University Research Week: Award Presentations, Recipients and Luncheon
Research Awards and Luncheon
David Zhi-Zhou He, MD, PhD, professor of biomedical sciences in the School of Medicine, and Maya Khanna, PhD, professor of psychological science in the College of Arts and Sciences have been named the 2023 Creighton University Research Award recipients.
The two will be recognized during the University Research Awards and Luncheon on Wednesday, March 29, in the Mike and Josie Harper Center, Room 2057/2058. This luncheon, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT, is open to all faculty, students, and staff. No registration is requried.
Recipients of the he Dr. and Mrs. Randolph Ferlic Undergraduate Mentor Award and the Dr. Robert Heaney Graduate Mentor Award will also be recognized.
David Zhi-Zhou He, MD, PhD
In his presentation, "Cochlear Hair Cells: Why Losing Them Leads to Hearing Loss," Dr. He shows how mutations of two genes, Slc7a14 (differentially expressed in IHCs) and Dnm3 (differentially expressed in OHCs), lead to hearing loss in mouse models and humans.
Inner and outer hair cells (IHCs and OHCs) are the two types of mechanoreceptor cells in the mammalian cochlea of the inner ear that transduce mechanical stimuli into electrical activity. IHCs are the true sensory receptor cells that transmit auditory input to the brain. OHCs are a mammalian innovation with a unique capability to change length in response to changes in receptor potential. Using RNA-seq analysis of adult mouse cochleae, He identifies genes that are differentially expressed in these two cell types.
He and his team's goal was to characterize genes underlying the unique structure and function of IHCs and OHCs and to determine if mutations of the gene will lead to hearing loss in animals and humans. They employed a variety of in vitro and in vivo experimental techniques including electrophysiology (system and cellular), immunocytochemistry, advanced imaging, mouse genetics and molecular biology.
Maya Khanna, PhD
In her presentation, "It’s the word, nerd: Using words to explore memory, attention, spelling, concept representation, and development," Dr. Khanna shares her research in cognition that focuses on her favorite topic, words, and highlight her research on word-processing.
Khanna shares how word features, such as their meanings, sounds and spelling patterns, influence the way that words are remembered and how people pay attention to words in specific contexts. Her examinations of how these semantic (i.e., meaning-based) and sub-lexical (e.g., spelling and sound) features influence word processing in both children and adults in a wide range of behaviors. Behaviors include reading aloud, spelling, meaning selection of ambiguous words (e.g., bark), word learning, attention allocation during word processing, and the formation of true and false memories of words.
Research Presentations
Omaha Campus
Everyone is also invited to learn, see and celebrate the research and scholarly activity taking place at Creighton University on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 28-29, in the Mike and Josie Harper Center's Ahmanson Ballroom. For more information, view the 2023 St. Albert's Day Research Week program booklet.
The Omaha University Research/St. Albert’s Day student poster and oral presentation sessions are:
- March 28 — 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. CT and 1:45 to 3:45 p.m. (CT)
- March 29 — 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. CT
Phoenix Campus
Celebrate the research and scholarly activity taking place at the Creighton University Health Sciences – Phoenix Campus on Wednesday, April 5. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students will present their research in either an oral presentation or a poster presentation. Best Presentation awards will be given.
The Phoenix University Research/St. Albert’s Day student poster and oral presentation sessions is:
- April 5 — 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. MST