Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University1/19
University-Wide Facilities
East Tennessee State University Computational Research Facility
ETSU has developed a high performance Computational Research Facility built
around a group of 60 computers configured to act as one single large system, or
computer cluster. Each computer has four processor cores giving the cluster the power
of 240 typical desktop computers. The ETSU computer cluster allows applications
such as sophisticated modeling, data mining, and large statistical analyses, we do in
research that take several weeks or even months to complete. Dr. Scott Kirkby,
Department of Chemistry is the director of the Computational Research Facility.
Division of Laboratory Animal Resources
The Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR) maintains an AAALAC
accredited laboratory animal facility and program. Two laboratory animal facilities are
supervised by the DLAR staff and currently provide adequate space for housing and
maintaining large (dogs and pigs) and small animals (guinea pigs, hamsters, mice and
rats). All full-time DLAR technicians are certified by the American Association for
Laboratory Animal Sciences. DLAR staff provide training in handling of animals,
administration of anesthetics, post-surgical maintenance of animals, bleeding
techniques, euthanasia and other standard procedures. DLAR staff also will assist in
restraint of animals, induction and maintenance of anesthesia, experimental surgery,
pre- and postoperative care, blood and tissue collection and injections. A sterile surgery
is available in the Department of Surgery and must be scheduled through that
department. An x-ray facility is maintained within the DLAR space and DLAR staff
assist in using this instrument.
Expertise, Department of Biological Sciences
The Department of Biological Sciences has expertise in cell and molecular biology
(physiology, biochemistry), ecology, genetics, and quantitative biology and modeling.
Many faculty from the Quillen College of Medicine have adjunct appointments in the
department and collaborate on research and development projects, thus expanding the
departments intellectual and equipment infrastructure. Further, research in quantitative
biology and modeling is strengthened by collaborations with the Department of
Mathematics through the Institute for Quantitative Biology. Representative specific
areas of expertise include the following.
Cell and Molecular Biology
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Plant biochemistry and plant physiology
 Pathogen defense signaling in plants
 Biosynthesis of flavonoids
Enzymology
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University2/19
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 Molecular modulation of ATP Synthase
Transcriptional control of gene expression
Antibiotic Reistance and Population Trends in a Bacterial Pathogen
Ecology
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Community ecology
Neuroethology
Control of circadian rhythms
Functional significance of pollen characters
Ethnobotany
Plant ecology
Lichenology
Genetics
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Organelle Population Genetics
Amino acid substitutions and hereditary disease
Quantitative Biology and Modeling
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Application of graph theory to complex data sets
Combinatorics and complex analysis
Theoretical biology and modeling
Expertise, Department of Chemistry
The Department of Chemistry faculty have the expertise and the department has the
instrumentation to provide analytical services to industry in our community. It can
manage short and long term projects. Both inorganic and organic compounds can be
analyzed and characterized by experienced personnel in consultation with the highly
recognized faculty members in the chemistry department at ETSU. Specific expertise in
research of the faculty in the department includes the following.
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Synthetic organic chemistry
 Medicinal chemistry
Focus on using organic chemistry to solve biological problems. Research covers
 Enzymology
 drug discovery
 chemical biology
 biochemistry
 molecular biology
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 nucleic acids research
 protein chemistry and engineering
 signal transduction and regulation.
Inorganic chemistry of the transition metals
 Binuclear mixed-valence complexes of the transition metals
 The role of metal ions in biological systems, the mechanism of iron uptake
and storage by ferritin, and the synthesis and characterization of copper
complexes as models for copper-containing proteins.
Focus on luminescence phenomena and their applications in analysis.
Interestin monitoring local environmental heavy metals pollution via vegetative
probes and atomic spectroscopy
Molecular eecognition
Nucleic acids structure and reactions
Nuclease enzyme models metal complexes
Catalysis
Ab initio quantum chemistry calculations of small molecules particularly inorganic
clusters
Raman and infrared spectroscopy.
Reactions of small molecules on microporous surfaces
The following core facilities are available to the faculty in the Department of
Chemistry, as well as other faculty at ETSU and for fee-for-service and
collaborative research.
The Department of Chemistry at ETSU offers expertise in all major areas of chemistry
including computational chemistry. It also provides analytical services to other
departments at ETSU as well as to the industry in our community. The analytical
instruments in the department enable us to analyze a wide range of chemical
compounds in different matrices such as water, gasoline, agricultural crops, etc. The
instruments in the department include Atomic Absorption spectrometer, FTIR, HPLC,
GPC, GC/MS, GC/FID, UV-VIS, and a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer with multinuclear
capabilities. We are able to handle short and long term projects. The cost of analysis
varies with the request. For long term projects there will be a flat charge depending on
the analysis type. Inorganic Compounds: chloride, fluoride, nitrite/nitrate, antimony,
calcium, potassium, sodium, tin, lead, magnesium, copper, nickel, manganese, iron,
zinc. Organic Compounds: ascorbic acid, phenol, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE),
pesticides residue analysis.
