Research

Science and hope are a powerful combination for KCU researcher Ehab Sarsour, PhD, assistant professor of cellular and molecular biology, and fourth-year medical student Katiana Hebbert. The student-teacher duo discovered a new and promising avenue for treating pancreatic cancer by treating the tumor microenvironment and repurposing a drug designed for hyperlipidemia.

Emotions – they shape our self-concept, influence relationships, impact performance and color our overall experience of the world. Despite the universality of emotional experience, a nuanced understanding of them remains elusive for many. Through their own individual research within the Department of Health Service Psychology, home to KCU's doctoral program in clinical psychology, Drs. Jennifer Fugate and Nicki Zieber are each actively working to discover deeper understandings of human emotional perception.

Many of today’s pharmaceutical drugs are derived from plant compounds, including some of the most common medications in the U.S. At KCU, a new medicinal garden on the Kansas City campus is inspiring students to explore the connection between plants and medicine.

At the 2024 KC One Health Day, Jessica Bennett, a third-year student at Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine unveiled compelling new research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Her findings offer hope in the fight against this challenging disease, which predominantly impacts young boys, marking a potential turning point in treatment strategies.

A team of KCU researchers, including Professor of Biosciences Abdulbaki Agbas, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher Purva Sethi, PhD, and Research Scientist Edina Kosa, MSc, explored TDP-43's potential as a blood-based biomarker for detecting disease and examined its presence and possible functions inside platelets.

His grandmother’s battle with breast cancer when he was in college impacted Bradley Creamer, PhD, profoundly. Years later, it inspired him to dedicate his career to helping others facing the disease. 

Kansas City University highlighted science as the different colleges took part in a day known for showcasing innovative research and scientific discoveries. 

Abdulbaki Agbas, PhD, KCU professor of Biosciences, delivered a presentation for students in grades 7 – 12 at a Saturday STEM Seminar held at Kansas City’s Union Station earlier this year. Dr. Agbas discussed the parallels between blood platelets and neurons in the central nervous system and shared promising research on a blood-based biomarker for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and ALS.

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination.” This quote, attributed to Albert Einstein, epitomizes Donald Keating and his desire to balance the demands of his studies with his passion for innovation and creativity.

Students who want to pursue a career as both a physician and as a scientist will find a warm welcome at KCU. Just ask Mahan Hadjian. The third-year med student started working in the lab of Abdulbaki Agbas, PhD, MSc, professor of biosciences, as soon as he arrived at KCU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Despite many advances in medicine, septic shock remains a serious illness with a mortality rate exceeding 30 percent among patients who receive treatment and resulting in more than 200,000 deaths each year in the United States alone. However, an ongoing study conducted by KCU third-year medical student Takara Newsome-Cuby in collaboration with a research team from University of Missouri-Kansas City, shows much promise.

Tafadzwa Amani, fourth-year KCU osteopathic medical student, won best overall during the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of International Osteopathic Medicine’s 25^th Annual Global Health Competition for her research entitled Epidemiology of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and Associated Factors in Rural Guatemala.