Pictured: CICATS 2018 BUILD Scholars with CICATS CEO Dr. Cato Laurencin

The Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Initiative provides awards to undergraduate institutions across the country to implement and study innovative approaches to engaging and retaining students from diverse backgrounds in biomedical research.  In 2014, the National Institute of Health (NIH) granted 10 five-year BUILD (Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity) awards.  The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) was one of the 10 core institutions to receive the award which led to the formation of the Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity: Southwest Consortium of Health-Oriented Education Leaders and Research Scholars (BUILDing Scholars) program. Under the UTEP BUILD award, there are 13 Research partners, with UConn being the only academic institution from the northeast.

The third cohort of CICATS BUILD Scholars recently completed their summer research experiences. In addition to their summer research project, the Scholars attended weekly CICATS Summer Seminar Series lectures on topics such as research ethics and translational research, received additional personalized mentorship by M1 Mentors, and had the opportunity to present a poster of their research at UConn Health. The names and final presentations of our BUILD Scholars are as follows:

• Luisa Castillo – laboratory of Dr. Leslie Caromile – “The role of Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) on One Carbon Metabolism of Prostate Cancer”
• Gabriel Garcia – laboratory of Dr. Cato Laurencin – “Fabrication and characterization of electrospun PLLA/CAP and PLGA/CAP nanofiber blends for tissue engineering applications”
• Janet Olivas – laboratory of Dr. Steven Szcepanek – “Searching for the elusive mycoplasma pneumoniae vaccine”
• Joshua Preciado – laboratory of Dr. David Steffens – “Cognitive Variability and Brain Aging in Late-Life Depression”
• Tania Miramontes – laboratory of Dr. David Martinelli – “C1QL1 synaptic protein mediating hyperacusis‐like behavior”

For questions about the BUILD program, contact Lana Angelo at langelo@uchc.edu.

During the past 6 weeks, over 100 students registered for CICATS seminar series. Each summer, CICATS offers these free weekly seminars to students interested in pursuing careers as scientists and scholars in biological and biomedical sciences. This years topics included:

• Scientific Writing & Presenting at Scientific Conferences
• Translational Research
• Preparing for Medical and/or Graduate School
• Publishing in Academic Journals
• Wet Lab: Basic Science Techniques
• Preparing a CV and Personal Statement
• Research Ethics and the Role of the IRB

Thank you to all the UConn faculty that helped make these seminars a success. For questions about our seminar series please contact Lana Angelo at langelo@uchc.edu.

CICATS CEO Dr. Cato Laurencin is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. Dr. Laurencin acknowledges the quality of papers selected by the Journal by choosing in each issue two articles that are outstanding with respect to scientific quality and relevance to the field. Editor’s choice selections will be available with temporary free access to full-text articles.

August Editor’s Choice Articles (free access through September 19, 2018)

High Risk of Depression in High-Income African American Boys

Factors Contributing to Disparities in Baseline Neurocognitive Performance and Concussion Symptom Scores Between Black and White Collegiate Athletes

CICATS is pleased to announce that Hanna Koziol has joined the team as an Administrative Officer. Hanna has been with UConn Health for over 19 years and comes to the Institute with extensive administrative experience. She previously worked in departments such as Finance, Human Resources, the Department of Psychiatry and Correctional Managed Health Care. She can be reached at 860-679-6550 or hkoziol@uchc.edu.

 

This August, former CICATS Research Assistant Yu-Bo Wang will become assistant professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Clemson University. Dr. Wang credits his experience at CICATS for shaping his career path.

“In June of 2012 I received one of the best birthday gifts in my life from Professor Grady, Director of CICATS Biostatistic Center,” said Dr. Wang. “It was an email offering a research assistant position in CICATS. Till today, I still remember that excitement when seeing his message. This unique 4-year experience (2012-2016) enriched my Ph.D. life and keeps influencing my road of research for good. I benefited greatly from the consulting skills and attitudes that Professor Grady taught me. During this period, I was exposed to different applications of statistics and was trained to work independently with physicians. Additionally, CICATS staff are incredibly kind and always gave me good advice when I faced difficulty. CICATS was my leaping point and without that experience I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

Everyone here at CICATS wishes him the best of luck at his new position.

