Six early-career researchers have been selected to receive two years of funded translational research training and support in TRI’s K12 Mentored Research Career Development Scholar Awards Program.
The promising junior faculty researchers were selected for the 2024-2026 program through a competitive application process. K12 (formerly KL2) scholars receive two years of mentored translational research training, 75% salary support and up to $25,000 a year for research, tuition, travel and education.
Funding for the program comes from TRI, supported by a Clinical and Translational Science Award from the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, as well as the UAMS College of Medicine, UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI).
The scholars, their project titles and mentors are:
Lauren Appell, M.D., assistant professor, College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, based at ACRI
Project: STRONGER ALL: An Early Exercise Regimen for Pediatric Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
Mentor: Ellen van der Plas, Ph.D., associate professor of hematology/oncology, based at ACRI
Shiloah Kviatkovsky, Ph.D., assistant professor, College of Medicine Department of Orthopaedics.
Project: Effects of Collagen Supplementation on Surgical Outcomes Following TKA
Mentor: Roy Morello, Ph.D., associate professor, College of Medicine departments Physiology & Cell Biology, Orthopaedic Surgery, and the Division of Genetics.
Ramey Moore, Ph.D., assistant professor, College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Institute for Community Health Innovation.
Project: Enhancing HPV Vaccine Recommendations in Clinics Serving Rural Arkansans
Mentor: Geoffrey Curran, Ph.D., professor, College of Pharmacy Department of Pharmacy Practice; professor, College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry
Bernard Muriithi, Ph.D., assistant professor, College of Health Professions Department of Occupational Therapy
Project: Adapted Lifestyle Redesign for Diabetes Management
Mentor: Steven Wheeler, Ph.D., Ed.D., department head, Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (effective 7-1-24)
Mollee Steely Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor, College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry
Project: Adaptation and Implementation of an Evidence-Based Parenting Intervention for Postpartum Women Receiving Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Mentor: Michael Cucciare, Ph.D., professor, College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry
James Williams, M.D., assistant professor, College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, based at ACRI.
Project: scRNA seq Analysis of Lower Respiratory Tract Immune Cells to Uncover Immuno-Endotypes in Sepsis-Associated Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Mentor: Brian Varisco, M.D., vice chair of Research and professor of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics