Ms. Whittington, a student in the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s M.D./Ph.D. program, played a major role in the development of what may one day become a vaccine for a certain type of breast cancer.

Working in the lab of Wei-Zen Wei, Ph.D., professor of Immunology and Microbiology at the School of Medicine, Ms. Whittington found herself in at the center of research expected to one day touch every woman in the United States, if not the world.

Ms. Whittington received lead author honors on the study announcing the potential vaccine, published in the Sept. 15 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

The vaccine, Ms. Whittington and her co-researchers said, completely eliminated HER2-positive tumors in mice, without any toxicity. The study suggests the vaccine could treat women with HER2-positive, treatment-resistant cancer or help prevent cancer recurrence. The researchers also said it could potentially be used in cancer-free women to prevent initial development of these tumors.

“That’s pretty exciting,” Ms. Whittington said. “To think that I was given the opportunity to play a part in a potential vaccine that could mean so much to so many women … it’s hard to imagine.”

As the lead author, she helped generate the hypothesis of how the vaccine would work in an animal model system. She performed most of the experiments and data interpretation.

“My initial interest was in the use of immunotherapy to curb graft rejection in transplant patients,” Ms. Whittington explained. “Dr. Wei's research parallels this idea by using DNA vaccination to break tolerance to HER2.”

The discovery, and the attention it garnered, brought School of Medicine researchers to the fore as their story swept around the world.

“Researchers are generally behind the scenes. A doctor helps a patient and receives thanks, and that’s expected, but people don’t really know the researchers. But when this came out I received thanks from a number of people, even though the vaccine isn’t yet available. One woman thanked me because her mother has breast cancer. She wanted to thank me just for working on it,” Ms. Whittington said.

Originally from Upper Marlboro, Md., Ms. Whittington, 28, was a Meyerhoff Scholar at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she received a bachelor’s degree in biology. She has already earned her doctorate degree and continues work on her medical degree. The paper she co-wrote that received so much recent media attention was vital to her thesis work.

Mr. Rizvi, 22, is originally from Farmington Hills. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan (Dearborn campus), earning a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and a bachelor’s degree with high distinction in psychology.

He worked and studied at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in the Texas Medical Center. The program is designed to expose students to basic and clinical research at one of the world’s best cancer centers. Fellows such as Mr. Rizvi were paired with a faculty mentor who provides research training. The program also integrates the clinical experience with clinicians in the hospital, and provides opportunities for didactic experiences and seminars. At the conclusion of the summer, fellows present their work and submit a report in article format.

Mr. Rizvi worked in the department of Thoracic/Head and Neck surgery, in a lab investigating the biochemical and molecular basis for tumor genesis in lung cancer using mouse, murine and human models. The study included looking at specific cell signaling pathways to elucidate events involved in tumor genesis, growth and potential resistance to drugs.

“By better understanding these pathways, novel targeted therapies can be developed that ultimately mean better outcomes for patients, or even potential preventative therapy,” he explained.

“It was an incredible learning experience,” he added. “Working closely alongside some of the best specialists in the world isn't an opportunity you get every day, so I am very grateful.”

The second-year School of Medicine student became interested in a medical career while in high school. His father, an engineer, explained mechanical functions, instilling an interest in how things function. “In high school, we did a sheep heart dissection,” he said. “After looking at the similarities between the heart and a mechanical pump, I realized that all of medicine is really figuring out how things work and what to do when things stop functioning normally. As an undergraduate student, that's why I chose the fields I studied in: to get a better idea, in two different realms, of how humans function.”

Mr. Rizvi has not yet settled on a particular field of medicine, however, after graduation he sees himself working at an academic institution.

“I'd like to be a part of the education of future medical students and residents, as well as contribute to the advancement of the field,” he said. “My father used to always teach me how things work, so it only seems natural to continue that in the field of medicine. I was also really strongly influenced by some of my undergraduate professors to consider working in the area of basic science and education. As medical students, we often forget the important contributions basic lab research has had on the field. A lot of students, myself included, might be intimidated or turned off from research since when presented, it can seem so far removed from the clinical setting. However, as a clinician, the more you desire to search for better, safer more efficacious treatment for your patients, the more you delve into the world of research, including basic bench work.”

Mr. Rizvi has been pleasantly surprised by the diverse makeup, both culturally and educationally, of the students at the School of Medicine. The mix of attitudes and values makes for an interesting academic setting.

