A number of students from University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and a high school summer research student here recently received honors and awards.

High School student Elizabeth Lopez won several science fair awards based on her summer research at the Health Science Center.
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Elizabeth Lopez, a junior at John Jay Science and Engineering Academy, won several science fair awards for research performed last summer in the laboratory of Merry Lindsey, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of medicine’s division of cardiology.

Lopez placed second in the medicine and health category. At the Junior Academy of Science held at The University of Texas at San Antonio, she placed first in the medicine and health category and first place in Fair 2 (Health Sciences). At the 2007 Alamo Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at St. Mary’s University, Elizabeth placed third in the medicine and health category, which qualified her to compete at the state level.

Her poster, titled “Age-Related Cardiac Sarcopenia,” summarizes her work to determine whether cardiac muscle degenerates with aging in ways similar to that seen in skeletal muscle. Her research is the first to document age-related cardiac sarcopenia and is part of a manuscript currently being prepared for publication. Lopez will be second author on this article. She spent this past summer working closely with Jing Lin, M.D., first author on the manuscript, to complete her project.

Lopez is working in Dr. Lindsey’s laboratory again this summer to further her research training. “We are very proud of her, and look forward to another productive summer with Liz,” Dr. Lindsey said. “She has an innate ability for research that is very unique.”

Pharmacology graduate students receive travel awards
Corina Bondi, a fourth-year graduate student in pharmacology, has received a travel award to attend an 11-day lecture course this July at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute (RIKEN BSI) in Tokyo, Japan. The lecture course will feature distinguished faculty from China, France, Germany, Japan and the United States. RIKEN BSI funded Bondi’s registration, travel and lodging for a total award of approximately $2,700. She works in the laboratory of David Morilak, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology.

Jennifer Stewart,a third-year graduate student in pharmacology, was recently selected for a Student Merit Award by the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA). This award, which is funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), includes a travel stipend and registration for Stewart to attend the 2007 RSA meeting to be held in Chicago, Ill., on July 7-12. Stewart, who works in the laboratory of George Henderson, Ph.D., professor of medicine and pharmacology, will present her research, "Neuroprotection Against Ethanol Mediated-Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis via Nrf2/ARE," at a poster session during the meeting.

Oak Hills Lions Club President Marjorie Furr presents a $1,000 scholarship to Alma Martinez.

Martinez wins Lions Club Scholarship
Alma Martinez, a second-year student in the Health Science Center Master of Occupational Therapy Program, recently received a $1,000 scholarship from the Oak Hills Lions Club.

The scholarship is a competitive award based on financial need and an essay describing occupational therapy services for a child with developmental difficulties.

Medical student attends AMSAF training program
Maria Evelina “Evy” Guerrero was selected to participate in the American Medical Student Association Foundation's Primary Care Leadership Training Program. The week-long program was offered at the University of California in San Francisco in June. Guerrero is a junior dental student and active in the student chapter of the Hispanic Dental Student Association.