Academic Research Track (ART)

Goals

ART seminars introduce research concepts, useful in planning a mentored summer or 'year out' research project. Taught in small lunchtime seminars (light lunch included) occur throughout the medical school year. Modules consisting of two to three seminars each cover such topics as mentoring and being mentored, formulating a research question, measurements, data gathering and presentation, obtaining research funding, and writing for publication. The goal is to help students think about science as they plan for a mentored research experience, which is typically taken after the second or third years of medical school.

Contact

The ART program administrator is Jene Dupra.

The faculty contact is Candace Gildner.

Current ART Trainees

2024-2025

Jane Zhang

Antoinette Nguyen

Sumeetha Swaminathan

Past ART Trainees

2023-2024

Baqir Kedwai
Project: Determination of the Natural History of Aortic Dissection Tissue Mechanics Using Non-invasive Elastography
Mentor: Doran Mix, M.D.

Daniel Lehane
Project: Patient-Reported Outcomes for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Mentor: Karina Newhall, M.D., M.S.

Tori Valachovic
Project: Assessing Reproductive Health Care and Perspectives amongst Birthing People with Epilepsy
Mentor: Sarah Betstadt, M.D., M.P.H.

2022-2023

Marissa LoCastro
Project: Engagement in Advanced Care Planning Among Older Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Mentor: Dr. Melissa (Kah Poh) Loh

Caroline Maretz
Project: Infectious Keratitis: Epidemiology, Bacterial Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance
Mentor: Dr. Rachel Wozniak

Ching-Wei Pan
Project: Molecular Mechanism of GATA1 Mutation Causing Transient Abnormal Myelopoiesis in Down Syndrome
Mentor: Dr. Laurie Steiner

2021-2022

Mariah Erlick
Project: Assessing Value in the Surgical Episode of Care: A Conceptual Model and Implementation Framework Aligning Patient and Provider Values in Gastrointestinal Oncologic Surgery
Mentor: Dr. Larissa Temple

Eleanor Pope
Project: Longitudinal Real World Changes in Skin Microbial Ecology in AD Patients
Mentor: Dr. Lisa Beck

Kevin Vo
Project: Targeting Beta-II Spectrin to Improve CAR-T Cell Therapy
Mentor: Dr. Minsoo Kim

2020-2021

Shireen Saxena
Project Title: "Sex and Race Differences in Outcomes for Patients with Primary Prevention Implantation of Cardioverter Defibrillators"
Mentor: Ilan Goldenberg, M.D.

Racquel Whyte
Project Title: "Investigating the Difference in Platelet Phenotypes in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Large Vessel Occlusion versus Non-Stroke Controls"
Mentor: Matthew Bender, M.D.

2019-2020

Fatima Bawany
Project Title: “Understanding the Relationship Between Skin Commensal Bacterial and S. aureus Burden in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis”
Mentor: Lisa Beck, M.D.

Alejandra Rodriguez
Project Title: “The Effects of Growth Hormone and IGF-1 on Retinal Nerve Fiber Layers Following Compression Injury”
Mentors: G. Edward Vates, M.D., Ph.D. and David Paul, M.D., M.S.

Victor Wang
Project Title: “Examining the Relationship of Cigarette Smoke and the Development of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy”
Mentor: Ajay Kuriyan, M.D., M.S.

John Wilson
Project Title: “Envelope-Following Response (EFR) as a Modality for Assessing Cochlear Synaptopathy in the Budgerigar”
Mentor: Kenneth Henry, Ph.D.

2018-2019

Timothy Campbell
Project Title: Look Like an Expert: Gaze Training in Novices Enhances Rate of Skill Acquisition in a VR Simulated Robotic Suture Task
Mentor: Ahmed Ghazi, M.D., M.Sc.

Samuel Tomlinson
Project Title: Role of interictal spike activity in planning the resection margins for epilepsy surgery
Mentor: Eric Marsh, M.D., Ph.D. at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Kwanza Warren
Project Title: Early Post-surgical Temozolomide Therapy in Patients with High-Grade Gliomas Admitted to Acute Rehabilitation: A Feasibility Study
Mentor: Kevin A. Walter, M.D.

Justin Williams
Project Title: The Association Between Health Literacy, Health Outcomes, and Medication Adherence in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Mentors: Jessica Robb, M.D. and Andrew Goodman, M.D.

2017-2018

Asad Arastu
Project Title: Association of Financial Toxicity (FT) with Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life (QoL) in Older Patients and Caregivers with Advanced Cancer
Mentor: Supriya Mohile, M.D., M.S.

Shravani Gangidi
Project Title: Heart Rate Variability Among ECG and PPG Signals as predictor of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence After Electrical Cardioversion
Mentor: Jean-Philippe Couderc, Ph.D., M.B.A.

Rachel Park
Project Title: Identification of Novel Small Molecules that Prevent Radiation-Induced Capsular Contracture
Mentor: Richard Phipps, Ph.D.

Michelle Shankar
Project Title: Depression among Urban Teens with Asthma: A Focus for Providers
Mentor: Jill Halterman, M.D., M.P.H.

Earlier Years

Jennifer Andreozzi
Project Title: Geriatric Assessment to Improve Outcomes of Elderly Cancer Patients
Mentor:Supriya Mohile, M.D., M.S.

Josef Bartels
Project Title: The Context, Structure, and Function of Silence in Doctor-Patient Communication
Mentor: Ronald Epstein, M.D.

Jon Black
Project Title: How We See It: Life through the Eyes of a Pediatric Cancer Patient
Mentor: Nancy Chin, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Jarrod Bogue
Project Title: Investigation of the fundamental biochemistry and conformational properties of a specific riboswitch
from Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Mentor: Joseph Wedekind, Ph.D.

Zachary Borus
Project Title: The Impact of Implementing a 'Collaborative Problem Solving' Approach to Care on an Inpatient Child Psychiatry Unit
Mentor: David Garrison, M.D.

Matthew Brown
Project Title: Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Abnormalities Leading to Impaired Fracture Healing in C57BL/6J Marine Model of Type II Diabetes
Mentor: Regis O'Keefe, M.D., Ph.D.

Pedro Calderon-Artero
Project Title: The Effects of Potent Inflammation Resolving Lipid Mediators on Platelet Function in Healthy and Diabetic Blood
Mentor: Robert Block, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P.

Amanda Carpenter
Project Title: Aldo-keto reductase (AKR1C3) Role in Basal & Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Diabetic Blood
Mentor: Alice Pentland, M.D.

Jennifer Cialone
Project Title: A Phase II, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial of the Safety & Tolerability of Mycophenolate (CellCept) in Children with Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (JNCL)
Mentor: Jonathan Mink, M.D., Ph.D.

Ian DeAndrea-Lazarus
Project Title: Early Life Lead Exposure and Executive Functions Using the Stroop Day-Night Task
Mentor: Todd Jusko, Ph.D.

Thomas Fugate
Project Title: Detecting LVH by ECG in African Americans, Jackson Heart Study
Mentor: Thomas Pearson, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.

Robert Fulton
Project Title: Resolvins as Novel Regulators of Alveolar Lung Epithelial Cell Inflammatory Responses
Mentor: Patricia Sime, M.D.

Michael Geary
Project Title: Modulation of the prostanoid receptor EP4 to reduce scarring during flexor tendon healing
Mentor: Regis O'Keefe, Ph.D.

Trevor Hansen
Project Title: Thy1 Expression as a Marker and Therapeutic Target for Scar Formation in Capsular Contracture following Reconstruction Mammoplasty
Mentor: Richard Phipps, Ph.D.

Christopher Hogan
Project Title: Mechanisms for Protecting Human Lung Fibroblasts from Cigarette Smoke-Induced Cell Death: Implications for COPD
Mentor: Patricia Sime, M.D.

Jing-Li Huang
Project Title: Autophagy in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Mentor: Aram Hezel, M.D.

Brian Jenssen
Project Title: Dissemination of Best Practices to Promote Smoke Free Homes
Mentor: Jonathan Klein, M.D., M.P.H.

Evan Katzel
Project Title: The impact of Smad3 loss of function on TGF-beta signaling and the resultant scarring and adhesion formation during tendon healing
Mentor: Regis O'Keefe, M.D., Ph.D.

Angel Kirkham
Project Title: Belize: A Case Study of a Community Mental Health Program in a Developing Nation
Mentor: Nancy Chin, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Ryan Koehler
Project Title: Development and Validation of the Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET)
Mentor: Gregg Nicandri, M.D.

Sirish Kondabolu
Project Title: Development of siRNA to Prevent Scar Formation in Tendon Repair
Mentor: Regis O'Keefe, M.D., Ph.D.

Ajay Kuriyan
Project Title: Inhibition of corneal fibroblast differentiation to scar forming cells
Mentor: Richard Phipps, Ph.D.