Expertise, Department of Computer and Information Sciences
The 21 faculty members of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences have
a broad range of expertise. Many of the faculty members also have significant
experience in industry. The areas of research expertise that can be drawn upon include
the following categories.
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University4/19
Software Development and Web Management
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Software engineering and development including risk analysis, project
management , design metrics and testing
Web engineering, programming, design and web services
 Team-based Web planning, design, and construction
Code refactoring (changes to code that improves its readability or simplifies its
structure without changing its results)
Object Oriented Programming and Design
Database systems and Database-oriented programming languages
Data Management for Civil Aviation: focus on finding automated data exchange
between Civil Aviation Authorities in different nations
ISO 10303 Part 11 - Express: A project to build a data definition language
geared specifically for the need of engineering applications. Versions 1 and 2 of
this language are in world wide use
Building web-supportive information handling processes into organizational
systems
Graph Theory (includes faculty from the Department of Mathematics)
Algorithm development
Integer programming
Hardware/Software Systems
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High Performance Computing
Embedded system hardware design
BIOS theory and design
Device driver theory and design
Control and automation theory
Evaluation of different embedded processors including processors implementing
Java Byte Code
User interface development for embedded systems
Embedded O/S comparisons and evaluations
Distributed system design including function allocation
Business Applications Including E-business
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Requirements Analysis and Design, particularly how to get requirements from
users in quickly, accurately, and in a cost-efficient manner.
e-Business and e-Commerce:
 Usability and design of commerce and non-commerce business sites
 Applicability of historic physical retail merchandising and design techniques in
the online environment
 Effective e-business models and supporting practices
 Usability and Human Computer Interaction research and statistical analysis
 Application of Software Engineering principles to Web development
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Use of technology in support of business
 Developing a technology plan for creating competitive advantage in business
Human Computer Interaction
Web Application Security and internet security
Ethical and Professional Issues in Computing
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Internet, computer law and licensing
Codes of ethics
Professional standards
Expertise, Department of Environmental Health
Research in the Department of Environmental Health includes factors affecting water
quality, remediation of contaminated soil and ground water, factors affecting the quality
of indoor and outdoor air, factors affecting food safety, human health risk assessment in
the workplace and effects of ergonomics on health in the work environment. In addition,
faculty members in the Department of Geosciences have over-lapping interests and
expertise. These are listed under that department, but collaborations are easily
accomplished between the departments to better support research efforts. Specific
faculty expertise in the Department of Environmental Health includes the following.
Evaluation and remediation of contamination of soil and water
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Biodegradation of Creosote Components
Factors affecting embryotoxicity of Atrazine using the FETAX assay
Alternative indicators to identify source of fecal pollution
In situ remediation of contaminated soil and ground water systems.
Chemical oxidation processes for degradation of organics.
Impacts of in situ remediation on aquifer quality.
Development of TMDLs, implementation plans, and BMPs in 303d listed waters.
Monitoring and evaluation of stream restoration programs.
Validating in vitro models of exposure to corrosive industrial chemicals
Identification and evaluation of contaminants and ambient toxicity in large river
ecosystems.
 Ecotoxicology of selenium in wetland and freshwater systems.
 Utilizing biomarkers as indicators of changes in community structure and
ecosystem function.
Air Quality
 Gas-phase filtration in indoor air quality applications
 Reactions of ozone and volatile organic compounds in indoor air
 Impact of ambient air pollution on food safety.
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Impact of Ergonomics
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The epidemiology of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Exposure assessment techniques for highly variable work.
Construction ergonomics.
Hand-arm and whole-body vibration.
Development of efficient surface EMG analysis techniques for use in
epidemiologic studies of musculoskeletal disorders.
Characterization of mechanical exposure variability in working populations.
Development of portable instrumentation systems for ergonomics field studies.
Human health risk assessment.
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Community- and labor-oriented approaches to public health concerns through the
prism of public history.
Establishing relationships between ecosystem health and human health.
Historical exposure assessment at Department of Energy facilities.
Ethical, legal, social and policy implications of biomarkers.
Popular education in occupational and environmental health for workers and
health care providers.
This work is supported by the Environmental Health Sciences Laboratory (EHSL)
housed in the Department of Environmental Health. The EHSL provides routine
biological and chemical water, soil and air analyses for individuals, industries and local
governments. The EHSL is available to other faculty at ETSU and for fee-forservice and collaborative research with industry.
