Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Image Gallery

The UI College of Pharmacy proudly launched its inaugural Research Day April 10, bringing together faculty, students, and researchers to showcase innovation, collaboration, and discovery across the college.

"It was an exciting day focused on our research. We had all levels of representation – students, trainees, faculty, and staff,” said David Roman, professor and associate dean of research and graduate education.

Speaker stands at a podium, addressing an audience while gesturing with her hands. A microphone and computer monitor are in front of her in a lecture hall setting.
Community Forum

Roman opened the day with a welcome, followed by remarks from Dean, Jean M. Schmidt Chair, and Professor Jill Kolelsar. 

"Research Day gives our students a platform to share their work and engage with the broader college community — and that visibility matters,” said Kolesar. “When student pharmacists and graduate students see each other's research, it sparks collaboration and reinforces that we are all working toward the same goal: improving patient health. Our vision is to lead in pharmaceutical science and practice innovation, and cultivating the next generation of researchers is central to that."

Student presents a research poster on medication management to three peers in a conference room. She gestures toward charts on the poster while explaining findings, as the others listen attentively. Chairs and a screen are visible in the background.

The day spotlighted the scope of scholarly work being conducted across the college. Nearly 40 posters from faculty and students spanned a range of research areas, such as cardiovascular health, sleep medicine, drug delivery, health services research, and neuroscience. Five PharmD and six PhD students were selected to give oral presentations. Topics included the effects of Medicare drug price negotiations on patient out-of-pocket costs, novel protein targets for cardiac therapy, osteoporosis treatment, hypertension in young adults, and the relationship between DNA methylation and perinatal suicidal ideation.

The variety of research on display speaks to the UI College of Pharmacy’s growing momentum. In fiscal year 2025, the college achieved a 440% increase in grant funding. Graduate student research at the college advances scientific discovery and develops the next generation of research leaders across biomedical science, including cancer, neuroscience, drug delivery, and health services — work that improves health outcomes for patients. 

Speaker in a suit presents at a podium, gesturing with both hands while addressing an audience. A projected slide with text is visible behind him, and a microphone stands at the podium.
Alumnus Speaker

Jeffrey R. Bishop, ’03 PharmD, MS, delivered the keynote address, offering insight and expertise to enrich the day’s scholarly engagement. He is a professor in the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. Bishop’s talk was titled "From Discovery to Clinical Implementation: Using Pharmacogenomics to Advance Precision Medicine in Mental Health.” He traced the path from foundational research to clinical application from his work on psychopharmacology and pharmacogenomics. 

Group of six students stand together indoors, smiling and holding certificates recognizing research presentation awards. A donor recognition wall is visible behind them.

The event concluded with an awards ceremony. Recipients were:
Best PharmD Student Oral Presentation: Benson Storr
Best Graduate Student Oral Presentation: Atonu Chakrabortty
Best Graduate Student Poster: Emma Simpson-Wade
Best PharmD Student Poster: Kaelyn Svendsen
Best Graduate Student Poster Runner Up: Kailey Said-Lathrum
Best PharmD Student Poster: Jordyn Thole

“From speakers to poster presenters, I am very grateful for the incredible participation,” said Roman. “I’m also thankful for the planning committee's hard work in putting together a fantastic day."

The annual showcase will continue to highlight the important role research plays in leading the future of pharmacy.

Gallery

A student stands at a podium giving a presentation, speaking into a microphone while gesturing with her hands. A screen displaying “Iowa Pharmacy” is visible behind her in a lecture hall setting.
Two men sit side by side on a bench indoors, smiling at the camera. Both wear name tags; one is dressed in a blue polo, and the other in a dark shirt with an orange striped tie, holding a coffee cup. Large windows behind them show a campus building outside.1
A student smiles while speaking into a microphone at a podium in a lecture hall. A presentation slide with graphics and a clock is visible behind her as she delivers her talk.
A large group of students, faculty, and staff stand together in a building lobby, smiling up at the camera for a group photo. They wear name tags and are gathered near glass entrance doors, with campus banners visible on the walls.
A woman stands beside a research poster titled “Understanding Hypertension in Young Adults,” presenting findings on diagnosis timing and cardiovascular outcomes. She faces the camera in a conference setting with poster boards and numbered displays in the background.
Two women stand in a bright indoor space beside a scientific research poster. One gestures while explaining the poster’s charts and data, and the other listens attentively, holding notes. Portable poster boards and large windows are visible in the background.
Two students sit at a table indoors, smiling at the camera during a campus event. Both wear name tags and have drinks and small items on the table, with other attendees and large windows visible in the background.
Three people stand at a registration table in a building lobby, handing out name tags and materials for an event. One person reaches to receive a badge while others assist, with rows of name tags, papers, and coffee cups arranged on the table.
Two students stand at a research poster display, with one pointing to a chart while explaining the data and the other listening closely. Multiple posters line the room in a bright conference-style setting.
Student stands beside a research poster on drug protection against cadmium-induced toxicity, smiling in a conference setting. The poster features charts, graphs, and study findings displayed on a presentation board.
Two people stand together holding a certificate that reads “Research Day 2026 Best Graduate Student Poster.” Both wear name tags and smile at the camera in a lecture hall setting with a presentation screen in the background.
Presenter stands at a podium speaking to an audience, gesturing with one hand while holding a clicker. A slide with text is projected behind him, and a computer monitor sits on the podium.