Poster presentations recognized at Faculty Research Day

Three researchers at the University of Florida Health Science Center have been recognized for their posters presentations of basic science research.

Prodip Bose, Ph.D., an assistant scientist in neuroscience at the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute; Christopher M. West, Ph.D., a professor of anatomy and cell biology; and Paul Oh, Ph.D., an assistant professor of physiology and functional genomics, were acknowledged at the College of Medicine’s Faculty Research Day April 18.

Bose was recognized for summarizing current progress on the first lab model to investigate muscle spasticity after traumatic brain injuries. The study provides a foundation for comprehensive investigation of the neurobiology of motor and behavioral changes following these injuries. Bose’s research was conducted under the direction of Floyd Thompson, Ph.D., an associate professor of neuroscience at UF’s McKnight Brain Institute.

West presented his team’s new findings on work in the model organism Dictyostelium, which feeds on bacteria. The researchers identified new candidate enzyme genes that may explain why specialized sugars adhere to certain cells that are dangerous to the body.

Oh’s team demonstrated work with the molecule called activin receptor kinase 1 (ALK1) and its use in new blood vessel formation in lab animals. A major new finding is that ALK1 is expressed mainly in developing arterial endothelial cells, suggesting that ALK1 may function in remodeling arterial vessels. This study may benefit not only patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), which is caused by ALK1 mutation, but also scientists who are trying to better understand the disease process of hypertension.

A total of 91 posters were entered in the presentation.