Four Wartburg College students presented their research at the Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium on April 25 at Bethel University.
Grace Schuetz, a senior in neuroscience from Bettendorf, was selected to present an oral presentation on her research, “Kahweol Produces Cytotoxic Effects in U-87 MG and NIH/3T3 Cells.” Kahweol is a molecule found in Coffea arabica with known anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and antioxidant benefits. Schuetz specifically looked at the impact of kahweol on glioblastoma, a common and highly aggressive form of brain cancer.
“This experience helped shape me as a neuroscientist, gave me experience talking about my research in a more formal format and taught me how to speak to other scientists at a more professional level,” Schuetz said. “The research, in particular, showed me how to work with two different cell lines — both cancerous and non-cancerous — and how to adapt when research is not going to plan.”
Caleb Cross, a junior in biology from Sioux City; Rentse De Jong, a junior in biology from Cedar Falls; and Sunny Horner, a senior in exercise science from New Waverly, Texas, presented their poster, “Bavachin Inhibits Cell Viability and Migration in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells,” at the symposium. Jordan Johnston, a sophomore in biology from Roscoe, Illinois, also worked on this research.
Bavachin, which was originally discovered in a plant native to India and China, can now be synthesized in a lab and has displayed potential in treating pancreatic cancer. Current treatment options for the highly fatal cancer are limited, costly and only partially effective. The team exposed pancreatic cancer cells to bavachin at varying concentrations and ran multiple tests to see how the drug interacted with the cells. They saw some success, with the bavachin inhibiting the cancer cell activity by killing them and slowing their ability to spread.
The team took home a Judges’ Choice Award and second place in the John C. Johnson Award for Excellence in Research Presented in a Poster Session.
“We were all enthusiastic about sharing our research with others, which helped to stimulate interest in our audience,” said Cross, speaking on behalf of the team. “Since the symposium showcased a wide range of creative research projects, we were honored to receive multiple awards. The feedback and recognition we received was a testament to our thorough research experience.”
The Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium provides a forum for students to showcase their research, receive comments from professionals and peers, and network with others in the field they aspire to enter.
“I am exceptionally proud of my research students for their hard work, perseverance and growth throughout the research process,” said Cole Davidson, assistant professor of biology. “I am grateful for the opportunities Wartburg College provides for these high-impact research experiences.”
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