Jingying Wang, right, conducts an experiment with Research Assistant Leilei He in
the Center for Cardiovascular Research and Alternative Medicine. (UW Photo)
An abstract of University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences Ph.D. student Jingying Wang, was selected to be presented at an international meeting in Scotland March 17-21.
Her abstract is among 100 oral presentations selected for the Society for Gynecologic Investigation (SGI) 56th Annual Scientific Meeting in Glasgow. The meeting's theme is "Science and Women's Health: The Impact of Genes, Hormones and Environment."
Wang, a student in Ji Li's laboratory in the School of Pharmacy's Center for Cardiovascular Research and Alternative Medicine (C-CRAM), will present "Impairment of JNK-IRS-1 signaling cascades in maternal and fetal heart tissue during overnourished obese sheep pregnancy." She says obese women face serious health risks and obese pregnant mothers may expose their children to a high risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
"We hypothesize that alterations in cardiac signaling pathways may occur in embryonic-fetal development during maternal obesity and nutritional excess," she says. "Our data suggest that obese pregnant mothers could predispose their offspring to cardiac insulin resistance."
CHS Interim Dean Beverly Sullivan says support for graduate students such as Wang is one of the college's priorities.
"We would like to see more contributions going to scholarships and assistantships in our graduate programs. Not only does this assist us with recruiting top students but it provides much needed research support to our faculty throughout the college," Sullivan says. "Giving to our graduate programs assists both students and faculty in their teaching and research."
Li says Wang has co-written two papers that have been published in professional journals, and has been lead author or co-author on four abstracts selected to be presented at national professional societies.
"She clearly stands out as a very talented young student who promises to make substantial contributions to cardiovascular research," he says.
SGI's mission is to establish the scientific basis and clinical translation of reproductive science and women's health by providing and promoting leadership and excellence in research; international forums for scientific exchange; mentoring, career development and education; and advocacy for research and collaboration with academia, government, industry and professional organizations. SGI's members are located in 30 different countries.
Posted on Monday, March 09, 2009
