Medical Laboratory Science Student Research Projects

Graduate students in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science work with their research mentors on a wide array of topics, as highlighted below.

• Academic years 2019-2021
• Academic year 2018-2019
• Academic year 2017-2018
• Academic year 2016-2017
• Academic year 2015-2016
• Academic year 2014-2015
• Academic year 2013-2014
• Academic year 2012-2013

Academic years 2019-2021

Title: Assessing Clinical Laboratory Education in the Diagnostic Curriculums and Implementing Methods of Improvement at Rush University
Student: Anna Ackerman
Research Advisor: Nadine Lerret, PhD
 
Title: Toxicity Associated with Licking Paint Brushes Among the Miniatures Community
Student: Christine Hoang
Research Advisor: Nadine Lerret, PhD
 
Title: Evaluating the Detection of Inhibitory Antibodies to the ADAMTS-13 Protease Using the ATS-13 Assay in Patients with TTP
Student: Anita Lutzow
Research Advisor: Ricardo Sumugod, MS
 
Title: Quality Benchmarks for Rush University Medical Center’s Blood Bank
Student: Bichnu Le
Research Advisor: Laurie Gillard, MS
 
Title: Evaluating Transfusion Reaction Reporting Methods at Rush University Medical Center
Student: Swati Patel
Research Advisor: Laurie Gillard, MS
 
Title: Comparison Evaluation of MCIM and PAIDEC Kits in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at Rush University Medical Center
Student: Celia Figueroa
Research Advisor: Nicholas Moore, PhD
 
Title: Hyperglycemia Alters the CD27-CD70 Axis on Human PBMCs
Student: Claire Owaja
Research Advisor: Nadine Lerret, PhD
 
Title: Detection of Pseudohyponatremia in Pediatric Patients with Hyperlipidemia
Student: Haydee Avila
Research Advisor: Brenda Suh-Lialam, MD
 
Title: Evaluating the Cost Benefit of Implementing an Anemia Clinic at Rush University Medical Center
Student: Lori Cassidy
Research Advisor: Laurie Gillard, MS
 
Title: Short and Long-Term Benefits of Receiving an MS Degree in MLS from Rush University
Student: Jasmin Benegas
Research Advisor: Nadine Lerret, PhD
 
Title: The Role of Glutamate Receptor Inhibition in the Treatment of Melanoma
Student: Jesus Diaz
Research Advisor: Andrew Zloza, PhD
 
Title: Capillary Blood Ketone Body Testing to Detect Adherence to the Ketogenic Diet
Student: Kristina Olack
Research Advisor: Christy Tangney, PhD and Nadine Lerret, PhD
 
Title: Assessing Interprofessional Education in MLS and Implementing Methods of Improvement at Rush University
Student: Morgan Lohr
Research Advisor: Maribeth Flaws, PhD
 
Title: Testing Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria with Newly Approved Antibiotics
Student: Leanne Horvath
Research Advisor: Nicholas Moore, PhD
 
Title: Consistency of NGS Analysis in the Identification of Mutant HIV
Student: Loyd Webb
Research Advisor: Diana Huang, PhD
 
Title: Cost Benefit of Starting a Diagnostic Management Team at Rush University Medical Center
Student: Martin Kurszack
Research Advisor: Nadine Lerret, PhD
 
Title: Screening and Surveillance for Intestinal Carriage of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae by Chromogenic Culture Media
Student: Robert McLaughlin
Research Advisor: Nicholas Moore, PhD
 
Title: Blood Transfusion Safety: Are Red Cell Transfusions Following the Established Best Practices at Rush University Medical Center?
Student: Elaine Opusunju
Research Advisor: Laurie Gillard, MS

Academic year 2018-2019

Title: Benefits of the Procalcitonin as a Diagnostic Biomarker in Rush's Core Laboratory
Student: Safoora Baig
Research Advisor: Yolanda Garcia, MS 

Title: The Role of Store-Operated CRAC Channels in Inflammatory Cytokine Production in the Genetically Inherited Dermatosis Darier’s Disease
Student: Chelsea Maguire
Research Advisor:  Murali Prakriya, PhD

Title:  Validation of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) Assay on an Automated Platform at Northwestern Hospital
Student: Tirtha Shah
Research Advisor:  Ricardo Sumugod, MS

Title: The Role of Hyperglycemia in CD4 T Cell Death
*Published
Student: Evelyn Roback-Navarro
Research Advisor: Nadine Lerret, PhD