CICATS CEO Dr. Cato Laurencin presented at the recent Noyce Summit which was co-hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Education and Human Resources Program (EHR) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE). The topic this year was, Towards a 2026 STEM Education: Implications of Convergent Science for K-12 STEM Teacher Preparation in the Face of Changing Student Demographics.

Attendees Lisa Thompson and Sharon Cameron, both science teacher leaders in elementary schools on Staten Island and Brooklyn, said Dr. Laurencin’s remarks were “inspirational and eye opening.” They are pictured with Dr. Laurencin below.

The Connecticut Convergence Institute hosts free science cafes with the Kavli Foundation on different scientific topics. Our science cafe series aims to bring science to members of the community in an engaging and informal way.

For this October event, attendees will hear from the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, an Academic Affiliate of UCONN School of Medicine, about research pertaining to fertility preservation for young women and those with cancer, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and screening, advancements in lab techniques of embryo biopsy and vitrification, and more. This event is free and all are invited to attend. Food and beverages will be provided.

Speakers (all from the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services and UConn Ob&Gyn):

• Dr. Evelyn Neuber
• Alison Bartoluuci
• Dr. Claudio Benadiva
• Dr. Andrea DiLuigi

Topic: Infertility: Challenges, Research & Innovation

When: Friday, October 26th, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Where: Butterfly Restaurant,  831 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, CT 06119

RSVP: Please use this link to RSVP for this science cafe.

For questions please contact Noehren@uchc.edu.

The Connecticut Convergence Institute hosts free science cafes with the Kavli Foundation on different scientific topics. Our science cafe series aims to bring science to members of the community in an engaging and informal way.

For this September event, attendees will hear from Dr. Thomas Buckley of the UConn School of Pharmacy, about the importance of healthcare access for refugees and the underserved. There will be ample time for discussion after Dr. Buckley’s remarks. This event is free and all are invited to attend. Food and beverages will be provided.

For more details about Dr. Buckley’s research and experience in this area, check out this article titled, Promoting Healthcare Access for Refugees and the Underserved is a Mission for Tom Buckley.

Topic: The Rising Importance of Immigrant Health

When: Thursday, September 27th, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Where: Costa del Sol, 901 Wethersfield Ave, Hartford, CT 06114

RSVP: Please use this link to RSVP for this science cafe.

For questions please contact Noehren@uchc.edu.

In late June CICATS celebrated our outgoing class of Pre-K Scholars. The Pre-K Scholar Award Program is a 2-year interactive program designed to equip junior faculty with the knowledge and competencies to effectively apply for an NIH Research Career Development Awards (K award) as well as become leaders in clinical and translational science.

“The Pre-K program was highly beneficial to me as I completed the last 2 years of my tenure-track position,” said Michelle Judge, outgoing Pre-K Scholar. “The protected time and support of research productivity was very helpful. Using these supports, I have now secured tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. The directors provided fantastic insights for me as I build my own research trajectory. Discussion of day to day struggles to balance being a scientist and keep demands balanced with life was a wonderful support to me. Many of the speakers were helpful with various aspects of research. Overall, I had a great experience in the Pre-K program and am thankful for the opportunity.”

You can read more about the outgoing Scholars on our website. We look forward to following them along their research career paths and wish them all the best.

Special note: CICATS would also like to thank Anne Kenny for her contributions as a Pre-K Scholar Award Program co-director. Dr. Mark Litt will take her place as co-director for the incoming group in July.

CICATS is proud to announce that Tiahna Spencer, M.D. Candidate at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, is one of 37 talented students selected for the Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP) by the National Institutes of Health. Tiahna is a mentee of CICATS CEO Dr. Cato Laurencin.

The MRSP allows medical, dental, and veterinary students to pause their university studies to live on the intramural campus of NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, and conduct basic, clinical, or translational research. The accepted scholars begin their fellowship in July/August 2018.

“I am very excited to participate in the NIH Medical Research Scholars Program, as this experience will afford me the opportunity to further develop my research skills and experiences at one of the world’s leading research centers,” said Tiahna. “I hope to draw from this experience, a skill or life lesson that will contribute to my development into the physician I intend to become.”

More information is available on the NIH website.