The School of Medicine's held its 32nd Annual George G. Bierkamper Student Research Convocation Monday, Oct. 20 at which 38 graduate and medical students presented their research work in the David Lupan Auditorium of the Center for Molecular Medicine on campus.

The convocation provides students the opportunity to present original research to a group of their peers and mentors.

Students participating in the convocation were evaluated by a panel of judges from the School of Medicine faculty. They competed in either the graduate student category or medical student category and were judged based upon the quality of their research, findings and presentation. The top student in each category will receive a cash award as well as recognition for their achievement during commencement ceremonies in May.

In the graduate student category, Apurva Sarathy took first place for her presentation entitled: "Identification of a Novel a7 Integrin Enhancing Small Molecule for the Treatment of congenital Muscular Dystrophy."  

There was a tie for first place in the medical student category between Brittany Bartolome for her presentation "Respective Review of Transjugular Liver Biopsy in Patients with Left Lobe Only Liver Transplants" and a team consisting of Cole Gross, Chris Kurnik, Barre Guillen, Robert Childs, Reuel Jake Meason, Danielle Hayes and Christina Works for their work entitled: "Iron Deficiency Anemia and Undernourishment in Residents of Belen, Iquitos, Peru."

In the convocation's poster competition, Anna Louie earned first place for her poster "Association of HIST Gene Methylation Level and Prostate Cancer Recurrence."  

Distinguished guest lecturer was Donald McClain, M.D., Ph.D., interim chief, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Utah, who gave a presentation entitled "New Targets in Treatment and Preventing Diabetes and Obesity: Iron and Hypoxia" following completion of the students' presentations.

The Bierkamper Student Research Convocation recognizes the excellence of the medical school students as well as that of faculty and staff who diligently mentor students throughout their research process. All research presented by students at the convocation is original and conducted in addition to their coursework.

The convocation was started as a formal activity of the School of Medicine in 1983; however, the event has carried the name of Professor George Gwyne Bierkamper since his death in 1988.