University of Illinois Rockford Hosts its 20th Annual Research Day and Announces Winners
The University of Illinois Rockford hosted its 20th Annual Research Day today. Intended as a forum to
highlight research conducted by students from the University of Illinois’ College of Medicine, College of
Nursing, College of Pharmacy, and Medical Biotechnology Graduate Program, faculty at the University of
Illinois Rockford campus, and researchers from affiliated and regional institutions, Research Day 2015
featured 82 posters.
The event opened with a panel discussion: A comprehensive view of lung cancer. Panelists included: Gary
Anderson MD, Department of Pathology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford; Shylendra
Sreenivasappa, MD, Center for Cancer Care, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center; Karriem S. Watson, MPH,
Administrative Director of Community Engaged Research for the University of Illinois Cancer Center and
Director of Community Engaged Research Mile Square Health Center, University of Illinois at Chicago; and
Neelu Puri, PhD, Department of Biomedical Sciences University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford.
Alesia O. Jones, PhD, Chair of Campus Research Committee, Assistant Professor, Director of Research,
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford,
introduced the keynote address, Thyroid and Pregnancy: An Evolving Story, presented by Alex StagnaroGreen, MD, MHPE, Regional Dean, Professor of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Medical Education,
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford.
Students Zachary Crees and Kendall Marszalek from the College of Medicine, Andrew Gibbs and Jing Li from
the College of Pharmacy and Steve Knutson from the Master of Science in Medical Biotechnology Program
presented their research. The event ended with the announcement of award winners:
Sponsor
Award Topic
Best Basic
Science
Research Poster
Award
Award
Thermo Fisher
Scientific
Basic Research in
Health Related
Sciences
Modulation of the IL-6 Receptor
a Underlies GLI2-mediated
Regulation of Immunoglobulin
Secretion in Waldenström
Macroglobulinemia Cells
David Jackson
Best Case
Report Award
Rockford
Anesthesiologists
Associated
A Case Report on the Acute
Rupture of Sertoli-leidig Cell
Tumor in a Nulligravid 18 Year
Old Female
Maria Saavedra
Best MBT
Student
Research Poster
Award
Best Medical
Student
Technical
Poster Award
Provide two
awards
MBT Program and
Department of
Biomedical Sciences
Demonstrates
unique aspects of
medical or surgical
clinical case;
provides clear
clinical and/or
educational
significance
Excellence in basic
research
Nanotechnology Delivery and
Mechanism of Action
of Telomere Oligonucleotides
in Melanoma
Assessing Loneliness and
Quality of Life in Native
American Elders: Role of
Generativity in Later Life
Luke Wojdyla
Best Use of
Winnebago County
Medical Society
Research and
research
presentation
demonstrating
quality
Poster title
Implementation and Evaluation
of a Hydration
Initiative in a Rural Youth
Athletic Program
Crawford Library of
Use of literature
Factors Associated with Late
Awardee
TIE
Mina Tanaka
(RMED
Project)
Kendall
Marszalek and
Andrew Gibbs
Jordan Wood
Literature in a
Student
Research
Project
Best Basic
Science
Research Poster
Award
the Health Sciences
review in research
project
Referrals to a Medium-sized, Nonprofit Hospice in Semirural Northern
Illinois
Department of
Biomedical Sciences
Excellence in Basic
Science Research
Development and Evaluation
of a Fluorescent
Antibody-drug Conjugate for
Molecular Imaging
and Targeted Therapy of
Pancreatic Cancer
_______________________
Epithelial Mesenchymal
Transition and it’s Role in
TKI Resistance in Non-small
Cell Lung Cancer
TIE
Poster that best
highlights the
impact of the
College of
Medicine on the
Rockford area
High quality Rural
Health and Rural
Health Disparities
Research
Active Community Engagement
Project: Evaluation
of a Student-led Lifestyle
Modification Program
in a Subsidized Housing
Complex
Assessing Loneliness and
Quality of Life in Native
American Elders: Role of
Generativity in Later Life
Mina Tanaka
Innovative and
creative Basic
Research project in
Health Related
Sciences
High quality Basic
Science, Clinical
Research, Social
Science or other
Health Related
Sciences
Basic Science
Research
Electrochmical and
Tribocorrosive Behavior
of Ultrananocrystalline
Diamond (UNCD)
for Biomedical Applications
The mTOR Signaling Pathway:
A Prognostic
Biomarker in Late Stage Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer
Bhavani Patel
The Processing of
Topoisomerase II(TOP2)-DNA
Covalent Complexes for Repair
of DNA Damage
Induced by TOP2-targeting
Drugs
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender (LGBT) Curriculum in
Medical School and its Effect on
Competent, Compassionate,
and Knowledgeable Care of LGBT
Patients
Yilan Sun
Student Nurse Practitioner
Awareness of Migrant
Farm Workers Occupational
Health Risks
Nicole
Gonzalez
Dean’s Action
Council Award
Dean’s Action
Council
University of Illinois
College of Medicine
at Rockford
NCRHP Poster
Award for
Encouraging
Excellence in
Rural Health
Innovation in
Basic Science
Research
Award
National Center for
Rural Health
Professions
James Scholar
Award
Office of the
Regional Dean,
University of Illinois
College of Medicine
at Rockford
James Scholar
Program
College of
Pharmacy
Outstanding
Poster Award
UIC College of
Pharmacy
Supporting
Model Public
Health
Practices –
Research
Award
Winnebago County
Department of
Public Health and its
Board of Health
Research that
expands the
evidence-base for
public health
practice
Sister Mary
Linus Nowak
Research
Award
Saint Anthony
College of Nursing
Quality research in
the nursing
profession
Steve Knutson
Ichwaku
Rastogi
Mina Tanaka
Zachary Crees
Taylor Stanton