Research Day

Research Day is a showcase of cutting-edge research projects and approaches from members of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences community. The annual symposium is an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to present their work and talents, connect with other students and faculty at CSU, and learn about other disciplines.

Join us for a celebration of diverse and exciting achievements in basic, translational, clinical, and outcomes research, as well as lively discussions and multidisciplinary collaborations across the fields of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences. All members of the local community are encouraged to participate in this free event. Use #CVMBSResearchDay to share your photos of Research Day!

If you attended Research Day 2026, share your feedback to help improve next year’s event.

2026 award winners

Oral presentations

Foundational research, advanced stage

• First place: Julia Hilliard (MIP), Human serum proteins hemopexin and transferrin induce SaeRS-dependent biofilm architecture in Staphylococcus aureus
• Second place: Leo Tyer (MIP), IBA1+ cells in the nodose ganglion mediate gut-brain axis disruption in high-fat fed rats
• Third place: Molly Uhrig (ERHS), RAD54L protects DNA replication forks from G-quadruplex induced damage

Foundational research, early stage

• First place: Taylor Crisologo (MIP), Broadly cross-reactive antibodies detected in cats infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants WA-1 and Omicron XBB.1.5 in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
• Second place: Tatianna Travieso (MIP), Genomic and transcriptomic profiling reveals two distinct subtypes of canine small cell B-cell lymphoma
• Third place: Isabella Faulkner (CS), Impact of macronutrient composition on adiposity and inflammatory profiles in BPH/5 mice

Translational research, advanced stage

• First place: Marika Klosowski (MIP), Cancer-associated fibroblasts modulate the metastatic osteosarcoma immune microenvironment and enable CAR T cell targeting
• Second place: Madeleine Moseley (BMS), Lack of Tau Expression Attenuates Epileptogenesis Associated Neuroplasticity in the Ventral Dentate Gyrus in a Model of Acquired TLE
• Third place: Adam Schuller (ERHS), Genetic STING ablation protects against astrocyte-mediated dopaminergic neurodegeneration in vitro and motor dysfunction in vivo in the rotenone model of Parkinsons disease

Translational research, early stage

• First place: Owen Bevis (ERHS), Telomeric RNA (TERRA) is Elevated in Canine Osteosarcoma, a Hallmark of the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) Pathway
• Second place: Rui Shang (CS), Immune Responses in Radiosensitive and Radioresistant Orthotopic Syngeneic Rat Models of Sinonasal Carcinoma
• Third place: Emily Perkins (MIP), Establishing molecular mechanisms of glial-mediated response in a chronic pain in vitro model

Veterinary clinical research, advanced stage

• First place: Samantha Masca (CS), Outcomes of surgical patent ductus arteriosus ligations performed by veterinary surgery residents on shelter animals: a retrospective study of 100 cases (2011-2025)
• Second place: Raul Gonzalez-Castro (BMS), Extended incubation induces equine sperm hyperactivation and tyrosine phosphorylation as potential predictors of vitro fertilization success
• Third place: Powell Slinkard (ERHS), Computed tomography findings in pigs with confirmed abdominal pathology

Veterinary clinical research, early stage

• First place: Patricio Razquin (CS), Temporal decline in serum acetate at day 34 of gestation parallels FFAR2 expression in the equine chorionic girdle
• Second place: Jacob Singer (CS), Cellular Senescence Pathways are Upregulated in Equine Aging-Related Osteoarthritis
• Third place: Alex Stigall (CS), Biomechanical Evaluation of an Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Biopsy for Investigating Canine Common Calcaneal Tendinopathy

Poster presentations

Foundational research, advanced stage

• First place: Scott Roh (BMS), The role of autism-related ?-catenin in prefrontal local circuits
• Second place: Lauren Young (BMS), Intracerebroventricular injection of neuropeptide Y suppresses luteinizing hormone pulses in mice
• Third place: Ghyslaine Ramirez (BMS), Elucidating the carryover impact of antioxidant supplementation during oocyte maturation under heat stress on pre-implantation embryos developmental competence

