High Point University associate professors Dr. Meghan Blackledge, left, and Dr. Heather Miller have been awarded HPU’s first patent, representing a significant milestone in the university’s research trajectory.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 14, 2024 – Members of the High Point University community frequently conduct, publish and share research and creative works in a variety of ways. Below is a recap of recent research and innovation initiatives.
Chemistry Faculty’s MRSA Research Awarded HPU’s First Patent
Dr. Meghan Blackledge and Dr. Heather Miller, both associate professors of chemistry, have been awarded HPU’s first patent, representing a significant milestone in the university’s research trajectory.
Their patent is titled “Small molecule adjuvants for antibiotics to address antibiotic resistance.” Infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are difficult to treat because the bacteria are resistant to many common antibiotics. The patent describes the use of loratadine, the active ingredient in Claritin, and other related small molecules as novel antibiotic adjuvants that block the resistance mechanisms MRSA uses to evade antibiotics.“In short, we can use loratadine in combination with antibiotics to treat MRSA infections more effectively than if we used antibiotics alone,” Blackledge said. “Our patent also covers related molecules that we have been designing, synthesizing and studying in our laboratories at HPU with undergraduate researchers.”
“Dr. Blackledge and I have mentored nearly 100 HPU undergraduate students to date,” Miller said. “Through our collaborative, interdisciplinary work, students get the authentic experience of the scientific process, including exciting, novel discoveries like this one.”
Students and Alumni Publish Research with Chemistry Faculty Mentors
Several HPU students and recent graduates in the Wanek School of Natural Sciences recently published their research in the peer-reviewed scientific journal “Microbiology Spectrum.” Their research was performed in the labs that Miller and Blackledge oversee.
It is noteworthy because it involved students from three different majors working on an interdisciplinary project. Funding came from a National Institutes of Health grant as well as the Natural Sciences Fellows.
“Our latest publication examined one important aspect of MRSA virulence,” Miller said. “We found that novel anti-virulence compounds we are studying specifically change the bacteria’s ability to lyse host red blood cells. These experiments give us additional evidence as to how these compounds disarm this human pathogen.”
Six HPU students and recent alumni contributed to this publication, including Halie Balogh, Amaiya Anthony, Robin Stempel, Tori Federico, Lauren Vossen and Gabe Valenzano.
This was a second research publication for Valenzano, a junior biochemistry major with a physics minor. Research helps to expand the knowledge base and practical skills of anyone who wants to be in a scientific field, he said.
“I personally find that research, publications and the experiences of going to conferences to present your data really helps put the knowledge from classes into a more practical perspective,” said Valenzano, who is from Saint Charles, Illinois. “Additionally, any of these things helps greatly when looking for a graduate school, internship, job and even scholarships. Being able to show to your future employers that you already have experience in the field you’re applying to is a great leg up to have against other potential hires. Lastly, these experiences and publications give us an opportunity to network, go to conferences and see a far greater picture to get ahead of others and participate more directly in the vast world of science.”
This was the first scientific publication for Vossen, a junior neuroscience major in the Honors Scholar program. She said she knew she wanted to get involved with research from the start of her freshman year.
“It was an important experience for me because it allowed me to be able to expand my knowledge beyond lecture and classes, and challenged me to think critically and outside textbooks,” said Vossen, who is from Lynchburg, Virginia. “It has taught me skills that other classes would never be able to teach me. I think this will be impactful for me as I progress toward a career in healthcare, pursuing becoming a physician assistant. It will both help me get into PA school, but more importantly, the skills I learned in research I’ll be able to carry with me in healthcare. I’ve learned how to ask questions, think outside the box and be curious.”
Students Present Research at American Chemical Society Regional Meeting
Twenty HPU undergraduate students recently presented their original research at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS) in Atlanta.
Four students gave oral presentations, and 16 students presented posters during the Oct. 23-26 conference at the AmericasMart Atlanta Convention Center. This represented work from the labs of six different faculty members in the Wanek School of Natural Sciences Department of Chemistry.
