Local students conduct summer research at Wilkes University

Erica Mabry of Boyertown is completing summer research at Wilkes University. She is a medical laboratory science major. Ajay Bommareddy, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences, is working with students as they investigate the cancer preventive and anticancer properties of alpha-sanatlol, a constituent of sandalwood oil for prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. The students are also collaborating with Linda Gutierrez, associate professor of biology, to process the samples.

Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy student pharmacists Jacqueline Reiss of Gilbertsville and Lorena DiGuiseppe of Bechtelsville, are both completing summer research. Dana Manning, associate professor of pharmacy practice, and, Judith Kristeller, professor of pharmacy practice, are continuing research with students in summer that began during the previous school year. The students are working on pieces of a transitions of care clinical pharmacy service at Regional Hospital of Scranton and Moses Taylor Hospital, also in Scranton. The research will improve patient care after leaving the hospital by improving communication among hospital staff, physicians and community pharmacists. It also willl ensure safe and effective use of medications after patients return home. Students are researching physician responsiveness and tracking the factors that affect positive and negative responsiveness of community physicians to transitions of care information.