by Jennifer Kowalewski

Saima Karim felt honored when her research poster, “PORF-2, cyclophilin, and 18 S expression in varying insulin concentrations with and without blockage of insulin receptors with HNMPA-(AM)3,” won the student award for the best poster at the fourth annual Research Day. The award includes $200.

“I felt shocked winning because everyone had such great posters,” says the second-year medical student. “Mostly, I felt honored to think that people thought my research was of value.”

Research Day, held Sept. 30 at Irvine Hall, promoted the important projects at OU-COM by both students and faculty. Judi Rioch reported there were 36 entries, with 15 of those entries from 18 students who participated in this years Research & Scholarly Advancement Fellowship program. Research Day is a way for faculty, staff and students to discuss their research, while perusing the works of other colleagues.

“Congratulations to all students for a job well-done,” says Gillian Ice, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of social medicine and chairwoman of the Research and Scholarship Affairs Committee. “This year’s competition was tough and many of the scores were close.”

The judges for the competition included Rengarajan Balaji, research grant program coordinator; Jack Blazyk, Ph.D., associate dean for research and grants; Janet Burns, D.O. (’95), assistant professor of osteopathic manipulative medicine; Steve Clay, D.O., associate professor of family medicine; Richard Klabunde, Ph.D., associate professor of physiology; Doug Mann, Ph.D., assistant professor of social medicine; Felicia Nowak, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of endocrinology; and Frank Schwartz, M.D., associate professor of endocrinology.

Karim’s research project, under the direction of Nowak, looked at the correlation with the insulin pathway.

“We were looking at insulin pathway, and blocking its receptor to see what happens to some insulin products,” she says, adding the research focused primarily on Porf-2, or pre-optic regulatory factors found in various regions of the body. “We found that porf-2 expression went up with increasing insulin concentration. So potentially Porf-2 might have some bearing with insulin related diseases like metabolic, such as diabetes.”

Karim is no stranger to research. In her undergrad at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, she did research in a parasitological laboratory.

Since coming to OU-COM, she became involved in research because of the wonderful opportunities with the Research and Scholarly Advancement Fellowship, which encourages medical students to do research in the summer between their first and second year.

 “I enjoy doing research and trying to find answers to questions that exist in the medical community, especially regarding information that can potentially benefit people,” she says.

Ice says the event this year was a success.

“Thanks to all of our Research Day participants; it was a great event this year,” she adds.