TTUHSC Recognizes Student Research During Amarillo Research Symposium

• By Meaghan Collier
• April 16, 2025
• Research

More than 100 student and trainee researchers from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) presented research findings at the 2025 Student Research Day on April 11. This is the 17th year that TTUHSC has hosted a research day for students and trainees. 

"Amarillo Research Day is our chance to shine a spotlight on the incredible work our students and residents are doing behind the scenes—often fueled by caffeine and curiosity,” Shyanne Hefley, Ph.D., director of the TTUHSC School of Medicine Clinical Research Unit, said. “At TTUHSC, we’re all about asking bold questions and chasing down answers that matter.” 

The symposium highlighted the research accomplishments of students, residents and faculty in their respective fields of study with 83 posters and 12 oral presentations. Trainees showcased their research scholarship and projects; many were collaborations between multiple researchers. Awards were given out to outstanding presenters.

“I’m excited to keep building a research culture where ideas thrive and innovation is part of the everyday,” Hefley said. 

Amarillo regional dean of the TTUHSC School of Medicine Brian Weis, M.D.., delivered a keynote address titled, “HIV: The Role of Research in Addressing a Deadly Pandemic.”

Students from the TTUHSC School of Medicine, TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy and the TTUHSC School of Health Professions participated. Several researchers were recognized for their work at an awards ceremony on Friday. 

Oral Presentation Awards: 

School of Health Professions

• Chau Nguyen, “Predictors of Intubation and In-Hospital Mortality in E-Cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI): A 3 –Year Nationwide Analysis”

School of Medicine 

• Oluwatobi Oladeji, “Maternal Health Disparities in the Texas Panhandle: Key Informant Perspectives on Preeclampsia Prevention and Low-Dose Aspirin Education”
• Obaidah Adi, “A Rare Case of Streptococcus Gordonii Infective Endocarditis with Aortic Valve Abscess”
• Rohan Pendse, “Pulmonary Embolectomy in a Patient with Anomalous Venous Drainage”
• Andrea Lara, “Delayed Prenatal Care in the Texas Panhandle: Insights and Barriers Identified by Maternal Health Stakeholders”
• Thien Ngo, “Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma Presenting as Isolated Spinal Pain: A Delayed Diagnosis with Devastating Consequences”
• Delaney Sauers, “Unique Presentation of Perforated Gallbladder and Gangrene in an Advanced Pregnancy: Management and Other Considerations”

Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy 

• Ehsan Nozohouri, “Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity in the Tg2576 Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model: Implications for Drug Delivery”
• Ky Ayesha Akter, “Evaluating the Preventive Effect of Metformin against BBB Damage and Neuronal Mitochondrial Dysfunction Caused by Tobacco Smoke and Electronic Cigarette Exposure in Stroke Condition”
• Syed Tareq, “Discovery of Pan-EphB Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors to Reverse Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Mice”
• David Mara, “Prolonged Zero-Nicotine E-Cigarette Exposures Disrupts Blood-Brain Barrier Functional Integrity and Neuronal Metabolism In-Vitro”

Poster Awards

School of Medicine 

• 1st Place: Sharon Una, “Autosomal dominant pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA 1A) due to a novel mutation in the NR3C2 gene: A Case Report”
• 2nd Place: Lauren Baker, “Unique Presentation of Perforated Gallbladder and Gangrene in an Advanced Pregnancy: Management and Other Considerations”  
• 3rd Place: Kirstie Smith, “An Uncommon Cause of Wrist Pain in an 18-Year-Old Female” 

Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy 

• 1st Place: Surajit Hansda, “Small Pharmacological molecule BT881 Suppresses Osteoclastic Differentiation by Modulating ROS Levels and Mitochondrial Dysfunctions”
• 2nd Place: Yash Mehta,”Modeling Glucose Transporter 1 Deficiency Syndrome in a Petri dish using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells”
• 3rd Place: Lindy Burnam, “Optimal Blood Glucose Monitoring at a Pediatric Diabetes Camp: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study”