The Sigma Xi chapter at UHart proudly recognizes the accomplishments of seniors, Shanny Opinya (Biology; Chemistry minor) and Olivia Dossias (Biomedical Engineering), trainees from the recently concluded NIH U-RISE program, who presented their recently published study in a poster titled, “From Variant to Repair: Investigating and Correcting a Rare Pathogenic GDF11 Mutation,” at the 2026 Northeast Regional Research Conference of Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society.
Held on April 18, at Western Connecticut State University, the conference provided a prestigious platform for emerging scientists to share their work. The students’ presentation reflects the depth of their research training and highlights the lasting impact of the NIH U-RISE program, under the leadership of Cindy Thomas-Charles and Aime Levesque, in fostering scientific inquiry, resilience, and excellence. Their achievement underscores the vital role of undergraduate research experiences in preparing the next generation of scholars and innovators.