HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – More than 150 students and post-doctoral residents and fellows participated in the 37th Annual Marshall University Health Sciences Research Day Monday, Nov. 3, at Marshall Health Network – St. Mary’s Center for Education Conference Center. 

The day-long symposium is hosted each fall by the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in partnership with the School of Pharmacy, the College of Health Professions and the College of Science to highlight original research and educational innovations.  

Participating students include undergraduates as well as graduate, medical, pharmacy, nursing, health professions and postdoctoral trainees in medicine, biomedical sciences and clinical and translational sciences. Oral and poster presentations in the areas of clinical science, basic science, medical education and quality improvement are judged by faculty members who select the best abstracts.  

“Research Day 2025 was record-setting with 180 total presentations showcasing the creativity and innovation of our health sciences research community,” said Richard Egleton, PhD, associate dean of health sciences graduate programs at the School of Medicine. “I appreciate the dedication and hard work of the medical school faculty and staff who provide the projects and mentoring for students.” 

This year’s keynote address was delivered by Lynn M. Schnapp, MD, ATSF, a George R. and Elaine Love professor and chair of the department of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Schnapp discussed pericytes in lung homeostasis and injuries.  

Winners of the 2025 Marshall University Health Sciences Research Day are listed below. 

The Intermed Labs Innovator of the Year Award was given to Ali Oliashirazi, MD, professor and chair of orthopaedic surgery at the School of Medicine. 

The Dr. John Karickhoff Medical Innovation Award for Best Overall Research Day Presentation was given to second-year medical student Isha Gupta for her abstract entitled: E AKT Serine/Threonine kinase 1 (AKT1) regulation of N-Myc Downstream Regulated 1 (NDRG1) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells. The award includes a financial incentive.  

Oral Presentation Winners 

•  Best Undergraduate Student: Lucas Stanley, College of Science (Mentor: Dr. Mary-Louise Risher)   

• Best Medical Student: Joshua Eastman (Mentor: Dr. Joshua Hess)  

• Runner-up Medical Student: Andrew Burbelo (Mentor: Dr. Matthew Bullock)  

• Best Graduate Student: Olivia Coulter (Mentor: Dr. Mary-Louise Risher)  

• Runner-up Graduate Student: Harshal Sawant (Mentor: Dr. Ji Bihl)  

• Best Post-Graduate: Yen On Chan, MD (Mentors: Dr. Abdelnaby Khalyfa, Dr. Trupti Joshi) 

Poster Presentation Winners 
 

• Best Undergraduate Student: Mika McCormick (Mentor: Dr. Gary Rankin)  

• Best Medical Student: Layla Abbud (Mentor: Dr. Morgan Stickler)  

• Runner-up Medical Student: Adel Kanaan and Salvia Zafar (equal first authors) (Mentor: Dr. Mahmood Kahn)  

• Best Graduate Student: Surya Bhaskar Karuturi (Mentor Dr. Timothy Long)  

• Runner-up Graduate Student: Sam Roth (Mentor: Dr. Travis Salisbury) 

• Best Post-Graduate: Ayesha Khalid (Mentor: Dr. Mary Payne)  

• Student Award for Best Poster (organized by the Medical Student Research Interest Group): Dominic Collins  

MEDIA ASSETS  

• Photos: https://jcesom.smugmug.com/Events/2025-Events/Research-Day 

• Social Media: @MUSOMWV  

• Research Day Archives (programs, winners, photos): https://jcesom.marshall.edu/research/research-day/ 

Date Posted: Thursday, November 6, 2025