Thank you to the supporters of our Department of Pathology's Research Day on Thursday, May 9th, 2024. We had 20 posters exhibited as well as lightning talks presented by: Effie Berry, MD (Resident), Eric Burns (Lidke Lab), Rahul Kumar (Gullapalli Lab), Dhruv Grandhe (Gullapalli Lab), Lein Tang (mentored by Dr. Gillette and Dr. Raval), and Jay Raval, MD.
We also thank the Montoya family for their continued support of the department’s research initiatives through scholarship opportunities to graduates and undergraduates pursuing careers in biomedical research.
This year’s George D. Montoya scholarship recipients were awarded to William Burris, an Undergraduate student in Dr. Aaron Neumann's lab, and Bianca Myers, a Graduate student in Dr. Tou Yia Vue’s lab. William is working on a project under Dr. Neumann in the Department of Pathology analyzing the effects of heavy metals stress on Candida albicans antimicrobial resistance. Bianca is a 5th year PhD candidate in the Department of Neurosciences. She is conducting research that focuses on glioblastomas (GBM) which make up the majority of primary brain tumors and, despite over 50 years of research, median survival for GBM patients remains dismal at 18 months.
Congratulations William Burris and Bianca Myers, and to all our presenters and lightning speakers!
Thank you to all who came out to support the Department of Pathology's Research Day on Thursday, May 11, 2023. There were 14 posters exhibited as well as lightning talks presented by: Erica Pascetti, Gillette Lab; Mohsen Ranjbar, Bearer Lab; Rahul Kumar, Gullapalli Lab; Taylor Uselman, Bearer Lab; and Eric Burns, Lidke Lab.
Thank you to the Montoya family for their continued support of the department’s research initiatives by providing scholarship opportunities to graduates and undergraduates pursuing careers in biomedical research.
This year’s George D. Montoya scholarship recipient was awarded to Samuel GoodFellow, a graduate student in Dr. Steven Bradfute's lab. Samuel’s dissertation research focuses on the genetics and evolution of Sin Nombre Virus (SNV), a virus that is carried and transmitted by western deer mice (its primary host reservoir) that causes hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, a serious lung disease with a high mortality rate of 36%. The two goals of his research project are to both improve the detection of SNV to assist with diagnosis and to develop a better understanding of SNV prevalence.
Congratulations Samuel GoodFellow, and to all our presenters and lightning speakers!
Samuel Goodfellow, displaying his award certificate, along with the Montoya Family
The Year 2022 saw the Research Day Event and George D. Montoya Scholarship Award Ceremony return to in-person format! After two years of only virtual gatherings, the Pathology Department reunited for a "real life" assembly at the Albuquerque Crowne Plaza Hotel. The recipients of the 2022 Scholarships were Sebastian Restrepo Cruz in Dr. Jennifer Gillette's Lab, and Daisy Belmares-Ortega from Dr. Rama Gullapalli's Lab. Sebastians research was focused on "The Regulation of Epidermal Growth Factor Signaling by the Membrane Scaffold Protein CD82." Daisy's presentation was titled "Establishing a Centrifugal Hydrogel Platform of Liver Spheroid Formation for Hepatotoxicity Assays."
Sebastian and Daisy, left, holding their awards, with the Montoya Family
The 2021 Research Day Event and George D. Montoya Scholarship Award Ceremony took place on May 27, 2021, on Zoom for the second consecutive year. Research presenters gave their poster and/or lecture demonstrations virtually with somewhat more familiarity after the several prior months of operating semi-remotely. Award recipients, Rosstin Ahmadian from Dr. Tom Resta's Lab, and Will Kanagy from Dr. Diane Lidke's Lab, performed their impressive research despite the pandemic-caused pitfalls and barriers, and both presented their results virtually with grace. Rosstin's presentation was titled "Reactive Oxygen Species Mediate Decreased Pulmonary Arterial Smoother Muscle Cell Membrane Cholesterol Following Chronic Hypoxia." Will's talk was "Mast Cell Receptor Signaling: Determining How Early Initiating Cellular Events Dictate the Allergic Response."
Rosstin Ahmadian, left, and Will Kanagy, right
In 2020, the Annual Pathology Research Day event, which includes the George D. Montoya Scholarship Award Ceremony, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 George D. Montoya Research Scholarship Awards hosted a special Zoom Celebration on May 28, 2020.
Ms. Muskan Floren was presented with the Annual George D. Montoya Scholarship Certificate. She was joined by her Mentor Dr. Jennifer Gillette, Pathology Interim Chair Dr. Nancy Joste, and the Montoya family.
