Published on Oct. 8, 2025
By Kampbell Hemeyer
The 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Program wrapped another successful summer of groundbreaking findings. Students gathered from Mizzou and across the country in a variety of programs conducting research and driving meaningful change to solve societal issues.
The Office of Undergraduate Research hosted their Summer Undergraduate Research Forum on July 24 at the Sinclair School of Nursing where undergraduate students presented their work for the Mizzou community. The students conducted research in fields such as medicine, psychology, engineering, computer science and much more.
Hunter Hollomon, a junior studying biochemistry with a minor in health science, presented his research on cardiovascular disease. This summer, he continued his research at NextGen Precision Health, building on the work he began during the school year.
“I’m researching a hormone called FGF-21 as a potential way to alleviate certain cardiovascular issues that can be exacerbated by protein consumption,” Hollomon said. “It’s an intricate project and I focus on only one part of it, but it’s cool to be part of a team.”
Alongside his team, Hollomon conducted clinical trials and numerous tests to measure how high protein intake affects endothelial dysfunction, an early sign of cardiovascular disease. They hypothesize that FGF-21 is the key to reducing this dysfunction, potentially providing a new approach to address cardiovascular issues.
During the program Hollomon participated in the community building activities organized by the Office of Undergraduate Research. He attended Night at the Museum(s), an event held to enhance connections between students and their research mentors.
“The Office of Undergraduate Research has been wonderful to me at Mizzou,” Hollomon said. “They do a great job facilitating opportunities like these.”
Hollomon is entering his third year at Mizzou with a growing commitment to campus involvement and a focus on preparing medical school applications. He can be found working as a Tiger Tutor at the Learning Center helping students succeed in chemistry courses. He is also an Undergraduate Research Ambassador, offering advice to students looking to start undergraduate research. His first recommendation is to use ForagerOne, a new online platform for students to connect with potential mentors in research and other scholarly interests.
“Use ForagerOne,” Hollomon said. “It’s a great tool that makes connecting with mentors a breeze. It shows a list of mentors who are doing research in your area of interest and are looking for a researcher in their lab. It also tells you the qualifications they’re looking for. I wish I had it earlier.”
Get involved in research and start making a positive impact on global issues today by visiting the Office of Undergraduate Research online or in-person and connect with potential mentors on ForagerOne any time. Your path to innovation and discovery starts here. What are you waiting for?