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Maternal Inflammation Alters Nuclear And Mitochondrial Dna Methylation Patterns In Neonatal Brain Monocytes, Andrew Ebenezer, Jonathan Hicks, Brooke Hollander, Alexander Hone, Mona Batish, Robert Akins, Adam Marsh, Elizabeth Wright-Jin

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a common birth complication that can cause death or lifelong disabling conditions like cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. It is well established that maternal infection and inflammation are significant risk factors for HIE but reasons for this increase in neurological risk to the offspring remain unknown. Inflammation or infection are associated with epigenetic changes and may contribute to the increased risk of neurodevelopmental disability in exposed offspring. Here, we analyzed and compared DNA methylation patterns in brain monocytes isolated from control, maternal immune activation (MIA), and an inflammation sensitized HIE (IS-HIE) CF-1 mouse model …

Mitochondrial Translation Is A Targetable Dependency Of Chemo-Refractory Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Mariah J Berner, Steven W Wall, Mokryun L Baek, Audra Lane, Allison S Greer, Karen Wang, Lacey E Dobrolecki, Ivy Strope, Qian Zhu, Bing Zhang, Jonathan T Lei, Michael T Lewis, Gloria V Echeverria

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients harboring residual cancer burden following completion of conventional neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy regimens have poor relapse-free and overall survival rates and limited therapeutic options. We and others have demonstrated that mitochondrial function is required for the survival of chemo-refractory TNBC. Here, we define the mitochondrial translation machinery as a critical and targetable dependency underlying chemo-refractory TNBC. Analyses of human and orthotopic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mass spectrometry proteomics datasets revealed that mitochondrial protein translation-related signatures were among the top associated with chemoresistance. These signatures included core mitoribosome components and the mitoribosome-associated factor Oxidase (Cytochrome C) Assembly 1-Like …

Starting With Story, Not Symptom: Narrative Collapse And Cultural Repair In Appalachia, Wayne Coombs Ph.D.

Journal of Appalachian Health

Appalachia’s opioid crisis reflects uneven burdens, especially in distressed coalfield counties, and it cannot be solved by symptom tracking alone. This commentary argues for a narrative shift, starting with story and cultural repair alongside clinical care. Narrative collapse is defined here as the loss of shared, dependable public meaning across groups, not the absence of storytelling in families, churches, and recovery circles. Trauma science suggests that chronic threat reshapes nervous systems across generations, making safety a prerequisite for renewed trust. Drawing on narrative identity research, the piece proposes peer story work as infrastructure that can reduce shame, support treatment engagement, …

Perbedaan Hasil Belajar Ips Model Project-Based Learning Berbasis Outdoor Study Dengan Konvensional Siswa Smp, Ratna Danarti

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui perbedaan hasil belajar siswa sebelum dan sesudah penerapan model Project-Based Learning (PBL) berbasis Outdoor Study serta mengetahui perbedaan hasil belajar siswa antara kelas model PBL berbasis Outdoor Study dengan konvensional pada siswa kelas VII. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan penelitian kuasi eksperimen dengan menggunakan teknik pretes-posttest nonequivalent control group design. Subjek penelitian adalah kelas VII A dan VII B SMP Negeri 2 Ponorogo. Instrumen penelitian yang digunakan berupa silabus, RPP, dan tes hasil belajar. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pembelajaran model PBL berbasis Outdoor Study dapat berjalan dengan sangat baik sesuai dengan sintak-sintaknya dan respon siswa menunjukkan …

Perceptions And Meta Perceptions Of Bison In The West, Riley Comstock

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Effective coexistence between wildlife populations and the people that live with them requires an understanding of how people feel toward the species and their management. Bison occupy a unique place in conservation history and management. Once extirpated across nearly all of their range and only recently introduced to areas outside of large tracts of federal land, they are now a jurisdictionally challenged species, with varying management paradigms across a patchwork of landowners and managers. Recent research has shown how activating different social identities can distort people’s attitudes toward species. Here, I explore whether activating urban and rural identities distorts people’s …

Unraveling Roadless Protections: Implications Of Rescinding The 2001 Roadless Rule For Esa-Listed Species, Blixen B. Hofmann

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

In June of 2025 the Trump Administration proposed to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule: a landmark conservation rule from the Clinton era that prevents roadbuilding and logging on roughly 58 million acres of federal forest and wildlands. The proposed rescission follows orders from President Trump to increase logging and thinning of forests and economic development in the wake of an “energy emergency”. More than 65% of all Forest Service sensitive species are directly or indirectly affected by inventoried roadless areas. For example, 220 species that are listed as threatened, endangered, or proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act rely …

