Zachary Grimes, of Buckeye, was one of nine students who presented research at the second annual West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Research Day October 26.

Grimes, a Shepherd University Pre-Med Senior studied in the laboratory of Dr. Bonny Dickinson, associate professor of immunology and microbiology at WVSOM.

The research was focused on the role of the cysteine/cysteine glutamate antitransporter in controlling the immunosuppressive enzyme Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. Grimes will use this research project as part of his senior graduation research requirements at Shepherd University. Grimes and Dickinson hope this work will, in the future, be used in the manufacture of more targeted cellular therapies for the treatment of certain diseases like autoimmune disorders.

While at Shepherd University, Grimes was named a 2011 McMurran Scholar, the highest academic honor, and was inducted into the honor society of Phi-Kappa-Phi. He also participated in the WVU medical school-Shepherd University MED-Step program. Grimes will finish his Bachelor's degree in Biology and Chemistry in December 2011; he plans to attend medical school in the fall.