Doctoral candidate Gregory Miodonski, master’s student Derrick Simet, both from the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology (KIP), and undergraduate student Daniel Heaman (Human Biology), attended the American Physiological Society (APS) Summit held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 23-26, 2026. The summit brought together researchers, faculty, and students from across the globe to share advancements in physiology and related biomedical sciences.
A highlight of the conference was the opportunity for all three students to present their research during the poster sessions. Gregory Miodonski presented his project titled “Sex Differences in the PVN Orexin Mediated Sympathoexcitatory & Pressor Responses,” focusing on how orexin signaling in the paraventricular nucleus contributes to cardiovascular regulation.
Daniel Heaman presented “Central Amygdala Ethanol and Acetate Microinjection Affect Sympathetic Nerve Activity in a Sex-Dependent Manner,” which investigates how ethanol and its metabolite acetate influence neural regulation of sympathetic activity differently between sexes.
Derrick Simet presented “Orexin Dependent Increase of Aquaporin-4 Expression in the PVN and Potential Contributions Toward OX1R-Induced Elevated Blood Pressure in Sprague Dawley Rats,” exploring molecular mechanisms of astrocytes underlying blood pressure regulation.
In addition to presenting, the students attended a variety of scientific sessions throughout the summit. One particularly engaging session, “Neural, Endocrine, and Renal Influences on Cardiovascular Pathophysiology,” highlighted the complex interactions between physiological systems in the development of cardiovascular disease.
Reflecting on the experience, they noted that presenting at APS provided valuable opportunities to engage with fellow physiologists and former Michigan Tech colleagues, receive constructive feedback, and gain new perspectives for future research. Discussions with other attendees helped refine ideas and offered insight into future directions for their work.
Outside of the conference, the group also explored Minneapolis and enjoyed experiencing local restaurants.
Attendance at the APS Summit was made possible through funding support from Michigan Technological University’s Health Research Institute. The experience provided an important opportunity for KIP students to share their research, build professional connections, and engage with current developments in the field of physiology.