We are America鈥檚 Space 海角直播. And we celebrate UCF Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what鈥檚 next.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space

With world-renowned faculty, hands-on learning experiences and a location less than an hour from Florida鈥檚 Space Coast, UCF continues to prove why it鈥檚 America鈥檚 Space 海角直播 鈥� where education, industry and exploration unite to shape the future of space.

Oct. 25 marks the start of the second UCF Space Week, a university-wide celebration of all the ways Knight Nation boldly pushes space forward. The observance highlights UCF鈥檚 vital role in advancing space research, supporting Florida鈥檚 fast-growing space economy, and preparing the next generation of explorers, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

Here are a few key reasons why we celebrate UCF Space Week and how SpaceU is launching the next era of space innovation.

A Legacy in Fueling the Space Industry’s Talent Pipeline

When the university first opened in 1963, landing humans on the moon was a dream that seemed out of reach. Yet UCF dared to believe 鈥� and take action 鈥� by supplying talent and research to the nearby space industry based on the Space Coast just 35 miles east. UCF鈥檚 purpose has only grown stronger more than six decades later as space exploration fuels transformative innovation here on Earth.

Every year, thousands of students gain real-world experience, conduct interdisciplinary research and participate in programs 鈥� including the聽aerospace medicine program 鈥� directly connected to industry, preparing them for in-demand roles across the space sector.

The university鈥檚 excellence in providing talent is supported by data, as the American Society of Engineering Education consistently ranks UCF in the top five nationally for awarding bachelor鈥檚 degrees in (2025):

• Aerospace engineering (No. 4)
• Mechanical engineering (No. 5)
• Computer science (No. 5)
• And No. 10 for awarding engineering bachelor鈥檚 degrees overall 鈥� the highest in Florida

Advancing Research That Reaches New Frontiers

When visionaries look to the future, they also look to UCF 鈥� a leader in space research, innovation and education with 14 experiments sent to space aboard commercial rockets since 2016. UCF Space Week spotlights these breakthroughs, connecting the community with the pioneering work happening right on campus.

Studying Aging in Space

Researcher: Professor Michal Masternak, College of Medicine
Project: Masternak and his team study how the extreme conditions of space affect human aging and health. By simulating microgravity and space radiation, the researchers identified molecular changes associated with accelerated aging, offering insights that could help protect astronauts on long-duration missions and inform future therapies for age-related diseases on Earth.

Unlocking Lunar Resources

Researchers: Planetary Geologist and Associate Professor Kerri Donaldson Hanna and Interim Department Chair of Physics and Associate Professor Adrienne Dove
Project: Donaldson Hanna and Dove are leading NASA鈥檚 Lunar-VISE (Lunar Vulkan Imaging Spectroscopy Explorer) mission, which aims to uncover clues about an unexplored part of the moon and potential insight for deeper space exploration.

Detecting Habitable Worlds

Researcher: Professor Stephen Eikenberry, College of Optics and Photonics
Project: Eikenberry and his team are developing advanced photonics technology to help future space telescopes detect Earth-like planets hidden by the brightness of nearby stars. The NASA-funded project could improve scientists鈥� ability to directly observe potentially habitable worlds and search their atmospheres for signs of life.

Building Partnerships That Propel Discovery

UCF Space Week highlights these crucial collaborations with support from Blue Origin, KPMG, Lockheed Martin, Verizon, Space Florida and SpaceX.

At the heart of UCF鈥檚 success is collaboration. The university works closely with NASA, government agencies, private companies, and research institutions to create opportunities that bridge education, research, and real-world application. These partnerships help students gain experience and industry insight while advancing technologies that will define the next phase of space exploration.

On Sept. 9, UCF partnered with the U.S. Space Force鈥檚 innovation enterprise to launch the聽. The effort strengthens connections between government, academia, industry and entrepreneurs to help promising ideas move faster from research to real-world capability.

UCF is also helping space鈥憆elated research, innovation and workforce development across through the Florida Space Research Consortium. Alain Berinstain, who joined UCF in January as director of the Florida Space Institute, now leads the eight-university initiative 鈥� underscoring UCF鈥檚 leadership and expertise in this evolving field.

Powering Florida鈥檚 Space Economy

Space is no longer just a frontier 鈥� it鈥檚 the future. With the global space economy projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, UCF is preparing the visionaries who will fuel discovery and shape that growth.

Now expanding its impact into the business of space, UCF is helping lead the business of space under the direction of Space Commercialization and Strategy Program Director Zaheer Ali . His work is building a pipeline of leaders ready to drive innovation, strengthen national security and unlock opportunities that will advance humanity鈥檚 future beyond Earth.

Reaching for What鈥檚 Next

UCF Space Week isn鈥檛 just about looking back at past achievements 鈥� it鈥檚 about imagining what comes next. With a legacy built on exploration and a community fueled by curiosity, UCF continues to inspire students and researchers to reach higher, think bolder and push the boundaries of what鈥檚 possible.

Because at UCF, space isn鈥檛 the final frontier 鈥� it鈥檚 just the beginning.

Through a nearly five-year, $943,000-plus grant from the National Institutes of Health, Calarco鈥檚 lab is examining how neurons 鈥� nerve cells in the brain 鈥� and their molecules change when exposed to nicotine and other drugs. The goal is to understand how microscopic changes in the brain eventually influence behavioral decisions, including those associated with addiction.

