Bonnie Dixon    
bmdixon@ucdavis.edu 
Mentor:  Bruce German, Ph.D.
jbgerman@ucdavis.edu 
Food Science and Technology
Research Project: Investigation of relationships between dietary factors and sleep in a large population of home users of an EEG sleep monitor. I am collecting questionnaire data on eating behaviors, appetite, and metabolic health to analyze for relationships with sleep patterns. My long term goal is to develop personalized dietary practices that support both metabolic health and healthy sleep.

Amy Fabritius    
asfabritius@ucdavis.edu  
Mentor:  Francis McNally, Ph.D.
fjmcnally@ucdavis.edu 
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Research Project: Regulation of chromosome segregation, spindle dynamics, and cytokinesis in the conserved process of polar body extrusion using the model organism, C. elegans.

Zhen Luo 
zlluo@ucdavis.edu  
Mentor: Nitin Nitin, Ph.D.
nnitin@ucdavis.edu 
Biological and Agricultural Engineering 
Research Project: Development of novel optical molecular imaging techniques for early cancer detection and therapy evaluation.

Samantha McDonnel
sjmcdonnel@ucdavis.edu 
Mentor: Brian Murphy, D.V.M., Ph.D.
bmurphy@ucdavis.edu 
VM: Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology
Research Project: Viral latency represents a major barrier to the eradication of HIV in infected individuals. In our lab, we study the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) as a model for lentiviral latency of HIV. In particular, my project focuses on chromatin condensation status as a potential epigenetic mechanism of latency.

Natalie Yuen
yyyuen@ucdavis.edu 
Mentor: Martha O'Donnell, Ph.D.
meodonnell@ucdavis.edu  
Physiology and Membrane Biology
Research Project: Understanding how hyperglycemia, a major metabolic derangement in diabetes, exacerbate brain edema formation during the early hours of ischemic stroke.

Sahar Doctorvaladan 
sjdvaladan@gmail.com
Mentor: Don Hilty, M.D.
dmhilty@ucdavis.edu
Department of Psychiatry
Research Project: The goal of my study is to determine the level of agreement between rural adult diabetic patients self-reported health outcome measures and medical chart values for hemoglobin A1C, LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and annual eye exam. The secondary goal is to identify demographic factors (age, gender, race, education level, etc), self-reported confidence with diabetes self-management, or depression as associated with self-reporting behavior. The end goal is to identify patient groups who would benefit from a targeted educational intervention to improve their health outcomes.

Anna Peter 
anna.peter@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Mentor: William Murphy, M.D.
wmjmurphy@ucdavis.edu 
Internal Medicine
Research Project: Our hypothesis is that highly activated donor NK cells can act as veto cells to induce a tolerogenic state towards a subsequent stem cell graft from the same donor while leaving the host immune system intact.

Russell Witt 
russellgwitt@gmail.com 
Mentor: Ming-Sing Si, M.D.
msi@ucdavis.edu 
Department of Surgery
Research Project: The goal of my proposed project is to optimize conditions for the generation of microcirculation in SOCT. As a source of endothelial cells for the microvasculative, I plan to use human umbilical vein endothelial cells for the microvasculative, I plan to use human unbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), which have already been shown in pilot studies to form miscrovascular structures in the SOCT model. Furthermore, I plan to use human neonatal thymus derived mesenchymal stromal cells (tMSCs) as a perivascular cell to aid in the formation of microvasculature within SOCT.

Andrew Wong 
awo@ucdavis.edu 
Mentor: Katherine Ferrara, Ph.D.
kwferrara@ucdavis.edu 
Department of Biological Engineering
Research Project: Optimizing targeted delivery of siRNA across the blood brain barrier in a mouse model of FXTAS.

Nanelle Barash   
nanelle@gmail.com 
Mentor:  Scott Dawson, Ph.D.
scdawson@ucdavis.edu 
Department of Microbiology
Research Project: To test whether Giardia infection disrupts the ecological balance of the gut microbiome.

Ryan Hunsaker   
mrhunsaker@ucdavis.edu 
Mentor:  Robert Berman, Ph.D.
rfberman@ucdavis.edu
Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Project: To impair CGG KI mice in both a cue competition task that assesses executive function similarly to the Stroop test and an attentional cueing task that assesses cognitive control. By using such tasks, similar cognitive processes can be assessed across species and document disease progression during development and aging.

Diana Morales-Hernandez
dgmorales@ucdavis.edu 
Mentor: Kent Leach, Ph.D.
jkleach@ucdavis.edu
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Research Project: To show that Hyaluronic acid will serve as an effective template for GHK delivery,
resulting in enhanced angiogenesis and resultant bone formation.

Jessica Morgan   
jmmorgan@ucdavis.edu
Mentor:  Clare Yellowley, Ph.D.
cyellowley@ucdavis.edu
Department of Vet Med: Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology
Research Project: To test whether osteoblasts transduce shear stress into biological signals through an annexin II dependent mechanism mediated by annexin II interactions with focal adhesions and src.

Vidya Atluri      
vlatluri@ucdavis.edu
Mentor:  Renee Tsolis, Ph.D.
rmtsolis@ucdavis.edu
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Research Project: To understand the mechanisms of chronic infection by using Brucella spp as a model to understand their role in mediating persistence in the host in vivo, characterize the translocation of BopA, and identify their host interaction partners in vitro.

Andrew Bregman    
andrew.bregman@gmail.com
Mentor:  Michael Minzenberg, M.D.
michael.minzenberg@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Department of Psychiatry
Research Project: To utilize cognitive neuroscience perspectives and methods to address major    neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.

Jenny Lam 
jenny.lam@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu 
Mentor: Heike Wulff, Ph.D.
hwulff@ucdavis.edu
Department of Pharmacology 
Research Project: To evaluate the effects of TRAM-34, a calcium-activated potassium channel (KCa3.1) blocker, on inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and chronic airway remodeling in a mouse model of asthma.

Melissa Loja     
melissa.loja@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Mentor:  N. Nitin, Ph.D.
nnitin@ucdavis.edu
Department of Biological Engineering
Research Project: To assess the patterns of response to molecular labeling of normal and neoplastic tissue and compare them to their corresponding histopathology. Results of this study will provide a foundation for developing this technology, and will improve detection and diagnosis of oral neoplasia as well as assist with prognostic and therapeutic decision making.

Renu Rehal     
bkrehal@ucdavis.edu 
Mentor:  Rivkah Isseroff, M.D.
rrisseroff@ucdavis.edu
Department of Dermatology
Research Project: To evaluate if altering the surface chemistry and biophysical characteristics of the wound bed will promote favorable cell behaviors that accelerate wound healing.

David Chin     
dlchin@ucdavis.edu
Mentor:  Patrick Romano, M.D.
psromano@ucdavis.edu
Department of Internal Medicine
Research Project: To develop, pilot-test, implement, and evaluate a quality improvement intervention program focused on prevention of hospital-acquired infections in acutely ill medical and surgical inpatients.

Crystal Coolbaugh    
ccoolbaugh@ucdavis.edu 
Mentor:  David Hawkins, Ph.D.
dahawkins@ucdavis.edu
Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior
Research Project: To prove that a customized physical activity plan that incorporates individual factors and provides feedback of health-related improvements will promote physical activity participation and result in greater health benefits than current federal physical activity guidelines.

Collin Ellis 
collinellis@gmail.com
Mentor: John C. Rutledge, M.D.  
jcrutledge@ucdavis.edu
Department of Internal Medicine 
Research Project: Linking intestinal microbiota and high saturated fat diets with vascular inflammation and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in humans.

Amber Roegner 
afroegner@ucdavis.edu
Mentor: Birgit Puschner, D.V.M.
bpuschner@ucdavis.edu
Department of Molecular Biosciences 
Research Project: The identification of mercapturic acids in urine as potential tool for biomonitoring and clinical interventions for microcystin exposures.

Cindy Chambers    
cjgoebel@ucdavis.edu
Mentor:  April Armstrong, M.D.
aprilarmstrong@post.harvard.edu
Department of Dermatology
Research Project: Evaluation of clinical outcomes in an online teledermatology model for the   management of psoriasis.

Hillary Davis    
hedavis@ucdavis.edu
Mentor:  J. Kent Leach, Ph.D.
jkleach@ucdavis.edu
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Research Project: Sustained Nonviral Gene Delivery from Composite Scaffolds.

Nicolas Prionas 
ndprionas@ucdavis.edu
Mentor: John Boone, Ph.D.
jmboone@ucdavis.edu
Department of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering 
Research Project: To prove the use of contrast medium in the detection of breast cancer using the dedicated breast CT system is a predictive tool to differentiate malignant from benign lesions.

Lindsey Sheffler    
lcsheffler@ucdavis.edu
Mentor:  Michelle James,M.D.
michelle.james@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Research Project: To investigate the incidence of elbow flexion contracture in children with BPBP through a retrospective medical record review; and to test the hypothesis that the long head of the biceps brachii compensates for a weak deltoid muscle and causes elbow flexion contracture in children with BPBP.

Nicholas Wettersten    
nwwettersten@ucdavis.edu
Mentor:  Nipavan Chiamvimonvat, Ph.D.
nchiamvimonvat@ucdavis.edu
Department of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology    
Research Project: To investigate whether adult cardiac fibroblasts may be induced using transcription factors into cardiac progenitor cells that can then be differentiated into cardiac myocytes.

Benjamin Lin     
brlin@ucdavis.edu
Mentor:  Jan Nolta, Ph.D., Professor
jan.nolta@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Department of Internal Medicine
Research Focus: The role of mesenchymal stem cells in wound healing.

Yen Chen Liu     
yenliu@ucdavis.edu 
Mentor:  Rivkah Isseroff, M.D., Professor 
rrisseroff@ucdavis.edu
Department of Dermatology 
Research Focus: Cutaneous wound healing.

Amilcar Rizzo    
Amilcar.rizzo@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu 
Mentor: Rivkah Isseroff, M.D., Professor 
rrisseroff@ucdavis.edu
Department of Dermatology     
Research Focus: The effect of beta adrenergic receptor activation and blockade on inflammation in the healing skin wound.

Benjamin Lin     
brlin@ucdavis.edu
Mentor:  Jan Nolta, Ph.D., Professor
jan.nolta@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Department of Internal Medicine
Research Focus: The role of mesenchymal stem cells in wound healing.

Yen Chen Liu     
yenliu@ucdavis.edu 
Mentor:  Rivkah Isseroff, M.D., Professor 
rrisseroff@ucdavis.edu
Department of Dermatology 
Research Focus: Cutaneous wound healing.

Amilcar Rizzo    
Amilcar.rizzo@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu 
Mentor: Rivkah Isseroff, M.D., Professor 
rrisseroff@ucdavis.edu
Department of Dermatology     
Research Focus: The effect of beta adrenergic receptor activation and blockade on inflammation in the healing skin wound.

Amir Abu-Khalil
Mentor: Ronald Li, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy
Project Summary: Cardiac stem cell biology. The research will test, in a clinically-relevant large animal (porcine) model of myocardial infarction, the hypothesis that pluripotent patient-specific embryonic stem cells with a genetic make-up identical to that of the donor can be derived via somatic nuclear transfer (SNT), and differentiated into an immunocompatible and functionally effective graft of cardiomyocytes that is then finally transplanted back to the same donor “patient” swine.

Ranti S. Bolaji
Mentor: Rivkah Isseroff, M.D., Professor, Department of Dermatology
Project Summary: Mesenchymal stem cells and their role in wound healing. Bone marrow stem cells may be recruited to healing wounds and contribute to wound repair. The research is directed at determining how wound extracellular matrix plays a role in recruiting these mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to the wound site. The goal is to determine which matrix molecules are best for recruiting MSC to the wound area.

Randie Kim
Mentor: Richard Bold, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Surgery
Project Summary: The effect of arginine deprivation by arginine deiminase as a novel anti-cancer therapy for prostate cancer. Arginine deprivation therapy exploits the altered metabolic pathway of tumors that no longer express argininosuccinate synthetase, the rate limiting enzyme in arginine synthesis. Arginine deprivation by arginine deiminase has already undergone Phase I/II clinical trials for hepatocellular carcinomas and melanomas. Prostate cancer is another candidate that has been determined to potentially benefit from arginine deiminase. Arginine deiminase is an attractive therapeutic agent for its selectivity and mild side effect profile. In addition to its direct therapeutic applications, arginine deprivation can also be used to investigate fundamental biological principles such as arginine metabolism, autophagy and apoptosis.

Nhat To
Mentor: Amir Jamali, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Project Summary: Fresh osteochondral allografting as a therapeutic treatment of focal joint degenerations. The research will be focused on the understanding of cellular interaction between the host and graft’s chondrocytes in a rabbit fresh osteochondral allograft model using fluorescent in situ hybridization. This will ultimately lead to a better understanding of fresh osteochondral allografting and improvement of how focal joint defects are repaired. The objective of the project is to disprove the current belief of articular cartilage as a closed and “immunoprivileged” system. We hypothesize that recipient cells are able to migrate into fresh osteochondral allografts and that articular cartilage is not necessarily a closed and “immunoprivileged” system.

Whitney Cheung
Mentor: Kent Leach, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Project Summary: Developing novel approaches for treating spinal cord injury. The research will pursue a cell-based therapy using a novel biomaterial scaffold which conforms to the shape of the defect site while simultaneously enabling the localized presentation of signals to direct the migration of target cell populations and promote nerve regeneration. The identity of the cell population is a critical question and will be a major factor in the clinical success of this work.

Alexander Davies
Mentor: Kenneth Kaplan, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Project Summary: The current research consists of a novel project based upon previous results suggesting that binding of Sgt1 to Hsp90 involves a unique interaction surface on Hsp90 which can be targeted for chemical and peptide inhibitors. Current therapies have focused on the inhibition of Hsp90 presenting a broadly directed and likely systemically toxic cancer therapy. The involvement of Sgt1 in directing the specificity of Hsp90 to a subset of proteins involved in kinetochore assembly, however, presents the opportunity to create a therapeutic specifically directed to inhibit cell division.

Jennifer Neugebauer
Mentor: David Hawkins, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior
Project Summary: Quantification of the mechanical properties of musculoskeletal structures in children and identification of how these properties change with growth and development. Once the mechanical properties have been quantified, the relative stresses imposed on various structures in children will provide a foundation for understanding injury prevention and rehabilitation strategies.

Arzu Ulu
Mentor: Bruce Hammock, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Entomology
Project Summary: Metabolomics, inflammation component of atherosclerosis. We will use ApoE knockout mice, an animal model for atherosclerosis, to elucidate the influence of soluble epoxide hydrolase, a key enzyme in the arachidonic acid pathway. The metabolomic profile of the knockout and wild type animals is in the process of being obtained. The data will hopefully be instrumental in correlating biochemical pathways associated with and the differences between control and diseased animals. The animal in vitro models will test basic hypotheses regarding the role of the arachidonic acid cascade on cardiovascular disease. In addition, the lab will also run plasma metabolomic analysis and analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms related to the arachidonic acid cascade in the CARDIA human epidemiology study of cardiovascular health.