Graduate students showcase research at national UTI conference
Posted on April 28, 2026 by Lindsay Hughes
Graduate students Oluwagbenro Adesunloro, left, and Sicily Hardy, right, with Scott
Hultgren, Ph.D.
杏吧原创 from the Whiddon College of Medicine鈥檚 Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program recently showcased their research on a national stage, contributing to conversations on emerging science in urinary tract infections while gaining valuable professional experience.
Oluwagbenro Adesunloro and Sicily Hardy traveled with their mentor, Allyson Shea, Ph.D., assistant professor of microbiology and immunology, to attend the 6th Clinical and Scientific Advances in Urinary Tract Infections conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Shea also played a prominent role in the meeting, serving as a member of the conference planning committee and a moderator for the session 鈥淣ew Frontiers in UTI Pathogenesis.鈥�
At the conference, the students connected with esteemed researchers, including Scott Hultgren, Ph.D., of Washington University School of Medicine, a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.
Adesunloro delivered an oral presentation titled 鈥淏eyond the Brain: Amyloid-Beta as an Innate Immune Effector During Urinary Tract Infections.鈥� His research explores a new role for amyloid-beta, a protein most commonly associated with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.
鈥淓merging research suggests that amyloid-beta may function as part of the body鈥檚 innate immune defense,鈥� Adesunloro said. 鈥淚n my project, we explore this concept in the context of urinary tract infections, an area that has not been previously investigated.鈥�
The conference provided Adesunloro a platform to engage with leading experts in the field. 鈥淭hese interactions significantly strengthened my scientific communication and professional networking skills,鈥� he said, adding that he is grateful for the mentorship and support of Shea and the lab team.
Hardy, who also serves as president of the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Student Society, presented a poster titled 鈥淒ual Effects of Pyridone Ribosides on the Uroepithelium and Uropathogenic E. coli.鈥� Her research focuses on pyridone ribosides (PYRs), newly identified compounds found in human urine that increase with age and inflammation.
In the Shea Lab, Hardy studies how uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) 鈥� the primary bacterial cause of urinary tract infections 鈥� interacts with these compounds. Her preliminary findings suggest that UPEC can use PYRs as a nitrogen source to support growth, though the mechanisms behind this process remain unclear.
The conference experience allowed Hardy to share her work, gain feedback, and explore future opportunities. She also credited Shea鈥檚 mentorship for helping make the opportunity possible.
鈥淚 made connections with leading experts in the UTI field and with other graduate students,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough these interactions, I built connections that may lead to future collaborations and gained new insight into career paths I might want to pursue after completing my Ph.D.鈥