November 9, 2007

Surgery resident’s research lauded

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Josh Smith, M.D.

Surgery resident’s research lauded

Josh Smith, M.D., a general surgery resident working to obtain his Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology, has received the 2008-2009 Society of University Surgeons-Ethicon Scholarship Grant Award. He will appear before the Scientific Session of the 2011 Academic Surgical Congress Meeting to provide a final report on his research.

Smith's research topic centers on the role of TGF-beta/Smad signaling in colorectal cancer, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the importance of the loss of Smad4 in relation to eventual clinical outcome.

Smith also received an “Excellence in Research” designation for his presentation at the American College of Surgeons meeting in New Orleans in October.

“The Society of University Surgeons-Ethicon Scholarship Grant Award is a very highly competitive and prestigious research scholarship awarded by one of the most prestigious academic surgical societies,” said Dan Beauchamp, M.D., John Clinton Foshee Distinguished Professor of Surgery and chair of the Section of Surgical Sciences.

Smith has been working in Beauchamp's lab for the past 15 months.

“Recipients submit research proposals that are reviewed by some of the leading surgical scientists in North America,” Beauchamp said.

“He has worked extremely hard in my lab and has made excellent progress in developing his research project. His efforts have already contributed important new results that have shaped the direction of our ongoing research efforts.

“I am very proud that his work has been honored by this prestigious award.”