THE THIRTY SEVENTH ANNUAL
DR. CURTIS L. PARKER STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 5 PM Morehouse School of Medicine NCPC Building
A LEGACY OF IMPACT
Dr. Curtis L. Parker was Chairperson of the Department of Anatomy from 1989 until his death in 1998. Dr. Parker served as Associate Dean for Basic Science and Research from 1992 to 1996, and Acting Dean of Morehouse School of Medicine from July 1995 to December 1995. He was Chairperson of the Student Academic Progress and Promotion Committee and served as Chairperson or a member of virtually every major committee at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM).
Dr. Parker joined MSM in 1983 as Associate Professor of Anatomy and rose to the rank of Professor in 1985. Prior to coming to MSM, he was an Associate Professor at (Clark) Atlanta University from 1981 to 1983 and an Assistant Professor at Bowman Gray School of Medicine from 1975 to 1980.
Dr. Parker was an outstanding biomedical research scientist and a primary facilitator in providing opportunities for aspiring research students to interact with scientists of national and international acclaim. His untiring efforts made it possible for some ninety medical students to participate in the Fellows Program at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This program was the catalyst for a Student Research Day Symposium at MSM. The MSMbased Symposium was designed to provide a venue for MSM trainees from all programs, and trainees from other institutions from across the State of Georgia, to present their research findings and experiences.
On November 6, 1998, Dean E. Nigel Harris proclaimed Student Research Day at Morehouse School of Medicine as the Curtis L. Parker Student Research Symposium.
Foreword
All student participants are commended for their industrious efforts in the advancement of science. The Research Symposium Committee encourages your continued pursuits and optimistically anticipates your success.
Judges Award Categories*
Best in Program/Discipline Presentations
The Curtis L. Parker Award: awarded to the most outstanding oral or poster presenter in the Doctoral (PhD) Student category.
The Graduate Education in Biomedical Science Award: awarded to the most outstanding oral or poster presenter in the Masters Student category.
The Graduate Education in Public Health Award: awarded to the most outstanding oral or poster presenter in the Public Health Student category.
The Honorable Louis B. Stokes Research Award: awarded to the most outstanding oral or poster presenter in the Undergraduate Student category.
The Jay Romans Medical Student Research Award: awarded to the most outstanding oral or poster presenter in the Medical Student category.
The Postdoctoral Research Award: awarded to the most outstanding oral or poster presenter in the Postdoctoral Fellow category.
The Group Presentation Award: awarded to the most outstanding poster presentation in the Group Presentation category.
*In the circumstance where there are no competitors in a presentation category, the sole presenter will receive a certificate of participation.
HONORING EXCELLENCE
The Honorable Louis B. Stokes, U.S. Congressman (retired) began his political career when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1968 making him the first African American member of Congress from the state of Ohio. The thrust of Congressman Stokes’ career focused on advocacy for the poor and disadvantaged, especially those in urban America. He served under six Presidents during his 30 years in Congress.
Congressman Stokes led pioneering efforts for: minority health; the education of minority health professionals and minority science and engineering professionals; the enhancement of the science and engineering infrastructure for research and education at HBCUs; and K-12 mathematics and science education programs focusing on state, urban and rural school districts with significant minority enrollments. Some of the programs for which Congressman Stokes was the architect, sustained sponsor, and advocate include the Minority Biomedical Support Program, Research Centers of Excellence in Minority Institutions, the Office of Minority Health, the Research and Minority Health Professions Training Act, and the K-12 Summer Science Camps Program.
Congressman Stokes played a pivotal role in the quest for civil rights, equality, and social and economic justice throughout his tenure in the United States Congress. His work in health led to his appointment as a member of the Pepper Commission on comprehensive Health Care, and he was the founder and chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust.
When the Honorable Louis Stokes retired in 1999, he became the first African American in the history of the U.S. Congress to retire having completed 30 years in office. He was appointed to serve as Vice Chairman of the PEW Environmental Health Commission at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and was appointed by former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala as chairman of the Advisory Committee on Minority Health. Congressman Stokes was the recipient of multiple distinguished service awards, recognitions, certificates of appreciation, and honorary degrees.