鈥淲e want to understand what鈥檚 really influencing the neuron,鈥� says Calarco, who began work on this project in 2024 as a postdoctoral scholar at the 海角直播 of Maryland, Baltimore, before joining UCF in January as an assistant professor. 鈥淲hich component is critical for the neuron function that leads to drug-seeking behavior?鈥�

For this research, Calarco鈥檚 lab is focused on the nucleus accumbens, an area of the brain involved in reward, learning and behavior.

鈥淚 call it a little computer that integrates a lot of signals that come in relationship to reward learning from a lot of other parts of the brain to guide behavioral choices,鈥� she says.

鈥淲e want to understand what’s really influencing the neuron. Which component is critical for the neuron function that leads to drug-seeking behavior?鈥� 鈥� Cali Calarco, assistant professor

The nucleus accumbens contains multiple types of brain cells, and Calarco鈥檚 research examines how individual cell types respond to nicotine and other drugs. Her lab is particularly interested in mitochondria, the structures within cells that produce the energy they need to function. Recent studies suggest mitochondria may also play an important role in drug-seeking behavior.

鈥淢itochondria have been underappreciated in neurons previously,鈥� she says. 鈥淣eurons are incredibly complex cells that do incredibly complex tasks, both electrically and chemically that require a ton of energy, so we knew they were really important. But mitochondria also influence how neurons communicate with each other. They鈥檙e super important for gene transcription and translation and for steroid hormone production.鈥�

By understanding addiction at the molecular level, researchers may ultimately be able to develop better treatments for substance use disorder.

鈥淭here aren鈥檛 that many substance use disorder treatments, and the ones available only work for a subset of people,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here is room for improvement in nicotine use disorder therapies, and new pathway targets may provide more effective treatments with fewer side effects.鈥�

Nicotine use has persisted even as the products used to consume it have changed. Calarco compares the trend to a game of whack-a-mole, with new nicotine products gaining popularity as older ones decline. While cigarette smoking has declined, consumers now have access to products such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches placed between the lips and gum. According to data from the FDA and CDC鈥檚 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey, nicotine pouch use nearly quadrupled among U.S. youth and young adults between 2022 and 2025.

While her research is focused on nicotine, Calarco says her findings could have implications for other substances and even social media addiction.

Calarco earned her doctorate in neuroscience from Yale 海角直播 before conducting postdoctoral research at the 海角直播 of Maryland, Baltimore, where she studied mitochondria and cocaine-seeking behavior. She joined the UCF College of Medicine鈥檚 Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences in January 2026.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under award number K01DA061048. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.聽

What if an existing drug could be repurposed to treat a rare disease?

That鈥檚 the question UCF researchers are exploring with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) to find a cure for rare nerve tumors that can cause paralysis, hearing and balance loss.

Led by UCF College of Medicine Pegasus Professor Cristina Fern谩ndez-Valle, the team is investigating whether medications already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for other conditions could be swiftly repurposed to treat schwannoma tumors.

The researchers have narrowed a field of about 200 potential drugs to 10 of interest, with three emerging as the most favorable targets.

Their goal is to find new treatment options for patients with Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)-related schwannomatosis. The genetic disorder causes benign tumors to develop on nerves throughout the body and head. As the tumors grow, they can damage nerves responsible for movement and sensation, including those needed to hear and balance.

The disease affects about one in 25,000 newborns worldwide, according to the Children鈥檚 Tumor Foundation, with symptoms often appearing during adolescence and early adulthood. When diagnosed in children, the disorder can be severe and may require multiple surgeries during puberty to reduce tumor size and prevent further loss of function. The Children鈥檚 Tumor Foundation is supporting UCF鈥檚 research with a $280,020 grant.

鈥淭he Children鈥檚 Tumor Foundation was critical to us because they fund the exploratory research that helps advance science,鈥� Fern谩ndez-Valle says. 鈥淎ll of this foundational data is needed to attract the additional support needed to demonstrate a treatment holds real promise.鈥�

Looking for Treatments Beyond Surgery

Schwann cells normally help repair nerves and transmit electrical signals throughout the nervous system. In patients with NF2, however, these cells can form visible tumors that cause chronic pain and neurological issues depending on the affected spinal or cranial nerve.

Current treatments center on surgery and radiation, but removing these tumors can be challenging without damaging critical nerves, including those that affect hearing. Surgery also is not curative, as tumors can regrow.

That鈥檚 why the research team is looking beyond surgery to potential drug therapies.

While schwannomas are not cancerous, the researchers believe some cancer-fighting drugs may help patients with NF2.

The research began with an AI model called TxGNN, developed by Marinka Zitnik鈥檚 laboratory at Harvard Medical School. The model analyzes data and biological mechanisms across thousands of diseases and FDA-approved drugs to identify potential treatments for a queried disease.

鈥淚t essentially generates a map for a disease or condition, like schwannomas, and finds overlaps in targeting similar pathways or related diseases,鈥� says Ethan Hass, a UCF College of Medicine M.D./Ph.D. candidate working in the lab.

Researchers at Sage Bionetworks used the TxGNN model to identify about 200 FDA-approved medications that could potentially benefit schwannoma patients. Fern谩ndez-Valle鈥檚 team then used an innovative imaging system to observe how each drug affected human schwannoma cells.

Using a camera inside a microscope, the team watched how schwannoma cells in a dish reacted to small amounts of each drug. The most promising candidates 鈥� medications currently used to treat diseases as varied as lung cancer and acne 鈥� stopped tumor cell growth by impacting different cellular mechanisms.

A Step Towards Personalized Treatment

The research continues.

The UCF scientists are determining therapeutic doses for the most promising drugs using patient-derived schwannoma cells. They鈥檙e also studying how the drugs affect the tumor growth pathways at the RNA level.

Ultimately, the researchers hope their findings will help identify drug combinations tailored to individual patients. Complicated and understudied genetic conditions like NF2-related schwannomatosis often require treatments that address multiple targets, Fern谩ndez-Valle says.

鈥淚 think this work is encouraging, and I鈥檇 say like with many cancers, you need a cocktail of drugs to treat it,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 think what we鈥檙e doing here is helping to identify some of the ingredients you might need to make an effective cocktail.鈥�

From Lab Bench to Patient Bedside

The project also provides UCF students with the opportunity to participate in research that can make a real-world impact.

Since joining Fern谩ndez-Valle鈥檚 lab, Hass says his interest in caring for patients with difficult neurologic conditions has grown.

鈥淎s an M.D./Ph.D. student, translation is the magic word for me,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 absolutely love seeing research that can be brought from the bench to the bedside. I want to be that bridge between patients and research.鈥�

For generations, scientists have looked to the genetics inside immune cells for ways to improve how the body fights disease.

Now, a research team led by UCF College of Medicine assistant professor Hung Nguyen is examining an understudied molecule within T cells as a pathway to treatments for cancers, infections and autoimmune disorders.

Their study, recently published in Trends Open, focuses on transfer RNA (tRNA), molecules within cells that help build proteins to energize themselves. Nguyen is working to chemically modify these molecules to expand the function of T cells, specialized white blood cells that are the cornerstone of the body鈥檚 immunity. The findings represent an important first step toward understanding whether tRNA can eventually be manipulated to fine-tune immune responses to multiple diseases.

T cells play a key role in identifying and killing invasive abnormalities within the body, including infections and cancers. The cells also allow the body to remember previous infections and respond more quickly if re-infected or attacked, says Cuong Pham, a biomedical sciences Ph.D. candidate working under Nguyen who served as the study鈥檚 first author.

鈥淭 cells are already central to modern medicine,鈥� Pham says. 鈥淎t the same time, we still do not fully understand all the molecular mechanisms that determine how T cells become activated to respond. Our review brings together emerging evidence showing that tRNA modifications can help support and regulate these responses.鈥�

This discovery comes as a continuation of Nguyen鈥檚 efforts to find innovative immunotherapies for a wide range of conditions. An early career researcher, Nguyen earned a 鈥淩each for the Stars鈥� award from UCF in 2024 for his potential for significant impact.

An Innovative Approach to Immunity

UCF鈥檚 research is the first time scientists have tested modifying mitochondrial tRNA in T cells to change their behavior, Nguyen says.

鈥淲e are looking at the tRNA modification within T cells that have never been reported,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n the field, tRNA modification is not so new. For T cells, researchers have been focusing on all the other parts before now.鈥�

The discovery came as a result of an active project in Nguyen鈥檚 lab that is examining how diet can affect the immune response in聽 cancer patients.

鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 say we found this by accident, but we were very lucky,鈥� Nguyen says. 鈥淲e examined the mitochondria of the T cell, and we kept looking at all the different layers and targets and then we arrived at the tRNA.鈥�

Studying tRNA is challenging because the molecules are short and densely packed, making them difficult to analyze and modify, Nguyen says.

So the UCF team used cutting edge technology called liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The highly sensitive technique separates massive quantities of molecules in a sample and then identifies and measures them.

鈥淚t is very new for use in detecting tRNA, and it was so important for us to see how everything worked,鈥� Nguyen says.

Results Could Impact Other Immunity Research

In the study, the team genetically engineered the tRNA to give T cells signals to activate against specific disease cells.

While the research is still in its early stages, Nguyen says that they have already identified ways to modify T cells to pinpoint and fight melanoma, colon cancer and lupus.

Nguyen says he hopes his new findings will provide a way for other researchers to create new immunotherapies.

鈥淲e want to share these ideas with the greater science community and bring everyone together to help us validate them and ultimately benefit more people,鈥� he says.

Drawn to UCF for its opportunities for interdisciplinary research, Pham says he鈥檚 looking forward to being a part of what鈥檚 next in the College of Medicine鈥檚 immunology efforts.

鈥淭he next step is to move deeper into the mechanisms behind these observations,鈥� Pham says. 鈥淥ur lab has strong and ambitious research directions in immunometabolism. We want to understand how those changes in tRNA influence T cell metabolism and function, and whether specific pathways can eventually be targeted to ultimately help patients.鈥�

Minh Tuyet Le Nguyen, a UCF postdoctoral scholar, and the Hanoi 海角直播 of Pharmacy in Vietnam also contributed to the research.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01HL166820. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

That dedication and her passion for research recently earned Kramer the inaugural Dean Deborah C. German, M.D. FIRE (Focused Individualized Research Experience) Impact Award, an honor named after the founding dean of UCF鈥檚 College of Medicine who created the FIRE course, which requires every student to conduct a two-year research project.

