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Student Recognition

Congratulations to newly minted PhD Dr. Hissah Alatawi. Dr. Alatawi successfully passed her dissertation defense on July 13, 2026 to earn her Medical Sciences doctoral degree in the Physiology and Cell Biology concentration. Her mentor in the program was Dr. Satya Narayan.

Congratulations to Fahim Rejanur Tasin for receiving the American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship!

Funding Agency/Mechanism: American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship
Title: Identifying Genetic Risk Factors for Vascular Calcification
PI: Fahim Rejanur Tasin (PhD Student)/Nadja Makki (Mentor)
Total/Directs: $70,676
Dates: 7/1/2026-6/30/2028
Summary: This proposal aims to define how non-coding genetic variants contribute to vascular calcification, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The overall hypothesis is that disease-associated variants alter the activity of gene regulatory elements, leading to changes in gene expression that promote calcification. This hypothesis will be addressed by first using a Massively Parallel Reporter Assay to identify functional variants in relevant human vascular cell types. Computational models integrating cell-specific genomic data will then be used to predict the genes regulated by these variants. Finally, CRISPR interference will be applied to validate key regulatory relationships. This work will identify genetic variants and target genes that contribute to vascular calcification and may support the development of predictive biomarkers and new therapeutic strategies.

Congratulations to Jake Ricci for receiving the Florida Heart Research Foundation Cardiovascular Doctoral Student Grant!

Funding Agency/Mechanism: Florida Heart Research Foundation Cardiovascular Doctoral Student Grant
Title: Sex-dependent Differences in Cardiac Resident Macrophage
PI: Jacob Ricci (PhD Candidate)/Katelyn Bruno (Mentor)
Total/Directs: $60,000
Dates: 9/1/2026-8/31/2027
Summary: This proposal aims to gain a deeper understanding of the role that cardiac resident macrophages play in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis, with a specific focus on NLRP3 inflammasome formation. The overall hypothesis of this proposal is that cardiac resident macrophages promote differential inflammasome activation by sex in coxsackievirus B3 myocarditis. This hypothesis will be addressed by first improving our understanding of the involvement of cardiac resident macrophages in myocarditis. Any inherent differences in cardiac resident macrophage cell activity will be elucidated via targeted macrophage and inflammasome activation assays. A novel mouse model will then be utilized to analyze the impact that sex chromosomes and sex hormones have on these cellular populations.

Congratulations to new PhD Dr. Martin Schonk. Dr. Schonk successfully defended his dissertation on Friday June 12th, 2026 under the mentorship of Drs. Andrew and Sarah Judge. Dr. Schonk earned a Medical Sciences doctoral degree in the Physiology and Cell Biology concentration.

Congratulations to our newest PhD Dr. Aditya Mahadevan! Dr. Mehadevan successfully defended his dissertation on June 1, 2026 and has earned a Medical Sciences doctoral degree in the Physiology and Cell Biology concentration under the mentorship of Dr. Helen Jones.

Congratulations to Dr. Sophia Eikenberry on her successful dissertation defense to earn a Medical Sciences doctoral degree in the Physiology and Cell Biology concentration. Dr. Eikenberry is now working as a Bioscience Sales Specialist for Nikon of Florida!

Archived Student Stories

Department Events

2026 Department Retreat

Images from our department retreat at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens that included a data blitz and poster competition where students and postdocs competed for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place monetary prizes.