Foundational research, early stage

• First place: Vanessa Correa (BMS), The role of prefrontal autism-related ?-catenin in social behavior
• Second place: Ana Valeria Castro Romero (BMS), A tale of two columns: differential synaptic processing in the fear circuit
• Third place: Naija Cuzmar (MIP), Mercury Exposure in Companion Animals: A Sentinel Study for Environmental Contamination

Translational research, advanced stage

• First place: Ahmed Gad (CS), Circadian regulation of endometrial receptivity in a sheep organoid model
• Second place: Brandi Dunn (CS), Trusting Natures Blueprint: Polarity-Reversed Oviductal Organoids Advancing Cross-Species Fertility Solutions

Translational research, early stage

• First place: Tiffini Lovell (BMS), The behavioral and cellular effects of psilocin on fentanyl seeking in male and female mice
• Second place: Katelyn McClellan (Other), Uncovering patterns of infant mortality in vervet monkeys: a retrospective necropsy analysis
• Third place: Kendall Malmstrom (MIP), Investigating cell-intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of FAK-driven osteosarcoma metastasis

Veterinary clinical research, advanced stage

• First place:Grace Jakes (CS), Effects of Parenteral Immune Stimulation with Vaccines and Non-Specific TLR Agonists on Pulmonary Immune Responses in Pre-Weaned Calves
• Second place: Charles Talbot (CS), Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Exposure Unexpectedly Increases Glycocalyx Expression by Canine Pulmonary Endothelial Cells

Veterinary clinical research, early stage

• First place: Emma Mangold (CS), Immune Responses to STING Pathway Activation by Canine Tumors And Leukocytes
• Second place: Hikaru Shiraishi (CS), Intraocular pressures in free-ranging red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus), and broad-winged hawks (Buteo platypterus) using rebound tonometry
• Third place: Benjamin Goldblatt (CS), Establishing the clinical utility of erythropoietin concentrations in healthy brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dogs at 1,535 meters altitude

Pedagogy research

• First place: Gehena Girish (MIP), Expansion of Scientist Spotlights in the Online Graduate Classroom
• Second place: Delaney Worthington (MIP), Exploring the impact of a science communication training and mentorship program for undergraduate biomedical sciences students
• Third place: Kelly Greenhut (MIP), CSUs Veterinary Clients are Climate-Engaged and Seek Resources to Safeguard Pet Health from Environmental Hazards

Foundational research, undergraduate

• First place: Jessica Gamble (MIP), Determining the temporal distribution of prions shed in nasal secretions of white-tailed deer inoculated with Nordic CWD
• Second place: Socks Jones (MIP), Novel Method of Blood Pathogen Reduction Via UV Light and Riboflavin for Treatment of Whole Blood
• Third place: Tiarnan LoCascio (MIP), Decoding GdpS/GdpP regulation of c-di-AMP in Staphylococcus aureus

Translational research, undergraduate

• First place: Quinn Pogge (MIP), Semaglutide Attenuates Macrophage and Primary Mixed Glia Mediated Inflammatory Response in an In Vitro Murine Model
• Second place: Kianna Walz (Other), The Thoroughbred Theory: Influence of Breed on Performance at the 5*L Level of Eventing
• Third place: Sophie Downing (CS), Development of a Quantitative PCR Assay for Lactobacillus Detection in Murine Fecal Samples as a Complement to 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Veterinary clinical research, undergraduate

• First place: Isabella Hamner (CS), Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy Mitigates Endometrial Inflammation Associated with Persistent Breeding-Induced Endometritis in Horses
• Second place: Jocelyn Howard (Other), Assessing the impact of Metacare supplementation on presistent breeding-induced endometritis
• Third place: Genevieve Denison (Other), Resveratrol Supplementation Improves Uterine Immune Resolution in Mares Susceptible to Persistent Breeding-Induced Endometritis

Pedagogy research, undergraduate

• First place: Charlotte Olszewski (MIP), Scientist Highlights in the Classroom: Relationship between Scientist Relatability and Student Feelings of Belonging in STEM
• Second place: Ashley Morris (BMS), Long Term Social and Health Effects of the Fukushima Disaster

Golden Pipette

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology

Green Pipette

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology