Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy was well represented at the 2026 Student Research Colloquia, held Friday, April 24, in Davis Library. Hosted by the Research Advisory Collaborative in partnership with the Office of Research, the annual event brought together more than 170 undergraduate and graduate students to present original research across disciplines.
Two second-year Doctor of Pharmacy students earned top honors in the graduate category: Jamiah Files, mentored by Danielle Cruthirds and Patty Jumbo-Lucioni, andRaven Chaney, mentored by Georges Adunlin.
Files’ award-winning research, “β-Penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (β-PGG) Modulates Immune Inflammatory Response in LPS Stimulated Dendritic Cells and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: Implications for Alzheimer’s Disease,” addressed a critical challenge in Alzheimer’s disease by examining oxidative stress as a driver of cellular damage and evaluating the potential of beta-PGG as a neuroprotective compound. Using a Drosophila melanogaster model engineered to mimic Alzheimer’s pathology, she assessed whether supplementation could strengthen antioxidant defenses. Her findings showed that beta-PGG significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in male subjects, suggesting an enhanced antioxidant response and supporting the potential of naturally derived compounds in multi-target approaches to complex neurodegenerative disease management.
Chaney’s research, “Comparing Adult COVID-19 Vaccination in Pharmacies and Physician Offices in the United States Over Three Seasons (2023–2026),” examined trends in adult COVID-19 vaccination across pharmacy and physician office settings. Using national data, she analyzed vaccination patterns across age groups and care settings, highlighting the expanding role of pharmacists in public health delivery. Her findings showed that pharmacies consistently administered significantly more vaccines than physician offices, underscoring both accessibility and trust in pharmacy-based care. The study also points to the need for policies that formally recognize pharmacists as providers and support broader reimbursement for clinical services.
Additional prepharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy students presented research across a range of areas, including Alzheimer’s disease, drug development, regulatory science and patient care. Presenters included Olivia Backan, Kodee Phillips, Trevor Shaw, Taylor Backer, Katherine Grace McMinn, Tiffany Williams, Riley Atkinson and Gabriela Andrea Roman Rivera, highlighting the breadth of student scholarship within the program.