Wildlife Use Of Prairie Streams Relative To Beaver Dams And Water, Ethaniel D. Marshall

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Human activities and climate change continue to impact wildlife populations and ecosystem integrity. In Montana’s semi-arid prairie ecosystems, the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) may increase the resistance and resilience of water-limited ecosystems and promote wildlife activity for both aquatic and terrestrial species. However, there is still limited understanding regarding the influence of beaver dams on wildlife use in these semi-arid, prairie ecosystems. Through a camera-trap study, we sought to examine how wildlife use, across taxa, is associated with beaver dams and water availability during the summer on small prairie streams in eastern Montana. We deployed motion-activated cameras that recorded …

How Do Individual And Environmental Covariates Impact The Immune Response Of Deer Mice In Western Montana, Rachel A. Throckmorton

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Sin Nombre Virus (SNV) is an exceptional model system for studying wildlife disease because of how simple it is to capture, take samples, and obtain disease status from the primary host. Immune response is an important factor to consider when testing for SNV because it can affect susceptibility of the host as well as transmission of the virus. We examined individual and environmental conditions that may influence immune response and therefore possibly SNV transmission in wild populations. We investigated whether SNV infection status, reproductive status, sex, and season influenced immune response through examining total white blood cell (WBC) counts and …

Microfluidics For Live Imaging Of C. Elegans Germline Stem Cells, Camille K. Spencer

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Live imaging of the C. elegans germline in situ enables direct observation of dynamic developmental processes as they occur, which has particular relevance in the study of protein expression and germline stem cell dynamics.

Traditional methods of immobilization are often physiologically taxing on C. elegans. Chemical immobilization via paralytics often compromise worm viability, disrupting the cellular processes we aim to study by sickening them, inducing stress responses. Starvation in particular is a significant limitation as stress signaling is known to directly inhibit GSC division rapidly upon food cessation.

In the Voronina lab, we set out to develop two microfluidics based …

Combating Overdose: Production And Analysis Of Fentanyl Specific Antibodies, Elizabeth J. Florian

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Fentanyl overdose deaths are on the rise from both intentional use and accidental exposure. Our work focuses on identifying additional treatment options to Narcan, an opioid receptor antagonist which reverses overdose effects by receptor competition. One alternative method, that has been approved by the FDA, is the development of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). This therapeutic method works by antibodies binding fentanyl in the bloodstream and preventing it from crossing the blood-brain barrier. Our group has begun identifying mAbs by vaccinating mice with a fentanyl hapten (F1) vaccine adjuvanted with a TLR 7/8 agonist. Vaccination leads to the production of antibodies that …

Crystallographic Insights Into The Biological Roles Of Α,Α- Trehalose, Sydney Mcgrath, Ashley Freeman, Asia Marie S. Riel, Daniel Adam Decato

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

α,α-trehalose is a naturally occurring molecule comprised of two glucose molecules linked together, is biologically active. Immunomodulatory compounds have used α,α-trehalose as a core structure to activate an immune response in proteins such as the Macrophate-Inducible C-type Lectin receptor. Activation of this receptor is hypothesized to occur through ligand-induced oligomerization, driven by small-molecule (pathogen-derived or endogenous) aggregation and self-assembly. However, this has not been fully investigated. This work set out to evaluate reported α,α-trehalose crystal structures from the Cambridge Crystal Structure Database. We evaluated 41 different α,α-trehalose supramolecular structures, understanding their application and categorizing their self-assembly through hydrogen bonding and …

Quantity Vs Quality Tradeoffs In Black Brant Geese: What Is The Relationship Between Clutch Size And Egg Volume?, Bella Adams

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Trade-offs between offspring quantity and quality are fundamental to life-history variation among species and may lead to fitness variation within populations of organisms. The purpose of this research is to explore the relationship between clutch size and egg volume in black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) geese while controlling for age and quality of the parents to accurately gauge this relationship. Research on a brant population breeding at the Tutakoke River, Alaska, began in 1984, resulting in a dataset spanning >40 years. In 2025, I spent three months in Alaska contributing to the data collection for this long-term study. I assisted …

Recency Vs. Frequency: Contrasting Controls On Soil Carbon Cycling After Wildfire In Subalpine Lodgepole Pine Forests, Declan Clark, Kimberley T. Davis, Dalton Brantley, Jacob Baldner, Meredith Zettlemoyer

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Wildfires in western United States conifer forests have increased in both frequency and severity due to human-caused climate change, with important but poorly constrained implications for carbon (C) cycling in these ecosystems. The largest pool of ecosystem C in forests is belowground, though much of it is insulated against direct combustion from fire. Therefore, understanding how changing wildfire regimes influence ecosystem C requires not only quantifying soil C pools to capture direct effects but also evaluate the indirect and legacy effects of fire on C cycling, including changes in microbial C processing.

