Nine women at the School of Pharmacy are recipients of UMKC Women’s Council 2022 Graduate Assistance Fund Award Recipients.
Established in 1971, the UMKC Women’s Council Graduate Assistance Fund supports UMKC women working toward post-baccalaureate degrees with up to $2,000 in funds that furthers their completion of graduation requirements, facilitates studies beyond the classroom and enriches their educational experiences.
This year’s School of Pharmacy recipients and their graduate projects:
Omowumi Akinjole *
PhD (Interdisciplinary)
Pharmaceutical Science and Chemistry
“I am working on developing a theragnostic agent with reduced side effects; that can be used both as a therapeutic and diagnostic tool, for the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma – a form of cancer affecting children 5 years and younger.”
Swetha Chintala *
PhD (Interdisciplinary)
Pharmaceutical Science and Chemistry
“I am working on the development of stable glucagon materials to make better therapies for the
treatment of low blood glucose levels in diabetic patients
Shivani Gargvanshi
PhD (Interdisciplinary)
Pharmaceutical Science and Chemistry
“I am working on understanding the mechanism of action in vancomycin resistant Enterococci bacteria using novel antibiotics.”
Sashi Kandel
PhD (Interdisciplinary)
Pharmaceutical Science and Pharmacology
“I am working on identifying anti-BTLA peptide drugs for the treatment of cancers.”
Chien-Yu Lin
PhD (Interdisciplinary)
Pharmaceutical Science and Chemistry
“I am working on developing a rat model of alcohol-induced liver fibrosis.
Yanli Liu *
PhD (Interdisciplinary)
Pharmaceutical Science, Cell Biology and Biophysics
“I am working on the development of new immunotherapies for breast cancer.”
Maryam Nakhjiri
PhD (Interdisciplinary)
Pharmaceutical Science and Chemistry
“I am working on finding an oral prodrug for prostate cancer therapy.”
Kaylee Nichols
PhamD
Internal medicine; ambulatory care
“I am working on identifying pharmacist impact in heart failure medications in order to improve health care for these patients.”
Sherin George Shaji *
PhD (Interdisciplinary)
Pharmaceutical Science and Pharmacology
“I am working on lipid nanoparticle aided delivery of a STING agonist to treat Pancreatic cancer.”
* Frances E. Clark Merit Recipient