BUSM Summer Research Program Serchuck Award Winners
The BUSM Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSSRP) offers first-year Boston University medical students scholarships to complete eight-week research projects with a BUMC faculty member. This past summer 23 students participated in the program. These participants showcased their research results at the annual medical student summer research symposium on Feb. 10, 2011 in Hiebert Lounge.
As part of the symposium, participants compete to receive the Serchuck award. The award honors Jerome Serchuck, one of the longtime donors to the Medical Student Summer Research Program. Mr. Serchuck has given generously to the research program from its official establishment in the summer of 2000 when fifteen members of the BUSM class of 2003 undertook research in various BUMC departments. The first Serchuck Award was given in 2007, and the program continues to flourish as a direct result of his ongoing support and generosity.
Stephen Alerhand ’13 received the award for best clinical science for his work with Robert C. Green, MD, MPH, Department of Neurology, on the Long Term Psychological Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease Genetic Risk Disclosure. Elizabeth Park ’13 received the best basic science award for the work she did with Meera Mahalingam, MD, PhD, Department of Dermatology, on KIT in Atypical Acral Nevi –an immunohistochemical and genetic appraisal.
Two students also received honorable mention awards: In clinical science, Jacob Wood ’13 for the Role of Oxidative Stress and Substance P in the Formation of Intra-abdominal Adhesions with Arthur F. Stucchi, PhD, and James Becker, MD, surgery, and in basic science, Amrita Devalapalli ’13 for Exploration of a Combination Therapy on Breast Cancer Cells by HDAC Inhibitors and Calpain Inhibitor with Sibaji Sarkar, PhD, cancer center.