Dr D. Neil Granger, Boyd Professor and Head of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology was selected as the 2009 Robert M. Berne Lecturer and Award recipient by the Cardiovascular Section of the American Physiological Society (APS). The award recognizes a scientist who has made outstanding prior contributions to cardiovascular research, and whose current research is deemed particularly interesting. The award is named in honor of one of the most distinguished American cardiovascular researchers and a former member of the Cardiovascular Section of the APS, Robert M. Berne. Dr Granger will present a lecture dealing with the role of immune cells in cardiovascular disease and receive the award at the 2009 Experimental Biology meeting held in New Orleans.

John "Will" Langston, Ph.D. was awarded the Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies at the recent commencement ceremony.  The Dean's Award consists of a plaque and a cash award.  The award is presented annually.  Will recently completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology.

Gokhan Yilmaz received a second place award for Student Talks at the 2008 Graduate Research Day Student Poster and Talks Awards.

Karen Stokes, Ph.D. has been named to the Region II Vascular Wall Biology Peer Review Committee.

Tak Yee Aw, Ph.D. has been awarded an NIH grant for the project entitled, "Glutathione redox control of intestinal cell responses".  Dr. Aw's grant will be awarded through 2012.

YJ Jin, Ph.D. will serve on the Basic Science and Molecular Biology Study Group of the American Heart Association, National Center, beginning October 12, 2007.

Dr Neil Granger was selected for the Nishimaru-Tsuchiya International Award and Lecture at the 8th World Congress for Microcirculation in Milwaukee on August 17th. The award, designated for distinguished achievement and major contributions to the field of microvascular research, is presented every four years by the Japanese Society for Microcirculation. Dr Granger will present a lecture to the Congress entitled ³Mechanisms underlying the microvascular responses to acute and chronic inflammation².

An $8.2 million Program Project Grant from the National Institutes of Health was awarded to researchers in the Departments of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, and Pathology at LSUHSC-Shreveport. The 5-year grant, directed by Dr Matthew Grisham, is entitled "Role of the microcirculation in intestinal inflammation" and is focused on defining how blood vessels and blood cells contribute to the pathogenesis of the inflammatory bowel diseases which include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Funds are provided to support 4 projects directed by Drs. Matthew Grisham, Neil Granger and Norman Harris (all in Physiology) as well as Dr. Chris Kevil (Pathology). In addition, funds are provided to support 3 core facilities directed by Drs. Grisham, Granger, Price (Physiology) and Jianxiong Bao (Pathology). The team of LSUHSC-S researchers hope that the research supported by this major multimillion dollar grant will help identify new treatments for the treatment of the inflammatory bowel diseases that afflict over one million individuals in North American and several million world-wide.

Lynn Harrison, Ph.D. will serve as a member of the Radiation Therapeutics and Biology Study Section, Center for Scientific Review for the term ending June 30, 2011.  Members are selected on the basis of their demonstrated competence and achievement in their scientific discipline as evidenced by the quality of research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals, and other significant scientific activities, achievements and honors.

Robert Specian, Ph.D. was awarded the 2007 Allen A. Copping Excellence in Teaching Award for the LSUHSC-Shreveport Basic Science Faculty.  This prestigous award is presented annually to recognize outstanding faculty.  Dr. Specian has been a member of the LSUHSC faculty since 1981.