Winners of Rose Brader Scholarships announced
PITTSTON — Allied Services Heinz Rehab recently announced the winners of the 2017 Allied Services Rose Brader Scholarships. The Volunteer Auxiliary of Allied Services Heinz Rehab established the Rose Brader Scholarship to contribute to the healthcare needs of the community by encouraging and providing financial assistance to Luzerne County students who wish to pursue an education in the field of rehabilitation medicine.
The fund is named in honor of Rose Brader, a former director of volunteer services at Heinz Rehabilitation Hospital. The volunteer auxiliary has awarded the scholarships since 1990.
Greater Pittston recipients are Sierra Lieback, West Pittston; Claudia Shandra, Hughestown; Sarah Slusark, Duryea; Anthony D’Eliseo, Laflin; Mikayla Klimas, Harding; Jillian Scanlon, Pittston;
Cumbo participates in research project
WILKES-BARRE — Nicole Cumbo, West Wyoming, spent the summer working on two research projects with Linda Gutierrez, assistant professor of biology at Wilkes University.
The first project examined the role of fibroblasts and Thrombospondin 1 in cancer. Cumbo and other students analyzed how fibroblasts reacted when particular matricellular proteins are absent within a tumor microenvironment.
The other research was done in collaboration with Darina Lazarova, director of the master of biomedical sciences program and an associate professor of molecular biology at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Students looked at the role of adipocytes in cancer and inflammation. They studied the effects of several diets in the fat cells of mice that develop in intestinal polyps. This research can be used to analyze how certain diets affect cancer and obesity.
Yatison participating in research project
WILKES-BARRE — Matthew Yatison, of Pittston Township, is one of 15 Wilkes University students participating in summer research projects with William Terzaghi, professor of biology. The project is also in collaboration with Kenneth Klemow, professor of biology and Donald Mencer, associate professor and chair of chemistry.
The team is studying resveratrol production by local Japanese knotweed plants. Resveratrol is a chemical that is thought to have many beneficial properties including prolonging life and fighting cancer.
Yatison is a graduate student in bioengineering.
Yuhas participating in research project
WILKES-BARRE — Michael Yuhas, of Duryea, is participating in summer research projects with William Terzaghi, professor of biology.
The team is studying two non-coding RNAs that affect plant development.
Through the research, they aim to prove that because both are involved in controlling growth, the lack of the non-coding RNA is the cause of the uncontrolled growth by adding the normal gene back to the mutants.
Yuhas is a bioengineering graduate student.
Ross participates in research project
WILKES-BARRE — Kathryn Ross, Pittston, is participating in summer research projects with William Terzaghi, professor of biology.
The project is also in collaboration with Adam VanWert, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences. The team is determining if making antifreeze proteins from plants may protect animal cells from freezing damage.
Ross is a bioengineering graduate student.
Birth announcements
A boy was born to Rebecca Simko and Curtis Walter, Falls, on July 18.
A girl was born to Amanda and Christopher Shay, West Pittston, on July 19.
A girl was born to Amanda Oliveri and Eric Hargrave, Pittston, on July 19.
A girl was born to Nicole Baker and Thomas Hawkley, Exeter, on July 23.
A girl was born to Nichole and Michael Flynn, West Pittston, on July 29.
