Robert Anthony is a fifth-year student in the Molecular and Cell Biology program. He is studying the immune response that develops following infection with H. Polygyrus (hookworm), an intestinal parasite. Hookworm infections occur primarily in tropical and subtropical climates and pose a threat to the health of troops deployed to these areas.
Xialong Jiang is a fifth-year student in the Neuroscience program. His work examines the effects of neurotransmitter release in a neurobiological model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding PTSD and developing effective ways to combat it are critical to ensuring the psychological health of our military service members.
Erika Lamb is a fifth-year student in the Emerging Infectious Disease program. She is studying immune response following infection with schistosomiasis, a potentially serious case of liver, intestine and urinary system pathology caused by blood flukes. Parasitic worms such as flukes are a serious health concern in tropical and temperate climate zones, and exposure among deployed service members is a significant concern.
The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine ( www.hjf.org ) is a private, not-for-profit organization chartered by Congress to support military medical research and education at USU and throughout military medicine.
The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences ( www.usuhs.mil ) was chartered by the U.S. Congress and is a fully accredited DoD graduate-education university.