Typical projects conducted by the EHSL include effluent toxicity tests, chemical and
biological surveys of aquatic ecosystems, and indoor biological air surveys. Equipment
available includes; atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Varian Spectra AA-20) with
graphite furnace (GTA-96), two gas chromatographs with flame ionization and electron
capture detectors (Varian 3700 series attached to the Waters SIM and 820 data capture
system and Perkin-Elmer Autosystem GC), high performance liquid chromatograph
(Waters equipped with a WISP 712 autosampler, model 486 Tunable Absorbance
Detector, two model 501 HPLC pumps, a Waters SIM interfaced to the model 820
Baseline data capture system), SRI Model 8610 gas chromatograph with purge and
trap and photoionozation and electron capture detectors, liquid scintillation counter with
computerized data capture (Packard Tri-carb model 1500),
two UV-vis
Spectrophotometers (Milton Roy, Spectronic Genesys 5), fluorometer (Turner), one
fluorescent microscope (Olympus), two phase contrast microscopes (Olympus)
dissecting scopes, pH meters, centrifuges of all needed types, oxygen meters,
conductivity meters, and many other instruments necessary for environmental analyses.
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University7/19
Expertise, Department of Geosciences
Geographic Information Systems
ETSU has a well-equipped GIS facility. The faculty expertise in GIS is concentrated in
the Department of Geosciences, but also includes faculty in the Geomatics
component of the Department of Technology and Geomatics. Faculty members in
this area have sophisticated knowledge of specific applications of capturing, storing,
analyzing and managing data and associated attributes which are spatially
referenced to the Earth that result in creation of interactive queries (user created
searches), analysis of spatial information, editing of spatial data such as maps, and
presentation of the results of all these operations. Generally this expertise can be
used for scientific investigations, resource management, asset management,
environmental impact assessment, urban planning, cartography, marketing, and
logistics. Specific areas of current expertise and research include the following.
General
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Integration of GIS and remote sensing techniques
Digital image processing
Urban planning and economic development
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Using GIS to predict student enrollment patterns.
Natural hazards and society: Relationship between hazards and people and
development at risk.
Remote sensing and photommetry as tools in surveying
Business applications
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Using GIS to investigate firm location and venture capital investment
Remote sensing and photommetry as tools for choosing business location
Environment
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Biogeography/landscape ecology monitoring of model environmental changes
Land cover change detection
Environment change modeling
Using GIS to examine the spread of tree infestation
Geology
Faculty in the division of geology study the Earth, the materials of which it is made, the
structure of those materials, the processes acting upon them and the organisms which
inhabit it. One area of faculty expertise in the division is in the study of the processes
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University8/19
acting upon the Earth cause hazards such as tsunamis, landslides, and earthquakes,
what land areas are most likely to be affected and how humans can best prepare to
minimize the damage caused by natural disasters. Additionally, the faculty members
have expertise in areas such as prediction of mineral deposits, stratification of rocks, oil
and natural gas deposits, ground water flow and cave formation. The specific areas of
expertise include the following.
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Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy
Mineral and Rock Identification
Soil Engineering
Identification of natural hazards and risk associated with them
 Hazard warning systems: Public understanding of, and response to, hazard
warnings
 Modeling preparedness for natural hazards
Environmental/consulting geology and geotechnical engineering
Soil, surface water and ground water assessments
Monitoring and remediation solid waste and low level radioactive waste landfills
Review of environmental impact of commercial industrial complexes
Modeling and management of sinkhole hazards and karst features
Development of high performance computational models to investigate basin
scale fluid flow, heat transfer, mass transport, gold mineralization, and petroleum
generation.
Investigation of groundwater flow, water quality, groundwater contamination, and
surface water and groundwater interaction.
Investigation of Cenozoic climatic and environmental changes using speleothembased records in caves.
The research capabilities of faculty in the Department of Geosciences is supported by
the following equipment resources. GIS software, including ArcGIS (a complete
software system for authoring, serving, and using geographic information) and
ARCView (desktop for mapping and GIS), global positioning (GPS) software, ground
water modeling software (GMS), are available for use.
Hardware including a Dell® Precision 380, x64-Bit, Intel Pentium 4 CPU, 3.00GHz, 2.99
Ghz, 2 GBRAM, a Dell® Optiplex GL520, x32-Bit, Intel Pentium 4 CPU, 3.00GHz, 2.99
Ghz, 1GB RAM and a Dell® Latitude D610, x32-Bit, Intel Pentium M CPU, 2.00GHz,
242 MHz, 1GBRAM support the software. In addition faculty in the department use the
ETSU high performance Computational Research Facility for solving complex
problems.
