The 14^th Annual Meeting of the Iowa Physiological Society

The 14^th Annual Meeting of the Iowa Physiological Society (IPS) was held on May 2^nd, in the Olmsted Center on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, IA.  Attendance at the meeting totaled 35 individuals from institutions within Iowa and 18 posters from 4 different institutions were presented.

The meeting began with a brief welcome and introductory remark from  CONTACT _Con-3B534BED1 Ronald Torry, IPS President, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Drake University.  Most notably, Dr. Torry thanked the American Physiological Society and Data Sciences International for sponsoring speakers at the meeting.

The first keynote speaker was Dr. Andrew Holmes, Section Chief, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH (sponsored by the American Physiological Society).  His presentation entitled, “How research on mice helps us understand the genetic basis of depression and anxiety”, highlighted the complexities and advancements gained using murine models of depression and anxiety.  Dr. Holmes’ presentation was followed by investigator presentations by Dr. Craige Wrenn, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Drake University and Dr. Alan Myers, also from the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Drake University.

Following a break, which was dedicated to poster viewing and judging for the undergraduate student travel awards competition, Dr. Robert Shumaker, Research Director, Great Ape Trust of Iowa, delivered the Iowa Physiological Society sponsored address entitled, “Understanding Orangutans, the Neglected Ape - Perspectives on Behavior, Cognition, and Conservation”.

In the afternoon session, Dr. Andrew King, DVM, PhD, Associate Research Investigator, Integrative Pharmacology, Abbott Laboratories described his work on chronic measurement of hemodynamics in small laboratory animals.  Data Systems International sponsored his seminar.  Dr. Joseph Weir, Physical Therapy/Exercise Physiology, Des Moines University, and Eric Nau, Research Associate, Integrative Physiology, University of Iowa also provided investigator presentations.

The afternoon break was dedicated to poster viewing and judging for the graduate student travel awards and compiling scores from the judges.  The poster session was followed by a special topic session on science education.  Dr. Gina Schatteman, AAAS Science & Technology Fellow, Office of Science Education, NIH gave a presentation entitled, “Scientists in Science Education: Why we should care about K-12 Education” in which she highlighted the state of science education, student achievement and rationale for why scientists should become more active in early science education.

The meeting concluded with a raffle drawing and student travel award presentations.  The award winners in the graduate division each received a certificate and monetary awards of $125.  The graduate student winners included: 

• Shannon Egli and colleagues, Jennifer Giles and Terriann Crisp, from the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Des Moines University.

• Richard Deklotz and colleagues, Kevin Rarick, Don Sheriff, and Harald Stauss, from the Department of Integrative Physiology, The University of Iowa.

Award winners in the undergraduate division each received a certificate and monetary awards of $100.  The undergraduate winners included:

• Boa Vu and colleagues, Michael Essmann, Bryan Larsen PhD, from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Des Moines University.

• Kate Long and colleagues, Ankit Patel, Andrew Swisher and W.D. Klipec, from the Department of Psychology at Drake University.

• An honorable mention award (certificate and $50) was presented to Rachel Firkins and colleagues, Pooja N. Patel, Katie Welliver, Julia A. Moffitt, from the Neuroscience program at Drake University and Physiology and Pharmacology Department, Des Moines University.

The IPS business meeting was held following the award presentations.  Dr. Julia Moffitt, Physiology and Pharmacology Department, Des Moines University was introduced as the incoming IPS President for 2009-10 and planning for the 15^th Annual Meeting of the Iowa Physiological Society commenced.

Ronald Torry, PhD
IPS President
Drake University
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences