Graduate Student Directory

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NIH NRSA Pre-Doctoral Fellow

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Bio

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Education:

• B.S., Medical Studies - Lenoir-Rhyne University, 2019

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Research Areas:

• Natural Product Chemistry
• Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
• Botanical-Drug Interactions

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Kabre L. Heck is a Graduate Teaching Assistant and lab member of Dr. Angela I Calderón at Auburn University in the Department of Drug Discovery and Development. Kabre received her undergraduate degree in Medical Studies from Lenoir-Rhyne University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry. In the Natural Products Laboratory of Dr. Calderón, Kabre investigates potential interactions between pharmaceuticals and botanical dietary supplements and utilizes liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for quantitation of metabolites and performing structural elucidation. She is also focused on prioritizing sustainability-driven research and hopes to build a career based on environmentally friendly chemistry practices and improving greener options for LC users.

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Awards

• Dean's Graduate Student Travel Award - 2019
• Best Overall Presentation, HCOP Research Showcase - 2022
• ASP President’s Travel Award – 2022
• Outstanding Doctoral Student, Auburn University Graduate School – 2022
• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (F31-Diversity) – 2023
• ASP Lynn Brady Travel Award – 2023

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Oral Presentations and Seminars

• Heck KL, Fogel L, Yi Y, Zheng J, Calderón AI. A comparative untargeted metabolomics analysis of açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) fruit, food powder, and botanical dietary supplement extracts. American Society for Mass Spectrometry, Houston, TX, United States. June 4-8, 2023.
• Heck KL, Walters LM, Calderón AI. Development of method for quantitative analysis of anthocyanins in various Euterpe Oleracea Mart. (açaí) dietary supplement capsules by LC-MS-QTOF. Auburn University Student Research Symposium, Auburn, AL, United States. March 28, 2022.
• Heck KL. Use of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for assessment of formulations of açaí botanical dietary supplements for botanical-drug interactions. Biology Seminar Guest Speaker, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, NC.
• Heck KL. Assessment of formulations of açaí botanical dietary supplements for hepatic CYP3A4 inhibition. Department of Drug Discovery and Development Student Seminar, Auburn, AL.

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Poster Presentations

• Heck KL, Fogel L, Yi Y, Zheng J, Calderón AI. Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis of Euterpe oleracea Mart. and Euterpe precatoria Leads to Potential New Species Marker. 2023 American Society of Pharmacognosy Annual Meeting: Innovation Through Interaction, Rockville, MD, United States. July 22-26, 2023.
• Heck KL, Walters LM, Kunze ML, Calderón AI. Quantitative Analysis of Anthocyanins from Various Extracts of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaí) Fruits, Raw Materials, and Dietary Supplement Capsules by LC-MS-QTOF. 2022 American Society of Pharmacognosy Annual Meeting: Natural Product Solutions to Global Challenges, Charleston, SC, United States. July 23-28, 2022.
• Heck KL, Gulfam M, Ren C, Baskiyar S, Packer S, Seals C, Calderón AI.  Bioactive natural products identification using automation of molecular networking software. BIO Alabama Conference RALLY Pitch Session, Birmingham, AL, United States. April 26, 2022.
• Heck KL, Jung DJ, Baskiyar S, Calderón AI. Assessment of formulations of açaí botanical dietary supplements for interference of major drug-metabolizing enzyme CYP3A4. American Society of Mass Spectrometry, Philadelphia, PA, United States. Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2021.
• Staton AG, Heck KL, Braxton-Lloyd K, Stevenson TL. Implementing Yearly Professionalism Self-Assessment in the Co-Curriculum. Pharmacy Education 2021: American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Annual Meeting. Jun. 17- July 22, 2021.
• Ren C, Baskiyar S, Athikala U, Heck K; Seals CD and Calderón AI. Integration of Biological activity to Global Natural Product Social Molecular Networking: A Preliminary Study to support User-Friendly Drug Discovery. American Society for Engineering Education – South Eastern Section, Auburn, AL, United States. Mar. 8-10, 2021.
• Heck KL, McLachlan C; Calderón AI. Assessment of formulations of açaí botanical dietary supplements for hepatic CYP3A4 inhibition [Poster session canceled]. Auburn University Student Research Symposium 2020, Auburn, AL, United States.

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Publications

• Heck KL, Walters LM, Kunze ML, Calderón AI. (2023). Standardization of açaí extracts for in-vitro assays based on anthocyanin quantitation. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 118, . doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2023.105155
• Hall AM, Baskiyar S†, Heck KL†, Hayden MD, Ren C, Nguyen C, Seals CD, Calderón AI. (2022). Investigation of the chemical composition of antibacterial Psidium guajavaextract and partitions against foodborne pathogens. Food Chemistry, 403, 1-8. doi.org:10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134400.
• Baskiyar S†, Ren C†, Heck KL†, Hall AM, Gulfam M, Packer S, Seals CD, Calderón AI. (2022). Bioactive Natural Products Identification Using Automation of Molecular Networking Software. Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling. doi: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00307.
• Heck K, Calderón A, Islam S, Willetts L, Vessels M, Morgan D. Applications of Corning® Biocoat™ Pre-coated PAMPA Plate System for Studying Human CYP3A4 Inhibition by a Botanical Ingredient of Dietary Supplement, Acai. Application Note CLS-AN-629. Published June 9, 2021.