German announced earlier this year that she is transitioning from her role and will remain at UCF for a year as an advisor to the president and provost on health affairs. FIRE leaders created the award to honor German鈥檚 legacy of scientific discovery as part of medical training, an educational component that makes UCF鈥檚 medical school unique nationally.

鈥淚 want our students to develop a spirit of inquiry. I want every UCF physician not to be afraid to seek answers to medicine鈥檚 unanswered questions.鈥� 鈥� Deborah German, College of Medicine dean

鈥淚 want our students to develop a spirit of inquiry,鈥� German told Kramer as she presented her with the award. 鈥淚 want every UCF physician not to be afraid to seek answers to medicine鈥檚 unanswered questions.鈥�

After earning an undergraduate degree the 海角直播 of South Florida, Kramer decided to attend UCF in part because the FIRE course was one reason she came to UCF.

鈥淚 wanted to combine research with clinical care,鈥� she says.

Her FIRE project focused on glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer with a five-year survival rate of only 5% to 7%, according to the Mayo Clinic. Even if surgery, chemotherapy and radiation initially stop the cancer, it usually returns and becomes stronger. Kramer says she wanted to know why.

With support from her FIRE mentor, Kiminobu Sugaya, head of the College of Medicine鈥檚 neuroscience research division, she discovered that extracellular vesicles responsible for cell-to-cell communication may influence non-cancer cells to take on cancer-like properties.

The new award goes to the student whose research shows the greatest potential impact to medicine and/or biomedical research. College of Medicine faculty and fellow students chose Kramer for the award during the FIRE Conference.

鈥淚t is our privilege to establish this award in honor of Dean German,鈥� say Robert Hines and Lane Coffee, co-directors of the FIRE course. 鈥淲hen establishing this medical school, she realized the importance of rigorous scientific inquiry, and our students have benefited from 鈥� and will continue to benefit from 鈥� this course within the curriculum.鈥�

He鈥檚 an experienced skydiver, private pilot and scuba diver whose hero since childhood has been moon-walker Neil Armstrong. And now Melchor Antu帽ano is a UCF Knight.

After 34 years with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 鈥� the longest term for any senior executive in the agency鈥檚 history 鈥� Antu帽ano has joined the College of Medicine鈥檚 team as a professor, and chief technologist and medical innovation officer. In these roles he鈥檒l help design new procedures and technologies to keep astronauts, pilots and airplane passengers safer and help create a new UCF master鈥檚 degree in aerospace medicine and a residency program for aerospace medicine physicians. He鈥檒l also teach across UCF colleges.

鈥淏eing part of this outstanding visionary team gives me the opportunity not only to help advance the field I love, but also to inspire, educate and mentor the next generation of physicians, scientists and innovators.鈥� 鈥� Melchor Antu帽ano, UCF aerospace medicine medical innovation officer

Antu帽ano says a career in aerospace medicine has given him the 鈥渙pportunity to continually learn, adapt and contribute to a specialty defined by innovation, exploration, and discovery.鈥�

鈥淛oining the UCF College of Medicine represents a new and exciting chapter in that journey,鈥� he continues. 鈥淏eing part of this outstanding visionary team gives me the opportunity not only to help advance the field I love, but also to inspire, educate and mentor the next generation of physicians, scientists and innovators.鈥�

He is the newest leader to join UCF鈥檚 new Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine , a multidisciplinary center includes faculty experts in medicine, engineering, computer science, psychology, arts and educational leadership who will work together to research and develop new technologies for keeping space travelers healthy as well as soldiers on military missions, deep sea explorers, and mountain climbers.

鈥淒r. Antu帽ano brings to UCF an extraordinary combination of operational experience, scientific leadership, innovation and a lifelong commitment to aerospace medicine,鈥� says Emmanuel Urquieta, vice chair for aerospace medicine and director of CASEEM. 鈥淔or more than three decades, he helped shape aerospace medicine and safety at the national and international levels. Having someone of his caliber join our team is transformative as we build a comprehensive aerospace medicine program that integrates clinical care, education, research and technology development.鈥�

A Resourceful First Responder Before Medical School

Born in Mexico City, Antu帽ano had two dreams as a child: to be a doctor and fly airplanes. Before entering medical school at the National Autonomous 海角直播 of Mexico School of Medicine, he volunteered with the Red Cross and the country鈥檚 rescue squad as a paramedic, rescue worker and EMT. He couldn鈥檛 afford to buy a red emergency light for his car. So he made one using a pot.

鈥淢y parents always instilled in my sisters and me the importance of doing our best, persevering in the face of adversity, planning ahead and learning from our mistakes,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 learned from my parents the importance of being kind, fair and respectful to everybody.鈥�

He learned about aviation medicine during medical school and volunteered at the Mexican Government鈥檚 National Center of Aviation Medicine, where he learned about aviation physiology (including altitude chamber operations), human factors in aircraft accident investigation and pilot medical certification.

Impact Fueled by Taking Initiative

Next came residency. Antu帽ano says he came to America because the only civilian aerospace medicine residency program was at Wright State 海角直播 School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio.

He learned about this program by writing letters to senior U.S. federal government officials 鈥� including then President Ronald Reagan 鈥� inquiring where to pursue postgraduate training in aviation medicine in the U.S. He was accepted into the residency.

鈥淭hat opportunity allowed me to pursue my professional dream and meet aerospace medicine physicians from all over the world,鈥� he says.

Antu帽ano also earned a master鈥檚 in aerospace medicine at Wright State. His research was using a portable head cooling system to protect U.S. Air Force personnel from heat exposure. He built his lab in the kitchen of the residents鈥� lounge. He turned up the heat, then added oil and air heaters to create a thermal chamber. His experimental subjects were his classmates. He earned the Aerospace Medical Association鈥檚 Young Investigator Award for his initiative.

After residency, he received a two-year postdoctoral research fellowship from the National Research Council of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. After that, he was hired as a contract scientist for the school to work on personal cooling technology for individuals wearing nuclear, biological and chemical protective suits.

Antu帽ano joined the FAA in 1992 and served as manager of the Medical Education Division and the Medical Certification Division at the agency鈥檚 Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City. The institute is responsible for medically certifying that the nation鈥檚 pilots are physically fit to fly, training the physicians who perform the physical exams in the U.S. and in 90 countries worldwide, and conducting safety-related aerospace medicine and human factors research. He became CAMI鈥檚 director in 2001 and retired earlier this year as the longest serving director in history.

Steering the Future of Aerospace Medicine at UCF

鈥淎 leader has the responsibility to make more leaders,鈥� he says. 鈥淟ook for stars in the making 鈥� encourage them, support them and help turn them into future leaders.鈥� 鈥� Melchor Antu帽ano, UCF aerospace medicine medical innovation officer

As the commercial space industry expands and humans prepare for longer missions to the moon, Mars and beyond, UCF鈥檚 College of Medicine is charting a new frontier in healthcare. The goal: explore how factors such as microgravity, radiation and isolation impact the human body in space and how that knowledge can drive innovation into diagnostics, treatment and disease prevention for patients on Earth.

As part of that effort, the aerospace medicine team is developing courses for students across the university and building a lab that will design, create and test the next generation of medical equipment to keep space travelers healthy. The team just opened the UCF Aerospace Medicine Clinic to provide medical certification exams for astronauts and pilots across the region.

Antu帽ano says he is excited about the future and his role in advancing aerospace medicine research while training the next generation of aerospace physicians.

鈥淎 leader has the responsibility to make more leaders,鈥� he says. 鈥淟ook for stars in the making 鈥� encourage them, support them and help turn them into future leaders.鈥�

Medicine can treat infections after people get sick, but UCF infectious disease expert Mollie Jewett is seeking to halt Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, which causes Lyme disease, in its tracks without relying on general antibiotics. Her goal: 鈥渟tarve鈥� the bacteria of the nutrients they need to function before they spread through the human body.

Jewett, professor and head of the Immunity and Pathogenesis Research Division at UCF鈥檚 College of Medicine, is supported by a recently renewed five-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

She is entering a third consecutive federally funded research cycle with $513,314 received this year. Jewett鈥檚 research builds upon more than a decade of discoveries that have narrowed the search for ways to stop B. burgdorferi from triggering Lyme disease, one of the nation鈥檚 most common vector-borne diseases. Her team includes a UCF undergraduate who occasionally struggled to walk because of pain from Lyme disease.

The disease is spread by blacklegged ticks that become infected after biting mammals or birds carrying the bacteria. The ticks are so small, humans often don鈥檛 notice they have been bitten. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache and fatigue, which often are misdiagnosed as a virus or the flu. Even after treatment, Lyme disease patients can face complications including nervous system and heart issues, severe fatigue and arthritic pain.

The disease is most commonly found in Maine to Virginia and in the upper Midwest but is spreading as suburban growth enters wildlife areas. Florida reports few cases of Lyme disease annually, but travelers who go to endemic areas like New England are at increased risk.

A New Approach to Battle Borrelia

UCF researchers are focused on how B. burgdorferi manages to survive and thrive as it spreads in ticks and mammals to humans.

鈥淭he bacteria need to adapt to two different environments, and so we want to know how it does that,鈥� Jewett says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at what the bacteria eat and what it needs to survive. In our lab, we call Borrelia a wimpy pathogen because it can鈥檛 make a lot of the nutrients it needs on its own, and so it scavenges what it needs from wherever it is.鈥�

The first iteration of the NIH grant allowed the scientists to screen all of the bacteria鈥檚 genes that might be important for the infection. With the second grant, Jewett targeted three genes that appeared to play a role in spreading the infection from a bite on the skin to other parts of the human body.

“One of these three genes we found is important to the ability of the bacteria to consume riboflavin. We want to target this gene and see if we can starve the bacteria.” 鈥� Mollie Jewett, UCF infectious disease expert

Now they have focused on riboflavin, commonly known as vitamin B2, after discovering that B. burgdorferi salvages the vitamin from each host to sustain itself.

鈥淥ne of these three genes we found is important to the ability of the bacteria to consume riboflavin,鈥� Jewett says. 鈥淲e know that riboflavin is a precursor for other cellular activities that are important to the metabolism of the bacteria. Essentially, we want to target this gene and see if we can starve the bacteria.鈥�

If their theory is successful, it could lead to therapies specific to B. burgdorferi that would prevent successful bacterial infection by limiting its riboflavin uptake. An advantage of such potential treatments would be that patients don鈥檛 have to take general antibiotics that can also harm the body鈥檚 good bacteria and increase risks for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The UCF team is collaborating with Baylor 海角直播 scientists to trace exactly how riboflavin is used by the bacteria.

