The Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (CICMD) proudly hosted the 2025 Early Career Symposium on September 15 at Malachowsky Hall. This signature event highlights the exceptional research of our trainees and early-career investigators, fostering collaboration and driving innovation in cardiovascular and metabolic science.
Oral Presentation Winners
CICMD congratulates the outstanding oral presentation winners, who delivered compelling, high-impact talks:
Lecsy Gonzalez – Blame and Bias in Training: Public Health Student Perceptions of Obesity and Nicotine Dependence
Filipe Alex Da Silva, Ph.D. – TREM2 Drives Immune and Neuroinflammatory Remodeling in Pulmonary Hypertension
Chien-Yu (Irene) Tseng – High Throughput Screening for GLP-1 RA-Induced Prescribing Cascades among Older Adults with and without Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Poster Competition Winners
The Poster Competition showcased the breadth and depth of trainee research. CICMD proudly recognizes this year’s winners:
Ashley Darakjian – Adipose Stem Cells Mitigate Viral Myocarditis
Kayla Smith – Trends in Telehealth Uptake in Patients with Hypertension Pre- and Post-COVID-19
Jamie Zeldman – A Qualitative Study Exploring Fathers’ Preferences for Digital Resources on Child Feeding to Prevent Early Childhood Obesity in Home Visiting Programs
Sultan Khanfar (Undergraduate Category) – Early Microglial Pruning of Inhibitory Synapses in the PVN Underlies Sympathetic Overactivation in Pulmonary Hypertension
These presentations exemplify the rigor, creativity, and collaborative spirit that define CICMD’s mission. We extend our gratitude to the faculty judges, symposium organizers, and attendees whose contributions made this event possible. Together, we are advancing discovery and shaping the future of cardiovascular and metabolic research. To learn more visit: https://cicmd.center.ufl.edu/center-activities/cicmd-early-career-showcase-2025/cicmd-early-career-symposium2025/