{"id":4,"date":"2013-09-13T17:40:23","date_gmt":"2013-09-13T17:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stagewp.westernu.edu\/research?page_id=4"},"modified":"2026-02-23T21:16:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T21:16:45","slug":"spotlight-on-research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/spotlight-on-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotlight on Faculty in Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"hero-secondary\">\n  <div class=\"relative bg-black\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"adhere object-cover\" src=\"\/media\/research\/072121-student-and-agrawal-in-research-lab-08-e1634330313324.jpg\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"100vw\" alt=\"Faculty advising student working with pipette in laboratory\">\n      <div class=\"adhere gradient-overlay\"><\/div>\n        <div class=\"relative container pt-56 md:pt-112 pb-144 md:pb-192\">\n      <div class=\"md:flex md:justify-between px-12\">\n        <div class=\"sm:w-8\/12 md:w-6\/12 xl:w-5\/12 px-12\">\n                      <div class=\"mb-20\">\n              <div class=\"block font-sans font-bold text-14 text-white leading-130\">\n  <span class=\"inline-block\">\n    <a href=\"\/\" class=\"block hover:underline\">WesternU<\/a>\n  <\/span>\n      <span class=\"inline-block mx-6\">\/<\/span>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\" class=\"inline-block hover:underline\">Research and Biotechnology<\/a>\n          <span class=\"inline-block mx-6\">\/<\/span>\n    <span class=\"inline-block\">Spotlight on Faculty in Research<\/span>\n  <\/div>            <\/div>\n                                        <h1 class=\"t-h1-sans  text-white\">Spotlight on Faculty in Research<\/h1>\n        <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"relative my-48 md:my-72\">\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"lg:flex px-12 lg:justify-start\">\n              <div class=\"w-full lg:w-5\/12 2xl:w-4\/12 -mt-80 md:-mt-112 mb-48 px-12 lg:pr-32\">\n                              <nav class=\"py-28 px-40 2xl:px-64 rounded-5 md:rounded-8 bg-gray-darker text-white mb-40\">\n            <ul>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Research &amp; Biotechnology<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/about\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Our Team<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/research-areas\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Research Areas<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/vpr-resources\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">VPR Resources<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/committees\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Research Regulatory Affairs<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"\/safety\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Environmental Health &#038; Safety<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/research-outreach\/research-horizons-newsletter\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Research Horizons Newsletter<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/spotlight-on-research\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Spotlight on Faculty in Research<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/student-research-resources\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Student Research Resources<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/nav>\n                            <\/div>\n      \n      \n                  \n                  \n      <div class=\"w-full px-24 wysiwyg-content lg:w-7\/12 2xl:w-7\/12\">\n        <div>\n<h2><strong>Spotlight on Faculty in Research at WesternU<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>At Western University of Health Sciences, our faculty are driving innovation, advancing scientific discovery, and shaping the future of health care. The <em>Spotlight on Faculty in Research<\/em>\u00a0celebrates the achievements of our dedicated researchers whose work spans basic science, clinical innovation, community health, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Each feature highlights impactful projects, breakthrough findings, and the passion our faculty bring to improving human and animal health. Explore their stories and be inspired by the excellence that defines WesternU research.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<section class=\"relative my-48 md:my-72\" vue-app>\n  <div class=\"container\">\n        <header class=\"mb-32 mx-24 md:mx-0\">\n      <h2 class=\"t-h2-sans mb-12 text-red\">Accomplishments and Awards in Research <\/h2>\n          <\/header>\n        <app-accordion class=\"px-24 lg:w-4\/5 mx-auto\">\n              <app-accordion-item class=\"accordion-group block leading-1 opt-1\" content-class=\"accordion-group__panel wysiwyg-content\">\n          <template #accordion-trigger=\"{ href, visible, setRef, clickHandler }\">\n            <a :href=\"'#' + href\" \n              :ref=\"setRef\"\n              :class=\"['accordion-group__button scroll-mt-160', {'accordion__trigger_active': visible}]\"\n              @click.stop.prevent=\"clickHandler\"\n            >\n            <span class=\"block py-10\">\n              Have an accomplishment or award to share?\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"accordion-group-icon relative flex w-56 h-56 ml-20 justify-center items-center bg-black rounded-full flex-shrink-0\">\n                            <span class=\"w-16 icon-chevron-down\">\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><!--!Font Awesome Free 6.6.0 by @fontawesome - https:\/\/fontawesome.com License - https:\/\/fontawesome.com\/license\/free Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.--><path d=\"M233.4 406.6c12.5 12.5 32.8 12.5 45.3 0l192-192c12.5-12.5 12.5-32.8 0-45.3s-32.8-12.5-45.3 0L256 338.7 86.6 169.4c-12.5-12.5-32.8-12.5-45.3 0s-12.5 32.8 0 45.3l192 192z\"\/><\/svg>\n              <\/span>\n              <span class=\"w-16 icon-chevron-up\">\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><!--!Font Awesome Free 6.6.0 by @fontawesome - https:\/\/fontawesome.com License - https:\/\/fontawesome.com\/license\/free Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.--><path d=\"M233.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0l192 192c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3s-32.8 12.5-45.3 0L256 173.3 86.6 342.6c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3l192-192z\"\/><\/svg>\n              <\/span>\n                          <\/span>\n            <\/a>\n          <\/template>\n          <template #accordion-content>\n            <p>Have an accomplishment or award to share; email: <a href=\"mailto:UniversityResearchOffice@westernu.edu\">University Research Office<\/a><\/p>\n\n          <\/template>\n        <\/app-accordion-item>\n              <app-accordion-item class=\"accordion-group block leading-1 opt-1\" content-class=\"accordion-group__panel wysiwyg-content\">\n          <template #accordion-trigger=\"{ href, visible, setRef, clickHandler }\">\n            <a :href=\"'#' + href\" \n              :ref=\"setRef\"\n              :class=\"['accordion-group__button scroll-mt-160', {'accordion__trigger_active': visible}]\"\n              @click.stop.prevent=\"clickHandler\"\n            >\n            <span class=\"block py-10\">\n              Celebrating Dr. Michel Baudry, a Franco-American Neuroscience Pioneer\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"accordion-group-icon relative flex w-56 h-56 ml-20 justify-center items-center bg-black rounded-full flex-shrink-0\">\n                            <span class=\"w-16 icon-chevron-down\">\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><!--!Font Awesome Free 6.6.0 by @fontawesome - https:\/\/fontawesome.com License - https:\/\/fontawesome.com\/license\/free Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.--><path d=\"M233.4 406.6c12.5 12.5 32.8 12.5 45.3 0l192-192c12.5-12.5 12.5-32.8 0-45.3s-32.8-12.5-45.3 0L256 338.7 86.6 169.4c-12.5-12.5-32.8-12.5-45.3 0s-12.5 32.8 0 45.3l192 192z\"\/><\/svg>\n              <\/span>\n              <span class=\"w-16 icon-chevron-up\">\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><!--!Font Awesome Free 6.6.0 by @fontawesome - https:\/\/fontawesome.com License - https:\/\/fontawesome.com\/license\/free Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.--><path d=\"M233.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0l192 192c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3s-32.8 12.5-45.3 0L256 173.3 86.6 342.6c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3l192-192z\"\/><\/svg>\n              <\/span>\n                          <\/span>\n            <\/a>\n          <\/template>\n          <template #accordion-content>\n            <p style=\"margin: 0in\"><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt;font-family: 'Tahoma',sans-serif;color: black\">The Consulate General of France in Los Angeles recently hosted a special evening to award the\u00a0National Order of Merit to Professor Michel Baudry. This prestigious honor recognizes Professor Baudry&#8217;s remarkable contributions to neuroscience and his vital role in fostering scientific collaboration between France and the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/franceinla_a-memorable-evening-at-the-residence-activity-7341528214248329216-ZETn?utm_medium=ios_app&amp;rcm=ACoAAALIoXwBedS9LPe6RNXUMW4Xdsd5zMH6w_E&amp;utm_source=social_share_send&amp;utm_campaign=mail\">LinkedIn Post on Dr. Baudry&#8217;s Recognition<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6457 alignright\" src=\"\/media\/research\/baudry.jpg\" alt=\"Two men in suits stand outdoors; one man pins a medal onto the other\u2019s lapel, with flags and greenery in the background.\" width=\"256\" height=\"456\" srcset=\"\/media\/research\/baudry.jpg 1012w, \/media\/research\/baudry-864x1536.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/p>\n\n          <\/template>\n        <\/app-accordion-item>\n              <app-accordion-item class=\"accordion-group block leading-1 opt-1\" content-class=\"accordion-group__panel wysiwyg-content\">\n          <template #accordion-trigger=\"{ href, visible, setRef, clickHandler }\">\n            <a :href=\"'#' + href\" \n              :ref=\"setRef\"\n              :class=\"['accordion-group__button scroll-mt-160', {'accordion__trigger_active': visible}]\"\n              @click.stop.prevent=\"clickHandler\"\n            >\n            <span class=\"block py-10\">\n              Congratulations to Dr. Michelle Steinauer on her recent publication in Nature Communications \n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"accordion-group-icon relative flex w-56 h-56 ml-20 justify-center items-center bg-black rounded-full flex-shrink-0\">\n                            <span class=\"w-16 icon-chevron-down\">\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><!--!Font Awesome Free 6.6.0 by @fontawesome - https:\/\/fontawesome.com License - https:\/\/fontawesome.com\/license\/free Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.--><path d=\"M233.4 406.6c12.5 12.5 32.8 12.5 45.3 0l192-192c12.5-12.5 12.5-32.8 0-45.3s-32.8-12.5-45.3 0L256 338.7 86.6 169.4c-12.5-12.5-32.8-12.5-45.3 0s-12.5 32.8 0 45.3l192 192z\"\/><\/svg>\n              <\/span>\n              <span class=\"w-16 icon-chevron-up\">\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><!--!Font Awesome Free 6.6.0 by @fontawesome - https:\/\/fontawesome.com License - https:\/\/fontawesome.com\/license\/free Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.--><path d=\"M233.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0l192 192c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3s-32.8 12.5-45.3 0L256 173.3 86.6 342.6c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3l192-192z\"\/><\/svg>\n              <\/span>\n                          <\/span>\n            <\/a>\n          <\/template>\n          <template #accordion-content>\n            <p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-025-61760-8\">Genes linked to schistosome resistance identified in a genome-wide association study of African snail vectors | Nature Communications<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Summary:<\/p>\n<p>Schistosomiasis infects over 200 million people worldwide. Despite efforts to reduce or eliminate this parasitic disease with mass drug treatment campaigns, transmission remains rampant in many endemic areas. In part, this is because even after successful treatment, people are reinfected by freshwater snail vectors that inhabit critical water sources. Interruption of transmission will require novel vector-focused interventions, particularly those tailored to vector species in hot spot transmission zones. Thus, a genome wide association study (GWAS) was undertaken to determine the genomic regions associated with resistance of African snails, <em>Biomphalaria sudanica<\/em>, to <em>Schistosoma mansoni<\/em>. The GWAS and subsequent validation found two regions of the genome that are strongly associated with resistance to infection, <em>SudRes1 <\/em>and <em>SudRes2<\/em>. Both regions are evolutionarily dynamic. Resistant and susceptible haplotypes show numerous coding differences including presence\/absence of entire genes. <em>SudRes1<\/em>\u00a0includes receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatases while <em>SudRes2 <\/em>includes a class of leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptors, both comprising diverse extracellular binding domains suggestive of host-pathogen interaction. Importantly, no loci previously tied to resistance in a model snail species showed any association with compatibility suggesting that loci involved in the resistance of African vectors are distinct. Another major finding was that the collected snails showed significant population structure consistent with historical subdivision, and population ancestry was strongly associated with resistance status, indicating population level differences in vector susceptibility patterns. This work represents a substantial advancement towards the control of schistosomiasis in endemic areas, and the understanding of host pathogen interactions.<\/p>\n\n          <\/template>\n        <\/app-accordion-item>\n              <app-accordion-item class=\"accordion-group block leading-1 opt-1\" content-class=\"accordion-group__panel wysiwyg-content\">\n          <template #accordion-trigger=\"{ href, visible, setRef, clickHandler }\">\n            <a :href=\"'#' + href\" \n              :ref=\"setRef\"\n              :class=\"['accordion-group__button scroll-mt-160', {'accordion__trigger_active': visible}]\"\n              @click.stop.prevent=\"clickHandler\"\n            >\n            <span class=\"block py-10\">\n              Congratulations Dr. David Baron; awarded the 2025 Presidential Commendation \n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"accordion-group-icon relative flex w-56 h-56 ml-20 justify-center items-center bg-black rounded-full flex-shrink-0\">\n                            <span class=\"w-16 icon-chevron-down\">\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><!--!Font Awesome Free 6.6.0 by @fontawesome - https:\/\/fontawesome.com License - https:\/\/fontawesome.com\/license\/free Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.--><path d=\"M233.4 406.6c12.5 12.5 32.8 12.5 45.3 0l192-192c12.5-12.5 12.5-32.8 0-45.3s-32.8-12.5-45.3 0L256 338.7 86.6 169.4c-12.5-12.5-32.8-12.5-45.3 0s-12.5 32.8 0 45.3l192 192z\"\/><\/svg>\n              <\/span>\n              <span class=\"w-16 icon-chevron-up\">\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><!--!Font Awesome Free 6.6.0 by @fontawesome - https:\/\/fontawesome.com License - https:\/\/fontawesome.com\/license\/free Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.--><path d=\"M233.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0l192 192c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3s-32.8 12.5-45.3 0L256 173.3 86.6 342.6c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3l192-192z\"\/><\/svg>\n              <\/span>\n                          <\/span>\n            <\/a>\n          <\/template>\n          <template #accordion-content>\n            <p>Dr. Baron awarded the 2025 Presidential Commendation by the President of the American Psychiatric Association for his &#8220;leadership and innovative global work in Sports Psychiatry and Lifestyle Psychiatry&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n          <\/template>\n        <\/app-accordion-item>\n          <\/app-accordion>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":23,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-4","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6886,"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4\/revisions\/6886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}