Students Driving Discovery

Biomedical sciences doctoral student Anna Schulz 鈥�25MS played a key role in pinpointing specific ways the bacteria use riboflavin to generate energy. She served as first author on a recent publication examining these processes, and says she鈥檚 looking forward to growing as a researcher in this next phase.

鈥淎s a first author, I took more ownership over the experiments and the writing process,鈥� Schulz says. 鈥淸Jewett] was really great about letting me lead the project as a student. Borrelia is so unique, and there鈥檚 still so much we don鈥檛 know, and that鈥檚 what keeps me engaged with this research.鈥�

“… I couldn鈥檛 treat it until years after I got infected. So, I truly care about finding new treatments for Lyme disease.” 鈥� Grace Easterling, UCF biomedical sciences student

Third-year biomedical sciences undergraduate Grace Easterling says she was drawn to Jewett鈥檚 lab because she previously developed Lyme disease and suffered tremendous joint pain. She was determined to find a way to protect others.

鈥淚t was something that, because we live in Florida, wasn鈥檛 caught early because it鈥檚 not as common,鈥� Easterling says. 鈥淚 struggled for a long time to get diagnosed, and I couldn鈥檛 treat it until years after I got infected. So, I truly care about finding new treatments for Lyme disease and understanding the bacteria.鈥�

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01AI099094. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

鈥淚 saw what she means to her community,鈥� says Dostal, who comes to UCF from the 海角直播 of Washington. 鈥淎nd I wanted to do the same thing for my community.鈥�

Dostal was one of 120 new UCF College of Medicine students who received their white coats Monday in a traditional celebration that welcomes them as partners in healthcare.

Chosen from 5,422 applicants, the 120 new M.D. candidates received their undergraduate degrees from Yale, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Duke, Case Western and Emory in addition to UCF. They include scientists, artists, musicians, athletes, global volunteers and EMTs.

Monday was the 18th White Coat Ceremony in the history of the medical school, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. In his welcome, UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright described 鈥渨hat began as a bold vision on undeveloped land in Lake Nona has grown into a thriving Academic Health Sciences Campus and a community focused on improving lives.鈥�

And he credited that growth to Deborah German, vice president for health affairs and founding dean, who has announced her transition from both roles. Monday was her last White Coat Ceremony.

鈥淒r. German helped transform an ambitious vision into the college you join today,鈥� he told students, parents, faculty and staff. 鈥淏ecause of her leadership, hundreds of physicians have begun their careers here, thousands of patients have been served, and new partnerships, discoveries, and opportunities have taken shape across Lake Nona and our state. Dr. German, your remarkable legacy will always hold a special place at UCF.鈥�

The Good Doctor

For every White Coat Ceremony, German has conducted the first class of medical school called 鈥淭he Good Doctor 鈥� A UCF Tradition.鈥�

She asks first-year students to imagine the person they love most in the world is seriously ill with an undiagnosed condition. What are the traits they want to see in the doctor caring for their beloved? As students name attributes, German writes each word on a blackboard that is displayed in the College of Medicine atrium for the entire year.

The class of 2030 suggested 38 traits, including聽humble, trustworthy, dedicated, knowledgeable, ethical, determined, compassionate, resilient and innovative.

鈥淭his is your聽contract聽with your聽faculty,聽friends,聽family, community聽and聽each other,鈥� German said, pointing to the board. 鈥淎lways remember, The Good Doctor lives in each of you. With the聽guidance of the faculty聽and聽your own hard work, you will become The Good Doctor.鈥�

Inspired to Care for Others

As a UCF undergraduate, Nelson Jones earned the Order of Pegasus, the university鈥檚 top student honor. Today he is a physician-in-training. Both of his parents are nurses, and he described how their care of others 鈥� especially in communities of need 鈥� inspired him. So did the opportunities UCF provides.

鈥淚鈥檓 feeling extremely grateful and excited,鈥� he said after receiving his white coat. 鈥淭his university has built me into the person I am and will continue to build me into the physician I strive to become.鈥�

Vivian Silva-Dallenbach graduated from the 海角直播 of South Florida with degrees in biomedical sciences and astronomy. She chose UCF for medical school because of the college鈥檚 new aerospace medicine program. She鈥檚 researched how space flight affects the human body.

鈥淥nce I saw that UCF has an aerospace medicine program, I knew it was a match,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 particularly interested in women鈥檚 health and how we can provide specialized care for female astronauts.鈥�

Dev Patel, another UCF alum, says his dreams are inspired by the College of Medicine鈥檚 founding dean. 鈥淚 would like to take a page out of German鈥檚 book. She started with almost nothing to work with and she built something amazing here. So as we have such a long road in front of us, I鈥檓 hoping to follow in her footsteps and even have a fraction of the impact she did.鈥�

Minutes from one of the world鈥檚 most visited airports, UCF has opened a new clinic to help pilots meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical requirements to fly safely.

The new 海角直播 Aerospace Medicine Clinic at UCF Health Faculty Physician Practice in Lake Nona is led by William 鈥淓d鈥� Powers, chief medical officer of UCF鈥檚 and a certified aviation medical examiner.

