Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons students were recently honored for their achievements in research.

At the 2024 Student Research Day on April 3, 74 students presented their research to colleagues, students, faculty, and mentors. The presentation included a research poster explaining the students’ methodology, results, and inspiration. Twelve projects received awards in his four categories: MD/PhD, Research Year, Academic Project, and Summer Research. See more photos from the event.

“The quality of research exhibited by VP&S School of Medicine students reflects our faculty’s dedication to their excellence and mentoring,” said Associate Dean for Student Research and Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. said Professor Anil Lalwani, MD.

Student Research Day also recognized Academic Project Faculty Mentor of the Year, an award that honors mentors who have shaped the academic project experience. The 2024 recipient is Syed Ali Hussain, MD, PhD, assistant professor.

VP&S Student Research Day Winners

Doctor of Medicine/Ph.D.

• First place: Aleksandra Recupero, “Optimizing an automated behavioral platform to assess the developmental timing of behavioral maturation” (mentor: Dr. Franck Polleux)

Research year

• First place: William Britton, “Interrogating the Segmental Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Program in 3D Patient-Derived Organoids of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma” (Supervisors: Anuraag Parikh, MD, Hiroshi Nakagawa, MD)
• 2nd place: Paul Lewis, “Youth Caring for Communities by Promoting Insurance, Stroke, Health Education, Emergency, and Dementia Literacy (ACComPLISHED): Community Health Worker (CHW) Program” (Leader: Olajide Williams, MD, MSc, James Noble, MD), MS)
• 3rd place (tie): Kavya Rajesh, “Development and In Vivo Characterization of Biohybrid Conduits for Growth in Heart Valve Replacement” (Leader: David Kalfa, MD), and Damian Teasley, “Local Delivery of Topotecan Is an Immunogen in GBM” “Induces sexual cell death and associated bone marrow responses” (Leaders: Peter Canoll, MD, Jeffrey Bruce, MD)

academic project

• First place: Frederick Lang, “SGLT2 Inhibitors for Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy: Short-Term Analysis of Efficacy and Safety” (Mentor: Matthew Maurer, MD)
• 2nd place: Alice Vinogradsky “Long-term outcomes of heart transplantation in adults with congenital heart disease: influence of univentricular and biventricular physiology” (Leader: Koji Takeda, MD)
• 3rd place: Madison Heath, “Intestinal Colonization by Multidrug-Resistant Microorganisms in the Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” (Mentor: Daniel Friedberg, MD, MSc)

summer research

• First place: Amy Steimann, “Characterizing the Effects of Focused Ultrasound Therapy on Healthy Neurons and Alzheimer’s Disease Neurons” (Leader: Dr. Elisa Konofagou)
• 2nd place: Guillermo Almodovar-Cruz, “The Impact of Changes in Heart Transplant Allocation Policy on the Outcomes of Extracorporeal Life Support for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Cardiogenic Shock with Acute Myocardial Infarction” (Leader: Koji Takeda, MD)
• 3rd place (tie): Prashanth Kumar, “Association of MGMT promoter methylation and survival in low-grade and undifferentiated gliomas after alkylating chemotherapy” (mentor: Connor Kinslow, MD) and Meghana Giri, “Washington Heights, NY “Involving Youth in Pollution and Lung Health Monitoring” “Cities: A Pilot Study” (Mentor: Stephanie Rovinsky Desir, MD)

At the March 22 symposium, 14 members of the 2024 VP&S class of the MD-MS Program in Biomedical Sciences presented their master’s thesis research to faculty and students. Her MD-MS program in Biomedical Sciences provides students with the opportunity to develop an interest in research and engage in original research during her year in a field related to medicine.