Spirits were audibly high as students and faculty gathered for the Twentieth Annual Medical Student Research Poster Session and its climax, the presentation of the Dean’s Prize in Student Research.

"I want you to understand that this is truly a big deal," affirmed Dean David Kessler in his welcoming remarks. He recounted how past recipients would later look back on this prize as the cornerstone of their scientific career. The dean also stressed the importance of mentorship in the development of young investigators, and as on previous occasions, he singled out mentor par excellence, Dr. Dan Lowenstein, who leads the Student Research Program with a "passion and commitment, unmatched anywhere.".

Dean Kessler also praised all of the students who were there to present their posters for their creative efforts and applauded the rich diversity of research topics.

Four students were awarded the Dean's Prize for their innovative research. Following are their presentations and comments by the students' sponsors:

> Jolie Chang, MS IV TGF-β and Runx2 Control of Bone Matrix Material Properties in Bone Disease-associated Hearing Loss   "By investigating the cause of sensorineural hearing loss associated with human bone diseases, this work transforms the way we think about bone in the ear and hearing." -- Tamara Alliston, PhD Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery   Chang with mentors Alliston and Lawrence Lustig               > Sunita Puri, JMP III Intersection of Medical Technology, Son Preference, and Sex Selection Among South Asian Immigrants in the United States   "Sunita's work brings a fine lens to the study of gender and culture as they intersect in South Asian society throughout the Diaspora. Her analysis also explores the role of physicians." -- Susan Ivey, MD, MHSA Health Research for Action, School of Public Health, UCB   Ivey(left), Vincanne Adams, Sunita Puri             > Bruce Wang, MS IV Liver Ovals Cells Proliferate in Response to TWEAK and Repopulate FAH-deficient Mice   "Bruce's work on growth stimuli for liver progenitor cells is a significant step towards our goal of cell-replacement and genetic therapy for liver diseases." -- D. Montgomery Bissell, MD Director, Division of Gastroenterology   Dr. Montgomery Bissell               > Harras Zaid, MS II Role of Pericytes and PDGF-B in the Anti-Leakage and Vascular Remodeling Actions of Angiopoietin-1 in the Vasculature   "Harras' discovery that PDFG-F signaling in pericytes is essential for the anti-leakage action of Ang1 shows exceptional work in a demanding project." -- Donald McDonald, MD,PhD Professor, Dept. of Anatomy   Harras Zaid, Dr. McDonald