Equipment supporting GIS and geological research includes an ASD Spectroradiometer
(ASD FieldSpec Pro JR), and AccuPAR Ceptometer (AccuPAR LP-80). a Nikon
Optiphot 2 Petrographic microscope, field surveying equipment (Brunton and Sylva
compasses, levels, penetrometers); soil sampling equipment, E285 shear-vane tester, a
Shimadzu RF5300 spectrofluorophotometer which can run water samples with 6
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University9/19
different dyes simultaneously, and an ISCO automatic water sampler, data loggers, and
water testing kits. There is a fully equipped sedimentology lab with sieves, sieve shaker,
scales, drying ovens, differential velocity settling tubes, magnetic separator and
sediment splitters. Equipment for mineral and rock identification include Nikon research
level Petrographic and Binocular Microscopes with digital imaging capability, rock and
mineral reference collections, 24” and 10” rock slab saws a petrographic thin-section
trim saw and grinder, a rock crusher and a rock polisher. There is a fully equipped soil
properties lab to support soil engineering studies. This facility allows measurement of
soil density (specific gravity), consolidation (compaction and soil loading), failure
property analysis, slake durability, direct Shear, the Atterberg limit test (soil watercontent and plasticity) and grain size analysis (sieves and sieve shaker). The facilities
are available to other faculty at ETSU and for fee-for-service and collaborative
research with industry.
The research capabilities of the faculty within the department are expanded through a
partnership with Radford University which allows use of geophysical equipment such as
ground penetrating radar (GPR), microgravity, and resistivity survey to investigate
bedrock topography and locate subsurface voids and cavities as well as partnerships
with the University of Minnesota and SUNY at Stony Brook’s isotope labs on age dating
(U-Th and U-Pb) and University of Tennessee and University of Kentucky’s isotope lab
on stable isotope analysis. Additionally, the ETSU Environmental Health Laboratory
provides water quality analysis.
Expertise, Department of Technology and Geomatics
Digital Media Center
The 11 faculty members of the Digital Media Center bring art to science and technology
and science and technology to art. Most have significant experience in the private
sector before joining ETSU. They are housed in the Scott M. Niswonger Digital Media
Center. The areas of research expertise that can be drawn upon include the following
categories.
Digital Imaging
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Digital video
Special effects
2D and 3D animation/visualization
Interactive design
Computer graphics and graphic design
 Graphic design and advertising
Computer illustration and interface design
Game design
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University10/19
Direct Business Applications
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Multimedia development
Desktop publishing
e-Business
Industrial design
Web media, product design
Communication design
Engineering Technology
The division of Engineering Technology consists of Biomedical Engineering
Technology, Construction Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology,
Industrial Technology, Manufacturing Engineering Technology and Product
Development. In addition to the technical/engineering knowledge in their specific fields,
many of the faculty members have advanced expertise in manufacturing processes
including 6-sigma and lean manufacturing that take products from concept to market.
The program also has the equipment necessary to support these activities. Specific
areas of expertise include:
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Product concept development
Computer aided design and drafting (CADD)
Product prototyping
Material testing (including construction)
Applied materials science
Robotics and mechanical engineering
Electrical engineering
Metrology, including inspection, performance testing and calibration of equipment
Industrial systems design
Application of acceptable Industry Standards and ethical judgments to identify,
evaluate and economically solve complex problems.
This work is supported by the Department of Technology’s communication and
instrumentation laboratory. This lab is set up to support class experiments and local
industry. Some of the equipment used in the lab consist of the following: Fluke
199C(x2) 2.5 Giga-samples/sec color DSO, Avcom 0-6GHz spectrum analyzer, Ramsey
RSG-1000B RF Generator 0-10GHz (variable modulation, 0.1 PPM time base), Fluke
PM6304 RCL meter, Berkley Nucleonics arbitrary waveform generator (0.1 PPM ref.),
Keithly 2701 (x3) high precision (10 µV) data acquisition system (Ethernet/Webactive)
750 channel capacity, Fluke 744 documenting process calibrator, several Fluke 700
series laboratory pressure sensor reference standards, RN Electronics comb generator
0-1GHz. Recent equipment added to the lab includes three Fluke 8846A Precision
DMM with a resolution of 1 µV, two Fluke DSP-FOM, Fiber Optic test sets for use at
1350 and 850 nM, a Stanford Research System SR785 Dynamic Signal Analyzer and
an SRS SR650 precision amplifier / filter have been added as well. The Lab has also
added five Benchmark model OFT Optical Fiber Training Centers. A Marconi
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University11/19
Instruments model MI-701 AM/FM Modulation tester has also been added. The lab also
contains instrumentation for combustion analysis, thermal IR signatures and various
other small instrumentation sets for force, vibration, and other physical parameters.
