Graduate students at the University of Vermont College of Medicine presented their research at the Annual Graduate Student Research Day on Thursday, October 2, 2014. Hosted by the Medical Development and Alumni Relations Office at the College, the event included graduate student research talks, poster presentations, a keynote lecture from alum Peter Paradiso, Ph.D., and an awards presentation and reception.

To close the day, UVM Associate Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Christopher Berger, Ph.D., presented awards to graduate students with outstanding research presentations. First place for the poster session went to Benjamin King, while Haein Kim and Rajiv Jumani garnered second and third place respectively. For the oral presentations, Jamie Stern received first place. Joyce Thompson and Gregory Hoeprich tied for second place. Jacqueline Lueng received the Norman Alpert Award, which honors the best scientific paper published by a graduate student in the past year. Mark Allegretta, Ph.D.'90, associate vice president for commercial research at the National M.S. Society, presented Paradiso with the Medical Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award. This award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in basic, clinical or applied research; education; industry; public service/humanitarianism; and/or outstanding commitment to the UVM College of Medicine community. 

Paradiso received a doctoral degree in biochemistry from the UVM College of Medicine in 1977. Recently retired as vice president of new business and scientific affairs for Pfizer Vaccines, a division of Pfizer, Inc., in Collegeville, Pa., Paradiso has worked in the vaccine development field for nearly 30 years, with a specialty in pediatric vaccines. For more than 20 years, he helped develop pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, including Prevenar 13, and has worked towards achieving licensure and incorporation of Prevenar 13 into childhood National Immunization Programs on a global level. Currently a consultant in the vaccine field, he has worked on the development, licensure and introduction of Prevenar 13 for adults. Paradiso has served as a member of the U.S. Health and Human Services’ National Vaccine Advisory Committee, the Advisory Council on Immunization for New York State, and as a liaison member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. He served as an advisor to the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on vaccines and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization’s Task Force on Research and Development.

The day’s activities began with Graduate Student Research Talks, followed by Paradiso’s lecture, titled “The impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in children and adults,” at noon. Graduate students joined Paradiso for a lunch discussion, and the Graduate Student Poster Session and Awards Presentation & Reception concluded the day in the Hoehl Gallery.

For more information about the event, contact medalumni.relations@uvm.edu.