Student Profiles and Research

TCHC Conference

Honors Students Research Presentations 2022-2023 AY

 

Cancer Research 2022-2023 Presentations

National Presentations:

Lewis, M., Ruff, A., Whalen, M.M.  Effects of Dibutyltin Exposures on Translation Regulatory Factor S6 in Human Immune Cells. 31st annual NAAAHP (National Association of African American Honors Programs) Conference. Nov. 9-12, 2022, Baltimore, MD. 2nd place in the Poster Research Competition

Regional Presentations:

Fisher S and Whalen M. Tributyltin-induced Production of Tumor Necrosis Factor α in Human Immune Cells InvolvesToll-Like Receptor 1/2. Meharry Medical College/ Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center/ Tennessee State University CancerPartnership 22nd Annual Cancer Symposium, Cancer Health Disparities:  From Bench to Bedside Community, Meharry Medical College, , Nashville, TN, February 25, 2023. Best Overall Poster in the symposium

Lewis, M., Whalen, M. Toll-Like Receptor 4 Contributes to Tributyltin Stimulation of Tumor Necrosis Factor α Production by Human Immune Cells. Meharry Medical College/ Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center/ Tennessee StateUniversity Cancer Partnership 22nd Annual Cancer Symposium, Cancer Health Disparities:  From Bench to Bedside Community, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, February 25, 2023. 1st place poster undergraduate division

Bekele K, Smith T, and Stewart L. The SGLT2 Inhibitor Canagliflozin Reduces Androgen Receptor Expression and Nuclear Localization of Beta-Catenin in Human Prostate Cancer Cells. Meharry Medical College/ Vanderbilt IngramCancer Center/ Tennessee State University Cancer Partnership 22nd Annual Cancer Symposium, Cancer Health Disparities:  From Bench to Bedside Community, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, February 25, 2023. 2ndplace poster undergraduate division.

Flake A and Okoro C. In silico and ADME studies of potential inhibitors of topoisomerase II. Meharry Medical College/ Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center/ Tennessee State University Cancer Partnership 22nd Annual Cancer Symposium, Cancer Health Disparities:  From Bench to Bedside Community, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, February 25, 2023.

Lewis, M., Whalen, M. Toll-Like Receptor 4 Effects of Dibutyltin Exposures on Translation Regulatory Factor S6 in Human Immune Cells. Posters at the Capitol 2023, Tennessee State Capital-Cordell Hull Building, February 15, 2023.

 

Local Meetings:

Fisher S and Whalen M. Tributyltin-induced Production of Tumor Necrosis Factor α in Human Immune Cells InvolvesToll-Like Receptor 1/2. 45th Annual University-Wide Research Symposium, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, March 27-31, 2023. 2nd place undergraduate poster presentation.

Lewis, M., Whalen, M. Toll-Like Receptor 4 Contributes to Tributyltin Stimulation of Tumor Necrosis Factor α Production by Human Immune Cells. 45th Annual University-Wide Research Symposium, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, March 27-31, 2023. 3rd place undergraduate poster presentation.

Flake A and Okoro C. In silico and ADME studies of potential inhibitors of topoisomerase II. 45th Annual University-Wide Research Symposium, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, March 27-31, 2023.

Fisher S and Whalen M. Tributyltin-induced Production of Tumor Necrosis Factor α in Human Immune Cells InvolvesToll-Like Receptor 1/2. 19th Annual Chemistry Day, Department of Chemistry, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, April 6, 2023.

Lewis, M., Whalen, M. Toll-Like Receptor 4 Contributes to Tributyltin Stimulation of Tumor Necrosis Factor α Production by Human Immune Cells. 19th Annual Chemistry Day, Department of Chemistry, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, April 6, 2023.

 

MARC U-RISE 2022-2023 Presentation

National Presentations:

Noel S., Saraswati S.  WNT/ B-catenin Signaling Pathway on Chronic Wound Pathologies, NAAAHP 31st Annual Conference 2022, Hyatt Regency Hotel Inner Harbor - Baltimore, MD, Nov 10, 2022.

Falconer-Turner, A. Brooks, K, Ogaga, E., Whalen, M.M.  Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) Increases Production of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs).  American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Annual Meeting, Discover BMB 2023, March 25-28, 2023, Seattle, WA.

Regional Presentations:

Noel S., Saraswati S.  WNT Signaling Modulation in Chronic Wounds, Posters at the Capitol 2023, Tennessee State Capital - Cordell Hull Building, Feb 15, 2023.

Noel S., Saraswati S.  WNT Signaling Modulation in Chronic Wounds, Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP) Research Conference for Undergraduate Stem Students, Airport Embassy Suites/Hilton Hotel, Nashville, TN Feb 16-17, 2023.

Brooks, K., Falconer-Turner, A., Whalen, M.M. The role of p44/42 MAP kinase in Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)-induced production of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs). Posters at the Capitol 2023, Tennessee State Capital-Cordell Hull Building, February 15, 2023.

Local Presentations:

Noel S., Saraswati S.  WNT Signaling Modulation in Chronic Wounds, 45th Annual University-Wide Research Symposium, Tennessee State University, March 27-31, 2023.

 

National Association of African American Honors Program Conference- Fall 2022 Presentations, Baltimore, MD

Oglesby, Clayton. The Future of Print Journalism: Obsoletism Vs. Oversaturation of Online News

Todd, Irvin. Domino Effect of Food Deserts

McCollum, Doug. Black Women are Dying: A Literature Review on how Implicit Biases Impact the Quality of Medical Care Black Women Receive when Seeking Reproductive and Sexual Healthcare.