Title: Evaluation of 7 Assays for Laboratory Diagnosis of EBV Associated Infectious Mononucleosis
Student: Sharon Wei
Research Advisor:  Xiaotian Zheng, PhD

Title: CBC Utilization in the CICU at Rush University Medical Center
Student: Laura Ramirez
Research Advisor:  Maribeth Flaws, PhD and Nadine Lerret, PhD

Title: Mir-149 Oncogene Expression in Plasma from Patients Undergoing CT Screening for Lung Cancer
Student: Angelo Rivera
Research Advisor:  Lela Buckingham, PhD

Title: Validation and Cost Benefit of Procalcitonin at University of Chicago
Student: Angela Covington
Research Advisor:  Xander Van Wijk, PhD

Title: Genomic Methylation and Epigenetic Modulator Mutations in Tubular Adenomas
Student: Stephanie Sutherland
Research Advisor: Lela Buckingham, PhD

Title: Rush University Blood Bank Relocation Affecting Transit Times for Blood Units
Student: Angelica Nolan
Research Advisor: Miriam Miller, MS

Title: Comparative Analysis of Anterior vs. Transforminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Student: Sharmeen Razvi
Research Advisor: Brian David, PhD

Title: Minimum Inhibitory Concentration Comparison of Chlorohexidine Gluconate and Colistin Among Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Isolates from Patients in Long Term Acute Care Hospitals in the Chicagoland Area
Student: Matthew Savage
Research Advisor:  Nicholas Moore, PhD

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Academic year 2017-2018

Title: Evaluation of the GenMark ePlex Respiratory Panel for the Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Student: Khanh To
Research Advisor: Nicholas Moore, PhD

Title: Susceptibility Testing of Pharyngeal Group A Streptococcus pyogenes Isolates from Rush University
Student: Stephanie Gillen
Research Advisor: Nicholas Moore, PhD

Title: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Potential Uropathogens Isolated via Enhanced Quantitative Urine Culture
Student: Robert Mendoza
Research Advisor: Amanda Harrington, PhD

Title: The Role of Hyperglycemia on CD4 T Cell Differentiation and Mobilization
*Published
Student: Catherine Steib
Research Advisor: Nadine Lerret, PhD

Title: Monitoring Stress Physiology and Behavior in Baringo Giraffes During Construction at the Lincoln Park Zoo
Student: Allison Wright
Research Advisor: Rachel Santymire, PhD

Title: Lab Cost-Saving Analysis in the General Medicine Unit at Rush University
Student: Katrina Jose
Research Advisor:  Yolanda Garcia, MS

Title: Reinvention of HLA testing algorithm to Reduce Cost and Expedite Kidney donation
*Published
Student: Jesus Gonzalez
Research Advisor: Sujata Gaitonde, PhD

Title: Age Related DNA Damage and Epigenetics in Brain Cancer
Student: Adrian Tira
Research Advisor: Lela Buckingham, PhD

Title: Evaluation of Abbott iSTAT analyzers for use with POC Creatinine and ACTT
Student: Maria Macias-Jimenez
Research Advisor: Tom Nichols, MS+

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Academic year 2016-2017

Title: Local Administration of IL-15’s Ability to Regulate HSV-2 Effector and Memory CD8 T Cell Migration to the Vaginal Mucosa
Student: Zaid Al-Jassany
Research Advisor: Amanda Marzo, MS

Title: A Comparison between CDC and IDPH Definitions of Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
Student:  Sarah Gliwa
Research Advisor: Angela Charnot-Katsikas, MD

Title: Patient Satisfaction in the Outpatient Phlebotomy Laboratory
Student: Jessica Bethke
Research Advisor: Maribeth Flaws, PhD

Title: Using Hybrid Capture and NGS in CCHS Patients
Student: Brian Siapno
Research Advisor: Lawrence Jennings, MD PhD

Title: Gene Expression of XRCC3 and EGR4 in the Malignant Transformation of Melanoma
Student:  Tyler Kloweit
Research Advisor:  Lela Buckingham, PhD

Title: The Effect of Construction on African Wild Dogs at the Lincoln Park Zoo
*Published
Student: Samantha Eugenio
Research Advisor: Rachel Santymire, PhD

Title:  Viral Pathogens Associated with Acute Febrile Illnesses in Young Children
Student: Ariel Maskas
Research Advisor: Xioatian Zheng, PhD

Title: Clinical Utility of the RUO Test on Platelet Refractoriness
Student: Abraham Sosa-Armenta
Research Advisor:  Ricardo Sumugod, MS

