Students from the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences at Campbell University were recognized for their outstanding research and presentations at the university's annual Academic Symposium, earning multiple merit awards across graduate oral and poster categories.

Their work reflects the innovation, collaboration, and academic excellence that define the CPHS student experience.

"These accomplishments highlight the dedication and talent of our students and faculty mentors," said Dr. Jeff Mercer, dean of the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences. "We are incredibly proud of all of our participants and congratulate those who received accolades for their exceptional work."

The symposium provided a platform for students to showcase their research, engage with faculty mentors, and contribute to advancing knowledge across the health sciences. For CPHS students, these recognitions underscore their commitment to academic excellence and their readiness to make a meaningful impact in their fields.

Oral Presentations Graduate

Merit Award

• Sarena Gresko, William Green
  Arnica Ethanolic Extract Activates Nrf2 and Inhibits Akt and ERK Signaling to Alleviate Postoperative Pain
  Faculty Mentor Dr. Lei Wei

Poster Presentations Graduate

Merit Award

• Vikasini Reddy Chinthala: TAOK1 as a Regulator of Vascular Function | Faculty Mentor Dr. Victor Pulgar
• Jentzen Loeffler: Integrating Therapeutic Exercise and FES to Improve Balance in a Patient with Brown Sequard Syndrome | Faculty Mentor Dr. Robin Baker
• Megan Stewart: Exploring Isotretinoin as a Repurposed Therapeutic Agent in HepG2 Liver Cancer Cells | Faculty Mentor Dr. Sarah Liu
• Jessica Wayment: Backwards Treadmill Walking with FES as an Intervention in Stroke Recovery | Faculty Mentor Dr. Robin Baker

The full list of winners can be found online at https://library.campbell.edu/symposium2026/awards/.