Faculty mentors will work with students in all phases of the preparation of student research proposals, the conduct of research and the dissemination of the results of the research. Mentors will collaborate with students to develop outlines of proposed research, spend time with the student during the preparation of the formal research proposal and application, include the student in the process of developing a budget, help the student write a formal report for abstract submission and ensure the student submits the abstract for the annual KCUMB Research Symposium.
Students must contact the faculty member to indicate an interest in a summer research fellowship. Faculty mentors must sign a fellowship agreement letter accepting the student to apply for the research fellowship.
Faculty Mentor List and Research Interests
Abdulbaki Agbas, Ph.D.
The mechanism(s) of protein aggregation and malfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, protein-protein interactions in neurodegenerative disease, mitochondria in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
John Dougherty, D.O.
Evidence-based osteopathic manipulation, biomechanics, joint pathology and human performance
Frank Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Biological markers to measure the effect of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) on blood pressure and cardio-vascular functioning using urinary prostaglandin measurements as an objective and non-invasive marker for the health benefits observed in the practice of TCC
Alan Glaros, Ph.D.
Chronic facial and head pain; health behaviors and health outcomes in children
Anthony Olinger, Ph.D.
Description and incidence of anatomical variations throughout every system and region that have clinical implications, especially the occurrence of muscular and arterial anomalies. Radial nerve, ulnar nerve and axillary nerve innervation of the three heads of the triceps brachii muscle
Sarah Parrott, D.O.
Standardization and assessment of feedback to medical students using the One-Minute Preceptor model
Norbert Seidler, Ph.D.
Molecular aspects of anesthetic preconditioning (working in tandem with anesthesiology residents)
Alex Shnyra, M.D., Ph.D.
MicroRNA regulation of tumor-associated macrophage's function in tumor cell growth and dissemination, soft tissue engineering from adult stem cells for reconstructive surgery and wound repair
Richard Suminski, Ph.D.
An intervention to promote small business support of youth physical activity
John Taylor, Ph.D.
Our lab is focused on understanding how human pathogenic viruses evade detection by the immune system. To control a viral infection, our immune system uses pathways such as the interferon response and programmed cell death (apoptosis) to detect and ultimately eliminate the invading pathogen. Most pathogenic viruses, however, have mechanisms to block the host immune response, thereby allowing the virus to replicate and cause disease.
Tracey Taylor, Ph.D.
Investigation of modifications in the gastrointestinal tract due to HIV infection
Christopher Theisen, Ph.D.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms that control aging and identify pathways of intervention for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
Pam Thomas, Ph.D.
Clinical anatomy and gift body donation
Kevin Treffer, D.O.
OMM clinical efficacy and mechanisms of action for treatment modalities; the impact of osteopathic treatment on intraocular pressure for people with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
Jason Wasserman, Ph.D.
Sociological study of homeless
Robert White, Ph.D.
Molecular genetics to identify novel genes causing hematological diseases and the development of therapies to treat those diseases, including causes of hereditary anemias (including Hereditary Spherocytosis), iron overloading (including Hereditary Hemochromatosis) and bleeding disorders (including thrombocytopenia)
Barth Wright, Ph.D.
Radiological, particularly CT data, to construct three-dimensional models for finite element modeling and analysis of mammalian skulls, in certain instances integration of the FE analysis with data from field studies of mammalian - particularly non-human primate - diets, ingestive behavior and food material properties, in order to answer questions about masticatory adaptations and evolution in extant and extinct species
Kristin Wright, Ph.D.
Relationship between form and function in the musculoskeletal system of primates: (1) uses ecological, behavioral, anatomical and biomechanical data to address hypotheses about how primate species have evolved various strategies for negotiating their habitats, and how habitat structure may in turn affect behavior; (2) ecomorphology and implications for understanding primate adaptations; (3) comparative primate anatomy and how non-human primate models might serve to better inform us about human form and function to better understand primate evolution and human clinical questions.
Asma Zaidi, Ph.D.
Bioenergetics, synaptic vulnerability and Alzheimer's disease, vulnerable dendrites