Members of the Gurtner Lab honored at the 2025 Department of Surgery Research Symposium

The Gurtner Lab is proud to recognize the achievements of three of our lab members: Erika Kness-Knezinskis, and Fidel Saenz, who were honored at the 2025 Department of Surgery Research Symposium for their innovative contributions to wound healing and regenerative medicine.

Maria Gracia Mora Pinos, MD

Award: Highberger Research Award 
Project: Characterizing Immune Cell Alterations in Type 2 Diabetic Mouse Models Using Flow Cytometry: Implications for Wound Healing and Surgical Outcomes

Maria Gracia Mora Pinos was selected as a Highberger Research Award recipient in 2025. Her work investigates how diabetes-driven changes in immune cell populations contribute to impaired wound healing and surgical complications. By leveraging advanced flow cytometry techniques, Dr. Mora Pinos is uncovering immunological mechanisms that could inform future therapeutic strategies in diabetic patients.

Erika Kness-Knezinskis, MD

Award: Best Quickshot Presentation – Basic Science Category
Project: Electrical Impedance as a Biomarker for Wound Healing
Erika’s cutting-edge research demonstrated the use of electrical impedance as a non-invasive, quantifiable biomarker to monitor healing trajectories in wounds. Her project was recognized as the top quickshot presentation in the basic science category, affirming its potential impact on clinical diagnostics and wound assessment strategies.

Fidel Saenz

Award: Best Poster Presentation – Basic Science Category
Project: Assessing How Mechanically Induced, Anti-Inflammatory MALAT1 Affects Breast Cancer Proliferation and Invasion
Fidel received top honors for his poster presentation on mechanotransduction and the role of MALAT1 in breast cancer. His findings advance our understanding of how physical forces and long non-coding RNAs interact to modulate cancer progression.