Much of this equipment is portable and can be used off site to support program
activities.
The Department also has a Dimension printing rapid prototyper capable of taking 3D
computer generated models and turning them into ABS plastic prototypes. The
maximum model size is 8” by 8” by 12” with a resolution of 0.010 inches. A recent
addition along with the Dimension is a Minolta 3D, model Vivid 9I scanner capable of
scanning resolutions to 5 mm. This scanner will help extend the rapid prototyping and
3D design / development programs. Several CNC machines are also available to
support product development. As an example the department has an AXYZ automation
CNC table with a working area of 4’ by 10’ by 10” with an overall accuracy of 0.008
inches. An Instron 50 kNewton tension and compression tester model 5569 and a
Denso six axis robot capable of 2mm resolution have been added to the department.
Siemens has also donated a robotic work cell with a three axis Analam robot and vision
systems. The Denso robot and the donated work cell are now part of robotics lab being
developed by department faculty. The facilities are available to other faculty at
ETSU and for fee-for-service and collaborative research with industry.
Expertise, College of Pharmacy
The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
At the outset, it is important to note that we are a new College and are still very much in
a developmental stage. Our faculty have been on-site less than 9 months, with
additional faculty positions to be filled in the next two years. The final composition of the
departments has not yet been determined and as such, the ultimate range of our
abilities remains to be defined.
The eight current faculty members of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences have
research expertise in three major areas: neuroscience, cancer, and medicinal chemistry
and pharmaceutics. Interactions have been formed with researchers in the Quillen
College of Medicine, the ETSU Cancer Center, the Department of Physical Therapy, the
Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Psychology. Strong
interdepartmental bridges are also being developed with the clinical faculty within the
College of Pharmacy based on activities centered in the area of drug and chemical
analysis.
Departmental faculty members have expertise in the area of Pharmaceutics and
Pharmacokinetics, and in Analytic Medicinal Chemistry. These areas address the
physical properties of drugs, drug formulations for optimal effect, drug distribution in
biological systems, bioavailability and bioequivalence, drug stability and host of issues
related to isolation and characterization of known and novel compounds. College of
Pharmacy faculty members possess expertise in pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic
modeling and analysis as well as detailed knowledge of drug solubility and dissolution
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University12/19
characteristics. Much of the research is “product oriented” because so much of the field
of pharmacy focuses on the application and distribution of drug products.
Specific ongoing research projects include the study of cancer ontogenesis due to
malfunctioning signaling, selective transcriptional control of pituitary growth hormone
expression, alteration of neurotransmitter levels due to environmental, behavioral and
dietary cues, formulation of selective pharmacologic targets, and novel location-specific
delivery methods.
Expertise in the Department includes:
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Drug analysis and solubility assurance, including HPLC-UV/EC/Diode array,
GC/LC-MS with microsampling
Physical pharmacy, drug stability, compatibility and dissolution properties
Drug formulation for bioavailability and bioequivalence
Drug distribution and metabolism kinetics
Pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic modeling
RNA localization methods including real-time quantitative PCR, in situ
hybridization, RNAase protection and Northern analysis
Signal transduction evaluation including cellular distribution of activated and nonactivated transmembrane receptors;
Neurotransmitter localization by immunofluorescence and immunocytochemistry;
Neurotransmitter detection and quantification by HPLC with electrodectection
Neurotransmitter release via suprafusion
Use of Fluoresence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology for protein
interaction.
Site-directed mutagenesis
Protein/glycoprotein expression analysis and quantification
Confocal microscopy
Intracellular protein localization and translocation
Medicine chemistry analysis for dissolution and pharmacokinetics of related
pharmaceuticals, including compounding alternatives;
Drug delivery methods employing morphological and locational targeting
employing iontophoresis and phonophoresis.
Small animal handling, surgery and drug dosing and kinetics
Quillen College of Medicine
The following departments comprise the Quillen College of Medicine (QCOM): Anatomy
and Cell Biology; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Microbiology; Pathology;
Pharmacology; Physiology; Family Medicine; Internal Medicine; Obstetrics and
Gynecology; Pediatrics; Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Surgery. Research
expertise ranges from population studies of disease to molecular biology. Based on
experience with past and current industry partners who have contract with ETSU to
work with faculty in the QCOM, the material presented here will concentrate on areas
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University13/19
and techniques used in physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry and cell and molecular
biology. In modern biomedical research use of these techniques is not restricted to the
traditional departmental lines. In many ways all biomedical researchers ultimately
become cell and molecular biologists to answer the questions which confront them.
Thus, rather than list expertise by department as has been done with other units at
ETSU, major research focus areas are identified and expertise within these is listed.
The following is not necessarily an exhaustive list. It is intended to give both areas of
interest and some indication of the techniques and methods available for collaboration,
even if the problem is not precisely within the faculty member’s exact area of interest.
The reader is also referred to the extensive list of core facilities provided at the end of
this section, as the nature of these facilities may more clearly define the capabilities of
the faculty.
Mechanisms of Athrogenesis
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Molecular, genetic, cell biological and biochemical techniques to study mutations
in mice that affect mechanisms and the molecular pathways and mechanisms of
the early events of atherogenesis
Molecular mechanisms whereby C-reactive protein (CRP) induced inflammatory
states lead to atherosclerosis
Genes and pathways that contribute to atherosclerosis using transgenic and
knock-out mice having varying degrees of atherosclerosis propensity
concentrating on loci that influence atherosclerosis.
 Investigation of the HspA12A, a distant member of Hsp70 family, a candidate
gene on one of these loci.
The signal transduction pathway of oxysterol induced apoptosis
Mechanisms by which fatty acids (particularly C18 fatty acids) regulate the
transcription of the genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis and fatty acid
synthesis
Elucidation the molecular pathways and mechanisms of the cytotoxic (cell death,
apoptotic) effects of oxLDL contribute to the early events of atherogenesis.
Mechanistic studies of how fatty acids (particularly C18 fatty acids) regulate the
transcription of the genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis and fatty acid
synthesis
Investigation into the abilities of the proteases Chymase and Cathepsin G, both
of which have chymotrypsin-like specificity, to activate matrix metalloproteinases
found in macrophage and atherosclerotic foam cells
 Proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors; purification, characterization,
sequencing, structure function relationships, kinetics, and regulation.
Mechanism and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease
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Myocardial Regeneration
Fatigue Resistant Muscle for Cardiac Assistance
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Methods to Assess the Adequacy of Cardioplegia
Preconditioning of Pig Cardiomyocytes
The role in innate immunity in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (i.e.
heart attack) and congestive heart failure.
 Role of Toll-like receptor (TLR) mediated signaling pathways in myocardial
ischemia/reperfusion injury.
 Elucidation of the immunoregulatory and pro-inflammatory signaling
mechanisms associated with myocardial I/R injury.
Regulation of Cardiac Function
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Molecular, cellular and electrophysiological approaches to study of how the
cardiac nervous system modulates electrical and mechanical function of the
heart in normal and pathologic conditions
Role of nonclassical transmitters in cardiac ganglia
Study of the intracardiac nervous system in order to determine the impact that
different components of this system play in cardiac disease.
 Effects of different inputs to the heart on cardiac rate, conduction velocity, and
contractility are studied
 Focus in on determining the role of neuropeptides and other novel
neurotransmitters within the heart
Development and anatomy of cardiac neural regulation employing
immunohistochemistry for immediate early genes and neurotransmitter receptor
subtypes.
Diabetes
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Mechanism of risk factors for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
 Focus on aberrations of insulin action on glucose uptake into skeletal muscle.
 Follow on demonstration that two glucose transporter genes are abnormal in
the muscle of subjects with insulin resistance by investigating the mechanism
of these abnormalities by evaluating the structure and function of the human
GLUT3 promoter, developing a GLUT3 knockout mouse line, and seeking out
quantification of gene expression in muscle of the several novel glucose
transporters
Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Microbiology
Antibiotic Resistance
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Trends in Resistance to a Topical Antimicrobial Agent
Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Mupirocin Heteroresistance in
Staphylococcus aureus
'Co-pathogenicity' of Moraxella catarrhalis/S. pneumoniae with Respect to
Penicillin Resistance
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University15/19
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Efficacy of Mupirocin in Eradication of Nasal Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus
Genotypic Characterization of Beta-Lactamase Gene in Moraxella catarrhalis
with Unusual Penicillin Resistance
Analysis of genetic variation within bacterial species: genomic DNA purification,
PCR,
pulsed-field
gel
electrophoresis
(PFGE),
Southern
blot
Aerobic bacteriology - species identification, antibiotic resistance determination
by MIC and Kirby-Bauer disk assays
Immune System
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Investigation of the complex chemistry of glucans and related complex
carbohydrates as it relates to innate immunity
Methods include aqueous size exclusion chromatography with on-line laser light
scattering photometry and differential viscometry, solution FT-NMR and solution
small angle neutron scattering.
Focuses are
 the interaction of glucan ligands with pattern recognition receptors
 the activation of intracellular signaling pathways following glucan ligand
receptor interaction
 activation of transcription factors by glucan
 the transcriptional activation and/or suppression of pro-inflammatory
responses.
Molecular mechanisms of asthma
 Role of cell-cell interactions in asthma
 Fibroblast-Macrophage and Fibroblast-Mast Cell interactions leading to
signaling of mediator and cytokine release
Role of Mast Cells in Innate Immunity
 Host defense: Moraxella-induced activation of nuclear factor kappaB and
chemokines induction
 Expression of TOLL-like Receptors in mast cells and IL-1ß signaling of mast
cell cytokine synthesis
 Biomolecular interaction analysis of carbohydrate receptors scavenger
receptors and innate immunity
Infectious Diseases
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HIV Immunoatherogenesis and molecular basis of vascular injury
 Endothelial / Mast Cell activation by HIV proteins, tat and gp120
 HIV Co-receptor expression on Mast Cells and potential role of human mast
cells as virus reservoirs
 Effects of HIV infection and protease inhibitors on endothelial dysfunction by
noninvasive studies (carotid intimal thickness and brachial artery
responsiveness)
Hepatitis C / HIV Co-infection on Inflammatory responses in HIV : cytokines and
chemokines expression
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University16/19
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Structural and functional relationships of the different macromolecules in the
bacterial ribosome
The role of hepatitis C core protein in altering TNFR family receptor signaling
pathways
 Fas receptor interactions with core protein and effects on apoptotic signaling
 Molecular requirements for Fas/HCV core interactions
 HCV core protein sequence variations during HCV infection
Soluble Fas levels in patients co-infected with hepatitis C and human
immunodeficiency virus
 Correlation of sFas levels during mono- and co-infection with these two
chronic viruses
Inflammatory responses in patients co-infected with hepatitis C and HIV
 Role of co-infection in inducing inflammatory cytokine and chemokine
expression
Cellular and molecular biology of human Chlamydia trachomatis infections,
primarily sexually transmitted diseases.
 In vitro model system of polarized human endometrial epithelial cells used to
study chlamydial infection.
 Investigation of the role of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone in
genital infections caused by the intracellular bacterial pathogen Chlamydia
trachomatis.
Mechanisms of immunity to herpes simplex virus. Investigations have covered
several aspects of immunity and immunopathology to HSV and are directed to
produce more effective vaccines and other control measures for infection.
 Determine the factors involved in immune induction by HSV and how these
impinge on the magnitude and efficacy of subsequent immunity
 Define the factors that affect the efficacy of B and T cell memory to HSV.
Cancer/Oncology
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Mechanistic understanding of DNA damage, repair, and checkpoints, as well as
the interactions between these pathways.
 Voluntary and involuntary exposure to a variety of ubiquitous genotoxic
agents (typically UV irradiation and environmental carcinogens) which
potentially cause DNA damage, mutations, genome instability and thus
cancers.
Mast cell infiltration in esophagitis and esophageal adenocarcinoma: Role of
PPAR and angiogenic cytokines of mast cell origin in carcinogenesis
Mechanistic basis for the chemopreventive effects of Tocopherols and
Tocotrienols Green Tea and HMG CO A reductase inhibitors
 Investigation of the mechanisms that allow tocopherols and tocotrienols to
selectively target cancer cells for cell death and apoptosis.
 Investigation of new targets of vitamin E action, potencies of new synthetic
forms of vitamin E, and effects of vitamin E forms on preinvasive lesions in
rodent models of prostate and colon cancer.
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University17/19
Neuroscience
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Developmental control of retinal growth; regulation of epithelial cell proliferation
and cell size; cell biology of retinal adhesion.
 Use mice genetically engineered to contain mutations in specific genes that
control the cell division cycle and various molecular techniques.
Functional anatomy of brainstem taste nuclei and their input into the
hypothalamus using immunohistochemistry for immediate early genes and
neurotransmitter receptor subtypes along with anterograde and retrograde tract
tracing methods.
Study of the biological basis of clinical depression and the molecular
mechanisms of antidepressant drugs.
Exploration of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the modulation of
the key enzymes and transporters in central catecholamine neurons and
protection from neuronal toxicity provided by specific bioactive compounds.
Investigation of the effects of stress hormones, transcription factors,
antidepressants and other psychopharmaco-logical compounds on gene
expression in central catecholamine systems and on neurogenesis.
Behavioral and neurochemical consequences of dopamine D2 supersensitization
(D2 receptor priming) [Department of Psychology, College of Arts and
Sciences/Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, QCOM]
 Assays for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor
(NDF), dopamine (DA), dopac, and receptor numbers.
 Behavior test battery including water maze, activity, elevated plus maze.
