Mabalot, Northrop first UHWO students to present posters at JABSOM symposium

Photo of Arion Northrop and his research poster

Arion Northrop and his research poster

UH West Oʻahu juniors Destiny Mabalot and Arion Northrop presented research posters during the Annual Biomedical Sciences and Health Disparities Symposium recently, becoming the first UH West Oʻahu students to do so.

Mabalot presented a poster detailing work on observation of centrosome behavior in Mitotic Cells, while Northrop’s poster on Antimicrobial Potential of Hawaiian Algae were presented at a poster session that was part of the symposium. Undergraduates from all UH campuses were featured as participants in the IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program, which is based at the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM).

INBRE’s mission includes enhancing biomedical research research among undergraduates to foster biomedical careers and enhance the quality and competitiveness of Hawaiʻi’s developing researchers. The program is administered by JABSOM in conjunction with the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy. UH West Oʻahu became one of the partner schools in the program last summer.

Photo of Destiny Mabalot and her research poster

Destiny Mabalot with her research poster

Mabalot, a junior studying Anthropology, and Northrop, a junior pursuing a concentration in English, also have interest in pre-med studies, according to Dr. Olivia George, an assistant professor of biology who worked with Mabalot on her research. George said engaging in biomedical research helps students with their goal of applying to medical school.

Mabalot worked with George on a project titled: “Genetically Engineering Human Centrosome Proteins with Fluorescent Proteins to Observe Centrosome Behavior in Mitotic Cells Exposed to A Weekly Estrogenic Compound Bisphenol-A (BPA)”.

Northrop worked with Dr. Megan Ross, UH West Oʻahu assistant professor of biology, on his project titled “Antimicrobial Potential of Hawaiian Algae”.

The annual Biomedical Sciences and Health Disparities Symposium was held April 18 to 19 at JABSOM’s Kaʻakaako campus and featured original research from undergraduate and graduate students.

Students who are interested or who have questions in biomedical research can contact Dr. Olivia George, UH West Oʻahu INBRE Campus Coordinator at ogeorge@hawaiʻi.edu or (808) 689-2352.

Image courtesy of UHWO Staff