Chaplain (Lieutenant Colonel) (retired) Earl Jay Romans was a minister in the Christian Church and served as senior minister at First Christian Church of Jonesboro, GA at the time of his death.
Reverend Romans was known as a “soldier’s chaplain” and was loved and respected for his sense of humor and commitment to the men and women who served with him. Always leading by example, he could be found “in the ditches or in the air” with his troops. His trademark at all times, good or bad, was “Thumbs Up!”
During his career Reverend Romans received the following awards: Meritorious Service Medal (4), Army Commendation Medal (2), Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Overseas Service Ribbon.
Reverend Romans wanted to donate his body to the Morehouse School of Medicine for student teaching and research. However, because his body could not be utilized for this purpose, the Jay Romans Medical Student Research Fund was established to carry out his wish to support student research at MSM.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Clayton C. Yates
• Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
• John. R. Lewis Endowed Professor
• Professor of Pathology, Oncology, and Urology
• Director for Translational Health Disparities and Global Health Equity Research
• Program Co-Leader for Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics
• Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Research Interest: Epigenetic and Genetic Alterations that Contribute to Aggressive Cancers
Dr. Clayton C. Yates is a recognized expert in health disparity research. Dr. Yates earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in molecular pathology, as well as a certificate of training in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative medicine from the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine. He then went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine Department of Urology. After completing his post-doctoral training, Dr. Yates started as a tenure track Assistant Professor at Tuskegee University in the Department of Biology and Center for Cancer Research. Dr. Yates was promoted through the ranks to Full Professor. He holds Adjunct faculty positions at Clark Atlanta University Department of Biology and the Department of Pathology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Cell-MENTOR recognized Dr. Yates (an online resource from Cell Press and Cell Signaling Technology) among the 100 most inspiring Black Scientists in America. Dr. Yates’s lab focuses on prostate and breast cancer, particularly in African Americans. His lab has established several cell lines based models derived from African American patients used by many labs today to study molecular events that lead to prostate cancer development and metastasis. Additionally, Dr. Yates identified a subtype of Breast cancer called “Quadruple Negative Breast Cancer” (QNBC), which is more frequent in women of African Ancestry. This novel approach used genetic admixture analysis and identified a specific ancestry-associated immune-related signature in both Breast and Prostate Cancers. Using this signature, Dr. Yates’s lab was able to identify and develop a novel therapeutic that targets a specific immune cell termed tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) that contributes to increased tumor aggressiveness and therapeutic resistance. This novel therapy was recently
licensed to Aurinia Pharma in October 2021 for clinical development. Dr. Yates’s lab has been continuously funded by NIH and DoD CMDRP/PCRP for over the last 15 years. He has trained 17 Ph.D. students, 28 master’s level students, and 5 postdoctoral trainees during this time. He has mentored 10+ junior faculty through the MSM/TU/UAB Health Disparities Training Program, for UAB and TU faculty. Currently, five of these mentees have received tenure at their respective universities. Dr. Yates has spoken at many universities and conferences including the inaugural NCI Health Disparities Conference and the AACR Plenary Session and numerous grand rounds, and distinguished lecture series. Dr. Yates is featured on NCI’s website for the NCI Annual Plan & Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2023 which was provided to Congress President Joe Biden and the public. Dr. Yates currently serves on the UAB External Advisory Board (EAB) for Training of Oncology Surgeons, University of North Carolina (UNC) NCI T32 External Advisory Board, Chair of the University of Florida (UF), University of Southern California (USC), Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) U54- NCI CPACHE. He has also received numerous research honors and awards, authored over 100+ peer-reviewed publications, and is a member of the editorial board of Scientific Reports. Dr. Yates also serves as Co-Director for the Transatlantic Prostate Cancer Consortium, which focuses on understanding the tumor biology in native African men in Nigeria. Dr. Yates co-chaired the 2022 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference in April 2022. In addition, Dr. Yates was the 2022-2023 Chair of the Minorities in Cancer Research Council (MICR) within (AACR), which serves 7,000+ minority cancer-focused scientists. Dr. Yates currently serves as MPI of U54- NCI CPACHE-Cancer Health Disparities Partnership with Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and the Howard University Cancer Center.