“Diseases of the nervous system can have such devastating effects that I have seen firsthand,” he said. “I want to treat and research new therapies for these patients.”

After his first year in medical school, Mr. Rose was selected for the Wayne State University School of Medicine Summer Research Program, as well as the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers Research Scholarship. During this time he worked closely with Department of Neurology Chair, Robert Lisak, M.D., and Associate Chair for Neurology Research, Joyce Benjamins, Ph.D.

The project focused on the protein gp130, also known as the leptin receptor, and its possible involvement in the inflammatory process of Multiple Sclerosis. Mr. Rose hopes that these findings, after further research, could one day show this protein as a component of the damaging effects of MS, and a potential target for a new therapy.

In April, he presented his research project at the American Academy of Neurology’s National Conference in Chicago.

Mr. Rose, 23, is originally from Shelby Township. Now living in Detroit, he earned his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering in 2006 at the University of Michigan.

He credits growing up the Detroit area, where he was exposed to many physicians who had SOM backgrounds, as a source of inspiration. “These are the people who first sparked my interest in the field, and I really look up to them,” he said. “They are great doctors, and I know part of that is because of Wayne State.”

After he completes his residency, Mr. Rose would like to see patients as a neurologist as well as be involved in clinical research. He continues to work with Dr. Lisak and Dr. Benjamins, and hopes to publish the findings of his research project.

Justin Belsky is turning his own experience with vision problems and a corneal transplant into a career of helping others with similar problems.

Mr. Belsky, 22, completed his undergraduate work at Michigan State University. The West Bloomfield native, who now resides in Royal Oak, is a second-year medical student at the Wayne State University School of Medicine.

He became interested in ophthalmology when he began to lose his vision near the end of high school. He said a corneal transplant two years ago taught him "to value vision.”

“It seemed like overnight I lost my vision, and the impact it has had on my life has driven me to help people see again. If it wasn't for the corneal specialists who worked with me, I would be legally blind,” he said. “I want to spread my message that vision is a gift and should be valued. It can be taken away at any time for no apparent reason. I was lucky enough to have it restored, but for many, this is not an option. Hopefully my future research will narrow the gap between those who have no cure and those who do.”

Mr. Belsky is spending the summer performing research at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins, examining the effectiveness of intraocular pressure measures in abnormal corneas. Mr. Belsky, who selected WSU for his medical education because of the diversity of the clinical setting, secured the Wilmer position through persistence. He sent e-mails to doctors across the country who perform cornea research, and the institute took him on for the summer.

The “gold standard” in measuring intraocular pressure is only accurate for normal corneas, he explained. In unusual corneas, the measuring standard is inaccurate, a factor in incorrect diagnosis and treatment for glaucoma. His research involves looking at various parameters of the cornea and seeing how inaccurate the standard is in measuring abnormal corneas. The work will include inserting a device into the eye during surgery, determining the true value and comparing it with the standard.

“In short, I am looking to see how inaccurate the gold standard in measuring intraocular pressure is with the true intraocular pressure in abnormal corneas,” he explained. “This will give physicians a better indication of when to start treatment for glaucoma and other various diseases.”

Involved in the Humanistic Medicine program and Vision Detroit – a program that seeks to screen the Detroit population for serious eye conditions that need immediate attention – he wants to wants to join an academic institution to pursue his passion for research, specializing in the cornea.

The friendly setting at the School of Medicine has been a welcome surprise for Mr. Belsky. “I thought medical school would be cutthroat. Although competition between the class exists, everyone for the most part is willing to help you get through this.”

Kathleen Dass doesn’t want what happened to her grandmother to happen to her future patients. With her father (an internist), Ms. Dass has had a lifelong interest in medicine. But it was a misdiagnosis of her grandmother that cemented her decision to pursue a medical career.

“My love of medicine solidified when I was in high school and I watched a physician show very poor bedside manner to my maternal grandmother, attributing her headaches to something that comes with old age. Instead, she died a week later due to brain hemorrhaging,” she explained. “I never wanted a patient or their relatives to go through what my family went through.”

She immediately began shadowing physicians in different disciplines, taking classes at Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital, and volunteering in the emergency room at St. Joseph Mercy hospital in Pontiac and Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital. “I was inspired by the drive and compassion all of the physicians had that I encountered. I learned to integrate the science of medicine with the art of medicine.”

