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Halushka Research Day to feature record participation by Mary Helen Yarborough Public Relations Greater participation by undergraduate students from across the state has resulted in a record number of abstracts included in the Perry V. Halushka-MUSC Student Research Day Nov. 2, according to Steven Kubalak, Ph.D., research day chairman and director.   This year, 233 students will be participating in the research day poster and oral presentations—28 more than last year, and 33 more than in 2000. About 40 students were undergraduates when they submitted their abstracts in the summer, Kubalak said. About half of those students have since become medical, dental or graduate school students at MUSC.   “One explanation for such a surge in participation is that many of these undergraduate students were able to take a day from the semester to come down here and participate,” Kubalak said. Undergraduates came from College of Charleston, Clemson University, Erskine College, the University of South Carolina in Columbia, Voorhees College, as well as some students enrolled in programs at MUSC.   The estimated 200 MUSC-based participants have been enrolled in graduate, medical or dental programs; and represent the College of Graduate Studies’ M.D./Ph.D. and DMD/Ph.D. programs, College of Health Professions, the dental and medical colleges, clinical and postdoctoral fellows and residents.   One of the  most distinguished awards this year will be named for the former Student Research Day chairman, Eric James, Ph.D., who chaired and directed it for 20 years, Kubalak said. The Eric James Award will be given to the most senior group of Ph.D. students for their presentation during the Student Research Day presentations. James retired from MUSC last year and currently researches vaccines for Sanaria Inc. in Rockville, Md.   Student Research Day presentations will occur in the Harper Student Center, where posters will be displayed; and the second floor of the College of Health Professions, where oral presentations will be given.   The awards ceremony will take place in the Basic Science Building Auditorium following the 4 p.m. keynote lecture provided by Constance Cepko, Ph.D., professor of Genetics and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Harvard Medical School.   Awards include first place prizes of $500 each, and second place prizes of $200 each. The Bioinformatics, Sigma Xi, Interprofessional Research, VA Research, and Health Disparities Awards have their own cash prizes that are in addition to the regular session prizes.   On Saturday, Nov. 3, a careers workshop will be held in the Gazes Cardiac Research Institute, room 125, 9:30 a.m. to noon for graduate students and postdocs.   For information about  student research day, go to http://srd.musc.edu/. Research presentations Posters—Harper Wellness Center, 8:30 a.m. to noon; Orals— CHP Building A, 151-A Rutledge Ave., rooms 201 – 207: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.     Friday, Oct. 26, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.