Student researchers with Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) earned multiple distinguished awards, including a 1st Place Poster prize, at the 135th Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science (TAS), held November 13-14, 2025.
The awards spanned both Microbiology and Health and Medical Sciences which underscores the broad scope and impact of the research being conducted at LMU-DCOM. All three award-winning projects were overseen by Dr. Domenico Palazzolo, professor of physiology.
Makenna Hoover, OMS-II, along with Hibba Hussain and Palazzolo, earned the highest honor. Their presentation, “Antimicrobial Effect of DMSO and DMSO-2 on the Planktonic Growth of Four Oral Commensal Streptococcal Bacteria,” was recognized with the 1st Place Poster Award in Microbiology.
Further strengthening LMU-DCOM’s standing in microbial research, Hussain, a student in the Master of
Science program, along with Hoover and Palazzolo, received the 2nd Place Poster Award in Microbiology. Their work was titled, “Comparative Antimicrobial Effect of DMSO and DMSO-2 on the Planktonic Growth of P. Gingivalis and the Oral Commensal Streptococcal Bacteria.”
In the Health and Medical Sciences category, the team led by Sumar Beauti, OMS-IV, along with M. Brown, S. Minton, A. Mamari, G. Cudra, and Palazzolo, earned the 2nd Place Poster Award. Their research, titled “Morphological Differences in Oral Epithelial Cells Treated with Equivalent Amounts of E-liquids or their Aerosols,” provides critical insights into the potential cellular impacts of vaping products.
The students’ success is a testament to the high-caliber research environment fostered at LMU-DCOM and the mentorship provided by the LMU-DCOM research department. These achievements highlight the college’s commitment to advancing medical knowledge that directly impacts public health, from understanding novel antimicrobials to investigating the effects of emerging health risks. LMU-DCOM remains dedicated to fostering a robust research environment that encourages scientific inquiry and prepares the next generation of physicians and researchers to address complex challenges in the health care landscape.
The DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine is located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, and at LMU-Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee. LMU-DCOM is an integral part of LMU’s values-based learning community and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of osteopathic physicians to provide health care in the often-underserved region of Appalachia and beyond. For more information about LMU-DCOM, call 1.800.325.0900, ext. 7082, email dcom@LMUnet.edu, or visit us online at http://med.LMUnet.edu.