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student Muskan Floren is pursuing her Ph.D. in the laboratory of Dr. Jennifer Gillette, focusing on mechanisms of chemoresistance in acute myeloid leukemia.
We congratulate Ms. Floren and thank the Montoya Family for their continued support and encouragement of careers in research!
The 2020 George D. Montoya Research Scholarship Awards hosted a special Zoom Celebration
The George D. Montoya Scholarship Award was presented to Graduate Student, Carmen Martinez; Mentor: Dr. Aaron Neumann; and to Graduate Student, Melanie Rivera; Mentor: Dr. Angela Wandinger-Ness.
Congratulations to Carmen and Melanie, as well as their mentors!
A special thanks goes to the Montoya family for their ongoing support of our research efforts and their personal involvement in Research Day.
In the center, holding certificates: Carmen Martinez (mentor: Dr. Neumann), left, and Melanie Rivera (mentor: Dr. Wandinger-Ness), right.
The George D. Montoya Scholarship Award was presented to Graduate Student Jesse Young; Mentor: Dr. Michelle Ozbun (UNM Dept. of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology); and to Undergraduate Student Justine Keth; Mentor: Dr. Diane Lidke.
Congratulations to Jesse and Justine, as well as their mentors!
Left to right: Dr. Michelle Ozbun, Dr. Stephen Young, Jesse Young, Justine Keth, Dr. Diane Lidke.
The 2017 George D. Montoya Scholarship Award was presented to Graduate Student Emanuel Salazar Cavazos; Mentor: Dr. Diane Lidke.
Emanuel's research combines quantitative measurements with mathematical modeling to improve our understanding of oncogenic signaling by the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR).
Congratulations Emanuel and Dr. Lidke!
Emanuel Salazar Cavazos
The 2016 recipients of the George D. Montoya Awards were Undergraduate Students Ayse Muni (mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Brinker - UNM Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering) and Christina Termini (mentor: Dr. Jennifer Gillette).
Ms. Muniz will pursue doctoral training in translational research, is dedicated to mentoring young scientists from under-represented groups, and is most enthusiastic regarding research in genetic engineering to revolutionize science and healthcare.
Ms. Termini has been a graduate student in Dr. Jennifer Gillette’s laboratory in the UNM Department of Pathology since 2011. Ms. Termini’s research explores the role of CD82 membrane scaffold protein in regulating adhesion and signaling in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) and leukemia cells. Ms. Termini is using the GDMRS award to attend the prestigious and demanding Physiology Course at the Marine Biology Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA during the summer of 2016.
Top: Dr. Douglas P. Clark looks on as Dr. Jennifer Gillette introduces Christina Termini
Bottom: Dr. Douglas P. Clark looks on as Dr. C. Jeffrey Brinker introduces Ayse Muniz
The 2015 George D. Montoya Award was given to Yuno Guo, a graduate student in Dr. Angela Wandinger-Ness' laboratory. Yuna Guo is committed to a career in cancer research. Her research interests center on the investigation of intracellular targets and the development of effective therapeutic compounds for ovarian cancer.
Yuna Guo
Dr. Angela Wandinger-Ness, Yuna Guo, and Dr. Douglas P. Clark, Frederick H. Harvey Chair of Pathology
On May 8, 2014, the second George D. Montoya Research Scholarship was awarded to Anastasia Griego. She is currently a fourth year graduate student working with Dr. Michelle Ozbun and her project focuses on the dysregulation of host growth factor signaling pathways by oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs).
Anastasia Griego
On May 2, 2013, the first George D. Montoya Research Scholarship Award was presented to Mr. Paul Durfee, a University of New Mexico graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. Dr. Bryce Chakerian is Mr. Durfee’s doctoral mentor, within the UNM Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Department.
The first GDMRSF Award was presented at Embassy Suites Hotel as component of the UNM Department of Pathology’s Annual Research Day. Mr. Daniel Montoya, son of George D. Montoya, spoke to the heart of George’s passion for biomedical research and shared words of responsibility for Mr. Durfee to remember. The award was presented by Mrs. Eileen Montoya, wife of George D. Montoya, Ms. Marlena Bermel, niece of George D. Montoya, and Dr. Thomas M. Williams, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathology. The extended Montoya family, members of the UNM Pathology Department and George Montoya’s many friends attended the award ceremony.
This award was the culmination of many generous donations to the endowed GDMRS fund over two years and the UNM Department of Pathology intends to make the award annually in the future.
George D. Montoya Research Scholarship Award poster
Paul Durfee
Paul Durfee standing with the Montoya family (from left to right: Donnie Montoya (son), Rachel Montoya (daughter), Eileen Montoya (wife), Paul Durfee (Award recipient), Thomas Williams, Danny Montoya (son)