Doctoral students honored for research

Three doctoral students at the University of Florida College of Medicine have been recognized for outstanding progress in their graduate training and thesis research.

Jason Coleman, Keith Nykamp and Yi Tang, who are enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Science, were awarded Graduate Fellowships for Outstanding Research at the program’s annual welcome reception Aug. 21. Each student will receive a $2,000 fellowship award per year for up to two years.

Coleman is using a lentivirus gene-transport system to study gene expression in the developing retina in animal models. Nykamp is studying the stability of messenger RNA molecules, which could lead to a better understanding of myotonic dystrophy (a degenerative muscle disease) and other genetic diseases. Tang is developing gene therapy vectors with a “gene switch” designed to turn on only when needed, such as for the treatment of oxygen deprivation or other medical conditions.