Chase Kwon
Project Title: A Systems Biology Approach to Identify Determinants of Staphylococcus
Mentor: Lisa Beck, M.D.

Erika Levy
Project Title: Treatment of Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Behaviors in Tourette Syndrome
Mentor: Jonathan Mink, M.D., Ph.D.

Judy Liu
Project Title: Mutation specific risk stratification of Long QT Syndrome type 3 via measure of evolutionary conservation of amino acids expressed by the SCN5A gene
Mentor: Arthur Moss, M.D.

Jinno (Tony) Magno
Project Title: Increased Sensitivity of Poor-Prognosis Human MLL-Rearranged Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia to Proteasome Inhibition (Bortezomib) in Vitro
Mentor: Jessica Shand, M.D.

Kelly Makino
Project Title: Advance Care Planning in Early Dementia Study
Mentor: Anton Porsteinsson, M.D.

Andrew Marky
Project Title: Activated Protein C is Neuroprotective and Mediates New Blood Vessel Formation and Neurogenesis after Controlled Cortical Impact
Mentor: Berislav Zlokovic, M.D., Ph.D.

Alexi Matousek
Project Title: The Molecular Pathogenesis of Barrett's Esophagus
Mentor: Jeffrey Peters, M.D.

Ron Menorca
Project Title: Determining EPO's role in accelerating functional recovery of meme in a mouse chronic neuropathy model
Mentor: John Elfar, M.D.

Doran Mix
Project Title: Computer Assisted Surgery Tool for Hemodialysis Fistulas (CAST-HDF)
Mentor: Ankur Chandra, M.D.

Aimee Morris
Project Title: Clinical Characteristics, Musical Variables, and Pathophysiology of Focal Embouchure Dystonia: A Disabling Disorder of Musicians
Mentor: Jonathan Mink, M.D., Ph.D.

Gregory Ouellet
Project Title: Effect of Sex Hormones on Clinical Course of Patients with Congenital Long QT Syndrome
Mentor: Arthur Moss, M.D.

Allison Panzer
Project Title: Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes in Low and Very Low Birth Weight Infants at 9 Months of Age.
Mentor: Cynthia Howard, M.D., M.P.H.

David Paul
Project Title: Using DTI to measure changes in occipital lobe white matter after decompression of the optic chiasm
Mentors: Brad Mahon, M.D. and Edward Vates, M.D., Ph.D.

Salvador Peña
Project Title: Do Astrocytes Contribute to the Exceptionally High Computational Power of the Human Brain?
Mentor: Maiken Nedergaard, M.D., DMSc

Clifford Pierre
Project Title: The Role of Altered Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics after Brain Surgery
Mentor: Maiken Nedergaard, M.D., DMSc

Daniel Platt
Project Title: Phenotypic Variability in and Treatment of Episodic Ataxia Type 1
Mentor: Robert Griggs, M.D.

Michael Prucha
Project Title: Healthcare Worker's Role in Tobacco Control in the Dominican Republic
Mentor: Deborah Ossip, Ph.D.

Yaoli Pu
Project Title: P75 Neurotrophin Receptor Signaling and Trafficking
Mentor: Nina Schor, M.D., Ph.D.

Izad-Yar Daniel Rasheed
Project Title: The Kindling Model of Epilepsy and Wavelet-Based Seizure Detection Methods
Mentor: David Pinto

Jeffrey Reed
Project Title: The Effects of Erythropoietin on Healthy Bone
Mentor: John Elfar, M.D.

Kyle Rodenbach
Project Title: Crystatin-C-based renal reserve in children with history of hemolytic uremic syndrome-associated acute kidney injury
Mentor: George Schwartz, M.D.

Lauren Roussel
Project Title: Evaluating Upper Extremity Function Following Mastectomy in Reconstructed and Non-Reconstructed Women with Breast Cancer

Elizabeth Saionz
Project Title: Post-concussion progesterone decline in female athletes
Mentor: Jeffrey Bazarian, M.D., M.P.H.

Glenn Schneider
Project Title: Inner Ear Gene Therapy Steps to Treat Age-Related Hearing Loss
Mentor: Robert Frisina, Ph.D.

Jordan Schramm
Project Title: Maternal iron-deficiency and its impacts on auditory temporal processing and myelination in the offspring – translation of animal models into the human system
Mentor: Anne Luebke, Ph.D.

