Two of our RaCE4Path students recently presented at the UAB Summer Undergraduate Research Expo taking place July 25, 2024 at the UAB Alumni House. The RaCE4Path summer research students represented 2 of 214 posters presented by students participating in many of the summer undergraduate research programs here at UAB.
RaceCE4Path is an 8-week program blending clinical and research training in the area of pathology for a shared-science approach to learning. Undergraduate students are recruited for the Research and Clinical Exp in Pathology summer program through the PSDO Application portal. RaCE4Path is part of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Clinical and Research Undergraduate Summer Program (CRUSP).
Ryan Miller, senior at DePauw University with aspirations of attending medical school, completed a project entitled, "Cell Migration-Inducing Hyaluronidase-1 (CEMIP-1) contributes to immune infiltration/invasion in endometrial cancer" in the lab of Mythreye Karthikeyan, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Molecular & Cellular Pathology.
Nico Henostroza, senior at the University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa who has aspirations of attending medical school, completed a project entitled, "Impact of LMNA-R190W mutation on cardiac electrical conduction system in mice" in the lab of Rajeskaran Namakkal-Soorappan, Ph.D, Associate Professor, Molecular & Cellular Pathology. 
Both students say they had an excellent experience and are thankful for the opportunities that this program afforded to them. They were able to learn valuable skills in the labs as well as learn more about pathology as a career.
"The Race4path internship program has offered quite a unique experience for undergraduates who may not have has an opportunity to ever be in a laboratory before," says Dr. Karthikeyan. "I remember one day Ryan walked into my office after being in a forensic clinical lab for a half day, amazed at how ‘investigative’ in nature it was, and was able to draw parallels with what goes in a basic research lab, intellectually. The program also fosters a collaborative environment between the clinical and research groups allowing interns to serve as a bridge of engagement, providing insights into real-world scientific challenges."
Elyssa Salmeron (OMS-2 at ACOM in Dothan, AL) completed the Medical Student Summer Research Program in RaCE4Path, where she is completing a project with Brandi McCleskey, M.D., Associate Professor, Forensic Pathology and Vice Chair for Education, entitled, "Trends and demographic differences in overdose deaths before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Jefferson County, Alabama." The Medical Student Research Day is slated to occur on September 9, 2024.