College of Public Health

Student Research

Three student researchers recognized for cancer research

Three researchers who work in the lab of Christopher Weghorst, associate professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, were recognized in 2008 for their studies on food-based chemopreventive agents. Weghorst is known for his research indicating that berries may prevent certain cancers. Blake Warner, PhD student in EHS and graduate fellow in the College of Dentistry, and Zhaoxia Zhang, post-doctoral fellow in the College of Public Health, received Scholar-in-Training Awards from Susan G. Komen for the Cure to support their attendance at the AARC Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference in Washington, D.C., in November 2008. Jeanette Ferguson, a post-doctoral fellow in the College of Dentistry and an oral cancer survivor, was selected to the AARC Scientist-Survivor Program, which is designed to broaden communication between doctors and researchers and cancer survivors and patients.

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Grad student in PEP program receives grant to fund Pap smears

Craig Strafford, a 2008 graduate of the College's MPH program, was awarded a $20,000 grant from Hologic LP in July 2008 to help detect cervical cancer in Ohio's Appalachian region. Planned Parenthood of Southeast Ohio is using the funds to convert its old method of collecting Pap smears through glass slides to one that uses a liquid-based technology. Hologic LP produces a liquid-based product called ThinPrep. Strafford's academic advisor was Frank Holtzhauer, clinical associate professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, and his secondary advisor on his culminating project was Randi Love, clinical associate professor in the Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion.

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PhD student receives Water Environment Research Foundation grant

Paul Rosile, a PhD student in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, was awarded a contract with the Water Environment Research Foundation for $392,635 in January 2009 to collect data on the effects of biosolids on human health. In the United States, more than 7 million tons of biosolids, and other soil amendments such as animal manure, food residuals and compost, are produced each year and applied to farm fields to enrich the soil. And, often, those who live nearby these farms complain of illness. Rosile's research team includes Song Liang, assistant professor in EHS, Tim Buckley, associate professor and chair of EHS, and Jay Wilkins, professor in the Division of Epidemiology.

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Veterinary Public Health student presents research on MRSA in vet hospitals

Christina Jackson, a second-year student in the Veterinary Public Health master's program, presented research on the presence of the antibiotic-resistant Staph infection known as MRSA in veterinary teaching hospitals at the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases in Chicago in December 2008. Jackson worked on the project with Principal Investigator Armando Hoet, joint assistant professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.

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Environmental Health Sciences student to assess disease risk at Ohio's beaches

Jason W. Marion, a PhD student majoring in Environmental Health Sciences and with a minor in Epidemiology, received a $343,000 grant from the Ohio Water Development Authority to study water quality and assess the risk for infectious diseases at Ohio's inland beaches.

Marion will work on the study from January 2009 through December 2010 with Principal Investigator Timothy Buckley, associate professor and chair of the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, and co-investigators Jiyoung Lee and Song Liang, assistant professors in Environmental Health. Buckley also is Marion's academic advisor.

Marion also received the 2008-09 PHPID Graduate Fellowship for his project on investigating water quality at Ohio inland beaches. PHPID is an interdisciplinary research initiative at Ohio State studying Public Health Preparedness for Infectious Diseases. Six colleges are involved in this initiative.

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Undergrads place fourth for work in air pollution

Two undergraduate researchers who work in Assistant Professor Qinghua Sun's lab finished fourth in the 2008 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum for a project that supports Sun's research on the link between air pollution in Ohio and cardiovascular disease. Matt Verdin, 19, and Zubin Yavar, 18, presented a poster and oral talk titled "Exposure to Air Pollution Potentiates Systemic Inflammation Associated with Vascular Dysfunction and Diabetes." More than 400 Ohio State undergraduate students participated.

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Study of fresh milk in Brazil earns first place in poster competition

A veterinary student's investigation into bacteria found in cow's milk earned her first place in the 2008 Public Health Combined Conference poster competition.

Narry Tiao, a dual master's degree student pursuing an MPH in Veterinary Public Health and an MS in Veterinary Preventive Medicine, spent two months in northeast Brazil last year studying the prevalence of MRSA in milk. Her research was part of her summer practicum experience.

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