To evaluate the direct and indirect fire effects, …

Gαi Megabodies As A Structural Scaffold: Complexing Megabody Ca15960 And Δn31g⍺I, Sylvie-Aganoti T. Tower

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), a major and diverse group of membrane receptors, are responsible for transducing extracellular signals (ligands) to activate intracellular metabolic pathways. In fact, over a third of FDA approved drugs target GPCRs. Research on GPCR activity contributes significantly to pharmacology and medicine. Signal transduction results in a conformational change activating guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) by exchanging GDP for GTP. G proteins form heterotrimers consisting of alpha (𝜶), beta (β), and gamma (γ) subunits. From a Gαi specific nanobody (~15 kDa), we have derived 3 megabody constructs ranging in molecular weight from ~55-100 kDa. Megabodies …

Sin Nombre Virus: Assessing Variation In The Viral Genome Across Peromyscus Maniculatus Populations In Western Montana, Iris Y. Mckean

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Sin Nombre virus (SNV) is a New World RNA virus within the family of Hantiviridae found primarily in North America. SNV is a zoonotic pathogen, causing unapparent disease in its deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) reservoir host, but inducing Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a respiratory infection of pulmonary endothelial cells, in its human hosts. The virus is transmitted primarily through aerosolized rodent excreta.

Previous studies of the SNV genome has identified the virus as a negative-sense single-stranded RNA pathogen: its segmented genome consists of RNA that is the reverse complement of the mRNA needed to make proteins. The -ssRNA genome …

Use Of Sunlight Differs Between Sympatric Garter Snakes In Montane Riparian Forests, Ethan T. Chatwood, David R. Tevs

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Microhabitat selection by small ectotherms often involves trade-offs between accommodating the thermoregulatory needs of the organism and minimizing predation. Sunny microhabitats are often used as basking sites by small ectotherms. However, sunlight may also increase chromatic contrast between the animal and its substrate, thereby increasing visibility to potential predators. To counter this increased exposure, small ectotherms may develop means to remain hidden in sunny areas or achieving suitable body temperatures while in shaded areas. We collected data on substrate temperature, light conditions, observation time, and behavior (active vs stationary) between two sympatric garter snake species with contrasting dorsal colorations (Thamnophis …

Evaluating Strategies To Reduce Human-Bear Conflicts: A Synthetic Review, Cailin K. Bell

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Human-wildlife conflicts involving large carnivores, such as bears, pose a significant challenge to conservation efforts. As humans encroach into wildlands, expanding overlap with black bear populations, their interactions and conflicts increase. Conflicts are defined as any action by bears resulting in the destruction of property or threatening public safety. Though conflicts continue to rise, it is difficult to determine the effectiveness of different approaches for prioritizing management actions. To address this gap, this study conducted a synthetic review, identifying current approaches being used, the effectiveness of these methods, and which of these may be useful for Montana. Google Scholar was …

Investigation Of Guanine Exchange By Ric8a For Gαi, Fiona Morrow, Brad Benjamin, Cindee Yates-Hansen, Nicholas O'Connor

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Author: Fiona Morrow

Conference: 2026 UMCUR

Title: Investigation of Guanine Exchange by Ric8A for Gα_i

Abstract: Ric8 is a chaperone protein for the Gα subunit of the G protein coupled receptor, the most common and diverse membrane receptor group in eukaryotic cells. Signal transduction across the cell membrane uses the G protein complex, with an integral G protein that spans the entire membrane and 3 bound subunits on the interior side of the membrane. When a ligand binds on the GPCR, the 3 interior subunits dissociate and carry the signal to the next step of the cascade; this dissociation …

Effectiveness Of Common Treatment Approaches On Pain And Disability For Chronic Low Back Pain, Brooke Williams

