We are so excited to welcome Dr. Monica Vasiliu to the Department of Cell, Developmental & Integrative Biology as Executive Administrator! Read more about Vasiliu here: buff.ly/YhG8J72

Congratulations to Megan Rollins on graduating from the Emerging Leaders Series! We’re proud of this accomplishment and look forward to her continued impact within CDIB. 🔗 buff.ly/JqvJv47

In this installment of Meet the Minds of CDIB, Anna Thalacker‑Mercer, Ph.D., discusses her research on identifying and understanding nutrients and their metabolism in skeletal muscle aging and chronic disease. Read more: buff.ly/H6SvGBJ

Exciting opportunity ahead for McKay Freeman, a graduate student in the Lasseigne Lab, who was selected to participate in the PKD-InVent Summer Enrichment Program in Seattle! 👏

Dr. Colleen Garnett and Dr. David Resuehr received an award for their poster presentation at the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society annual conference!

We’re proud to celebrate Dr. Anna Thalacker-Mercer, who has been named a 2026 Excellence in Nutrition Fellow by the American Society for Nutrition for her exceptional contributions to the field!

CDIB Theme Week was a success! 🎉 Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to our winners for helping make the week so much fun.

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Alexa Mattheyses on receiving an O’Neal Invests Catalyst Grant for her project, “Sialylation-Dependent Changes in Cell-Cell Adhesion Facilitate Metastasis,” funded by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama. Read more: buff.ly/uBHVPLX

In case you missed it: Dr. Inga Kadisha received the 2026 Dean’s Excellence Award in Teaching. Read more about her dedication to her students, her passion for anatomy education, and her leadership in advancing digital learning tools. buff.ly/T1aTMww

Congratulations to Dr. Cheng (Jack) Song, who has been elected to the UAB Faculty Senate, representing the Heersink School of Medicine Joint Health Sciences!

At the 2026 Graduate School Dean’s Award Ceremony, Dr. Alexa Mattheyses received the GBS Faculty Teaching Award, recognizing her outstanding dedication to graduate education.

Dr. Ksenia Matlawska-Wasowska has been named the latest recipient of the Heersink School of Medicine Featured Discovery award! Read more:

Rishab Samant and Neha Singaravelan, B.S./MPH students in cancer biology and public health, have been named National Goldwater Scholars! www.uab.edu/news/campus-...

A recent @wsfa12news segment features insights from @UABHeersink expert Dr. Braden McFarland on the scientific evidence surrounding energy drinks. Watch here: www.wsfa.com/video/2026/0... @UABNews

Ever wonder if energy drinks are linked to cancer? Dr. Braden McFarland breaks down what the science says and what it means for your health. Learn more: buff.ly/MPtJkY9

Congratulations to Dr. Carmel McNicholas-Bevensee, who has been elected to the UAB Faculty Senate, representing the Heersink School of Medicine Joint Health Sciences!

Congrats to Alexis Cox-Holmes, graduate student in the McFarland Lab, on receiving the 2026 Outstanding GBS/JHS Student Award! 🎉

⭐️ Research Spotlight ⭐️ Dr. Braden McFarland was recently published in Nutrients, exploring how nutrition may play a supportive role for patients with glioma. Her research highlights how diet can impact the immune system, treatment experience, and overall recovery. www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18...

Last month, Dr. Brittany Lasseigne was featured in the Research Spotlight series by the PKD Foundation, highlighting her impactful work. Check it out here: www.instagram.com/p/DVysAZNiLZ...

Last week, we gathered to celebrate Ashley Davis, JHS Administrative Director II in CDIB, as she begins her next chapter. We are grateful for her many contributions and wish her all the best in what’s ahead!

🎉 Congratulations to two of our faculty members on completing leadership development programs this spring!

Congrats to Nitesh Sharma, Ph.D., and Ksenia Matlawska-Wasowska, Ph.D., on their new publication in the NIH National Library of Medicine! 🎉 Their study shows QKI downregulation drives major splicing changes in pediatric T-ALL and may represent a promising therapeutic vulnerability. buff.ly/FcXDIom

Congratulations to Tika Benveniste, Ph.D., who has been named a 2026 Distinguished Fellow of the American Association of Immunologists. Read more about her exceptional scientific achievement, leadership, and service in immunology. @aai.org 🔗 buff.ly/VlGqGgJ

@UABheersink CDIB presented awards during its State of the Department to recognize excellence and contributions across the department. Here are a few photos from the awards portion of the event. Congrats to everyone recognized!

In this installment of Meet the Minds of CDIB, Robby Van Sciver, Ph.D., discusses his research on polycystic kidney disease and cilia biology using mouse models. Learn more 🔗 buff.ly/vTSjhfv

Happy holidays from all of us at UAB CDIB!

Congratulations to Tika Benveniste, Ph.D., for earning the Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award, honoring her commitment to collaboration across campus. Read more about her accomplishment below. www.uab.edu/provost/news...

The CDIB Lab Olympics brought science and fun together! Hosted by the Sun Lab, faculty, staff, trainees, and students competed in scientific games. Thanks to everyone who joined in making November’s event a success! www.uab.edu/medicine/new...

