Moderated Poster Discussions - T3 Research/Science

Tuesday, April 14, 2026
4:45 pm - 6:15 pm

T3 Research/Science: Translation to practice, including comparative effectiveness research, post-marketing studies, clinical outcomes research, as well as health services, and dissemination & implementation research.

ONE IN FOUR IPF CLINICAL TRIALS END EARLY REASONS FOR DISCONTINUATION AND STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE TRIAL SUCCESS (Pulmonary / Critical Care)
Thaer Alhroob, MD, The University of Toledo Medical Center
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, fatal interstitial lung disease for which clinical trials are essential to develop effective therapies. Early discontinuation of trials wastes resources, exposes participants to risk without benefit, and delays therapeutic progress, yet the frequency and reasons for IPF trial termination across phases, sponsors, and regions are not well defined.
 

COMPARATIVE OUTCOMES OF SURGICAL AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT IN ACADEMIC VERSUS NON-ACADEMIC CENTERS: A REAL-WORLD PROPENSITY-MATCHED ANALYSIS (Cardiology / Cardiovascular Disease)
Mohanad Qwaider, MD, MPH, University of Toledo
Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) remains a cornerstone therapy for patients with aortic valve disease. Institutional characteristics, including academic status, may influence perioperative outcomes through differences in procedural volume, care coordination, and resource availability. However, contemporary real-world data comparing outcomes of SAVR performed at academic versus non-academic centers are limited.
 

ANTIARRHYTHMIC DRUG CLASS AND RISK OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION RECURRENCE FOLLOWING CATHER ABLATION: A REAL-WORLD RESTROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY (Cardiology / Cardiovascular Disease)
Jacob Tan, University of Toledo
Catheter ablation is an established therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF), offering rhythm control and symptomatic improvement. Despite procedural advances, recurrent AF remains common following ablation. Antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) are frequently prescribed post-ablation to reduce recurrence, yet the relative effectiveness of different AAD classes in preventing AF recurrence remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the risk of AF recurrence following catheter ablation across antiarrhythmic drug classes.
 

EVALUATING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LONG TERM BETA-BLOCKER THERAPY AND AAA-RELATED OUTCOMES AFTER ENDOVASCULAR ANEURYSM REPAIR (Cardiology / Cardiovascular Disease)
Olivia Thomas, MPH, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), which is a weakness of the aortic wall causing dilation, is a life-threatening condition that affects upwards of 200,000 people in the United States per year. Rupture of AAA has a mortality rate of nearly 80%, so prevention is key. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a common treatment to reduce the risk of AAA rupture in affected patients, and many clinicians have attempted to improve the long-term success rate of the EVAR procedure for AAA. Previous research has investigated whether beta-adrenergic blocking agents, also known as beta-blockers (BBs), could improve outcomes of EVAR due to their effect of slowing heart rate and relaxing blood vessels, thereby reducing aortic wall stress. Findings have been inconclusive regarding whether BBs improve EVAR outcomes in patients with AAA. However, there are limited studies investigating the effects of long-term use of different BB classes, such as cardioselective vs. nonselective BBs.
 

REAL-WORLD UNDERUTILIZATION AND LONG-TERM MORTALITY BENEFIT OF VERICIGUAT IN WORSENING HFREF (Cardiology / Cardiovascular Disease)
Mercedes Garman, Des Moines University
Vericiguat has emerged as an evidence-based therapy for patients with worsening heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) following recent decompensation. However, real-world effectiveness data remain sparse, particularly regarding long-term outcomes.
 

BEYOND TRADITIONAL METRICS: LONGITUDINAL MODELING AND PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS OF WEIGHT REGAIN AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY (Endocrinology / Metabolism)
Giorgia Scichilone, University of Illinois Chicago
Although bariatric surgery produces substantial early weight loss, long-term durability varies considerably across patients. Conventional outcome metrics may fail to capture the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of postoperative weight trajectories.
 

PERIOPERATIVE SSRI/SNRI USE AND POSTOPERATIVE HEMORRHAGE AFTER LUMBAR FUSION: A PROPENSITY-MATCHED EHR STUDY (Epidemiology)
Aidan Butler, University of Toledo
Lumbar fusion is a common U.S. procedure, and perioperative bleeding and transfusion contribute to complications and resource use. SSRIs/SNRIs are frequently continued perioperatively and may increase bleeding risk through platelet-related effects, but evidence in spine surgery remains limited.
 

NEUROPSYCHIATRIC OUTCOMES IN CANCER PATIENTS TREATED WITH PI3K PATHWAY INHIBITORS (Epidemiology)
Sean Hanna, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Inhibition of the PI3K pathway has shown promising efficacy and has been approved for use in patients with certain solid or hematologic malignancies. Recent studies have suggested that these pathways play a role in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, real-world data on the relationship between PI3K inhibitor use and neuropsychiatric disorders remains limited.
 

HER2NEU COPY NUMBER EXPRESSION IN GASTROESOPHAGEAL ADENOCARCINOMA, IN CONJUNCTION WITH IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO GUIDE THERAPY (Gastroenterology / Clinical Nutrition)
Maha Ibrahim, MBBCh, MSc, PhD, University of Illinois Chicago
Her2neu expression in gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GA) is required to guide therapy in Her2-positive tumors. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for Her2 when either clearly negative or positive has been noted to support therapeutic decision making. However, Her2 IHC equivocal cases are supported by follow-up ISH testing to clarify expression (ref. 1). There is ongoing debate about the utility of ISH in all GA.
 

