Each year, the Graduate College takes graduate students to the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines to present their research to legislators. In doing so, the students advocate for graduate education, demonstrating how graduate research supports Iowans in diverse ways.

This year, three graduate students attended from the College of Public Health, the Carver College of Medicine, and the School of Planning and Public Affairs.

Addressing the needs of Iowans

Rebeca Galindo is a PhD student in Epidemiology with a focus on infectious diseases. As a graduate research assistant with the State Hygienic Laboratory, she is part of a team developing a rapid-diagnostic test to accelerate identifying antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. 

“Choosing the right antibiotic to treat severe infections can be a lengthy process that can take up to eight days depending on the pathogen,” Galindo explains. “The rapid test my team is working on will be able to take a weeklong process to under an hour.”

The development of this test carries influential implications for rural healthcare.

“This test does not require any special equipment or specialized knowledge to preform - making it accessible to rural and urban Iowans across the state, regardless of their access to a healthcare provider,” Galindo says.

Travis Fischer is a PhD student in the Cancer Biology Program. Fischer’s research focuses on discovering new immunotherapies to better treat cancer and learning how patients’ immune system responds to these therapies over time.

“By figuring out a deeper understanding of how a person might respond to a certain therapy over time can reduce the likelihood of adverse reactions to the treatment,” Fischer explains. “This is especially important because more Iowans are getting cancer, meaning more people are going to need treatment. 

“The work I do also impacts Iowans because we are working to develop new immunotherapies that can target tumors more precisely, potentially resulting in fewer side effects and longer-lasting responses.”

Alongside Galindo and Fischer, Emma Knobloch, a master’s student in Urban and Regional Planning also attended Hawkeye Caucus. This semester, Knobloch worked on developing an arts and culture plan for the city of Burlington.

In conversation with multiple stakeholders

During Hawkeye Caucus, Fischer had the opportunity to introduce his research to Regent David Barker and President Barbara Wilson.

“While I was talking to Regent Barker about the alarming fact that Iowa has the second highest and the fastest growing cancer rate and the ways research efforts at Iowa are working to address this, President Wilson came over,” Fischer describes. “Together, President Wilson and Regent Barker listened to other students and myself talk about our research at the university.

“Speaking with legislators gives us the unique opportunity to influence real change at the state level besides what we do at the ballot box. It is also important for legislators to connect with students because it shows the legislators the impact of the laws they are passing has on research.” 

Galindo also had the chance to speak with Regent Barker, and through their conversation, she received some exciting suggestions. 

“After sharing my research, Regent Barker asked me a simple question, ‘Can this be used on animals?’” Galindo recalls. “This question sparked brand new ideas for me, and I immediately went home to investigate.”

The interaction between Galindo and Regent Barker demonstrates the reciprocal relationship of various stakeholders in the research process, and how speaking with multiple parties can expand the impact of research into fields perhaps not originally intended.

“This summer, I hope to write a grant proposal to leverage the same diagnostic test my team is developing for humans and validate it for animal use,” Galindo says. “Iowa is a proud agricultural state, and safeguarding the health of our livestock directly safeguards the health of our community and economy.”

The impact of graduate student education

Galindo expresses how public health policy affects her personally.

“Witnessing the senate pass a bill to support firefighters and first responders with cancer was a great example of public health policy that is close to my heart,” Galindo expresses. “As the daughter of a firefighter, I often worry about my father's health due to excessive workplace carcinogen exposure.”

Working with legislators to inform bills that support the health of all Iowans is an important aspect to public health and cancer research. Fischer emphasizes the importance of funding graduate research.

“Continued research is vital, especially in the fight against cancer, where new discoveries lead to life-saving diagnostics, treatments, and cures for not only Iowans but everyone,” Fischer says.

Graduate students are deeply impacted by decisions made in the capitol building. Hawkeye Caucus provides a unique opportunity for legislators to listen to the expertise being cultivated in graduate programs at the university and understand the importance of graduate education for their constituents across the state.

“Our time at the University of Iowa equips us with the tools and knowledge to solve real world problems,” Galindo says.

Fischer adds, “Engaging with state legislatures is crucial to advocate for sustained support and ensure science-driven policies that benefit patients and public health.”