Dass, who just completed her first year of medical school, is from Bloomfield Hills. The 24-year-old completed her undergraduate studies at Wayne State University.

Based on her clinical experiences thus far, Ms. Dass said she is drawn to the field of neurology, but is also interested in a primary care-related field, with a possible fellowship in cardiology or endocrinology.

Ms. Dass recently received an honorable mention in Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Excellence in Research Award for Students. The award goes to a graduate student who is the first author on a paper. She submitted a copy of her paper, “Evolving role of uPA/uPAR system in human cancers,” as well as a letter of recommendation from the professor she worked with, Dr. Fazlul Sarkar of the Karmanos Cancer Center. The paper was also published in Cancer Treatment Reviews.

Ms. Dass served this year as the student chairwoman for “the most successful” HealthFOCUS (urban pediatrics) conference in the history of the program. She helped plan the World Health Student Organization’s global health week, as well as coordinate programs locally in the beginning of the year. She also served as secretary for the American Medical Association and attended the 2007 Michigan State Medical Society House of Delegates meeting as a student representative. She participates in community health fairs, and plans to continue to do so after graduation.

“I see myself completing residency and helping my local community by continuing to work at free local health fairs,” she said. “Also, I want to be in a position where I can help patients to my fullest potential, regardless of their insurance situation, just as I have seen other physicians do.”

As an undergraduate at Wayne State University, Ms. Dass served as the student coordinator for the B.S./M.D. program, MedStart. That position allowed her to attend seminars taught by medical school professors, converse with WSU-associated physicians and explore Scott Hall monthly. “There was such a comfortable and intellectually-engaging environment that I couldn’t imagine myself elsewhere,” she said.

His own experience with epilepsy is leading Erik Brown to a career in the field of neurology, with the possibility of playing a role in international medicine.

The first year M.D./Ph.D. student became interested in neurology while in high school because of his own experiences with epilepsy. “I decided that I definitely wanted to go to medical school one day while working as an electrical engineering co-op student with the biomedical company Cyberonics, makers of the Vagus Nerve Stimulator,” he said.

Mr. Brown, 26, is originally from Allen Park. Now living in Dearborn, he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan.

This year, Mr. Brown captured first place in M.D./Ph.D. competition and first place in the 2008 Medical Student Research Symposium with research he conducted with Dr. Eishi Asano, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatrics and neurology in the Electrophysiology/Neurosurgery departments of Children's Hospital of Michigan at Children's Hospital of Michigan. A manuscript associated with the research, on which Mr. Brown is first author, was accepted for publication by the journal NeuroImage.

The Medical Student Research Symposium competition requires participants to orally present their research within 15 minutes to a diverse audience. The best presentations are technical but understandable.

The goal of the research, associated with the School of Medicine’s Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, was to determine whether gamma-oscillations induced by auditory communication localized language areas in pre-surgical evaluation of children with focal epilepsy. Four children with intractable left-hemispheric focal epilepsy who underwent two-stage epilepsy surgery were studied. All patients underwent preoperative MRI, extraoperative electrocorticography and language mapping using neurostimulation as well as gamma-oscillations. Patients received 60 question-and-answer tasks that were recorded and integrated with ECoG. The ECoG traces were transformed into a time-frequency matrix, enabling analysis of gamma-oscillations in relation to the onset of vocalization of answers. The research concluded that recording of auditory-language-induced gamma-oscillations may identify cortex participating in language activity consisting of comprehension and word retrieval followed by vocalization. The technique may supplement language mapping by neurostimulation in children with focal epilepsy.

After graduation, Mr. Brown, who also has a developing interest in emergency medicine, plans to immerse himself in a neurology or neurosurgery residency. He also wants to keep active in international medicine.

Mr. Brown served as team captain of a World Health Student Organization trip to Costa Rica in March. He raised more than $2,000 and a small truckload of donated supplies. In Costa Rica, Brown, who now serves on the WSHO board as a trip leader for next year’s mission, performed duties from packing medications to taking patient histories.

He said that one aspect of medical school that has surprised him is the level of student involvement in extracurricular activities. He plays intramural ice and floor hockey, as well taking part in the Humanistic Medicine Co-curricular program. The program strives to expose medical students to experiences other than coursework, such as volunteering and shadowing. Brown explained that the program helps medical students further their knowledge of different forms of Complementary Alternative Medicine such as yoga, tai-chi, healing touch and acupuncture.