Noel, Sarena. Climate Change: Dynamics and Controls Of Nitrous Oxide Emission in Bioenergy Crops (switchgrass) Under Biochar Application and Fertilization

Lewis, Meaghan. Effects of Dibutyltin Exposures on Translation Regulatory Factor S6 In Immune Cells

Noel, Sandra. Wnt/B-catenin Signaling Pathway Analysis on Chronic Wound Pathologies

Hannah, Reona. Health Disparities of African Americans: Labor and Delivery.

 

Tennessee Collegiate Honors Council Conference, Clarksville, TN Spring 2023 Presentations

Woods, Cierra. Evaluating Conventional and Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Approaches to Identify Sex of Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) Salamanders

Noel, Sarena. Climate Change: Dynamics and Controls of Nitrous Oxide Emission in Bioenergy Crops (switchgrass) Under Biochar Application and Fertilization

Gourdin, Trinity. Sorghum Microspore Cryopreservation Separated per Different Developmental Stages 

Brooks, Kameron. The Role of P44/42 MAP Kinase in Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)-induced production of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)

Noel, Sandra. Wnt/B-catenin Signaling Pathway Analysis on Chronic Wound Pathologies

Wilson, Perez. Hikeshi Leukodystrophy: Putting out the Fire” 

   

Honors T.E.D. (TSU Educational Discovery) Talk Fall 2022 Presentations

 Bekele, Kalkidan. The SGLT2 Inhibitor Canagliflozin Reduces Androgen Receptor Expression and Nuclear Localization of Beta-Catenin in Human Prostate Cancer Cells.

Ibrahim, Shiraz. The Major Impacts of Human Life Due to Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracking

Oglesby, Clayton. The Future of Print Journalism: Obsoletism Vs. Oversaturation of Online News

Todd, Irvin. Domino Effect of Food Deserts 

McCollum, Doug. Black Women are Dying: A Literature Review on how Implicit Biases Impact the Quality of Medical Care Black Women Receive when Seeking Reproductive and Sexual Healthcare. 

Noel, Sarena. Climate Change: Dynamics and Controls of Nitrous Oxide Emission in Bioenergy Crops (Switchgrass) Under Biochar Application and Fertilization

Lewis, Meaghan. Effects of Dibutyltin Exposures on Translation Regulatory Factor S6 In Immune Cells. 

Noel, Sandra. Wnt/B-catenin Signaling Pathway Analysis on Chronic Wound Pathologies

Hannah, Reona. Health Disparities of African Americans: Labor and Delivery.

Brooks, Kameron. The role of p44/42 MAP kinase in Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)-induced production of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs).

Wilson, Perez. Hikeshi Leukodystrophy: Putting out the Fire

 

Student Profiles:

TSU Honors Student Jaquantey Bowens Accepted into Prestigious Summer Research Program at Harvard University.

 On September 12th, on Jaquantey Bowens’ 18th birthday during his freshman year, his life changed forever. As he stood in front of a coffin of his grandfather, wearing all black, he thought to himself, “This is the worse birthday of my entire life...” His maternal grandfather--just like his paternal grandfather, had just died from the usual in his family…heart related illnesses. From that day forward, Jaquantey vowed to put an end to heart disease and solidified his career choice to become a cardiovascular surgeon and researcher in cardiovascular medicine.

 On Thursday, February 23, 2017, during TSU Honors College Week that dream started to become a reality.  The week started with the announcement that TSU Honors student Jaquantey Bowens, was accepted into the highly competitive and prestigious Harvard BWH Stars Program for Summer Research. The BWH STARS Program recruits underrepresented minority (URM) college and first-year medical students from around the US into an eight-week mentored summer program. Students participate in intensive hands-on training in research methods and practice directly in the labs of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School’s leading researchers.

 Jaquantey is a junior from Fishers, IN, majoring in Biology with a concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology with a minor in Chemistry is a 4.0 GPA student. He has served as a devoted researcher through NSF and the Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP) program. Jaquantey has done research in the fields of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and ecology. As a freshman, he scripted an inorganic chemistry literature survey about acid rock drainage and how to identify the acidic species in an acid rock. He later used organic chemistry to contribute to the synthesis of fluorinated dihydroquinoline and its derivatives. He is currently utilizing ecology to measure the effect of precipitation changes on switchgrass roots, biomass, and physiology.

 Jaquantey credits the TSU Honors College for being instrumental in establishing the standard to strive for greatness through hard work. He also added “special thank you to Dr. Cosmas Okoro, Dr. Myles, Dr. Dafeng Hui, and Dr. Tasneem Siddique. These professors are my mentors and they introduced me to the world of research. Other notable people I am thankful for include Dr. Orville Bignall, Dr. Brenda Mcadory, Dr. Mahmoud, Dr. Koen Vercrussyee, Dr. Rod C. Taylor, Dr. Anthony Ejiofor,  Dr. Mattew Muterspaugh, and Dr. Coreen Jackson.”

 He has served in numerous leadership roles including Vice President & Secretary of the Honors College, the Vice President, Recording Secretary, & Corresponding Secretary of Psi Eta Sigma Honor Society, and the Treasurer & Parliamentarian of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) at Tennessee State University. He is also a member of Golden Key International Honor Society, Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, and the Minority Association of Premedical Students (MAPS).

 According to Jaquantey, “being accepted into the BWH Stars program is opportunity is my first step to curing coronary artery disease. Being accepted into it is not only for the betterment of myself, but also the world as whole. His advice for other TSU students aspiring to conduct research and follow in his footsteps in the future?

“First find a research mentor at Tennessee State University. TSU offers many professors who would love to take in students as research students…”

 For more information in the Harvard BWH Stars Program visit the following link:

http://cfdd.brighamandwomens.org/events-and-programs/pipeline-programs/bwh-stars-program/