Pictured: Scholarship recipients Yukie Sato, David Siemann Scholarship Sponsor Dr. Virginia Hinshaw, UH Mānoa Chancellor Emeritus and Professor of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology and Glen Chew.
The 2016 Dr. Virginia Hinshaw Endowed Scholarships have been announced, including three awards to students with a focus in the field of biomedical science in the Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology & Pharmacology at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM).
The recipients of this Scholarship in 2016 are David Siemann (MS student with Dr. S. Verma), Yukie Sato (Ph.D student with Dr. D. Taylor) and Glen Chew (Ph.D student with Dr. L. Ndholovu). Here is more information about these inspiring scientists.
About Yukie Sato
“My PhD project focuses on the role of antibodies in preventing placental malaria. This coming June (2016), I will visit Cameroon to work with collaborators at the University of Yaounde I, to complete my project. It will be a valuable experience for me to go out into the field, to visit maternity hospitals where samples are collected, and to interact with pregnant women at risk of placental malaria. This scholarship will enable me to purchase the supplies needed to carry out my project.
“Since I will be training and working with local lab technicians and sixth-year medical students, this scholarship will not only help me to complete my study, but also will benefit the local scientific community in Cameroon,” said Yukie Sato.
“In addition to this, I have an ambition of creating a short film of the medical reality in Cameroon, focusing on pregnant mothers in antenatal clinics. I wish to use this scholarship to support this side-project,” said Sato.
About Glen Chew
“My research is focused on understanding why our immune system fails to control or eliminate viruses. It is estimated that ~37 million individuals are currently living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. There is no effective cure or vaccine to prevent disease.”
“I am passionate about contributing to this global health concern and hope that my research will inform strategies to prevent or eliminate HIV infection and optimize quality of life outcomes,” said Glen Chew.
“I am pursuing grant opportunities and continuing to publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals in pursuit of becoming an independent research scientist,” said Chew.
About David Siemann
“I decided to pursue master’s degree in Tropical medicine because of the constant emergence of dangerous human pathogens in new geographical areas. Recent examples are the epidemic of dengue fever on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi and also the spread of the Zika virus across the Americas.”
“These viruses pose serious health threats and require immediate action to develop strategies to control spread and disease severity,” said Siemann.
“Therefore, I am currently researching these flaviviruses, specifically focusing on understanding virus interactions with the host innate immune response.”
“Ultimately, my goal is to become a biomedical professional in the state of Hawaiʻi and contribute to the global effort to decrease the burden of infectious diseases,” said David Siemann.
Mahalo to Dr. Saguma Verma and Dr. Sandra Chang for helping us learn more about the 2016 Dr. Virginia Hinshaw Endowed Scholars at the UH medical school!