Senior biology major Ashley Griffin has been selected to present her summer research at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) in Indianapolis, Indiana, in November. She also received an ABRCMS student travel award for the conference.
“This past summer, I did research with pregnant rats to see if high blood pressure and acute kidney injury persisted into the postpartum period for rats with HELLP syndrome [hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count],” Griffin explained. “Through this experience, I learned how to perform animal surgeries, test urine for creatinine in protein, and observe and collect data daily.”
She is part of the McNair Research Scholars program at Delta State. Griffin completed her summer research requirement at the University of Mississippi Medical Center under Dr. Kendra Wallace as a part of the Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence network.
“We are so excited about Ashley’s accomplishments,” said Wendolyn Stevens, McNair project director. “She has presented several times since she has completed her research in August. We look forward to hearing about her experience in Indiana when she returns.”
The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program was established in memory of astronaut-physicist and Challenger crewmember, Ronald E. McNair. The program is administered through Delta State University’s Office of Graduate & Continuing Studies. McNair is one of eight TRiO programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The goal of McNair Research Scholars to increase the attainment of Ph.D. degrees by students from underrepresented segments of society.