Toxicology
The ETSU Toxicology Laboratory is housed in the Section of Toxicology in the
Department of Pharmacolgy. The ETSU Toxicology Laboratory maintains the
following Licenses and Certifications: Federal License (HHS-CLIA) # 44D0659142;
Tennessee License #2048; Medicare and Medicaid Provider #44-8087. It also maintains
the following Proficiency Testing Programs: American Association of Bioanalysts;
College of American Pathologists ; Federal Aviation Administration. The Toxicology
Laboratory is equipped to do quantitative and qualitative analyses for a variety of
compounds in blood and other tissues, as well as urine using gas/liquid
chromatography, immunoassay, thin layer chromatography, as well as fluorescence,
color and ultraviolet analysis. It is affiliated with the Upper East Tennessee Forensic
Center and performs toxicology assays for over 250 autopsy cases each year.
The following core facilities support the work done by the QCOM faculty and are
available for fee-for-service and collaborative research work.
An ESA Coulochem III HPLC system is housed in the Department of Pharmaceutical
Sciences College of Pharmacy. The Coulochem III detector relies upon the
electroactive nature of molecules: a molecule's ability to be oxidized or reduced. Both
fluorescence and UV detection can readily measure many of these compounds, but
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University18/19
liquid chromatography combined with electrochemical detection provide a moresensitive and selective alternative. ESA's Coulochem III is the detector of choice. The
Coulocomb system quantifies picogram to femtogram levels of oxidizable or reducible
compounds in a sample and is considered the industry standard for the analysis of
multiple species of neurotransmitters.
The Electron Microscopy Core Facility provides services related to electron
microscopy including in ultrastructural techniques when needed. The primary premise
behind the facility is that state-of-the-art morphological data are an essential component
of modern research efforts. The facility is located in the Department of Pathology.
Equipment includes: (1) Philips Tecnai 10 transmission electron microscope (TEM) with
computer driven digital image recording capability and microscope operation; (2) Phil
lips 201 TEM; (3) several current and older models of ultramicrotomes (Ultracut, LKB,
etc.); (4) routine embedding, darkroom, and metal shadowing facilities; (5) Zeiss DSM
940 scanning electron microscope with X-ray analysis capabilities (Building 178); (6)
several critical point dryers and sputter coaters. The facility director and a part-time
technician provide support in using the facility.
The Molecular Biology Core Facility provides services that include DNA sequencing,
high through-put processing of RNA, Plasmid DNA and PCR clean-up, phophorimaging,
and quantitative PCR. Equipment includes an ABI 377 automated DNA sequencer, a
Beckman Biomek 2000 robotic liquid handler, a BioRad FX phosphorimaging machine,
a BioRad iCycler quantitative PCR machine, a MacConnell Mini-24 automated plasmid
prep machine, an Eppendorf gradient PCR machine, a MJ research in situ PCR
machine, an Eppendorf Spin vac, an Eppendorf desktop centrifuge (plate spinner), two
Eppendorf microfuges and an Eppenddorf BioPhotometer. Software includes a site
license for Vector NTI and two copies of Quantitation One. Training and technical
assistance is provided by the director and staff.
The Biomolecular Interaction Analysis (BIA) Facility is housed within the
Department of Surgery and was established with funds from an NIH equipment grant.
The heart of the BIA Facility is a BIAcore 2000 spectrometer that combines surface
plasmon resonance with automated microfluidics to examine the interactions of
biomolecules. Dr. Peter Rice a faculty member in the Department of Pharmacology is
the Director.
Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope Facility is located in the Department of
Pharmacology. The main component of the facility is a state-of-the-art Leica TCS SP
II confocal microscope system. It was purchased from a grant provided by the NIH
National Center of Research Resources.
The Luminex LabMAP 100 cytometer system is available through the Department of
Pediatrics.
It is an automated immunoassay analyzer that can quantify the
concentrations of various bioactive substances in precious, clinical and basic science
biological specimens. The Luminex 100 system has the ability to quantify up to 100
different analytes, simultaneously in a single well from as little as 50 µl of sample. This
Scientific/Technical Research Expertise and Facilities at East Tennessee State University19/19
instrument will be useful for both clinical and basic research. There are several FDAapproved assays available and many more in the product pipeline that are nearing
approval. Furthermore, there are numerous cytokine assays available that allow the
measurement of up to 17 cytokines from a single 50 µl mouse, rat or human sample. Dr.
Kevin Breuel oversees use and training on this machine.
A Flow Cytometer is available in the Department of Microbiology. It is a Becton
Dickinson FACSCalibur instrument. It is a dual laser, 4 color instrument. It is a fully
integrated, multiparameter system specifically designed for a wide range of biomedical
applications. The FACSCalibur is located in Rm. 3-11 in Bldg. 119.