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in adults worldwide. Common treatment approaches for low back pain include chiropractic care, physical therapy, medical care, and educational interventions. Although some randomized controlled trials have compared specific treatments, few studies have synthesized outcomes across multiple treatment approaches to determine relative effectiveness in individuals with chronic low back pain. This study performed a quantitative comparative analysis using aggregated data from published randomized controlled trials. Treatment groups included chiropractic care, physical therapy, medical care, and educational interventions. Outcomes related to disability, pain intensity, and symptom bothersomeness were assessed using the Roland Morris …

Ligand Induced Mincle Dimerization For Informing Tuberculosis Adjuvant Formulation, Ephraim Neils Mortenson, Asia Riel, Cindee Yates-Hansen, Borries Demeler

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Macrophage Inducible C-Type Lectin receptor (Mincle) is a pattern recognition receptor on myeloid cells, which modulates the immune system by recognizing small molecules that activate the signaling cascade to release inflammatory and immune response mediators. [1] C-type lectin receptors have been known to form higher order structures to produce elevated, coordinated immune responses. However, this has not been fully established experimentally with Mincle and known ligands. [2,3] Stabilized by an extracellular disulfide bond, Mincle in mammalian cells can exist as a preformed dimer. [3] This suggests that activation-induced oligomerization in Mincle could be a ligand-specifying factor in the type and …

Rhythms Of Learning, Eli W. Flaim

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Rhythms of Learning

Eli Flaim

Traditional Western education has typically assumed that learning occurs best at a desk in a classroom. However, much of my personal development has taken place outdoors and in motion through participating in and facilitating experiential learning. My capstone project aims to bridge these two worlds by exploring how outdoor education can be effectively integrated into higher education without necessitating wilderness expeditions or significant structural changes. I will discuss my journey in developing this project and share the findings of my research, highlighting the importance of outdoor education and practical ways to implement it in the …

A Night In The Life Of A Female Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle, Wyatt J. Benson Mr.

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

A Night in the Life of a Female Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle

During the height of the mating season, Japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) males aggregate on trees to fight against rivals over access to females. Males in this species are very well studied for their charismatic, large horns that constitute up to 30% of their body weight. However, winning fights is not enough to guarantee matings. Males must still perform complex courtship songs on the backs of females, and surprisingly, females ultimately choose only one male to mate with. Females may evaluate male quality via these songs, which serve as …

Alzheimer’S Is A Delivery Problem: A Neurosurgery-Enabled Evidence Map Of Focused Ultrasound Blood-Brain Barrier Opening As A Cns Delivery Platform, Gargee Sree Nallanukala, Veer Nallanukala, Lauren Noto-Bell, Jacquelyn Gerhart

Research Day

Introduction: Disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) provide modest benefit in selected early-AD populations, but their use is limited by safety risks (e.g., amyloid-related imaging abnormalities [ARIA]) and intensive monitoring. A key reason many therapies underperform is that the blood–brain barrier (BBB) acts like a protective “filter,” allowing only a small fraction of systemically delivered drugs, especially large molecules, to reach the brain. MRI-guided focused ultrasound, paired with intravenously administered microbubbles, can temporarily and locally “loosen” the BBB at a chosen brain region, then allow it to reseal. This approach is being studied as a noninvasive delivery platform that could …

Cardioprotective Role Of Spermidine In Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury, Isabella Brosious, Robert J. Barsotti, Lindon H. Young, Qian Chen

Research Day

Introduction: Timely reperfusion of the heart to restore blood flow and oxygen is critical to rescue ischemic myocardium in the setting of myocardial infarction and reduce cardiac morbidity and mortality. However, reperfusion following prolonged ischemic injury exhibits salvaging, but paradoxically, additional cellular damage, contributing to a larger infarct size. Termed ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), the myocardium undergoes various pathophysiological changes following reperfusion – such as apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction – thus exacerbating cellular damage and death caused by ischemic injury. The research on attenuation of IRI is critical to maximize the benefit of reperfusion. Spermidine is a natural polyamine …

Significant Response To Third-Line Zenocutuzumab In Metastatic Nrg1 Fusion–Positive Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Case Study, Sarah Davis, Sukhrob Makhkamov, Vladimir Limonnik

Research Day

Background

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options. In metastatic disease, first‑line regimens like FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine plus nab‑paclitaxel provide modest survival benefits and are commonly limited by toxicity and disease progression.

Recent advances in precision oncology have identified genomic alterations in a subset of pancreatic cancers. Neuregulin‑1 (NRG1) gene fusions occur in < 1% of pancreatic adenocarcinomas and lead to activation of HER3 signaling through interaction with HER2, promoting tumor growth and survival.

Zenocutuzumab is a bispecific monoclonal antibody designed to target HER2 and HER3. By binding HER2 and preventing ligand-induced activation of HER3, zenocutuzumab disrupts NRG1-driven signaling while preserving HER2 receptor engagement for antibody-mediated targeting. In the eNRGy trial, zenocutuzumab achieved an objective response rate of …

Osteoporosis Is A Risk Factor For Complications And Reoperations At 1 And 3-Years After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair, Cameron M. Brown, Andrea H. Johnson, Jane C. Brennan, Matthew A. Peterman, Daniel E. Redziniak, Justin Turcotte

Research Day

Introduction

Osteoporosis is associated with compromised bone quality and healing potential. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) restores shoulder function and reduces pain in patients with rotator cuff pathology. The influence of osteoporosis on complications and long-term outcomes following RCR remains underexplored. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between osteoporosis and outcomes after arthroscopic RCR.

Methods

The PearlDiver Mariner 170 dataset was retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped by whether they had a diagnosis of osteoporosis within the year prior to RCR. The two groups were propensity score matched 1:1 on age, gender, and comorbidities. Outcomes were assessed at 1-year and …

Evaluating Motivation In Stem Education: A Positive Self-Talk Intervention, Tiffany Copeland, Richard Allen, Sophia Pham, Kristin Gagnier

Research Day

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated a social-emotional learning intervention that taught positive self-talk to high school students from underrepresented minority groups in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The setting of this study was a place-based program that immersed students in hands-on STEM activities while located in Philadelphia’s life science hub. Before taking a science assessment, students set effort-based goals and learned to say self-talk statements such as “I will give my best effort” and “Even when it's hard, I will give 100%.”

METHODS: This mixed-methods program evaluation compared pre- and post-intervention data using a paired-samples t-test, linear regression, and correlation …

A Case Of Extensive Suprasellar Meningioma Presenting With Insidious Visual Impairment, Vincent Bulzoni, Benedict Uzorka, Peter Maduka Jr

Research Day

Introduction: Meningiomas are generally benign CNS tumors with a propensity to occur in individuals with predisposing risk factors, such as, neurofibromatosis type II. These tumors can arise via de novo mutations, or through inheritance via NF2, and SMARCB1 mutations. They can also arise idiopathically. In this case, A 33-year-old female presented to the ophthalmology clinic for a routine diabetic fundus exam. She also complained of worsening left eye (OS) vision, which had historically been her weaker eye. She had been a type II diabetic for 2.5 years with a most recent HbA1c of 13.6. The patient reported poor OS vision …

Neutralization Of Interferon-Beta Promotes Hivspecific Car T Cell Engraftment And Proliferation, Tyler H. Yang, Sophia Mohammed, Matt Fair, Colby Maldini, Zhe Yuan, Luis Montaner, Daniel Claiborne

Research Day

Introduction: Even in antiretroviral therapy-treated people with HIV (PWH) exhibiting controlled viremia, infection is characterized by a sustained activation of type I interferon (IFN) pathways. Indeed, IFNβ is persistently expressed in the tissues of PWH, and the anti-proliferative effect of IFNβ represents an unappreciated hurdle to immunotherapies aimed at achieving an HIV functional cure.

Objectives: The primary objectives are to i) characterize the anti-proliferative effects of IFNβ on HIV-specific CAR T cells, ii) describe the mechanism(s) underlying IFNβ-mediated attenuation of CAR T cell function, and iii) devise base-editing strategies to ameliorate the negative effects of IFNβ on HIV-specific CAR T …

The Effects Of Bone Health And Variation On Saw Mark Signatures, Lily A. Ambrose, Richard A. Gonzalez

Research Day

Introduction

Bone health and structural variation are multifactorial. Population, environment, age, diet, and health influence the overall functional morphology of bone and its response to stressors. Reduced cortical porosity, trabecular thinning, and low bone mass are common indicators of age-related and pathological changes, affecting a significant portion of the population. Because of this, bones encountered in medicolegal investigations often differ from what is considered “normal.” The structural integrity of bone needs to be considered because density influences mechanical strength and response to external forces.

In criminal dismemberment cases, forensic scientists analyze saw marks to identify tool class and reconstruct events. …