Congratulations to Master of Science in Medical Biotechnology Program Graduates
Congratulations to Master of Science in Medical Biotechnology Program Graduates
Congratulations to the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford’s Master of Science in Medical Biotechnology Program Class of 2025. The Graduation Ceremony was held Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, at the Coronado Performing Arts Center, in downtown Rockford. Class remarks were given by Sworaj Sapkota. Dr. Shyama Majumdar of the University of Chicago Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, gave the keynote address.
MBT students receive honors and awards
University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford’s Master of Science in Medical Biotechnology Program recognizes the following student honors:
Academic Excellence Award
This award is given to an outstanding graduate for academic distinction, which is determined by the cumulative grade-point average. The following students graduated with perfect 4.0 GPA:
• Cameron Blystone
• Jessica Hindenburg
• Priya Kunhiraman
• Vanaja Narayanaswamy
• Sucheta Rajaraman
• Sworaj Sapkota
• Manaswini Vijararaghavan
• Aarzu Wadhwa
Research Innovation Award
The research innovation award is given to a graduate for research innovation, which is determined by evaluating the research projects for innovative ideas.
• Avdhi Tripathi, Investigating the Therapeutic Efficiency of RAP Decorated DHNA Loaded Liposomes on Prostate Cancer Cell Models
Outstanding Research Award
This award is given to graduates for research excellence which is determined by evaluating the quality of the research work, the written research report, the oral presentation and the graduate’s approach to the entire research procedure.
• Katherine D’Sylva, Local Toxicity Risks of Implant-Generated Metal Ions on Human Synoviocytes: An In Vitro Investigation
• Abhishek Kamalakkannan, Developing FAP 2286 Conjugated MTX Liposomes for targeting Fibroblasts Like Synoviocytes in Rheumatoid Arthritis Model In Vitro
• Priya Kunhiraman, Elucidating the Role of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling in Spastic Paraplegia Type 3A Neurons
• Vanaja Narayanaswamy, Neurotoxicity Risk Assessment of Metal Ions from Hip Implants Using Neuroblastoma-IMR-32 and Neurons from hiPSCs: An In vitro Study
• Sarvika Periyapalayam Murali, Restoring Mitochondrial Balance in SPG 11-associated Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia: Fission-Fusion Dynamics and Lipid Metabolism
• Sucheta Rajaraman, Evaluation of rDiHAVO as a Potential Vaccine Antigen Against Dirofilariasis in a Mouse Model
• Sworaj Sapkota, The Role of POGO Transposable Element with Zinc Finger Derived Domain (POGZ) in Luminal A Breast Cancer
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award:
• Priya Kunhiraman
• Sarvika Periyapalayam Murali
• Manaswni Vijayaraghavan
Outstanding Service Award:
• Nithin Raj Senthil Raj
Thermofisher Scientific Overall Achievement Award:
• Priya Kunhiraman
Faculty and Staff Awards
Excellence in Teaching Award:
• Brian Wolf, PhD (adjunct faculty)
Research Mentor Award:
• Ramaswamy Kalyanasundaram, PhD, DVM
Service Award:
• Mohammad Fazle Alam, PhD