Six Students Across All Four Research Departments Receive Annual Honors
SKAGGS FELLOWSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS (2024-2025)
Faheem
Department: Medicinal Chemistry
Mentor & Lab: Katherine Diehl
Faheem's research focuses on using customized chromatin to characterize novel deacylation activities of Sirtuin 6, an epigenetic enzyme that has a prominent role in gene regulation, aging, and metabolism. By obtaining insights into the catalytic repertoire of Sirtuin 6, his research intends to support ongoing therapeutic programs aimed at modulating Sirtuin 6 while also informing future biochemical and cellular experiments concerning Sirtuin 6.
Braxten Hornsby
Department: Molecular Pharmaceutics
Mentor & Lab: Carol Lim
Virtually all chronic myeloid leukemias (CML) and a subset of acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) are caused by a chromosomal abnormality which yields the chimeric oncoprotein Bcr-Abl. Activation of Bcr-Abl occurs upon homodimerization of the Bcr-CC domain, presenting a therapeutic target for inhibition. In Braxten’s work, he has designed, computationally modeled, and synthesized Bcr-CC mutants meant to preferentially bind Bcr-CC and neutralize Bcr-Abl. These mutant constructs are enhanced by conjugation of a leukemia-specific targeting moiety and hydrocarbon staples to improve in vivo delivery, stability, and efficacy. These constructs aim to tackle translational challenges and act as novel dimerization inhibitors against Bcr-Abl for the treatment of CML and ALL.
Ashley Zachery-Savella
Department: Pharmacology & Toxicology
Mentor & Lab: Karen Wilcox
Epilepsy treatment is complicated by the fact that patients with similar phenotypes and seizure classifications do not respond similarly to the same treatments, suggesting subtler differences exist that cannot be accounted for by our currently-limited classification system. Ashley’s research aims to assess the clinical utility of a new kind of seizure classification based on computer modeling and bifurcation theory. Investigating seizure onset and offset patterns in animal models of epilepsy and their response to anti-seizure medications may provide additional metrics to quantify drug efficacy and could lead to improvements in how epilepsy is classified and treated clinically.
Kenechukwu Ben-Umeh
Department: Pharmacotherapy
Mentor & Lab: Joey Mattingly
Kene's research focuses on developing a quality adjusted drug price index for obesity treatment in the United States. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) requires drug manufacturers to pay a mandatory rebate if the price of their drugs covered under Medicare Parts B and D increases faster than the overall inflation rate. However, current inflation measures for pharmaceuticals do not adjust for quality improvements and innovation that come with newer medications. Kene’s work will demonstrate what an index should look like for obesity treatment and incorporate patient preferences.
KURAMOTO AWARD RECIPIENTS (2024-2025)
Lauren Naatz
Department: Molecular Pharmaceutics
Mentor & Lab: Mingnan Chen
The overarching goal of Lauren’s research is to develop novel immunotherapies to treat autoimmune diseases. Her current work involves the production and characterization of bispecific antibodies for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). These bispecific antibodies are designed to deplete pathogenic cells of MS in a more controlled, precise, and ultimately safer manner than therapies currently used in the clinic.
Khanh Duong
Department: Pharmacotherapy
Mentor & Lab: Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk
Khanh’s research focuses on understanding racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes and evaluating the impact of COVID-19 mobile vaccine clinics (MVCs) on health disparities in Utah. The study aims to identify associations between race/ethnicity and COVID-19 health outcomes, assess MVC effectiveness in increasing vaccination rates among Hispanic and non-Hispanic groups, and estimate the health and economic impacts of MVCs through transmission modeling. This research will provide critical insights for public health policies aimed at reducing health disparities during pandemics, benefiting both Utah and the broader US context.
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