“The American Chemical Society (ACS) is one of the world’s largest scientific societies and hosts national and regional conferences annually,” said Dr. Kelsey Kean, assistant professor of chemistry. “Having the opportunity to share their original research on this stage as an undergraduate is a big accomplishment and highlights some of the unique opportunities HPU offers to our students. Every year, we receive overwhelming positive feedback from other attendees about the caliber of our students and their research presentations.”
HPU has participated in the annual fall conference for nearly a decade and shows up with the most student presenters of almost any university in attendance, Kean said.
“SERMACS provided a great opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and into a more professional environment,” said Ryland Brady, a senior biochemistry major from Port Orange, Florida. “I was more than able to learn about all the newest advancements in the field from local researchers.”
Chloe Cox, a senior biochemistry major and Honors Scholar from Clarkson, Kentucky, presented research for a fifth time at an ACS conference. This, however, was her first time presenting alongside graduate students and post-doctoral scientists.
“Looking back, I probably should have been intimidated, but I think the incredible mentoring and experiences I’ve had at HPU really prepared me for that situation,” Cox said. “I was super excited to share my science with people, and received a lot of positive questions and feedback. A handful of people were surprised to learn that I was still an undergraduate and not a second- or third-year graduate student. The big takeaway from SERMACS this year is that I feel much more confident in my ability to communicate scientifically and more prepared to leave HPU in the spring and head off to graduate school.”
Renowned WWII Historians Present at Rothenberg Seminar in Military History
The theme for the 18th Annual Gunther E. Rothenberg Seminar in Military History was “World in the Balance: The Allies in the Second World War.” The annual event brings leading international scholars to HPU to present their research to students, faculty, alumni and community members. It has become a prestigious event in the field of military history.
World-renowned World War II historian Dr. Gerhard Weinberg, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discussed how the United States was drawn into a second world war during the Oct. 26 seminar in Congdon Hall’s Callicutt Life Skills Theater. Dr. Steve Waddell, professor of history at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, discussed lessons learned in small unit leadership and wartime experiences in the U.S. Army in War War II. French officers’ training in crisis from 1940-1945 was presented by Dr. Morgane Barey, chair of the Department of History at the Académie Militaire de Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan in France.
“The 18th Gunther E Rothenberg Seminar at HPU was very well received,” said Dr. Frederick Schneid, HPU’s Herman and Louise Smith Professor of History. “It was our privilege to host three scholars who spoke to more than 100 attendees on the war, their research and new interpretations. One of the highlights was the presentation by Gerhard Weinberg, who remains the leading historian in the world on the Second World War. Professor Weinberg presented a new perspective on the German-Japanese strategic relationship and how Hitler’s intentions for expanding the war further pressured the Japanese to attack the United States despite American desire to stay out of the conflict. After conversations with students in the days after the conference, it is clear they found Professor Weinberg’s talk compelling, were fascinated with his mastery of the subject and the quality of his presentation.”
Wall Street Journal Publishes Student’s Editorial
Jonathan Lazaridis, a sophomore business administration and sales major with a minor in economics, recently wrote an editorial that was published in The Wall Street Journal’s Future View section. His editorial was on a permanent ban of the social media platform TikTok in the United States.
“Getting featured in publishers like The Wall Street Journal is extremely difficult; I believe it will help me in my studies and career as I am building credibility toward reflecting expertise in business-related and economic topics,” said Lazaridis, who is originally from Greece and grew up in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. “It can also help me expand my network. Relating to my field of interest, it is important in sales and economics to know how to approach a subject, business or person from a unique perspective with an open mind to offer effective, creative solutions. This often happens through written reports, professional articles, published editorials, blogs, and professional or personal emails. Editorial writing can help me further develop my skills, abilities and expertise. I want to use my writing skills and experiences like this in my future career to reach wider audiences and best serve consumers by providing out-of-the-box perspectives and solutions.”