Three Ouachita students, along with Dr. Lori Hensley, assistant professor of biology, will travel to Washington, D.C., in April to present research to congressmen and senators on Capitol Hill at the annual “Posters on the Hill” event, sponsored by the Council for Undergraduate Reseach (CUR). Ouachita’s team is among 74 presenters selected from a pool of 850 applicants.
The CUR is a group of affiliated colleges, universities and individuals whose focus is to provide and influence research opportunities for faculty and students at all institutions that serve undergraduates. CUR believes faculty members enhance their teaching and contribution to society by remaining active in research and involving undergraduates in research.
The event will allow the students to display posters with their research findings at the Capitol and explain the importance of this research to the country’s lawmakers and other federal government officials.
“It’s kind of like Scholar’s Day, but for Congress,” said Cara McKinney, a senior biology major.
McKinney, along with Vikki Bennett and Nolan West, have been conducting research on Ewing’s Sarcoma, an aggressive childhood bone cancer. The students worked last summer and this school year with Hensley, continuing years of research between Ouachita and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
“Ewing’s Sarcoma is a childhood bone cancer,” said West, a senior biology major. “The drug we’re testing, Ajulemic Acid, has been shown to kill these cancer cells without negatively affecting surrounding tissues. My research was to see whether the drug could slow or stop the metastasis (movement) of the cancer to other parts of the body.”
Each student had their own branch of research for the disease.
“My research was to see whether the drug could slow or stop the metastasis (movement) of the cancer to other parts of the body,” West said.
This research and testing is crucial to the course of this disease and is monumental for these students and the future of those who have and will battle the disease.
“Our research is important because we have a potential new cancer drug,” said Bennett, also a senior biology major. “We have tested this in-vitro and in-vivo in the lab and in an actual animal model. We have seen that AJA kills the tumor; it decreases the cells ability to migrate and for angiogenesis to take place. This is significant because tumor cells will have less of a chance to metastasize and cause a reoccurrence of the cancer, therefore, allowing Ajulemic Acid to move one-step closer to becoming a favorable option to treat Ewings Sarcoma.“
The goal, other than informing the public on issues in our society, is to garner funding for undergraduate research.
“This CUR Posters on the Hill event is to bring awareness of the importance of undergraduate research,” Bennet said. “We are hoping to make an impact on the political figures we meet so the next time a bill comes across their desk that can help increase research funding, they will vote to pass it.”
The students said they are excited about their project and to have worked with Hensley.
“Cancer research has always been something that intrigued me,” Bennett said. “When I came to OBU, I met Dr. Hensley, and after hearing about her research, I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of it. She is a great professor and is even more amazing when you work with her. She really knows how to connect with the students and is great about letting us do all of the hands on work. I have learned so much from her.”
Of this opportunity, McKinney said, “This is a great opportunity because we are able to talk to other professors about research and learn how to make our project better, as well as learn about the other projects. Being a part of Dr. Hensley’s research team has been so rewarding, and I’ve learned so much from this project. Not just about research, but it has even helped me in my other classes and seminars.
“Dr. Hensley is incredible. I loved her anatomy class, and I knew working with her would be a great opportunity. I jumped at the chance to participate in her relevant, exciting research.”
The conference will take place April 24-25, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Picture by Heather Ellis.
Caption: Vikki Bennett, Nolan West and Cara McKinney will be presenting at the Posters on the Hill event in Washington, D.C.