PROGRAM
7:30 – 8:30 AM NCPC Atrium
Registration/Check-In
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Auditorium Welcome
Rick Kittles, PhD
Senior Vice President for Research Professor, Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Acknowledgments and Proceedings
Gianluca Tosini, PhD
Chief Scientific Research Officer Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
9:00 – 10:45 AM
Auditorium
Oral Presentations
Abstract #O-01 — Desiree D’Moore (MD)
Abstract #O-02 — Jalen Robinson (MD)
Abstract #O-03 — Juan Gomez (MD)
Abstract #O-04 — Celena Russell (MD)
Abstract #O-05 — Jeremy Shropshire (MD)
Abstract #O-06 — Eva Andrews (PhD)
Abstract #O-07 — Mika Campbell (MSNS)
10:45 – 10:55 AM Break
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Auditorium
Oral Presentations
Abstract #O-08 — Christopher Villongco (MSCR)
Abstract #O-09 — Jasmine Burrell (Post-Doc)
Abstract #O-10 — Harriet Blankson (Post-Doc)
Abstract #O-11 — Kenyaita Hodge (Post-Doc)
Abstract #O-12 — Viviane Schuch (Post-Doc)
12:30 – 1:00 PM
NCPC Atrium
1:10 – 2:50 PM
Calvin Smyre Education Conference Center
3:00 – 4:20 PM
Auditorium
4:20 – 4:55 PM
Auditorium
4:55 – 5:00 PM
Lunch Break
Poster Session
Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG President and CEO
Morehouse School of Medicine
Keynote Speaker
Clayton Yates, PhD
“Reassessing tumor Biology through the lens of African Ancestry”
John R. Lewis Professor of Pathology
Professor of Pathology, Oncology, Urologic-Oncology
Director for Translational Health Disparities and Global Health Equity Research Program Co-Leader for Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland
Three Minute Thesis® Competition
Gabriela Seplovich (MD/PhD)
Briana Kinnel (PhD)
Ayomide Olayiwola (PhD)
Amani Gaddy (PhD)
Briana Brock (PhD)
Kyra Brewer (PhD/MSCR)
Tyana Joseph (PhD/MSCR)
Lauryn Jones (MSBR)
Diana LeVasseur (MSBR)
• To vote for the “People’s Choice” award, please go to: https://www.menti.com
• Use code 4927 5401
Closing Remarks and Presentation of Student Awards
Rick Kittles, PhD
Senior Vice President for Research
POSTER SESSION PRESENTERS
Listed in Alphabetical Order
Poster Name (last, first, program)
P102 Aka, Daniel (MD)*
P67 Alexander, Meghan (MD)
P01 Allen, Blake (PhD)
P81 Amin, Michael (MD)
P77 Anderson, Aliyah (PhD)
P46 Anderson, Amaya (Undergrad)
P33 Arocho, Ashton (PhD)
P91 Bashi, Alaijah(PostDoc)
P71 Battle, Dana (PhD)
P02 Baxter, Valencia (MSBR)
P25 Boddupally, Sreenu (PostDoc)
P34 Bouchi, Yazan (MD)
P03 Bradeanu, Iulia (MD)
P42 Brena, Dara (MD/PhD)
P47 Brewer, Kyra (PhD, MSCR)
P48 Brown, Aubrey (PhD)
P05 Brown, LaKendria (PhD)
P73 Brown, Terrell (MD)
P06 Burton, Amirah (PhD)
Poster Name (last, first, program)
P49 Camacho, Derek (PhD)
P07 Chevrin, Jamirah (PhD)
P82 Churchill, Victoria (PostDoc)
P50 Cook, Ramya (Undergrad)
P74 Cooper, Boston (MD)
P92 Cornish, T'Kayhlia (PhD)
P103 Dairi, Inana (MD)*
P51 Daring, Peter (MD)
P109 Daudu, Olufunmilayo (PA)*
P75 David, Camille-Joy (MD)
P08 Davis, Jerrica (MD)
P52 de Vastey, Julienne (Undergrad)
P53 Dean, Emmanuel (MD)
P43 Durand, Adelle (Undergrad)
P68 Ejindu, Cindy (MD)
P54 Fawole, Ayobami (MSNS)
P69 Ford, Gabrielle (MD)
P09 Gaddy, Amani (PhD)
P104 Gajelli, Tarini (MD)*
POSTER SESSION PRESENTERS
Listed in Alphabetical Order
Poster Name (last, first, program)
P10 Garner, Jarius (MD)
P106 Greenen, Hayli (PA)*
P35 Griffith, Nyla (MD)
P56 Guven, Emine (PostDoc)
P107 Hagan, Ashley (PA)*
P26 Hayden, Brianna (MD)
P72 Hector, Sean (MD)
P93 Hernandez, Nicole (MD)
P11 Herring, Kyle (MD)
P57 Homrich, Derek (PhD)
P31 Idehen, Caroline (MD)
P110 Iheagwara, Chisom (MD)*
P58 Jackson, Kaitlin (Undergrad)
P101 Jadoon, Uswa (PhD)*
P12 Jeffers, Courtney (MD)
P41 Johnson, Mecca (MD)
P105 Jones, Takeydra (MD)*
P27 Kasaram, Pavana Jyotsna (PostDoc)
P111 Kelly, Tchoumteu (MD)*
Poster Name (last, first, program)
P13 Kinnel, Briana (PhD)
P108 Lacy, Lyjiria (PA)*
P94 Lane, Breauna (MSBR)
P112 Lantum, Sandra-Lily (MD)*
P80 Latif, Monique (MD)
P59 Leng, Jieya (PostDoc)
P14 LeVasseur, Diana (MSBR)
P113 Louis, Krishna (PA)*
P78 Maloney, Reyonna (MD)
P83 Martin, Jourden (MD)
P15 Mimba, Brenda-Ruth (MD)
P16 Mintah-Jumbo, Aiden (MD)
P17 Moore, Janelle (PhD)
P18 Nabi, Samah (MD)
P114 Ngungoh, Dorah (MD)*
P84 Okpareke, Adaugo (MD)
P115 Okpokpo, Darlene (MD)*
P36 Olayiwola, Ayomide (PhD)
P85 Oliphant, Morcquess (MD)
POSTER SESSION PRESENTERS
Listed in Alphabetical Order
Poster Name (last, first, program)
P70 Olorunyomi, RebekahDeborah (MD)
P95 Onwuzuligbo, Joy (MD)
P116 Opara, Karl (MD)*
P45 Owens, Raleeya (Undergrad)
P86 Panchal, Ruta (MD)
P28 Patel, Neeya (MD)
P19 Pennant, Nakea (PhD)
P32 Perry, Miranda (MD)
P20 Peykova, Tsvetomira (MD)
P60 Pickett, Nia (Undergrad)
P22 Pooler, Erica (MD)
P61 Quadri, Ayesha (MD)
P23 Rao, Kithana (MD)
P96 Robinson, Jalen (MD)
P97 Russell, Celena (MD)
P87 Screen, Jaliyah (MD)
P79 Sefu Omba, Ertha (MD)
P118 Sellers, Patience (PA)*
P62 Seplovich, Gabriela (MD/PhD)
Poster Name (last, first, program)
P98 Seymour, Myiera (MPH)
P37 Sims, Angel (MD)
P99 Small, S. Jaclyn (MD)
P117 Smith, Champagnae (MD)*
P38 Snowball, Breeana (MD)
P88 Solomon, Russell (MD)
P29 Stewart, Salim (PhD)
P63 Suarez, Matthew (MD)
P64 Thomas, Sarah (MD)
P89 Thule, Josiah (MD)
P90 Tolbert, Tiffany (MD)
P65 Trotter, Janae (MSNS)
P39 Uchehara, Pascal (Undergrad)
P44 Vaghani, Yog (MD)
P30 Verma, Rashi (PostDoc)
P66 Walker, Joseph (PhD)
P24 Will, F'jei (MD)
P76 Worrell, Jordan (MD)
REVIEW COMMITTEE & JUDGES
RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM AND ABSTRACT REVIEW COMMITTEE
Morris Benveniste, PhD
Leanne Burnham, PhD
Indrajit Chowdhury, PhD
Ryan Clark, PhD
Rachel Commander, PhD
Cheryl Cropp, PhD
Danita Eatman Daniels, PhD
Alec Davidson, PhD
Jason DeBruyne, PhD
Martha Elks, M.D., PhD
James Kohler, PhD
Rick Kittles, PhD
Sandra Harris-Hooker, PhD
Natalie Hernandez, PhD
Dong Liu, PhD
Shelia McClure, PhD
Michael Powell, PhD
Brenton Powers, MPH
Sharon Rachel, PhD
Desiree Rivers, PhD
Karen Russell Randall, PhD
Rajesh Singh, PhD
Jonathan Stiles, PhD
Gianluca Tosini, PhD
JUDGES FOR ORAL AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Thomas Adamkiewicz, MD
Felix Aikhionbare, PHD
Ernest Alema-Mensah, PHD
Candice Alick, PHD, MS
Kameswara Badri, PH.D.
Peter Baltrus, PHD
Gilberte Bastien, PHD
Morris Benveniste, PHD
Vincent Bond, PHD
Natasha Browner, PHD
Leanne Burnham, PHD
Indrajit Chowdhury, PHD
Cheryl Cropp, PHD
Sherry Crump, MD, MPH
Pamela Daniels, MBA, MPH, PHD
Elycia Daniel-Roberson, M.A.
Alec Davidson, PHD
Jason DeBruyne, PHD
Carmen Dickinson-Copeland, PHD, MSCR
Adel Driss, PHD
Danita Eatman Daniels, PHD
J. Christopher Ehlen, PHD
Norberto Fas, MD, MBA, FACP, CPE
Sharon Francis, PHD
Sher Gardner, MD, MBA, FAAP
Jaleesa Garth, PHD
Hao Duong, PHD
Natalie Hernandez, PhD, MPH
Cimona Hinton, PHD
Rhonda Holliday, PHD
Ming Bo Huang, MD, MS
Muhammed Idris, PHD
Erica L. Johnson, PHD
Jabril Johnson, PHD
Robina Josiah Willock, PHD, MPH
Sean K. Kimbro, PHD
Brenda Klement, PHD
Vijay Kumar, PHD
Tennille Leak-Johnson, Ph.D., MS
Dong Liu, PHD
Mingli Liu, Ph.D.
Robert Mayberry, M.S., M.P.H., Ph.D.
Shelia McClure, PHD
Hina Mir,PH.D.
Amy Mork, PHD
Chima J. Ohuabunwo, MD, MPH
Yusuf Omosun, PHD
Sharon Owina, PHD
Priscilla Pemu, MD, MS, FACP
Sharon Rachel, MS. MPH, MS
Brian Rivers, Ph.D.
Desiree Rivers, Ph.D
Jennifer Rooke, M.P.H. MD
Walter Royal III, MD
Karen Russell Randall, PHD
Talib Saafir, PHD
Kennie Shepherd, PHD
Rajesh Singh, PHD
Shailesh Singh, PHD
Jonathan Stiles, PhD
LaKesha Tables, MD, MPH, FACPM
Beverly Taylor, MD
Binu Tharakan, PHD
Winston Thompson, PHD
Gianluca Tosini, PHD
Kevin Wang, PHD
Samantha Weber, J.D.
Angela Wimes, PHD
Zhigang Xiong, MD, Ph.D.
Fengxia Yan, MD, MS
Xueying Zhao, PHD
Dr. Curtis L. Parker
SYMPOSIUM EVENT STAFF
Lisa Banks
Natasha Browner-Walker, Ph.D.
Rachel Commander, Ph.D.
Pamela Cooper
Joyce Cray
Jennifer Creighton
Tamekic Hill
Cameo Holt
Josylen Huston
James Kohler, Ph.D.
Pamela Lee
Jerry Manlove-Simmons
Stephanie Mavingire
Ariyia Minter
Carri Ramsey-Tookes
Rick Roberts, Ph.D.
Karunarmuni Silva
Eddie Stanley
Danyelle Turner
Helen Tyree
Lance Wise
Student Ambassadors:
Amber Dawning
Kamryn Tillman
Praise Idowu
Akolbia Biggers
Lauren Kelly
A special thank-you to all faculty and staff volunteers, the Office of Information Technology, the Office of Administrative Services, Marketing and Communications and the Office of Facilities.
NOTES
Dr. Curtis L. Parker
Dr. Curtis L. Parker
Leading the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice.