PROmoTE scholars participate in the NRTC Seminar Series, providing team oral presentations. MD-seeking students present their research at the Dale J. Benos Medical Student Research Day in the Fall, and PhD-seeking students present in the spring at the Department of Medicine Trainee Research Symposium. PROmoTE Scholars also have the opportunity to attend a national conference.
2019 PROmoTE Scholars
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Fabian Berru & Stephen Cunningham
PROmoTE 2019 Team Research Topic: “Elevated Serum Phosphate induces genetic markers for Systematic Anemia and inflammation in murine hepatocytes”
PROmoTE Mentors: Dr. Orlando Gutierrez & Dr. Christian FaulCurrent Scholar Highlights
F 
abian Berru, MD - Residency
Berru, F. N., Womack, R. Gutierrez, O. M., "Ferric Citrate Affects Serum IL-6 Levels in CKD Patients", Poster Presented at: Dale J. Benos Medical School Research Day, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; September 2019.
Stephen Cunningham, MS
Presentations:
- Stephen Cunningham, Brian Czaya, Beatrice Richter, Kylie Heitman, Christopher Yanucil, Isaac Campos, Dominik Kentrup, Fabian Berru, and Christian Faul, "Elevated Phosphate Levels Induce Markers of Systemic Inflammation and Anemia in Murine Hepatocytes", UAB Trainee Research Symposium, March, 2020.
- Accepted Poster Presentation - Experimental Biology. April 2020 (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)
- Work in Progress (August 2020) : Department of Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism
Service: Treasurer,Graduate Biomedical Student Outreach club -
Cody Savage & Chanelle Hunter
PROmoTE 2019 Team Research Topic “Developing Physiologically Relevant Tissue Chip Models of Renal Vasculature and the Study of Vascular Calcification”
PROmoTE Mentors: Dr. Palaniappan Sethu & Dr. Abolfazl ZarjouCurrent Scholar Highlights
Cody Savage, MD - Residency
Savage, C., Hunter, C. Spangler, D., Sethu, P. Zarjou, A., "Investigating the Role of Ferritin Heavy Chain in Vascular Calcification",Poster Presented at: Dale J. Benos Medical School Research Day, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; September 2019.
Awarded: Physician Scientist Development Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (T35) - summer 2020Serves as APSA Mentor, Treasurer for the Neurosurgery IG, & MS2 rep for the Anesthesiology IG
Chanelle Hunter - Y4, PhD degree seeking
Hunter, C., Savage, C., Donoghue, L., Sethu, P., Zarjou, A., "Developing Physiologically Relevant Tissure Chip Models of Renal Vasculature and the Study of Vascular Calcification",UAB Trainee Research Symposium, March, 2020. -
Mary Claire Chumley & Ari Ginsparg
PROmoTE 2019 Team Research Topic: “A Series of Studies in Polycystic Kidney Disorder Approved with Team Science Techniques”
PROmoTE Mentors: Dr. Michal Mrug & Dr. Bradley YoderCurrent Scholar Highlights
Mary Claire Doss, MD
Chumley, M.C., Harrison, K, Williams, D. M., Kumar, V., Mrug, M. "Effects of Kidney Transplantation on Cytogenesis in Kidneys Procured from Deceased Donor with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease". Poster Presented at: Dale J. Benos Medical School Research Day, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; September 2019.Chumley, M.C., Kim, H., Mrug, M "A Novel Prognostic Imaging Biomarker based on Individual Cyst Growth Rate in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease" Poster Presented at: Dale J. Benos Medical School Research Day, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; September 2020, as a part of the Summer Medical School research program.
Ari Ginsparg - Y5, PhD degree seeking
Accepted Poster Presentation - Experimental Biology. April 2020 (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)
Presented Poster on telomere binding protein design - RosettaCon - August 2020Serves as Secretary of the Informatics Club -
J. Miller Allan & Cailin Kellum
PROmoTE 2019 Team Research Topic:“Effects of Early Life Stress on cardiovascular function in a novel MSEW mouse strain and immunological homeostasis in adolescent humans”
PROmoTE Mentors: Dr. Daniel Feig, Dr. Jennifer Pollock, & Dr. Michael SeifertCurrent Scholar Highlights
J. Miller Allan, MD - Research Residency
Allan, J.M., Kellum, C.E., McPherson, K.C., Neder, T.H.; Sedakal, R., Seifert, M.E., Feig, D.I., Pollock, J.S.,"Effects of Early Life Stress on cardiovascular function in a novel MSEW mouse strain and immunological homeostasis in adolescent humans", Poster Presented at: Dale J. Benos Medical School Research Day, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; September 2019. (Awarded 2nd Place - Renal Division)
Cailin Kellum - Y5, PhD degree seeking
Cailin E. Kellum, J. Miller Allan, Kasi C. McPherson, Thomas H. Neder, Randee Sedaka, Michael E. Seifert, Daniel I. Feig, Jennifer S. Pollock. Early life stress mediates enhanced aortic vasorelaxation in Sv129 mice. UAB Trainee Research Symposium. March, 2020.