Erika Snow
Project Title: The Role of E-cigarettes as a Barrier to Smoking Cessation
Mentor: Scott McIntosh, Ph.D.

Melissa Squires
Project Title: Analysis of Inpatient Data on Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at Strong Memorial Hospital
Mentor: Stephen Sulkes, M.D.

Laurel Stevens
Project Title: Role of Plexin B1 receptor in Melanoma Tumor Progression
Mentor: Glynis Scott, M.D.

Brandon Stein
Project Title: The Relationship Between Subconcussive Head Trauma and Markers of Brain Injury
Mentor: Jeff Bazarian, M.D., M.P.H.

Leigh Sundem
Project Title: Erythropoietin for Compression Neuropathy: Preclinical Efficacy and Cellular Site of Action
Mentor: John Elfar, M.D.

Otto Thomas
Project Title: Characteristics, frequency, and implications of extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Mentor: Louis Constine, M.D.

Heidi Thompson
Project Title: Research into Health Care in the Deaf Population
Mentor: Steven Barnett, M.D.

Lindsay Wahl
Project Title: One Protein, Multiple Functions: The Role of Tissue Transglutaminase in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Mentor: Patricia Sime, M.D.

Joanna Walker
Project Title: Central Venous Catheter Thrombosis in Children
Mentor: Norma Lerner, M.D.

Andrew Walters
Project Title: Identification and Deployment of a Novel Drug to Enhance Cardiac Ischemic Preconditioning
Mentor: Paul Brookes, Ph.D.

Adam Weis
Project Title: Corneal Wound Healing and Ocular Optics After Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK)
Mentor: Holly Hindman, M.D.

Sam Weisenthal
Project Title: Predicting Acute Kidney Injury in Re-Hospitalized Patients
Mentor: Martin Zand, M.D., Ph.D.

Pamela White
Project Title: Evaluating the Impact of eRecord on Nursing Practice and Patient Outcomes
Mentors: Gail Ingersoll, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN, FNAP

Paul Youn
Project Title: Effect of Total Body Irradiation and Pre-Transplant Pulmonary Status on Non-Relapse Mortality after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant
Mentor: Louis Constine, M.D.

Christine Zanghi
Project Title: Anticoagulation in the era of Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia: Combination Therapy with Bivalirudin and Fondaparinux Versus Conventional Heparin During Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Mentor: Michael Eaton, M.D.

Past MD/PhD Trainees

Youngsun Cho
Project Title: Sources of Dopamine Input to the Amygdala-an Anatomic and Neurochemical Focus of Mood Disorders
Mentor: Julie Fudge, M.D.

Katherine Eisenberg
Project Title: Lead Exposure in Refugee Children
Mentor: Edwin Van Wijngaarden, Ph.D.

Laura Fornarola
Project Title: Determining the role of the prolyl isomerase Pin1 in neuronal programmed cell death
Mentor: Robert Freeman, Ph.D.

Natalia Golub
Project Title: Longitudinal Health Outcomes in Former Refugees
Mentor: Diana Fernandez, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.

Michael Jacob
Project Title: Cognitive Influences on Perception: Studies in the neurophysiology of human aging and single cell dynamics
Mentor: Charles Duffy, M.D.

Susan Lee
Project Title: Neural basis of audiovisual integration during language comprehension in autism
Mentor: Loisa Bennetto, Ph.D.

Kevin Makino
Project Title: An Exploration of the Role of Public Health Insurance in Moderating the Effects of Low Family Income on Children's Educational Success
Mentor: Bruce Friedman, Ph.D.

Kofi Mensah
Project Title: Myelopoiesis in Erosive vs. Non-erosive Inflammatory Arthritis
Mentor: Edward Schwarz, Ph.D.

Phillip Rappold
Project Title: The Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Mitochondrial Fission/Fusion Pathways in Parkinson's Disease
Mentor: Kim Tieu, Ph.D.

Christopher Richardson
Project Title: B-Cell Tolerance and Immunology
Mentor: Ignacio Sanz, M.D.

Adam Simning
Project Title: Mental Illness among Older Adult Public Housing Residents
Mentor: Edwin VanWijngaarden, Ph.D.

Mercedes Szpunar
Project Title: The Effects of Stress on Breast Cancer: Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation of Cell Lines In Vitro and In Vivo
Mentor: Edward Brown

Helen Wei
Project Title: Astrocyte regulation of the cerebral microcirculation
Mentors: Maiken Nedergaard, M.D., DM.Sc. and Edward Vates, M.D., Ph.D.