The University of Iowa Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development (OVPR&ED) helps to promote a culture of discovery and creativity that enriches the campus, the state, and the world. The office provides resources and support to researchers and scholars at the UI and to business across Iowa.

The 2018 Dare to Discover campaign features student researchers across campus by installing black-and-gold banners in early February throughout downtown Iowa City and will remain throughout the spring semester. Six graduate students directly working with faculty members from the College of Pharmacy are featured:

• Ali Al-Jumaili, a recent graduate, spent his time at the UI studying adverse drug events and improving work systems in nursing homes. His work helps to enhance medication safety and quality of life of nursing home residents. Al-Jumaili is from Baghdad, Iraq, and his advisor is Veale Professor of Health Care Policy William Doucette.
• Anh-Vu Do uses 3D printing to design controlled drug delivery devices for tissue engineering and cancer vaccinations. Using 3D printing, he is able to design structures to provide drug release at critical times to provide a more robust response against various disease models. Do is from Norcross, Georgia. His advisor is Bighley Professor Aliasger Salem.
• Kareem Ebeid is working to eradicate endometrial cancer. Ebeid is working to develop novel drug delivery systems capable of targeting and treating this aggressive cancer. Ebeid is from Egypt and Salem is his advisor.
• Brittany Givens’ research focuses on polymeric nano- and micro-particles for gene or drug delivery as well as nanoparticle toxicity. Her work impacts multiple diseases including heart failure, cancer, and asthma. Givens is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Salem is her major professor.
• Behnoush Khorsand heals broken bones. She studies tissue engineering, focusing on bone and cartilage regeneration. Khorsand is from Tehran, Iran, and her advisor is Salem.
• Ernane Souza studies the development of potential new anticoagulants. Development of new anticoagulants that are effective and safe is highly desirable to help prevent heart attacks induced by blood clots. Souza is from Brazil and his advisor is Lach Professor Rob Kerns.