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January 27, 2010 — The John B. Graham Medical Student Research Society hosted the 42nd Annual Student Research Day on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. The event started with a keynote address by Dr. Edward Benz, President and CEO of the Dana Farber Cancer Center. Following the keynote address, 67 medical students presented their research projects focused on one of three categories: Basic Science, Public Health, and Clinical Science. The Society honored the best oral presentation and the best poster presentation with the Harold C. Pillsbury Award for First Place in each of the respective categories. The 2010 First Place Awards for the best oral and poster presentation for the Basic Science category were presented to Matt Skancke and Gita Madan, respectively.

Matt Skancke is currently a second year medical student and has been mentored by Dr. John van Aalst, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, since November 2008. His project on promoting vasculogenesis was made possible by the North Carolina Summer Scholars Program and was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Skancke won the First Place Oral Presentation for the Basic Science category.

Gita Madan is currently doing research as a Howard Holderness Distinguished Medical Schoars Research Fellow and will begin her fourth year of medical school after the Fellowship. Her project, “Umbilical Cord Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Demonstrate Robust Osteoinduction And May Be An ideal Source For Tissue-Engineered Bone,” also mentored by Dr. van Aalst, won the First Place for Basic Science Poster category. 

The John B. Graham Student Research Society was established in 1987 to recognize and promote student research at the School of Medicine. Students whose abstracts are accepted for poster or slide presentations at Student Research Day are inducted. Throughout the year, student members exchange ideas and share their experiences about conducting research.   In addition, the Society serves to encourage collaboration with faculty to promote productive research opportunities for students. Learn More