Students Recognized at MU Health Sciences Research Day

Nearly 30 research projects were presented by students with the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the 2023 MU Health Sciences Research Day. The annual event held on Nov. 10 showcased research from MU undergraduates, medical and nursing students, and pre- and post-doctoral trainees.

This year, several students won awards for their research:

• First Place, Category I, Clinical – Samuel Hawkins, medical student, for “Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering: A Single Center Cohort Study with 5+ Years of Follow-up.” (Mentor: Melanie Boeyer, PhD)
• Third Place, Category I, Basic – Evan Reeves, medical student, for “Adjunctive Dorsal Spanning Plate Fixation in the Stabilization of Perilunate Dislocations.” (Mentor: Daniel London, MD)
• Third Place, Category II, Clinical – Jacob Kramer, postdoctoral fellow, for “Protein Biomarkers Can Distinguish Symptomatic from Asymptomatic Degenerative Lumbar Intervertebral Discs.” (Mentor: Aaron Stoker, MD)
• First Place, Category II, Clinical – Mubinah Khaleel, postdoctoral fellow, for “Is Race Associated with Referral Disparities for Patients with Diabetic Foot Complications?” (Mentor: Kylee Rucinski, PhD, MHA)

Other research projects presented included:

• Bryce Rigden - Development And Validation Of Large Animal Models For Acute Fracture-Related Infections
• Bryce Fletcher - Using Artificial Intelligence To Improve Readability And Comprehension Of Informed Consent Forms For Orthopaedic Clinical Trials
• Bryce Fletcher - Social Determinants Of Health Are Associated With Poorer Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction Outcomes
• Johnny Williams - Effects Of A Behavioral Health Program On Graft Survival Rates After Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation In The Knee
• Anna Sullentrup – Do Intra‐Articular Corticosteroid And Platelet‐Rich Plasma Injections Differentially Regulate Clinical And Biochemical Responses In Osteoarthritic Knees?
• Ashwin Garlapaty - Biomechanical Comparison Of Nitinol Compression Staples Versus Fully Threaded Lag Screws For Talonavicular Arthrodesis Following 24‐Hour Incubation At Body Temperature
• Ashwin Garlapaty - Do Patients Living In Rural Areas Report Inferior 1‐Year Outcomes After Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Matched Cohort Analysis
• Connor Sierra - Effects Of Nicotine And Cotinine Levels On Intervertebral Disc Health And Inflammation In An Ex Vivo Rat Tail Model
• Morgan Kluge - Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries In National Football League Players From 2012 To 2022: A Descriptive Epidemiology Study
• Mubinah Khaleel - Comparison Of Outcomes After Primary Or Salvage Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation For Treatment Of Femoral Condyle Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions
• Kayla Schweitzer - Relationships Among Patient Demographic Factors And Biomarkers In Synovium Recovered From Osteoarthritic Knees
• Maria Hinkamp - The Effects Of Patellar And Quadriceps Tendon On Responses Of Anterior Cruciate Ligament And Synovial Tissue To Inflammatory Stimulation
• Luke Marx - Differences In Cartilage Biomarkers Related To Histologic Degradation Severity In The Osteoarthritic Knee
• Gabe Keeton - Regional Differences In Tibial Plateau Cartilage Biomarkers Related To Histological Severity In The Osteoarthritic Knee
• Gillian Hark - The Effects Of Stimulated Activity Levels On Cellular Metabolic Responses Of The Acl And Extensor Tendon Autografts Used For ACL Injury
• Owen D'amour - Regional Differences In Femoral Condyle Cartilage Biomarkers Related To Histological Degradation Severity In The Osteoarthritic Knee
• Corder Lehenbauer - Relationship Between Tissue Biomarker Concentration And Histology Scores In The Osteoarthritic Knee
• Abby Baumann - Protein Content Of Intervertebral Disc Tissues Recovered From Symptomatic Patients And Asymptomatic Donors
• Kathleen Harris - Relationship Between Patient Demographic Factors And The Protein Content Of Infrapatellar Fat Pad Tissue Recovered From Osteoarthritic Knees
• Kelsey Atteberry - The Effects Of Anterior Cruciate Ligament And Synovial Tissue On Responses Of Patellar And Quadriceps Tendon To Inflammatory Stimulation
• Luke Annin - Human Metabolic Responses Of The ACL Extensor Autografts To The ACL Remnant And The Synovium
• Josh Pridemore - Sex Mismatched Knee Osteochondral Allografts Do Not Affect Cumulative Graft Survival Rates
• Harjeev Singh - Assessment Of Serum Biomarkers For Determining Severity Of Knee Osteoarthritis Based On Two Different Radiographic Scoring Systems
• Grace Brentlinger - Differences In Osteoarthritic Cartilage Biomarker Content Based On Biomechanical Properties Of The Tissue
• Lara Stefani - Potential Nutraceutical Management And Treatment Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome With American Elderberries

Well done to all of our students!