Pilots operating civilian aircraft must have various levels of FAA medical certification depending on the type of aircraft. Commercial pilots must pass the exam every six months or each year.

鈥淔light safety depends on healthy pilots,鈥� says Powers, who is certified to conduct the highest level of FAA exams. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 ultimately what we鈥檙e here to support.鈥�

“Here at UCF, we are … connecting medicine, engineering, research and industry in ways few universities can.” 鈥� UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright

UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright says the clinic is an example of the university鈥檚 mission to educate talent, advance discovery and solve societal challenges that matter.

鈥淭he next era of flight will bring new demands on health and human performance,鈥� Cartwright says. 鈥淗ere at UCF, we are meeting those challenges by connecting medicine, engineering, research and industry in ways few universities can.鈥�

What sets this clinic apart from others is its ability to more efficiently address the health needs of pilots thanks to a network of UCF College of Medicine faculty physicians, university officials say.

The clinic marked its opening with a ceremony today.

Assessing Safety and Minimizing Risk

Medical clearance for pilots is 鈥渁ll about risk,鈥� Powers says. 鈥淭he FAA has to assess the risk of a pilot experiencing a sudden incapacitation while flying. That鈥檚 really what these exams are focused on.鈥�

For that reason, the UCF clinic will not focus on diagnosing disease, but on identifying and acting on any condition that might endanger pilot, crew and passenger safety.

In addition to a physical exam, pilots must pass hearing and vision tests, including demonstrating that they are not color blind. Airline pilots receive an electrocardiogram every year, while other pilots, like hobbyists, may receive an electrocardiogram if there is evidence of heart disease. Physicians also review medical history and discuss any health concerns that could affect flight safety.

Even manageable chronic conditions like high blood pressure can temporarily delay certification until the condition is treated, stabilized and controlled.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e flying an airplane, you don鈥檛 have the luxury of pulling over and waiting for help like if you鈥檙e a truck driver,鈥� Powers says. 鈥淵ou must be aware at all times. If you鈥檙e responsible for an aircraft full of passengers, the FAA wants to minimize the chance of a sudden incapacitation.鈥�

A Vast Network of Expertise

Complicated medical cases are referred to the FAA for further review, and pilots may need additional interventions to meet certification standards. That鈥檚 where the College of Medicine鈥檚 physician practice offers a distinct advantage, Powers says.

“We can guide pilots to the specialists and testing they need and help them get back on the path toward medical clearance.” 鈥� William “Ed” Powers, chief medical officer of the CASEEM

Unlike private clinics that do pilot certification exams, UCF offers multiple medical specialties under one roof and a team approach to care.

鈥淲e can guide pilots to the specialists and testing they need and help them get back on the path toward medical clearance,鈥� Powers says.

Powers brings decades of expertise in space and aviation medicine. Before joining UCF, he was chief of NASA鈥檚 Medical Operations Branch, director of flight medicine for Axiom Space and director of the aerospace medicine residency program at the 海角直播 of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Powers also worked inside the FAA as a supervisory medical officer. He says that experience gives him a firm understanding of what the FAA requires, making the process smoother for everyone.

鈥淭hat means fewer delays, fewer mistakes in paperwork and a more efficient process for pilots whose livelihoods depend on getting certified,鈥� he says.

Strengthening the Regional Aviation Ecosystem

Another UCF advantage: the clinic is only about 10 miles from Orlando International Airport, which welcomes 58 million travelers annually. So in addition to local aviators, pilots nationwide who travel to and through Orlando could easily schedule their certification exams at UCF.

“Clinics like UCF鈥檚 Aerospace Medicine Clinic [are] helping pilots, whether in space or on the ground, access the care and medical certification support they need to remain flight-ready.” 鈥� Lance Lyttle, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority

The clinic will help strengthen the aviation training pipeline in one of the nation鈥檚 most active aerospace regions. This capability is especially important for local flight schools whose students may require guidance in navigating medical certification, return-to-flight concerns and the health demands of aviation careers.

鈥淐entral Florida鈥檚 aviation ecosystem is built on more than runways, terminals and launchpads,鈥� says Lance Lyttle, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which manages Orlando International and Orlando Executive airports. 鈥淚t also depends on the people and services that keep aviation moving safely and efficiently. Clinics like UCF鈥檚 Aerospace Medicine Clinic complement that ecosystem by helping pilots, whether in space or on the ground, access the care and medical certification support they need to remain flight-ready.鈥�

The clinic is embedded in Central Florida鈥檚 bustling travel hub with numerous satellite airports, including Kissimmee Gateway Airport and Orlando Sanford International Airport. Giving pilots another option to get cleared to fly strengthens the regional economy, says Shaun Germolus, director of aviation for the Kissimmee facility.

鈥淭he aviation industry in Central Florida provides a major economic impact to the region,鈥� Germolus says. 鈥淭he medical exams and certificates provided by the UCF Aerospace Medicine Clinic will be very valuable to ensure our aviation professionals are healthy and readily available to serve.鈥�

Launching the Clinic

The clinic is starting with limited Thursday and Friday morning appointments to allow the team to refine operations before expanding. Helping coordinate those efforts is Camila Niebla 鈥�26, a UCF health sciences graduate who now serves as the clinic鈥檚 aerospace medicine navigator.

