VCOM 2025 Annual Report

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July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026 VCOM Internally Funded Research Auburn Campus Darren Beck, PhD Clay Pandorf, PhD VCOM/HCOP: lncRNA function and

Louisiana Campus Randolph Devereaux, PhD Michael Rommen, DO VCOM/Regional Healthcare Partners. A Literacy-Sensitive Approach to Delivering Emergency Department Discharge Instructions. Dr. Devereaux and Dr. Rommen are Co-PIs along with colleagues from St Francis Medical Center. Stephen DiGuiseppe, PhD VCOM/VMCVM One Health Program: Therapeutic Activation of NK Cells to Treat Alphavirus-Induced Chronic Arthritis. Dr. DiGuiseppe serves as Co-PI on this project along with a collaborator from the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. Kasia Michalak, MS and Lin Kang, PhD are investigators. Jenna Dittmar, PhD REAP: The legacy of adversity: Childhood health and its impact on long-term health outcomes and survival in Bronze Age China. Hassin Ebrahim, PhD Delta-CRP: Validation of Olive Phenolic (-)-Oleocanthal-Gut Microbiota Crosstalk for Colorectal Cancer Control. Dr. Ebrahim and a colleague at the ULM College of Pharmacy are Co-PIs. Zakaria Abd Elmageed, PhD VCOM/VMCVM One Health Program: Discovery and Development of a Novel Antibacterial Scaffold Targeting Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci. Dr. Elmageed serves as Co-PI on this project along with a collaborator from the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. Hassan Ebrahim, PhD is an investigator. Gwenn Jackson, MD

mechanisms in cardiac disease. Dr. Pandorf is Co-PI on this research with a colleague from AU Harrison College of Pharmacy. Carolinas Campus David Eagerton, PhD VCOM/University Collaborators: Long term exposure to pain medication leads to chemotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer. Dr. Eagerton and his collaborator at Clemson University are Co-PIs on this research. Jaime Foushee, PharmD Amy Hicks, PhD REAP: The Impact of Stress Hormone Induced TGF-β Signaling on Tumorigenesis and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Primary Cell Lines. Bidyut Mohanty, PhD; David Eagerton, PhD; Daniel Ross, PhD; and Adele Rawls, PharmD serve as investigators. Tommy Lindsey, DO REAP: AI Driven Ultrasound Image Acquisition in Medical Student Training of Echocardiography. David Redden, PhD is an investigator. Bidyut Mohanty, PhD VCOM/University Collaborators: Structure function relationship in the hexanucleotide repeats in a gene associated with neurological disorders ALS-FTD. Dr. Mohanty and a colleague from Clemson University serve as Co-PIs, and David Eagerton, PhD and Daniel Ross, PhD are investigators. Victoria Shadiack, DO VCOM/SRHS: Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment of the Sphenopalatine Ganglion and Related Structures for Induction of Lacrimation. Dr. Shadiack serves as Co PI with her collaborator at Spartanburg Regional Health System.

VCOM/KINE: Impact of Partial Range of Motion at Long Muscle Lengths Compared to Full on Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength Adaptations in Trained Males. Dr. Beck serves as Co-PI with a collaborator at Auburn University School of Kinesiology. Joseph Brewer, PhD REAP: Adipocyte-Mediated Regulation of B Lymphocytes. Daniel Cawley, DC VCOM/AUBE: Exploring the Impact of OMT on CSF Dynamics: A Mechanistic MRI Based Investigation. Dr Cawley serves as Co-PI with a faculty member from the Auburn University Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. Kevin Hayes, DO is an investigator on this research. Nathan Douthit, MD VCOM/AUBE: Biomechanical Ergonomic Assessment for Injury Prevention in Healthcare Professionals. Dr Douthit serves as Co-PI with a faculty member from the Auburn University Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. Kari Dugger, PhD Kenneth Harris, MD REACH: Microbial Signatures of Preeclampsia: Insights from the Small Intestine and Stool Using a Minimally Invasive Capsule. Dr. Dugger, Dr. Harris, and a colleague at East Alabama Health are Co PIs. REACH is a 1:1 funding match program with East Alabama Health. Melanie Hyte, PharmD Rekha Lall, MD REACH: Beyond A1c: The Role of Continuous Glucose Monitors in Improving Cardiometabolic and Renal Health. David Redden, PhD is an investigator. REACH is a 1:1 funding match program with East Alabama Health. Annie Kirby, PhD, RD REAP: A community culinary medicine program to improve dietary choices of food pantry patrons. Mayra Rodriguez, PhD, MPH is an investigator on this project.

REAP: The Paradox of Protection: Understanding Vaccine Hesitancy in

Rhogam Recipients. Lin Kang, PhD

Delta-CRP: Role of N6-Methyladenosine at Altered Codons in Regulating Expression of Mutant Cancer Genes. Dr. Kang and a collaborator from the ULM College of Pharmacy are Co-PIs.