The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Graduate College proudly hosted the 50th Annual Graduate Research Education and Technology (GREAT) Symposium Awards Ceremony and Reception on April 3, 2025, at the Nicholson Conference Center. This year’s landmark event brought together students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and trainees from across campus to showcase their scientific discoveries and celebrate research excellence.

In honor of this golden anniversary, 25 prestigious awards were presented to recognize outstanding work across a wide spectrum of disciplines. The recipients exemplify the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and academic rigor that define the OUHSC research community.

Award Winners

Graduate Student Paper of the Year

• Harris Blankenship, Physiology
  VTA Dopamine Neurons are Hyperexcitable in 3xTg-AD Mice Due to Casein Kinase 2-dependent SK Channel Dysfunction

Postdoctoral Fellow Paper of the Year

• Neeraj Thakur, Pharmaceutical Sciences
  Dual Stimuli-Responsive and Sustained Drug Delivery NanoSensoGel Formulation for Prevention of Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity

High School Trainee Award for Scientific Achievement

• Anthony Phan, Occupational and Environmental Health, Hudson College of Public Health

• Zachary Thomas, Biochemistry & Physiology, College of Medicine

Special Trainee Award for Scientific Achievement

• Taylor Forest, Microbiology and Immunology
  The effect of DFMO on IL-22 and IL-17a cytokine levels in T-Helper 22 cells

O. Ray Kling Award for Scientific Achievement

• Alexa Beathard, Pharmaceutical Sciences
  Development of Murine Passive Inhalation Methodology for the Treatment of Tuberculosis with OHet72 Nanosuspensions

Provost Award for Outstanding Research

• Jillian Cox, Neuroscience
  Sex differences in Alzheimer’s Disease: What can a mouse model reveal?

Provost Award for Postdoctoral Research

• Sharon Negri, Neuroscience
  Synergistic effects of aging and high-fat diet induced obesity on brain senescence and neurovascular function

Vice President for Research Award for Outstanding Research

• Sunho Lee, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  The role of necroptosis in the induction of cellular senescence

Vice President for Research Award for Postdoctoral Research

• Sherwin Tavakol, Neuroscience
  Temporary Carotid Occlusion Alters Neurovascular Function: Insights from a Rodent Model

College of Medicine Dean’s Award for Outstanding Research

• Matthew Baier, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  Microglial senescence is a central determinant of age-related cognitive disparities

College of Medicine Dean’s Award for Scientific Achievement

• Michaela Vance, Cell Biology
  Senescence and endothelial to mesenchymal transition in the aging cerebral vasculature

OMRF Award for Scientific Achievement

• Srividya Kottapalli, Neuroscience
  μEx Splice Code: A Multi-Omics Deep Learning Framework to Investigate Microexon Regulation in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease

Bioscience Travel Award for Scientific Achievement

• Maryam Firouzi, Pharmaceutical Sciences
  Harnessing Cancer-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles for Antibody-Based Targeting in Ovarian Cancer

ARL Bio Pharma Award for Outstanding Research

• Joshua Seaberg, Pathology
  Aurniosoves: RNA Therapy Through Iterative Delivery

Graduate Student Association (GSA) Awards

• Outstanding Research: Zeke Reyff, Neuroscience
  Time-Restricted Feeding Enhances Cerebromicrovascular Bioenergetic Health via Increased Ketone Body Production

• Scientific Achievement: Justin Ko, Neuroscience
  Microglia, Estrogen, and Alzheimer’s: What’s the Link?

• Scientific Achievement: Gargi Deshpande, Biostatistics and Epidemiology
  Wastewater-Based Surveillance for Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Insights from a 21-month study in Oklahoma

• Scientific Achievement: Shriya Pandey, Pathology
  Overcoming RET Kinase Inhibitor-induced feedback RET Overexpression with Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC)

Flash Talk Winners

• Judged Winner: Melissa Testut, Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (GPiBS)
  Multiple Sclerosis in Women: How Obesity and Sex Impact Treatment

• Popular Vote Winner: Melissa Testut, GPiBS
  Multiple Sclerosis in Women: How Obesity and Sex Impact Treatment

• Faculty Flash Talk Winner: Anne Kasus-Jacobi
  Development of a multitarget drug for Alzheimer's disease

Graduate College Dean’s Awards

• Translational Research: Morgan Smith, Microbiology and Immunology
  The role of interferon gamma in injury accelerated cystic kidney disease

• Scientific Achievement: Marisa Bickel, Cell Biology
  The Role of IGF-1 Signaling in Smooth Muscle Cells in Age-Related Brain Microvascular Fragility

• Outstanding Research: Nisha Thomas, Pathology
  Tamoxifen Effects on Adipocyte Progenitors Link Breast Cancer Therapy to Diabetes Risk

The Graduate College extends heartfelt congratulations to all awardees and participants. Their research embodies the commitment to discovery and innovation that drives the OUHSC mission forward.

We also thank our faculty judges, sponsors, and campus partners who made this year’s GREAT Symposium a true celebration of 50 years of student research excellence.

For more information about the GREAT Symposium and how to participate next year, visit graduate.ouhsc.edu.