Buff Brief Volume 9, Number 8

October 11, 2021

Chemistry Faculty Making a Difference in

Breast Cancer Research

Dr. David Khan, Paul Engler Endowed Professor of Natural Sciences,

Dr. Jason Yarbrough, Assistant Professor of Chemistry & Ross Wilson Endowed Chair in Chemistry, Ms. Alexandra Muniz, Instructor of Chemistry and Amarillo College's Crystal Moss, STEM Research Center Coordinator at the HSI STEM Conservatory, completed a manuscript titled “Recently Reported Dual-Drug Co-Delivery of Liposomal-Based Chemotherapeutics to Treat Breast Cancer”.

The research involves using a combinatorial approach of encapsulating two drugs into a single nanocarrier, such as a liposome, in order to potentially overcome multidrug resistance (MDR). In some cases, one is a chemosensitizer and the other a cytotoxic agent; in other cases, two cytotoxic agents with completely different mechanisms of action. Perspectives are also provided on possible future constructs to meet the need for improved chemotherapeutics in order to potentially more effectively treat metastatic breast cancer.

This recently was accepted to be published in the

Biomedical Journal of Scientific and Technical Research. Well done!

Learn more

Dr. Travis Tennant Represented WT AG

at Beef Loving Chefs

Beef Loving Chefs is a program of the Texas Beef Council (TBC) and is supported by Texas Beef Council checkoff dollar. The goal of the program is to connect chefs to beef production. The inaugural Beef Loving Chefs Summit was held at the Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio on August 12-13, 2021. During the two-day event, forty chefs from different sectors of the foodservice industry gathered and took a deep dive into the beef production process. The group learned about the beef lifecycle from pasture to plate from industry experts who shared their valuable beef industry knowledge and dispelled common methods relating to cattle production and beef.

Dr. Travis Tennant, Assistant Professor of Animal Science presented on the science of beef cattle reproduction.

Thanks for representing WT Ag!

WT American Chemical Society's Chapter

Wins Honorable Mention

Pictured above: (L to R) Current ACS Officers: Michelle Wittler, SR. Biochemistry, Vice President,

Billy Lee, SR. Biochemistry, Treasurer, Erica Barrrera, SR. Biochemistry, President, Briley Jeter, SR. Biochemistry, Freshman Liaison, Arthur Nguimatsa Djiotsop, SR. Biochemistry, Secretary

The Society Committee on Education (SOCED) selects American Chemical Society (ACS) Student Chapters to receive special recognition on the basis of their programs and activities, as described in their chapter reports. Awards are classified as outstanding, commendable, and honorable mention. WT's American Chemical Society's chapter was awarded Honorable Mention for the 2020-2021 academic year!

"This marks the fourth year in a row that the Chapter has been recognized for their work and I am so proud of our dedicated officers!" said the Chapter's Advisor, Dr. Nick Flynn, Professor of Biochemistry.

"Receiving this award for the 2020-2021 school year is very special to us, we felt that we were not able to do much as a chapter during the pandemic. Our chapter worked very hard to remain active through volunteer events, member meetings, and member outreach and we are happy to see that our dedication paid off. I would like to personally acknowledge our advisor, Dr. Flynn, as well as chapter officers from previous years, for setting a high standard for this organization. Without continued diligence, we would not have been recognized four consecutive years.

I am thrilled that my current officer team and I are working hard already to achieve the highest level of recognition possible."

-Erica Barrera, ACS President. Congratulations, WT ACS!

Agricultural Media & Communication

Serve at the Annual Tri-State Fair & Rodeo

This year during the annual Tri-State Fair & Rodeo, students enrolled in AGRI 2302: Communicating Agriculture to the Public, taught by

Dr. Tanner Robertson, Associate Professor of Agricultural Media & Communication, took photos of every event and activity at the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo. Approximately 6,618 photos were taken for the Fair to use for their marketing and social media during the week and throughout the year. In addition, students filmed the live broadcast of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeo, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each night, the live broadcasts were streamed to the Cowboy Channel app as well as fed to the screens inside the arena. Over the last 10 years, WT students have provided approximately 60,000 photos and contributed more than 800 volunteer hours to the Fair.

Thank you for your service to the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo!