Charleston, S.C. (Dec. 11, 2025) – The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Graduate Studies is proud to announce that Kathryn Glorioso, a Ph.D. candidate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has been named the People’s Choice Winner at the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) showcase and roundtable, held during the Council of Graduate Schools’ 65th annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
Glorioso, who studies the effects of RAAS, ROS/RNS and calcium flux on kidney filtration, presented her talk titled “Hold on to Your Cast Iron: Cooking up a Better Target for Diabetes Drugs.” Her presentation highlighted the importance of looking beyond traditional approaches to diabetes prevention and treatment, focusing on a novel system within insulin-producing beta cells. RAAS refers to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, a hormonal system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance. ROS and RNS refer to reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, which are highly reactive molecules vital for cell signaling but damaging in excess.
In addition to her presentation, she participated in a panel discussion, where finalists reflected on their experiences, the importance of scientific communication and the value of sharing research in accessible ways.
Prior to winning national recognition, Glorioso also captured first place and the People’s Choice Award at the MUSC College of Graduate Studies competition, advanced to regionals and took top honors at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools regional 3MT competition, earning her the spot among the 12 regional winners invited to the organization’s national showcase.
“We are incredibly proud of Kathryn for the way she represented her research and the University as a whole,” said Michael Bouchard, Ph.D., dean of the MUSC College of Graduate Studies. “This is no small feat. She translated complex, high-level scientific work into a message anyone could understand and appreciate. As communication becomes an increasingly critical skill in our field – one we recognize as essential for future leaders – Kathryn excelled. She embodies the remarkable collaborative research culture we strive to foster at the Medical University of South Carolina.”
Glorioso’s recognition on the national stage highlights both her scientific excellence and her exceptional ability to communicate impactful research – an increasingly essential skill in modern science.
For more information, visit https://gradstudies.musc.edu to learn more about our programs.
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About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates nearly 3,500 students in six colleges and trains approximately 1,050 residents and fellows across its health system. MUSC leads the state in federal, National Institutes of Health and other research funding. For information on our academic programs, visit musc.edu.
As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. In 2025, for the 11th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.
MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $8.9 billion. The nearly 35,000 MUSC members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, contract employees, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research and patient care.