Join us Wednesday, Dec. 10 for our next Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology Seminar Series. Bryan Luikart, Ph.D., professor in the Department of @UNeurobiology will present "The Pten mouse model for autism spectrum disorder."

A reminder during this week of gratitude: Blazers Against Hunger is happening throughout November. Support Blazer Kitchen as it provides healthy meals and resources to UAB students, employees, and patients www.givecampus.com/schools/Univ...

Join our department in celebrating Will Brooks, Ph.D., recipient of the Dale J. Benos Award for Educational Excellence at this year’s Argus Awards! www.uab.edu/medicine/new...

Congratulations to Inga Kadisha, Ph.D., on being named Best Educator: Musculoskeletal & Skin at the 2025 Argus Awards! Grateful for her commitment to exceptional medical education.

“Meet the Minds” of CDIB features Susan Campbell, Ph.D., who is uncovering the ways the gut microbiome shapes brain health and seizure treatment. Dive into her research and journey in our latest feature: www.uab.edu/medicine/new...

Dr. Matlawska-Wasowska, was published in the @jci.org for her study, “T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia exploits a neural proinflammatory pathway to colonize the meninges.” Learn more: www.jci.org/articles/vie...

As the temperature drops, cold weather affects the body down to the cell. Holly Chen, Ph.D., explains how cells sense the cold, adapt to lower temperatures, and ways to help support cellular health through the winter.

🌙 Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, set your clocks back an hour and enjoy a little more rest. Check out these tips for a smooth transition: www.uab.edu/medicine/new...

Yanling Wang, M.D., Ph.D., explores “Alzheimer’s Disease at the Interface: Mechanisms in Brain Parenchyma and Borders” in the upcoming CDIB seminar series on Nov 5 at noon CST. Register here: uab.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

“Meet the Minds” of CDIB features Dr. Bellis, Alma B. Maxwell–UAHSF Endowed Chair in Biomedical Research and professor. Learn about how her lab studies sugar molecules on cancer cells and her unique path to getting where she is today. Read more👇

🎓 On Oct. 8, students from UAB and across Alabama came together to explore master’s, Ph.D., and certificate programs at the 2025 Graduate School Fair! Check out the recap video to see the highlights 👇

From the lab bench to leading-edge Alzheimer’s research, Lynne Nacke’s journey is one of growth, grit, and guidance. With mentorship from Dr. Ankur Saxena, the duo at @uabheersink is uncovering how sensory neuron regeneration may hold clues to Alzheimer’s. www.uab.edu/medicine/new...

How do stem cells turn into neurons even amid noisy signals? Researchers at UAB uncovered a “bistable toggle” switch in olfactory progenitors, revealing how small groups of cells coordinate fate commitment and neighborhood assembly to sustain neurogenesis. www.uab.edu/news/researc...

🎓 Last month, CDIB’s undergraduate researchers took center stage at our annual poster session, sharing their work, ideas, and discoveries with peers, faculty, and staff.

🎉 Congrats to Dr. Mark Bevensee on his new role as Associate Dean of the UAB Honors College! On August 1, he transitioned from Assistant Dean and continues to support students across the college with leadership and dedication.

Congrats to Amitis Moradkhani of the Robel Lab! 🧠👏 She took 3rd place in the Biological & Life Sciences category at the Summer 2025 Expo for her work on blood-brain barrier failure after traumatic brain injury. Incredible research from one of our undergrads!

👏 Congrats to Dr. Michael Herr II, associate professor in CDIB, on becoming an official IAMSE Fellow! The fellowship recognizes his commitment to advancing curriculum design, teaching, and leadership in medical education.

Congrats to CDIB’s Dr. Colleen Garnett on being elected Senator for Joint Health Sciences, and Dr. Michael Herr II on his election as Associate Chair of the Faculty Senate! Proud to see our faculty stepping into key leadership roles across campus. 👏 www.uab.edu/facultysenat...

🧬 Dr. Braden McFarland, assistant professor in @uabheersink CDIB, breaks down how UVA and UVB rays go far beyond sunburn, damaging DNA, accelerating aging, and increasing cancer risk. Check out our “Beyond the burn” article to learn more about skin safety! www.uab.edu/news/news-yo...

New study co-authored by Dr. Ankur Saxena in Stem Cell Reports reveals how “progenitor neighborhoods” act as transient niches to sustain olfactory neurogenesis in zebrafish. A key step in understanding sensory regeneration! www.cell.com/stem-cell-re...

🧬 Your health starts at the cellular level. UAB researchers explain how tiny imbalances in your cells can lead to major diseases, and why protecting cellular health could be the key to lifelong wellness. 🔬 Read more: www.uab.edu/medicine/new...

Congrats to CDIB postdoc Barnita Haldar, M.D., Ph.D., on receiving the 2024 Relay for Life Champion of Mission Award from the @acscan.bsky.social‬ for her work on immune evasion in pancreatic cancer! 👏 Read more: