Recognizing OSU’s researchers 2017 Regents Distinguished Research Awards Each year Oklahoma State University recognizes select researchers with the Regents Distinguished Research Award. Recipients are honored for evidence of meritorious research achievement and national and international recognition. The researchers were honored at the 2017 University Awards Convocation.
Jennifer Hays-Grudo, Ph.D., Regents Professor of Human Development and Family Science College of Human Sciences Trained as a developmental psychologist, Jennifer Hays-Grudo has focused her research on identifying and reducing childhood risk factors that contribute to long-term disparities in health and development. She and her collaborators are investigating how adverse childhood experiences — such as poverty, abuse, neglect and family dysfunction — can be risk factors for physical and mental health problems that can repeat themselves from generation to generation. In 2016, she was named director and principal investigator of the Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Diversity. Her previous research included studies at Baylor University on cardiovascular disease among Mexican-Americans and the largest study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on preventing the top causes of death and disability in women.
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Robert Matts, Ph.D., Regents Professor and Sarkeys Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources The internationally recognized work of Robert Matts focuses on protein synthesis and function in cells, particularly a protein that regulates cell growth and differentiation. His investigations of protein function in cells is helping scientists better understand cardiac and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. His basic and clinical research is the foundation for potential development of new cancer treatments. Matts’ research has been continually funded since 1987, and he has received seven NIH awards and a number of grants from other research funders totaling approximately $3.5 million. Matts has mentored nearly 50 undergraduate and 22 graduate students through his laboratory. Most of his graduate students have gone on to successful academic and private industry research jobs.
PHOTOS / KEVIN MCCROSKEY