The Dean's Celebration of Excellence in Research

The University of Vermont and UVM Larner College of Medicine are delighted to announce the upcoming "Dean's Celebration of Excellence in Research," a weeklong celebration dedicated to showcasing the exceptional research endeavors of faculty, research fellows, and graduate students. Scheduled from September 18 to 22, 2023, this year’s event series promises to be an extraordinary platform for academic discovery and collaboration.

The Research Laureate Lecture will take place on Monday, September 18, from 12:15-1:15 p.m. in the Sullivan Classroom. This event is open to the first 50 in-person attendees. The talk will feature Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Sylvie Doublié, Ph.D. Doublié's presentation, "Erroneous DNA repair, genomic instability, and cancer," will delve into her groundbreaking research. Dr. Doublié earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, focusing on the mechanism of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases under the mentorship of Charlie Carter, Ph.D. She furthered her expertise through postdoctoral work with Stephen Cusack, Ph.D. at the EMBL outstation in Grenoble, France, and with Tom Ellenberger, D.V.M., Ph.D., at Harvard Medical School, where she studied DNA polymerase mechanisms. Joining the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in 1998, her exceptional contributions earned her the 2022 Research Laureate Award from the Larner College of Medicine.

On Wednesday, September 20, the College will host its first Research Rally. Featuring a slate of Larner and UVM experts, these Ted-style talks promise to be enlightening and enjoyable. Presenters will give 7-minute talks designed to appeal to a broad audience. Provost and Senior Vice-President, University of Vermont Patricia Prelock, Ph.D, will be a guest presenter, and Senior Associate Dean for Research, Kate Tracy, Ph.D. will close out the Research Rally with a talk of her own. In-person attendance is encouraged for this event, taking place at 5 p.m. in Hoehl Gallery. A networking opportunity, featuring complimentary refreshments and hors d’oeuvres, will follow the Rally.

“Sharing and celebrating research is not just integral to our mission at the Larner College of Medicine; it's the heartbeat of our academic community,” stated Dr. Tracy. “By showcasing our discoveries, we hope to inspire curiosity, foster innovation, and create a culture of continuous learning.”

On Friday, September 22, from 12-1 p.m., the annual Stetson Lecture, presented by The UVM Larner College of Medicine and generously sponsored by John Stetson, UVM’56, M.D.’60, and Roberta B. Stetson UVM’57, will feature Steffanie Strathdee, Ph.D., M.Sc., Associate Dean of Global Health Sciences and Harold Simon Distinguished Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. Dr. Strathdee, named one of TIME magazine’s Most Influential People in Health Care in 2018, will delve into topics from her book, From Bog to Bedside: The story behind the first dedicated Phage Therapy Program in North America, sharing her pioneering work in phage therapy and her journey in combating superbug infections.

Phage therapy, short for bacteriophage therapy, is a medical treatment that uses bacteriophages to combat bacterial infections. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and replicate within specific types of bacteria, ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host cell. They are natural predators of bacteria and can be found in various environments, including soil, water, and the human body. The concept behind phage therapy is to harness the natural antibacterial properties of phages to target and eliminate specific bacterial infections.

All events will take place at various locations across the University of Vermont campus, with some events available via Zoom.

For more information, the schedule of events, and event updates, please visit the official website at: https://www.med.uvm.edu/research/excellenceinresearch