College of Pharmacy Sweeps Top Honors at 2026 Translational Medicine Symposium
The R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy made a strong impression at the 2026 Translational Medicine Symposium, sweeping first, second, and third place in the poster competition and highlighting the depth of student research across the college.
Hosted by the College of Medicine, the Translational Medicine Symposium brings together students, trainees, and faculty to present research focused on bridging scientific discovery with real-world clinical applications. The event emphasizes collaboration and innovation, providing researchers the opportunity to share their work, with the potential to directly impact patient care and treatment development.
This year, College of Pharmacy students stood out among presenters. Vishal Kaleeswaran earned first place, Dominique Farrera received second place, and Aidan McMahon placed third, marking a clean sweep for the college and reflecting the strength of its research training and mentorship.
Vishal Kaleeswaran
Vishal Kaleeswaran, a doctoral student in the lab of Christopher Hulme, PhD, presented his research, “Development of DYR533, a highly selective and orally bioavailable inhibitor of DYRK1A toward the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease and or Down Syndrome.”
Kaleeswaran’s research focuses on developing small-molecule kinase inhibitors, a type of targeted therapy that interferes with cellular signaling pathways involved in disease. In the Hulme Lab, researchers design drug-like compounds that target kinases known to play a role in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, colorectal cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, and glioblastoma.
His poster highlighted more than a decade of translational research in the Hulme Lab that led to the discovery of DYR533, a selective inhibitor of the kinase DYRK1A. The compound has already been licensed to Iluminos Therapeutics LLC and manufactured at a pharmaceutical-grade scale, positioning it for the next stage of development through investigational new drug enabling studies.
“It means a lot, especially since I am still early in my career,” Kaleeswaran said. “The award gives me confidence in my ability to effectively communicate my research work.”
Dominique Farrera
Dominique Farrera, from the lab of Nathan Cherrington, PhD, earned second place for her research, “Disposition of the Exogenous Biomarker Ezetimibe Glucuronide Effectively Identifies MASH.”
Farrera’s research explores whether a commonly used and safe medication, ezetimibe, can be used as a noninvasive way to assess liver function in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Rather than relying on imaging or invasive biopsies, the study evaluates how the body processes the drug to detect changes in liver function. Her poster presented findings from a small-scale human study in which measurements of the drug’s metabolite were used to identify patients with biopsy-confirmed MASH, demonstrating the potential of this approach as a mechanism-based diagnostic tool.
“Presenting at the symposium was a rewarding experience and a great opportunity to share our work with researchers from diverse backgrounds,” Farrera said. “Receiving this award is both encouraging and motivating,” she shared. “It reflects the collaborative effort behind the project and validates the significance of our work.”
Her research addresses a critical need for noninvasive and repeatable diagnostic tools, with the potential to improve how liver disease is identified, monitored, and treated.
“Dominique’s skills directly contributed to the success of the research, and it’s exciting to see companies show interest in her,” Cherrington said. “She has a bright future ahead.”
Aidan McMahon
Also working in the Hulme lab, Aidan McMahon presented research, “DYR895: An Orally Bioavailable, Brain Penetrant Small Molecule Kinase Inhibitor for Glioblastoma Multiforme and Colorectal Cancer,” earning third place at the symposium.
McMahon’s research focuses on developing small-molecule inhibitors to target aggressive cancers such as glioblastoma and colorectal cancer. His work aims to address the challenge of treatment resistance by creating compounds that can target multiple cancer-driving pathways at once.
His poster highlighted the development of DYR895, a lead compound that demonstrated strong activity against cancer cells and improved survival in preclinical models of glioma. The research emphasizes a multi-targeted approach, which may lead to more durable and effective cancer therapies.
“The symposium brought together researchers from different disciplines, so it was exciting to share our work and hear feedback from different perspectives,” McMahon said. “It’s really encouraging. Drug discovery projects take a lot of time and teamwork, so it’s rewarding to see the work recognized, and it motivates me to keep pushing the project forward.”
The success of these students reflects the mentorship and research environment within the College of Pharmacy, where faculty play a key role in guiding students through high-level scientific research and helping them communicate their findings.
“It's thrilling to see students on their journey toward card-carrying drug hunter status being recognized at the University level,” Hulme expressed. “I've been fortunate to have an exceptional cohort during my time here who have all bought into the translational drills we run on projects targeting neurodegenerative disease, multiple malignancies and most recently Type 1 diabetes. Seeing kilogram quantities of a de novo active pharmaceutical ingredient produced is a very rare experience for students to witness … which positions them well for careers in the drug discovery world.”
“It’s nice to see the research doing well, but the real reward is seeing students realize the payoff of their hard work,” emphasized Cherrington.
Opportunities like the Translational Medicine Symposium highlight the importance of student research and its role in advancing healthcare. By engaging in projects that address complex diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and metabolic disorders, students are contributing to work that has the potential to improve patient outcomes and shape the future of medicine.
At the College of Pharmacy, students are supported in pursuing research that builds both technical expertise and critical thinking skills, while also emphasizing collaboration and real-world application. Experiences like this symposium not only recognize student achievement but also reinforce the impact that emerging scientists can have across the field of healthcare.
The recognition earned at this year’s symposium reflects both the dedication of the students and the strength of the College of Pharmacy’s research programs, as well as its continued commitment to training the next generation of scientists and healthcare innovators.