Van Liere and WV IDeA Research Conference

The conference will engage researchers from WVU and academic institutions from across the state of West Virginia and regional area.

  • Erickson Alumni Center
  • Health Sciences Center

About

The Van Liere Research Day started out in 1965 to highlight research of medical students in the School of Medicine. Over the years, it grew to annual event to showcase research from across the Health Sciences Center by featuring undergraduate, graduate, medical, and professional programs. 

In 2024, the conference expanded by inviting IDeA supported researchers and students from across the state of WV to join the researchers and students of WVU HSC.

Parking Info - Parking is free around the Erickson Alumni Center. 

A group of three student attendees stand amongst the poster presentations of the Pylons area if the Health Sciences Center. Each is holding a clipboard and are observing and note-taking.
Dr. Clay Marsh is seen presenting with his hands raised and facing to the left. Behind him is a projected presentation slide.
Dr. Ali Rezai speaks. He is sitting, with both of his arms raised, as he faces to the left. There is a shadowed, onfocused outline of someone in the foreground on the left edge of the photo.
A student, shown to the right, is in discussion with another individual who is to the left and facing away. They are standing in front of a series of poster presentations inside the Pylons area of the Health Sciences Center.

Schedule

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Registration

Location: Main Entrance, Erickson Alumni Center

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Continental Breakfast and Networking

Location: Ruby Grand Hall, Erickson Alumni Center

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Welcome and Opening Remarks

Location: Ruby Grand Hall, Erickson Alumni Center

  • Ming Lei
  • Clay B. MarshMD

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Developing the HPV vaccine for cancer prevention and RAS regulation of the DLC1 tumor suppressor

Location: Ruby Grand Hall, Erickson Alumni Center

  • Douglas R. LowyMD
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Transition and Break

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Concurrent Research Symposia I

Location: Salon C - Cancer, 110/111 - Population Sciences/Clinical Trials, 115 - Metabolic Diseases, Erickson Alumni Center

Cancer
Moderators
Emidio PistilliPhD
William WalkerPhD
Population Sciences/Clinical Trials
Moderator
Bethany Barone GibbsPhD
Metabolic Diseases
Moderators
John M HollanderPhD
Roberta LeonardiPhD
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Break and Transition

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Poster Session I

Location: Ruby Grand Hall, Erickson Alumni Center

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Lunch

Location: Courtyard Tent, Room 110/111, Kennedy Club Room, Erickson Alumni Center

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Break and Transition

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Concurrent Research Symposia II

Location: Salon C - Neuroscience, 110/111 - Micro/Immuno, 115 - Technology Development, Erickson Alumni Center

Neuroscience
Moderator
Randy NelsonPhD
Trainee Presentation “The Role of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Signaling in Cortical Sensory Circuit Function”
Lindsey Morais
Trainee Presentation “Neutrophil expression of MCT4 aids stroke recovery in female mice”
Matthew Kays
Trainee Presentation “EphB2 Couples Competitive Ephrin-B3 and NMDAR Interactions to Amyloid-β–Induced Synaptic Dysfunction”
Adam Skeens, PhD
Trainee Presentation “Zinc transporter proteins as novel targets for brain health therapeutics: drug discovery and application”
Emma Trate
Trainee Presentation “Genistein improves associative learning in estrogen-deficient conditions”
Ezekiel Irewole
Micro/Immuno
Moderator
Mariette BarbierPhD
Technology Development
Moderators
Visvanathan RamamurthyPhD
Werner GeldenhuysPhD, MS
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Break and Transition (3)

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Building Trustworthy AI Agents for Medicine: From Clinical Trial Matching to Deep Evidence Synthesis

Location: Ruby Grand Hall, Erickson Alumni Center

  • Zhiyong LuPhD, FACMI, FIAHSI
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Ice Cream and Awards

Location: Ruby Grand Hall, Erickson Alumni Center

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Registration, Poster Set-up & Breakfast

Location: Pylons, Health Sciences Center

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Welcome

Location: 1909 HSC-N, Health Sciences Center

  • Julie A LockmanPhD
  • Ming Lei
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Break and Transition (1)

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High School and Undergraduate Research Poster Session

Location: Pylons, Health Sciences Center

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Lunch/Preparing for Careers in Research Panel

Location: 2940 A&B HSC-N, Health Sciences Center

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Student Organizations, Graduate, and Professional School Program Showcase

Location: 2940 A&B HSC-N, Health Sciences Center

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Venues

A wide shot of the Erickson Alumni Center is seen against a mostly clear blue sky. The red brick building has a wing to the left; a tower near center capped by a “Flying WV” circular stained glass window near its top; and a brick wall with a gold WVU Alumni wordmark and text beneath it that reads, “The Erickson Alumni Center at Statler Wilson Commons” in gold lettering.

Erickson Alumni Center

1 Alumni Drive
Morgantown, WV 26506

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The front exterior of the Health Sciences Center complex show. The mostly white building has several benches and picnic tables on its lawn area, which also has plenty of plant life.

Health Sciences Center

64 Medical Center Drive
Morgantown, WV 26506

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Abstract Submissions

Poster Abstract submissions are now open. 

Please visit the form link (symposium.foragerone.com/2026-van-liere-and-wv-idea-research-conference/submission) to submit your abstract. You will be prompted to create an account in Forager One with an email and password to access the form. If you have questions about the submission process or the upcoming event, please contact Nicole Renner - Nicole.Beason@hsc.wvu.edu. 

Reminder all poster abstract submissions are Accepted. 

Poster Abstract submissions will close on Friday, September 18, 2026. 

Poster dimensions can be up to 36x36. If you have a poster from a previous event that is larger than the dimensions listed above, please contact Nicole.Beason@hsc.wvu.edu and we will accommodate this request. 

A large number of people are seen mingling amongst several rows of poster displays that are set up in the Pylons area of the Health Sciences Center in Morgantown. Some people are studying the posters, while others are in conversation about the displays.