ADVANCING DIAGNOSIS OF BREAST CANCER AND ABDOMINOPELVIC METASTASES USING AI AND IMAGING (Hematology and Oncology / Bone Marrow Transplant)
Julia Miao, MD, University of Chicago
Breast cancer remains a major global public health challenge, ranking among the most frequently diagnosed malignancies and a leading cause of mortality. Early detection and accurate diagnosis are essential for improving survival and enhancing quality of life. Recent advances in medical imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) provide powerful tools to improve identification of breast malignancies and metastatic abdominopelvic disease that critically influences prognosis and management.
 

DIFFERENTIAL OUTCOMES RELATED TO STATIN USE IN FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA (Neurology)
Faith (Mantra) George, BS, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a leading cause of early-onset dementia. In 2017, the economic burden of FTD was estimated to be nearly two times higher than the reported cost of Alzheimer’s Disease. Though some studies have found a decreased incidence of dementia in patients on statin therapy, their effect on the disease course itself is unknown.
 

IMPACT OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE MONITORING ON OUTCOMES IN SURGICALLY MANAGED DIFFUSE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (Neurology)
Madhu Vishnu Sankar Reddy Rami Reddy, BS, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
The benefit of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains controversial. While randomized data have questioned its effect on survival, contemporary real-world evidence in surgically managed diffuse TBI is limited.
 

PSYCHIATRIC OUTCOMES AFTER AMPUTATION IN PATIENTS WITH PHANTOM LIMB SYNDROME (Psychiatry)
Salman Elah, MS, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Phantom limb syndrome (PLS) is a frequent complication following limb amputation and has been associated with adverse psychiatric outcomes. However, large-scale longitudinal comparisons of neuropsychiatric outcomes between amputees with and without PLS remain limited. We used clinical outcomes in order to compare the incidence of psychiatric effects for patients with PLS.
 

POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS IN BLEPHAROPLASTY AND NATIONWIDE DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS: A TRINETX BASED RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS (Surgery)
Mary Hamlin, BS, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Blepharoplasty is a common procedure that removes excess upper and/or lower eyelid skin, muscle and fat, improving function and appearance. A primary indication for blepharoplasty is dermatochalasis, a condition characterized by redundant eyelid skin that can obstruct vision and cause ocular discomfort. The risks of blepharoplasty include corneal abrasions, retrobulbar hemorrhage, eyelid malposition, persistent dry eye syndrome, and others. Despite its growing popularity, large-scale data on patient demographics and complication risks remain limited. This study leverages the TriNetX database, a platform containing data from over 100 million patients, to analyze demographic trends and postoperative complications across different timeframes, highlighting factors that may influence surgical risk and long-term outcomes.
 

STAFF AND COLLABORATOR PERSPECTIVES ON IMPLEMENTATION OUTCOMES OF A LATINA TEEN-CAREGIVER DYADIC SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH WORKSHOP: A MIXED METHODS STUDY (Health Disparities / Diversity / Equity / Inclusion / Social Determinants / Ethics)
Nicholle Courrejolles, BS, University of Illinois
Latina teens in the United States face persistent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) disparities, necessitating tailored intervention approaches. Developed in partnership with community-based organizations (CBOs) across the Chicagoland area, Floreciendo is a SRH intervention designed to address the unique needs of Latina teens and their female caregivers. CBO staff are trained to deliver workshops on Saturdays at their organizations.
 

PROMOTING ETHICAL IMPLEMENTATION IN THE MENTAL HEALTH, EARLIER CENTER (Health Disparities / Diversity / Equity / Inclusion / Social Determinants / Ethics)
Gabrielle Olson, BA, Northwestern University
The pre-mortem method was developed in business and organization management to improve the likelihood of project success. Pre-mortems use prospective hindsight, a brainstorming exercise to envision a project has already failed, to determine potential reasons for failure and identify strategies to avoid failure before the project launches. In implementation science, pre-mortems have been used to understand and prevent implementation challenges but have not yet been designed to explicitly examine failures related to equitable and ethical implementation of an evidence-based practice (EBP), particularly ripple effects (i.e., unintended consequences) of implementation efforts. Integrating a bioethics perspective enables more systematic evaluation of risks and benefits. We present an example of a pre-mortem for the Mental Health, Earlier (MHE) Center, which aims to improve early identification and prevention of mental health disorders in young children with a novel “catch and prevent” strategy at the vulnerability phase prior to disorder onset. Our pre-mortem aimed to ensure equitable and ethical implementation of the MHE Center’s EBPs.
 

THE INCIDENCE OF UVEITIS IN OLIGOARTICULAR JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS PATIENTS USING DIFFERENT MEDICATION REGIMENS: A TRINETX ANALYSIS (Rheumatology)
Mary Hamlin, BS, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the leading cause of uveitis in pediatric patients, most commonly presenting as chronic anterior uveitis with an insidious onset. Uveitis develops at a median of 10 months after JIA diagnosis, with 93% of cases occurring within 4 years. Early-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (JIA-U) increases the risk of severe ophthalmic complications such as cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal changes, which makes prompt immunomodulatory treatment and ophthalmic screening essential for JIA patients. Initial therapy for JIA varies among practicing rheumatologists.