Accepted Poster Presentation - Experimental Biology. April 2020 (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)
Accepted Poster Presentation - Hypertension 2020 - “Adverse Childhood Experiences impact blood pressure and pulse wave velocity in adolescents” (Clinical Science, Epidemiology, Therapeutics)Awarded: NIH NIDDK PRIME T32 2020 - 2022Awarded: NIH NIDDK F31
2020 PROmoTE Scholars
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Ayaka Fujihashi & Hailey Levi
PROmoTE 2020 Team Research Topic - Presented at NRTC, September 2020:
"Fibroblast HDAC1 induces fibrosis in male mice"
PROmoTE Mentors: Drs. Timmy Lee, Kelly Hyndman & Taka Saigua
Current Scholar Highlights
Ayaka Fujihashi - MS1, MD degree seeking 
Presentation:
Poster Presented at: Dale J. Benos Medical School Research Day, University of Alabama at Birmingham; September 2020 - 2nd Place, Renal DivisionHailey Levi - Y1, PhD degree seeking 
Service: GBS Recruitment Team -
Bethany Langner & Derian Pugh
PROmoTE 2020 Team Research Topic; Presented at NRTC - September 2020
"The effects of antihistamine use in sickle cell pediatric patients"
PROmoTE Mentors: Drs. Jennifer Pollock, Julie Kanter, Ammar Alishlash, Jeffrey Lebensberger
Current Scholar HighlightsBethany Langner - MS1, MD degree seeking 
Presentation:
Poster Presented at: Dale J. Benos Medical School Research Day, University of Alabama at Birmingham; September 2020. - 2nd Place - Renal DivisionDerian Pugh - Y1, PhD degree seeking 
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Matthew Kiszla & Lucinda Hall
PROmoTE 2020 Team Research Topic; NRTC Presented - September 2020:
"Evaluating autonomic nervous system responses in Bmal1-KO rats and pediatric kidney transplant recipients experiencing chronic stress"
PROmoTE Mentors: Drs. Orlando Gutierrez, David Pollock, Michael Seifert
Current Scholar Highlights
B. Matthew Kiszla - MS1, MD degree seeking 
Presentation:
Poster Presented at: Dale J. Benos Medical School Research Day, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; September 2020.Lucinda Hall - Y1, PhD degree seeking 
2021 PROmoTE Scholars
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Hemant Srivastava & Ashley Mejia
PROmoTE 2021 Team Research Topic - Presented at NRTC, September 2020:
"Novel aspects of Polycystic Kidney Disease: from the Microbiome to Heart Failure"
PROmoTE Mentors: Drs. Christian Faul, Jared Cook, Michal MrugCurrent Scholar Highlights
Hemant Srivastava- MS4, MD degree seeking 
Presentation:
Poster Presented at: Dale J. Benos Medical School Research Day, University of Alabama at Birmingham; September 2021 - 2nd Place, Renal DivisionAshley Mejia - Year 2 - DO Degree Seeking 
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Shaina Bolden & Ahsan Lakhani
PROmoTE 2021 Team Research Topic; Presented at NRTC - September 2021 "Early Life Stress and Low Resilience Increase Adolescent Cardiovascular Risk Factors and the Pro-inflammatory State in Mice" PROmoTE Mentors: Drs. Jennifer Pollock, Michael Seifert Current Scholar Highlights
Shaina Bolden - MS4, MD degree seeking 
Presentation:
Poster Presented at: Dale J. Benos Medical School Research Day, University of Alabama at Birmingham; September 2021. - 1st Place - Renal Division
Ahsan Lakhani - MS3 - MD Degree Seeking
2022 PROmoTE Scholars
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Venu Reddy & Ashley Denslow
PROmoTE 2022 Team Research Topic: “Insights into Modeling IgA Nephropathy”
PROmoTE Mentors: Drs. Jan Novak, Dana Rizk, Colin Reily and Matthew RenfrowCurrent Scholar Highlights
Venu Reddy - MS3, MD degree seeking 
Ashley Denslow - Y3, PhD degree seeking - Theme: Immunology -
E. Brody Rhodes & Teresa Beamon
PROmoTE 2022 Team Research Topic: “The Effects of Timed Salt Intake on Rats and Humans”
PROmoTE Mentors: Drs. Orlando Gutierrezz & David PollockCurrent Scholar Highlights
E. Brody Rhodes - MS3, MD degree seeking
Teresa Beamon - Y3, PhD degree seeking -
LaTimberly Washington & Gillian Kelly
PROmoTE 2022 Team Research Topic: “Early Life Stress is Associated with Increased Reactive Cytokine Production and an Elevated Risk for Developing Hypertension
PROmoTE Mentors: Drs. Jennifer Pollock & Michael Seifert
Current Scholar Highlights
LaTimberly Washington - MS3, MD degree seeking
Gillian Kelly - Y3, PhD degree seeking -
Kayla Baker & Michael Ho
PROmoTE 2022 Team Research Topic:“Natural History of Albuminuria in Pediatric Sickle Cell Anemia Patients and Humanized Sickle Cell Diseased Mice”
PROmoTE Mentors: Drs. Malgorzata Kaszton & Jeffrey LebensburgerCurrent Scholar Highlights
Kayla Baker - MS3, MD degree seeking
Michael Ho - MS2, MD degree seeking
2023 PROmoTE Scholars
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Yifei Sun & Chloe La Prairie
Current Scholar Highlights
Yifei Sun - MS2, MD degree seeking Chloe La Prairie - Y2, PhD degree seeking -
Will Gard & Vivek Somasundaram
Current Scholar Highlights
Will Gard - MS2, MD degree seeking Vivek Somasundaram- Y2, PhD degree seeking -
Gavin Baker & Ayla Vaughn Embs
Current Scholar Highlights
Gavin Baker- MS2, MD degree seeking Ayla Vaughn Embs - Y2, PhD degree seeking -
Michael Ho & John Diaz
Current Scholar Highlights
John Diaz - Gap Year Intern Michael Ho - MS2, MD degree seeking