Research Week. Undergraduates, Pharm.D. students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and residents presented their research in abstracts and poster presentations to see who would take the top prizes. The event was hosted by the College of Pharmacy’s Office of the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies.
The event began with the Keynote Scientific Lecture from Audra L. Stinchcomb, Ph.D., a professor in the Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Her presentation addressed drug delivery research for accelerated transition and the impact of principal investigator-initiated public-private partnerships.
Dr. Stinchcomb’s talk was followed by the Distinguished Faculty Lecture from the UT College of Pharmacy’s own Hugh Smyth, Ph.D., a professor in the Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery. Dr. Smyth talked about engineering devices and designing carriers for drug delivery.
During the lunch break, students, postdocs, and residents presented their winning research abstracts and were presented awards by Dean M. Lynn Crismon and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies and Research Day Chair John H. Richburg, Ph.D.
The floor opened up for attendees and colleagues to learn more about the poster presentations and talk to the presenters about their work.
A special thank you to all of the faculty, staff, and participants who all made Research Day possible, including its namesake Louis Littlefield.
Abstract Winners
Undergraduate Program
Katherine Asmis
“Identification of Synergistic Combinations of Natural Compounds for Prevention of Prostate Cancer”
Mentor: John DiGiovanni
Professional Program
Michelle Tran
“Naloxone Accessibility Under Standing Orders from Texas Community Pharmacies and the Efficacy of Brief Academic Detailing on Improving Accessibility”
Mentor: Kirk Evoy
Graduate Program
Hyeun Ah Kang
“Association Between Hydroxyurea Medication Adherence and Healthcare Expenditures (Both All Cause and Disease-Related) Among Texas Medicaid Enrollees with Sickle Cell Disease”
Mentor: Kenneth A. Lawson
Postdoctoral Program
Hunmin Jung, Ph.D.
“Kinetic and Structural Evaluation of the Mutagenic Replication of 7,8-Dihydro-8-Oxoadenine by Human DNA Polymerases”
Mentor: Seongmin Lee
Resident Program
Brittney A. Ramirez, Pharm.D.
“Analysis of Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Approaches in Allogeneic and Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant”
Mentor: Grace C. Lee
Poster Presentation Winners
Best Undergraduate Poster Presentation
Madison Rex
“IMPACT OF SUGARS ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND VIRAL DEGRADATION IN THIN FILM VACCINE DELIVERY SYSTEMS”
Mentor: Maria Croyle
Best Pharm.D. Poster Presentation
Lisa Garcia & Robert Moton (co-presenters)
“IMPACT OF OPIOD OVERDOSE PREVENTION TRAINING AND OUTREACH ON KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES AMONG FIRST-YEAR PHARMACY STUDENTS”
Mentor: Lucas Hill
Best Graduate Student Presentation
Pallavi Kompella
“IMPACT OF OBESITY ON DNA STRUCTURE-INDUCED GENETIC INSTABILITY IN MICE”
Mentor: Karen Vasquez
Best Postdoctoral Fellow Presentation
Rachel M. Simmons
“NOVEL INHIBITORS OF THE ERK D-RECRUITMENT SITE THAT PREVENT ERK ACTIVATION AND SUBSTRATE PHOSPHORYLATION”
Mentor: Kevin Dalby
Best Resident Presentation
Melanie Jaeger
“COMPARATIVE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF CONTINUOUS INFUSION KETAMINE-BASED SEDATION VERSUS NON-KETAMINE SEDATION IN THE MEDICAL ICU”
Supervisor: Elizabeth Hand