School of Medicine research excels at Show Me Research Week

Each year, the University of Missouri hosts Show Me Research Week, a celebration of student research and creative activity representing nearly every field and discipline on campus.

This Spring, approximately 500 Mizzou undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows presented projects. Of that total, 83 projects were represented by the School of Medicine. Each presenter is paired with a faculty mentor, providing valuable insight and guidance throughout the research process.

Learn more about three of the School of Medicine affiliated projects and the representatives’ experience during their collaboration:

Student: Misty Phillips – PhD candidate in Translational Biosciences Graduate Program 
Mentor: Kevin Everett, PhD

“Collaborative radon prevention measures across Missouri”

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and the leading cause among non-smokers, resulting in more than 21,000 deaths annually. This project aimed to raise awareness about radon risks, the importance of testing and policy change.

“Having a mentor such as Dr. Everett during this process was essential when it came to receiving helpful professional development and research guidance,” said Phillips. “His encouragement of my research and his expertise with large-scale collaborative research projects and community engagement has been invaluable.”

“Being a mentor to Misty is a mutually beneficial relationship,” said Everett. “My role was to challenge her and encourage her to apply scientific approaches to her work. It was a joy seeing her put in the work of knowledge acquisition and then reaping academic success.”

Student: Maalavika Govindarajan – PhD candidate in Neuroscience
Mentor: Ai-Ling Lin, PhD

“Brain perfusion preserved by iNOS knockout, in spite of MCI-induced gut dybiosis in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model”

This project explored key molecular pathways involved in Alzheimer’s disease onset. Early-on events like changes in gut health and vascular changes like reduction in the brain flow in Alzheimer's were investigated. An intervention strategy was created where an important molecule called iNOS was knocked out and it was observed how gut bacteria and blood flow in the brain were altered.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Dr. Lin for her profound mentorship,” said Govindarajan. “She encouraged me to think critically and it enriched my perspective with multiple new frontiers. Dr. Lin’s encouragement has helped me expand my academic and professional horizons.”

“It was a pleasure to mentor Maalavika and witness her growth as an outstanding scholar,” said Lin. “Her confident and compelling presentation at Show Me Research Week reflected both her dedication and the significance of her work.”

Student: Owen D’Amour – PhD candidate in Chemistry
Mentor: Aaron Stoker, PhD

“Effect of Patient Age and BMI on the Metabolic Responses of Osteoarthritic Cartilage to Load”

This project analyzed the proteins that cartilage cells produce, courtesy of patients who received knee replacements. Once the cells and data were collected, it was analyzed with the intent to see how demographic factors such as the BMI and age of patients affected the protein production of the cartilage cells.

“Dr. Stoker was integral in developing my enjoyment of research,” said D’Amour. “He pushed me to be the best teammate and investigator that I could be. Without his mentorship, I wouldn’t have been able to present the scientific findings and understand scientific texts to the extent that I was able to.”

“It was amazing serving as a mentor to Owen and watching him grow as a student researcher over the past years,” said Stoker. “The unique skillset he developed during his time in the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics led to his great presentation and will serve him well as a future physician.”