Title: Spherical Nucleic Acids Engineered to Induce a Beneficial Immune Response in Prostate Cancer Patients
Student: Jonathan French
Research Advisor: Andrew Lee, PhD

Title: Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) Association with HLA Class I and II Antigens and Antibodies
Student: Jamila McClinton
Research Advisor:  Siva Kanangat, PhD

Title: Evaluating the Clinical Utility of NT-ProBNP in Acute Coronary Syndrome
Student: Sally Whitaker
Research Advisor:  Mary Anne Loafman, MS

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Academic year 2015-2016

Role of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide in Changing the Function of Innate Lymphoid Cells
By Nerjes Alsalman
Research advisor: Edward Barker, PhD

HPeV and EV Viral Detection in Plasma Specimens of Pediatric Patients
By Elaina Analitis
Research advisor: Xiaotian Zheng, PhD

Validating a Molecular Platform to Determine Rh Variants in Rh D Negative Patients
By Courtney Booker
Research advisor: Ricardo Sumugod, MS

Influence of Antiphospholipid Syndrome on Global Coagulation Assays
By Heidi Christian
Research advisor: Jeffrey Wool, MD, PhD

The Role of Anti-HLA Antibodies in Renal Transplantation
By Michael Conciatori
Research advisor: Sivadasan Kanangat, PhD

Droplet Digital PCR Quantitation of Minimal Residual Disease in AML Patients
By Julia Dale
Research advisor: Lawrence Jennings, PhD

Strategies on the Whelping Success of Female Black-Footed Ferrets
By Christina Dallas
Research advisor: Rachel Santymire, PhD

Protocol for the Detection of HIV-1 Subtypes and Drug Resistance in the Philippines
By Juan Elias
Research advisor: Diana Huang, PhD

Laboratory Results for Clostridium difficile Infection: Correlation with Patient Symptoms and History
By Marie Mohrbacher
Research advisor: Kamaljit Singh, MD

Analysis of RBC Handling and Waste Reduction in a Large Academic Medical Center Operating Room
By Kristi Mosher
Research advisor: Yolanda Garcia, MS

Correlation of Diagnostic Indicators for Inflammation
By Emily Wysocki
Research advisor: Mary Anne Loafman, MS

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Academic year 2014-2015

Measure of the Synergistic Relationship of Statins and Bisphosphonates When Used Against Schistosoma Mansoni
By Andrew Barnard
Research advisor: James Williams, PhD

Epigenetic Loss of PTEN in Glioblastoma
By Eunice Choi
Research advisor: Lela Buckingham, PhD

Epigenetic Regulation of FOXM1 Expression in Early Stage NSCLC: Effects of Aberrant Cancer Cell Metabolism
By Ashley Goodman
Research advisor: Lela Buckingham, PhD

Evaluation and Validation of PNA QuickFish Method for Rapid Pathogen Identification Directly from Blood Culture Bottles
By Mateusz Gornisiewicz
Research advisor: Nicholas Moore, PhD

Bacterial Contamination of Electronic Tablet Devices Used by Resident Physicians at a University-Based Medical Center
By Cory Knickerbocker
Research advisor: Kamaljit Singh, MD

Characterizing Hormone Stress Levels of Black-Crowned Night Herons through Fecal Metabolites
By Eva Leung
Research advisor: Rachel Santymire, PhD

Understanding the Role of HLA and Non-HLA Antibodies in Allograft Fibrosis Leading to Chronic Allograft Rejection
By Saba Rezaeian
Research advisor: Sivadasan Kanangat, PhD

Quantification of Serotonin Release from Platelets Using Mass Spectrometry
By Ina Sandeli
Research advisor: Jonathan Miller, MD, PhD

Drug Discovery in Parkinson’s Disease: Behavioral Assessment of Novel Compounds in the 6-OHDA Model
By Nicholas Steder III
Research advisor: Brinda Bradaric, PhD

Detecting Novel Fusion Transcripts in Soft Tissue Sarcomas Using Next Generation Sequencing
By Nneka Wallace
Research advisor: Lawrence Jennings, MD, PhD

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Academic year 2013-2014

The Usefulness of Peripheral Blood Cancer Markers in the Prediction of Development and Classification of Melanoma in Braf/Pten Mice
By Colleen Cowan
Research advisor: Andrew Zloza, PhD

HIV-Specific ADCC Activity Towards Clade D in the Cervical Lavage Fluid of HIV-Highly Exposed Seronegative (HESN) Women from Rwanda
By Shannon Elam
Research advisor: Linda Baum, PhD

Overall Performance, Cost Analysis, and Efficiency of the Sofia Strep A FIA™ Compared to Standard Group A Streptococcus Detection Methods
By Robyn Hund
Research advisor: Kamaljit Singh, MD

Correlation between Hemophilia Severity Score (HSS) and Thrombin Generation
By Hiren Khambati
Research advisor: Mindy Simpson, MD

Macrolide-Resistant Mycoplasma pneumonia Infections in Pediatric Patients in the United States
By Stella Lee
Research advisor: Xiaotian Zheng, PhD

Evaluation of p16 and ANRIL and Their Variants in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Associated with Age
By Thomas Nichols
Research advisor: Lela Buckingham, PhD

Changes in Long Non-Coding RNA Expression and Subsequent Global Methylation Differences in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
By Amy Quick
Research advisor: Lela Buckingham, PhD

Utilizing Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites (FGM) and Behavioral Analyses to Evaluate the Effect of Construction Activity on Zoo-Houses African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus)
By Pamela Roberts
Research advisor: Rachel Santymire, PhD

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Carrier Test Using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
By Bridget Simpson
Research advisor: Elizabeth Berry-Kravis, PhD

Identification of Natural Killer Cell Phenotypes in HIV and HCMV Infection
By Amber Stokes
Research advisor: Edward Barker, PhD

Investigating Phenotypic Variability in Hemophilia Using Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and Multiplate Analysis
By Erin Wilgus
Research advisor: Mindy Simpson, MD

A Mechanistic Approach Towards the Role of HLA Antibodies and Non-HLA Endothelial Cell Antibodies on the Genesis of Renal Interstitial Fibrosis: An Indication of Chronic Allograft Rejection
By Melinda Wills
Research advisor: Sivadasan Kanangat, PhD

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Academic year 2012-2013

The Role of CD4 T-Cell Subsets in HIV Progression
By Anna Fabian
Research advisor: Andrew Zloza, PhD

Monitoring Bypassing Agent Therapy Using Thrombin Generation Assays
By Edwin Gaviola
Research advisor: Mindy Simpson, MD

Cytochrome P450 RNA Expression in Schistosoma mansoni Eggs
By Margaret Harrelson
Research advisor: David Williams, PhD

Using the Illumigene Assay for Detection of Group A Streptococcus
By Amanda Henson
Research advisor: Xiaotian Zheng, PhD

Measuring Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites (FGM) in Sichuan Takin at Lincoln Park Zoo
By Brandy Hill
Research advisor: Rachel Santymire, PhD

Hypermethylation of SHP1 Promoter Region in CML Patients
By Lenny Hong
Research Advisor: Lela Buckingham, PhD

Using Nested PCR for the Detection of Plasmodium and Babesia Parasites
By Nadia Kind
Research advisor: Chao Qi, PhD

The Relationship of Fatty Acid Metabolites and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines
By Norma Knight
Research advisor: Gregory Spear, PhD

Detection of HLA and IgG Isotypes in Renal Transplant Patients
By Sarah Mandley
Research advisor: Sivadasan Kanangat, PhD

The Effect of Prebiotics, Probiotics and Synbiotics on Barrier Function in an Intestinal In Vitro Model: An Optimization Study
By Elyse Marriott

Determining Predictors of Success on the MLS BOC Exam
By Jessica Martinez
Research advisor: Herb Miller, PhD

Evaluation of Platelet Aggregation on Platelet Concentrates Transported Through the Pneumatic Tube System
By Holly Moore
Research advisor: Ann Viernes, PhD

Epigenetic Influence of BRCA 1 and 2 in Lung Cancer Patients
By Gregory Pelkey
Research advisor: Lela Buckingham, PhD

Interleukin 15 (IL-15) Recruitment of CD8 T-cells to FRT
By Zurisaday Quiles
Research advisor: Amanda Marzo, PhD

Correlation of Joint Outcome Study (JOS) to Simultaneous Thrombin and Plasmin (STP) Generation Assay
By Soujoud Saleh
Research advisor: Mindy Simpson, MD

Detection of Myotonic Dystrophy Using PCR Technology
By Robin Spoehr
Research advisor: Elizabeth Berry-Kravis, PhD

Luminex Detection of Anti-Vimentin Antibodies
By Tenisha West
Research advisor: Jeffrey Borgia, PhD

Detection of Carbapenamase Resistant Klebsiella Species Using Three Different Methods
By Lindsey Wilkening
Research advisor: Nicholas Moore, PhD

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