Kenneth Long, M.D., Ph.D., presents his research at the 2026 Trainee Research SymposiumOver 100 researchers across the Department of Medicine (DOM) shared their original research with faculty judges at the 42nd Trainee Research Symposium (TRS) on March 4, 2026.
TRS is the DOM’s major research day, where all department trainees and staff scientists are invited to present a poster describing their basic, clinical, or population research. The event is organized by the DOM Research Excellence Advancement and Mentoring (DREAM) Council.
“TRS is a great opportunity to bring nationally and internationally presented and exciting research back home,” said Lauren East, M.D., a fellow in the Division of Cardiovascular Disease. “I always enjoy seeing the work my colleagues and friends have been up to. The scholarly work that the busy clinical residents and fellows produce is beyond impressive.”
Faculty volunteers judged all posters and awarded the top presenters based on project merit, communication skills, and overall expertise in research. Awards are available for the top undergraduate student, graduate student, resident, post-doctoral scholar, staff scientist, and associate fellow.
“TRS is a valuable opportunity for trainees to showcase their research in a supportive and collaborative yet intellectually stimulating environment,” said Phi Hung Nguyen, a graduate student in the Division of Nephrology. “It provides early-career scientists with valuable exposure to a professional scientific setting, where they can present their ideas and be thoughtfully challenged.”
Bertha Hidalgo, Ph.D., MPH, Associate Professor and Associate Dean in the UAB School of Public Health, presented an inspiring keynote address, “Unlocking Secrets and Opening Doors: Epigenomics, Pregnancy Risk, and the Next Generation of Scientists.” The lecture was followed by a poster session in the ALGEN lobby.
“I appreciated the mix of research topics spread throughout the poster session, so even as a presenter, I was able to see and speak with researchers from different fields,” said Ashley Conoway, a research associate in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Population Science.
“We would like to give a special thank you to all presenters, attendees, and the DOM faculty who served as judges,” said Jarrod Barnes, Ph.D., chair of the DREAM Council. “We appreciate everyone for their continued participation and support for TRS.”
Congratulations to Our 2026 Winning Scientists
Suzanne Oparil Award for Excellence in Research by an Undergraduate Student
1st Place (Tie): Investigating the Epidemiology of Fatal Xylazine-Involved Overdoses in Jefferson County
- Winner: Rebecca Jensen
- Mentor: William Bradford, M.D., Ph.D. (Infectious Diseases)
1st Place (Tie): Lack of ETA receptor on dendritic cells improves glucose handling and attenuates kidney inflammation during obesity but only in males.
- Winner: Emma Rosenkoetter
- Mentor: Carmen De Miguel, Ph.D. (Nephrology)
2nd Place: Diet Fidelity of Controlled Feeding during a Randomized Exercise, Gut Microbiome, and Breast Cancer Trial
- Winner: Sangie Lincoln-Velez
- Mentor: Laura Rogers, M.D. (General Internal Medicine and Population Science)
3rd Place: Prescriptions for Oral vs. Injectable HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis, 2012-2025
- Winner: Bryan Preer, II
- Mentor: Rena Patel, MD (Infectious Diseases)
Samuel B. Barker Award for Excellence in Research by a Graduate Student
1st Place: Endosialin promotes TGF-induced vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
- Winner: Luke Jones, M.D., Ph.D.
- Mentor: Jarrod Barnes, Ph.D. (Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine)
2nd Place: Sialylation Drives Pathologic Mucus in Muco-Obstructive Airway Disease
- Winner: Hanna McIntire-Ray, Ph.D.
- Mentor: Jarrod Barnes, Ph.D. (Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine)
3rd Place: A murine model of recurrent heat stress that causes kidney injury
- Winner: Hung Nguyen
- Mentor: Kelly Hyndman, Ph.D. (Nephrology)
Thomas N. James Award for Excellence in Research by a Resident
1st Place: Near Real-Time Isolate Whole Genome Sequencing to Investigate Suspected Nosocomial Transmission: Insights from a “Serratia Marcescens” Outbreak
- Winner: Chiamaka Umah, M.D.
- Mentor: Megan Amerson-Brown, Ph.D. (Infectious Diseases)
2nd Place: Impact of Digital Health on Hospitalization and Mortality in Heart Failure Patients in Low-and-Middle Income Countries (LMICs): A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis
- Winner: Preston Nicely, M.D.
- Mentor: Stephen Clarkson, M.D. (Cardiovascular Disease)
3rd Place: Concomitant Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion and Cardiac Ablation: Retrospectively Comparing Procedural Success and Adverse Events to Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Alone
- Winner: Trenton Ray, M.D.
- Mentor: Terence Dunn, M.D. (Cardiovascular Disease)
Joseph Reeves Award for Excellence in Research by a Post-Doctoral Scholar
1st Place: Time restricted feeding reduces granzyme B expressing CD8+ T cells in kidneys of obese mice
- Winner: Claudia Edell, Ph.D.
- Mentor: Jennifer Pollock, Ph.D. (Nephrology)
2nd Place: Targeted Insertion of Corrective CFTR Transgene Replicates Native Expression Pattern with Functional Restoration in Cystic Fibrosis Airway Epithelium
- Winner: Cristina Barilla, Ph.D.
- Mentor: Brian Davis, Ph.D. (Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine)
3rd Place: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Is Well Adapted to the Human Airway Epithelium
- Winner: Erin Earnhardt, Ph.D.
- Mentor: Kevin Harrod, Ph.D. (Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine)
Jeanne M. Marrazzo Award for Excellence in Research by a Staff Scientist
1st Place: Transcriptomic changes elicited by Semaglutide in Human Ventricular Tissue Support Cell Survival and Lipid Metabolism
- Winner: Lilly Underwood
- Mentor: Priscila Sato, Ph.D. (Cardiovascular Disease)
2nd Place: Modern Rural Retention: Lessons Learned by the EPIPHANY (Equity in the Prevention and Progression of Hypertension by Addressing Barriers to Nutrition and Physical Activity) Team
- Winner: Ashley Conoway
- Mentor: Andrea Cherrington, M.D. (General Internal Medicine and Population Science)
3rd Place: “Cancer is a team sport:” Designing technological solutions to support remote symptom monitoring delivery by healthcare providers
- Winner: Tanvi Padalkar
- Mentor: Nicole Henderson, Ph.D. (Hematology and Oncology)
J. Claude Bennett Award for Excellence in Research by an Associate Fellow
1st Place: Documentation of Candidemia Risk Factors for T2 Ordering: A Diagnostic Stewardship Intervention
- Winner: Kenneth Long, M.D., Ph.D.
- Mentor: Joshua Stripling, M.D. (Infectious Diseases)
2nd Place (Tie): Role of immunoglobulin measurement in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Winner: Andres Gonzales-Coba, M.D.
- Mentor: Tejaswini Kulkarni, M.D. (Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine)
2nd Place (Tie): Cardiovascular Health Characterization Using Life’s Essential 8 Score in Perimenopausal Women: An Analysis of the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey
- Winner: Amrita Nayak, M.D.
- Mentor: Garima Arora, M.D. (Cardiovascular Disease)
3rd Place (Tie): Acceleration in Illness Severity on Left Ventricular Assist Device Implant: A Concerning Trend
- Winner: Lauren East, M.D.
- Mentor: Jose Tallaj, M.D. (Cardiovascular Disease) and Stephen Clarkson, M.D. (Cardiovascular Disease)
3rd Place (Tie): Real-World Outcomes of Shortened Venetoclax Course Plus Decitabine in Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia
- Winner: Benjamin McCormick, M.D.
- Mentor: Razan Mohty, M.D. (Hematology and Oncology)
Clinical Case Study Award
1st Place (Tie): Wrong Side of the Right Heart: Refractory Hypoxemia in the Setting of Right Ventricular Failure and a Patent Foramen Ovale
- Winner: Hunter Mace, M.D., PGY-1
- Mentor: Stephen Clarkson, M.D. (Cardiovascular Disease)
1st Place (Tie): Simultaneous Management of Mucosal Bowel Wall Defect and Rectal Ulcer Hemostasis with a Single Over-The-Scope Clip
- Winner: William Southall, M.D., PGY-2
- Mentor: Derek Estes, M.D. (Gastroenterology and Hepatology)
2nd Place: Spontaneous Pulmonary Artery Dissection Treated with Heart-lung Transplant
- Winner: Charles Heald, M.D.
- Mentor: William Morgan, M.D. (Cardiovascular Disease)
3rd Place: Fixing A Broken Heart: A Case of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Requiring Mechanical Circulatory Support
- Winner: Yaser Ahmad, M.D.
- Mentor: Nicole Lohr, M.D., Ph.D. (Cardiovascular Disease)