Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Conference
Yusra Zaidi, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Brian Stansfield’s lab, received the ARVO Foundation Travel Grant for the highest-scored abstract at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
(ARVO) Annual Conference, held May 5, 2024, in Seattle, for the project title “Loss of Neurofibromin facilitates pathological
retinal neovascularization (RNV) via Akt-2 facilitated GLUT-1 translocation”
MCG Faculty Senate Award Ceremony
Eric Belin de Chantemele received the Medical College of Georgia Faculty Senate Mentoring Excellence Award, at the MCG Faculty Senate Award Ceremony, May 23.
![Faculty Senate Award Ceremony (l-r) Dr. David Hess, Dean of Medical College of Georgia Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemele Dr. Lara Stepleman, Associate Dean for Faculty Success Dr. Vishal Arora, Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology](/centers/vbc/images/fs-award-chantemele-2024.jpg)
(l-r) Dr. David Hess, Dean of Medical College of Georgia, Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemele,
Dr. Lara Stepleman, Associate Dean for Faculty Success, Dr. Vishal Arora, Faculty
Senate President & Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
May 23, 2024
39th Annual Graduate Research Day
![Chatterjee memorial award](/centers/vbc/images/chatterjee-memorial-award-2024.jpg)
Recipient of inaugural Dr. Tapan K. Chatterjee Memorial Award is Josue Zambrano-Carrasco
in recognition of research excellence at the 39th Annual Graduate Research Day
(l-r) Dr. Ralf Lucas, Josue Zambrano-Carrasco,
Dr. Soma Mukhopadhyay (wife of Dr. Chatterjee),
Dr. David Fulton
3rd Annual Savannah River Eye Meeting
Yusra Zaidi, postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Brian Stansfield’s lab, received the Postdoctoral Fellow
Poster Award at the 3rd Annual Savannah River Eye Meeting held March 13, 2024 for project title “Loss of Neurofibromin facilitates pathological retinal neovascularization
(RNV) via Akt-2 facilitated GLUT-1 translocation”
The Graduate School 2024 Outstanding Faculty Award
![2024 FS awards](/centers/vbc/images/mcg-fs-awards-2024.jpg)
Dr. David Fulton received The Graduate School 2024 Outstanding Faculty Award during
the annual awards ceremony on April 2nd. This award honors a graduate faculty member
who has demonstrated exceptional, long-term commitment to Augusta University and The
Graduate School, and this is the highest honor that the graduate faculty may bestow.
Since joining the Vascular Biology Center in 2002, Dr. Fulton has served on 56 graduate
student thesis committees and mentored 13 students, 8 of whom have graduated, with
5 currently under his guidance.
Dr. Fulton, we are grateful for your dedication to the VBC and training future researchers.
Many congratulations!
April 2, 2024
38th Annual Graduate Research Day events held March 7 & 8, 2024.
Excellent research and presentations by all!
Post-Doctoral Oral Presentations
![Qian Ma, PhD](/centers/vbc/images/ma-lab-shot-2020.jpg)
Qian Ma, PhD
3rd place award for Excellence in Research by a Postdoctoral Fellow for oral presentation of “De novo nucleotide synthesis is
necessary for DNA damage and repair in atheroprone endothelial cells”
Advisor: Yuqing Huo
![Sheela Nagarkoti, PhD](/centers/vbc/images/sheela-nagarakoti-new.png)
Sheela Nagarkoti, PhD
presented “Excess Glycolysis Limits VEGF-induced VEGFR2 activation and angiogenesis
via Cysteine oxidation of VEGFR2”
Advisor: Masuko Ushio-Fukai and Tohru Fukai
![Yoichi Ono, MD, PhD](/centers/vbc/images/ono-yoichi-hs.jpg)
Yoichi Ono, MD, PhD presented “Role of the Long form Leptin Receptor (Ob-Rb) in Aldosterone Synthase (AS)
Expressing Cells in the Control of Cardiovascular Function in Female Mice”
Advisor: Eric Belin de Chantemele
![Varsha Tandra, PhD](/centers/vbc/images/varsha-tandra-and-jie-li-graduate-research-day-2024.jpg)
![Varsha Tandra, PhD,](/centers/vbc/images/varsha-tandra.jpg)
Varsha Tandra, PhD
Varsha Tandra, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Jie Li’s lab, received 1st place award for the oral presentation of “Regulation of UFM1 modification from ER
dynamics to cardiac homeostasis” at the 38th Graduate Research Day held March 7, 2024.
![Mai Yamamoto, PhD](/centers/vbc/images/mai-yamamoto-hs.jpg)
Mai Yamamoto, PhD
presented “Novel Role of Copper Uptake Transporter CTR1 in Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion
Injury”
Advisor: Masuko Ushio-Fukai and Tohru Fukai
![Shikha Yadav, PhD](/centers/vbc/images/shikah-yadav.jpg)
Shikha Yadav, PhD
presented “Macrophage Drp1 as a novel redox sensor driving revascularization of ischemic
muscle”
Advisor: Masuko Ushio-Fukai and Tohru Fukai
![Yusra Zaidi, PhD](/centers/vbc/images/ysra-zaidi-grd-award-2024.jpg)
![Yusra Zaidi, PhD](/centers/vbc/images/yusra-zaidi.jpg)
Yusra Zaidi, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Brian Stansfield’s lab, received 2nd prize for the oral
presentation of “Loss of Neurofibromin facilitates pathological retinal neovascularization
(RNV) via Akt-2 facilitated GLUT-1 translocation” at the 39th Annual Graduate Research
Day, MCG, held March 7, 2024.
![CSRA AHA Heart ball 2024](/centers/vbc/images/csra-aha-heart-ball-2024.jpg)
CSRA AHA Heart Ball held February 9th at Augusta Marriott Convention Center
The Heart Ball celebrates the American Heart Association’s year-round fund raising
efforts and educating the community by honoring the volunteers and patrons.