Niebla discovered aerospace medicine by accident while exploring future career paths before applying to medical school.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even know aerospace medicine was a possibility,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been interested in performance-driven medicine, like sports medicine, so this felt really exciting. It鈥檚 exciting to be part of something from the beginning and watch it grow.鈥�

Part of a Larger Vision for Aerospace Medicine at UCF

The clinic is part of UCF鈥檚 , which is being developed as a comprehensive academic, clinical, research, education, and operational platform to support the future of aviation, commercial spaceflight, and human space exploration.

鈥淭his is about building the medical infrastructure required for the next era of flight, both on Earth and in space,鈥� says Emmanuel Urquieta, vice chair for aerospace medicine at the UCF College of Medicine. 鈥淥ur goal is to create a program that is not only academic, but operational and translational in nature 鈥� one that supports student pilots, flight schools, commercial aviation, spaceflight providers and the broader aerospace ecosystem.鈥�

Schedule an Appointment

to learn more about FAA medical exams at UCF Health Faculty Physician Practice and schedule an appointment online.

Studies have shown the condition affects nearly one in four women worldwide and is linked to dozens of potential disorders involving multiple organ systems. Yet many healthcare providers receive only limited training in diagnosing the source of pain, often leaving patients facing years of uncertainty, repeated testing and ineffective treatments before receiving the right diagnosis.

A yearlong collaboration between a UCF physician-scientist and two biomedical sciences undergraduate students aims to create a better environment for doctors and patients to reach an understanding together. Biomedical sciences students Sarah Gabriela Nieto Chavarro and second-year Juliana Dimetry interned with Georgine Lamvu, a UCF College of Medicine volunteer professor of obstetrics and gynecology, to transform years of international research into a practical tool to help clinicians evaluate patients more quickly and confidently.

The team is developing an AI-assisted clinical questionnaire application that guides physicians through a patient’s symptoms and identifies which organ systems and conditions should be examined. Rather than replacing a physician鈥檚 judgment, the application compiles patient histories quickly to help guide physicians toward making a clearer diagnosis.

From International Research to a Practical Tool

Despite the prevalence of CPP, many healthcare providers lack specialized training in diagnosing the underlying condition because symptoms often overlap with gastrointestinal, urinary, musculoskeletal and reproductive disorders.

鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping that this can become easy to use and can take a detailed medical history that could take an hour to get through down to just 5 to 10 minutes.鈥� 鈥� Georgine Lamvu, volunteer professor and Orlando VA practitioner

鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping that this can become easy to use and can take a detailed medical history that could take an hour to get through down to just 5 to 10 minutes,鈥� says Lamvu, who practices at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Orlando and directs its gynecological surgery fellowship program and center. 鈥淭hat allows physicians to have a more efficient evaluation and spend more time with the patient.鈥�

The center is a pioneering program designed to address the growing demand for specialized gynecologic care among women veterans. As the number of women veterans using VA healthcare services is expected to increase significantly, this fellowship and center aims to train highly skilled gynecologists to meet their healthcare needs within the VA system and beyond.

As part of that initiative, this project builds upon nearly five years of work led by Lamvu alongside an international coalition of physicians, researchers and patient advocacy groups.

Their research culminated in an international consensus called R U MOVING SOMe, an acronym that categorizes the broad range of symptoms associated with chronic pelvic pain and is the basis of the AI-tool Lamvu and her team developed.

Finding a Definitive Diagnosis

Lamvu says the team translated the clinical research into the logic behind a chatbot-style application that asks fewer than 20 targeted questions. Physicians enter a patient鈥檚 symptoms and history into the program, which then suggests the organ systems and conditions most likely responsible for the pain, helping clinicians focus their evaluation.

The team plans to expand the application beyond patient questionnaires by incorporating physical examination findings into the same scoring system. Ultimately, the researchers say they hope it can be used in any practice that serves women, but it may be years away from being realized.

鈥淧hysicians just need a way of processing all the information that comes from the patient to narrow it down to a differential diagnosis,鈥� Lamvu says. 鈥淩ight now, it鈥檚 all too common to see healthcare workers panic a little when they hear a patient has chronic pelvic pain because it’s considered a complex condition.鈥�

An Inspiring Internship

The students sifted through years of research and developed the logic for the AI in less than a year. Given the complexity of CPP and the vast amount of data, Lamvu says she is impressed by Dimetry and Nieto Chavarro.

鈥淭hey learned valuable lessons, like if you see a problem that seems unsolvable to everyone else and that directly and negatively impacts patients, you have the power to do something about it,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hese are experiences not every student gets to have, especially this early on in their life.鈥�

Dimetry says she challenge intrigued her, and that she was drawn to the project for the opportunity to be at the forefront of medicine and emerging technology.

鈥淚 think that adapting the field of medicine to AI in ways such as this project is necessary to keep medicine growing and advancing,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 also saw how impactful this project could be if done successfully, and I wanted to be a part of that and make a difference,鈥�

For Nieto Chavarro, who graduates Summer 2026, the experience showed her how to use technology to help deliver compassionate patient care.

鈥淥n a personal level, this experience has taught me to keep going and to never give up,鈥� Nieto Chavarro says. 鈥淎ll of this has ultimately reinforced how essential it is to genuinely listen to patients so they feel safe and understood鈥