November 3, 2023

By August Ryan

Members of the College of Medicine community came together on Thursday, November 2 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Center City Philadelphia for Discovery Day 2023. The annual event highlights participants’ original research across many biomedical science and clinical research topics.

This year’s event brought together those involved with research at different stages of their careers. Through their poster and platform presentations, graduate and medical students, residents, fellows and postdoctoral trainees presented topics ranging from clinical case studies to research technology.

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Attendees were welcomed to the event by Elisabeth Van Bockstaele, PhD, professor of pharmacology and physiology, founding dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies, senior vice president for graduate and online education, and dean of the Graduate College at Drexel. Dr. Van Bockstaele then introduced Charles B. Cairns, MD, the Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Dean and senior vice president of medical affairs, College of Medicine.

“Discovery Day is such an important event for our college because innovation is central to our mission,” Cairns said. “That spirit of innovation and discovery is apparent today in the almost 400 submissions, a record number of presenters, sharing their impressive research.”

This year’s keynote speaker was Michael Yassa, PhD, a professor in the Departments of Neurobiology and Behavior, Neurology, Psychiatry and Human Behavior and Psychological Science at University of California Irvine. Dr. Yassa presented his laboratory’s research on how learning and memory mechanisms are altered in aging and neuropsychiatric disease. He currently serves as the associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion in the School of Biological Sciences and has been the director of the world-renowned Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory since 2016.

Judges and guests reviewed researchers' poster and platform presentations throughout the day. After considering the research they had explored, judges chose award winners across multiple categories.

Congratulations to all the presenters and this year’s award winners.

See the list of winners.