Two pharmacology doctoral students are excelling in their areas of study and recently became the recipients of two prestigious awards.
Joe VelaFourth-year graduate student and second-year dental student Joe Vela received the National Research Service Award, awarded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. He was recognized for his project, called “Adrenergic Modulation of Trigeminal Nociceptors.”
“The NIH (National Institutes of Health) roadmap initiative emphasizes the importance of training clinician scientists to conduct tomorrow’s translational medical research,” said Kenneth Hargreaves, D.D.S., Ph.D., chair of endodontics. Vela works in the lab of Dr. Hargreaves. “Joe’s research is both highly relevant and a useful vehicle for his own training. He is now the latest of several clinician scientists receiving their Ph.D. training in the pharmacology department.”
Vela’s grant will fund his research for four years.
Raj Sevak Fifth-year graduate student Raj Sevak was the recipient of a $750 travel award from the Society for Neuroscience, which will allow him to present his current research project, called “Some behavioral effects of dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists are decreased in diabetic rats.” He will present his project at the annual meeting Nov. 12-16 in Washington, D.C.
“Raj’s research project, a collaborative project between my lab and Dr. Lynette Daws’ lab, is characterizing the relationship between nutritional status (insulin and glucose) and dopamine neurotransmission,” said Charles France, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology. Sevak conducts research in Dr. France’s lab. “Results of these neurochemical and behavioral studies are identifying elements that likely play an important role in vulnerability to drug abuse, as well as possible determinants of relapse to drug abuse.”
Sevak’s award is supported by Eli Lilly and recognizes the promising work of graduate students who have been nominated by their local chapters for excellence in neuroscience. This year, 45 graduate students will be honored with this award.
