Katheryn Lett (M4) Undergraduate Degree/Field of Study: B.S. Chemistry Undergraduate Institution: The University of Alabama Field of Study/Interests: My research focuses on exploring and identifying novel roles of coilin, the Cajal Body marker protein. My medical specialty interest is pediatric hematology/oncology. PhD Program: Cell and Molecular Biology PhD Mentor: Michael Hebert, PhD | National/Local Committee Membership/Leadership Positions: American Physician Scientist Associations Mentor for Undergraduate Students Published Papers as MD-PhD Student: - Lett KE, Logan MK, McLaurin DM, Hebert MD. Coilin enhances phosphorylation and stability of DGCR8 and promotes miRNA biogenesis. Mol Biol Cell. 2021 Oct 1;32(20):br4.
- Logan MK, Lett KE, Hebert MD. The Cajal body protein coilin is a regulator of the miR-210 hypoxamiR and influences MIR210HG alternative splicing. J Cell Sci. 2021 Jun 15;134(12).
- Monroe JD, Moolani SA, Irihamye EN, Lett KE, Hebert MD, Gibert Y, Smith ME. Cisplatin and phenanthriplatin modulate long-noncoding RNA expression in A549 and IMR90 cells revealing regulation of microRNAs, Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β signaling. Sci Rep. 2021 May 17;11(1):10408
- McLaurin DM, Logan MK, Lett KE, Hebert MD. Molecular determinants that govern scaRNA processing by Drosha/DGCR8. Biol Open. 2020 Oct 26;9(10)
Interests/Hobbies: quilting, kayaking, playing volleyball |
Shelley Rae Edwards (G3) Undergraduate Degree/Field of Study: Neuroscience & Cognitive Studies Undergraduate Institution: Millsaps College Field of Study/Interests: My research investigates the clinical efficacy, abuse liability, and respiratory effects of novel opioid compounds in search of improved treatments for pain. PhD Program: Neuroscience PhD Mentor: Kevin Freeman, PhD | Honors/Awards: A. Wallace Conerly Scholarship National/Local Committee Membership/Leadership Positions: American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) Co-Chair of Partnerships Committee, Undergraduate student mentor, Discovery Curriculum Committee Member, Physician Scientist Interest Day for Underrepresented Students Event Planning Committee Member Published Papers as MD-PhD Student: - Dos Santos E Santos C, Welch BA, Edwards SR, et al. Immune and Metabolic Biomarkers in a Rodent Model of Spinal Cord Contusion. Global Spine J. 2022;12(1):110-120. doi:10.1177/2192568220950337
Funded Fellowship Application: National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Drug Abuse) F30 Fellowship "Behavioral Pharmacology of Injury Restricted Fentanyl Analogues." Interests/Hobbies: House Plant Enthusiast, Amateur carpentry/Home Improvement, Furniture Restoration, Balloon Animal Twisting |