2015-16 RESEARCH ELECTIVES – Faculty Participants
Dr. Ellen Andrews (Anatomy)
 Plasticity & functional recovery after CNS injury
Dr. Bjork (Biochemistry)
 Developmental and molecular characterization of the transcription factor Prdm16 during mouse
embryonic craniofacial development.
 Identification of novel gene mutations that affect craniofacial development.
Dr. Nalini Chandar (Biochemistry)
 The p53 gene in cancer
Dr. Mae Ciancio (Biomedical Sciences)
 The role of heat shock protein 70 in preventing gastrointestinal and urogenital pathogens.
Dr. Kirk Dineley (Pharmacology) and Dr. Latha Malaiyandi (Anatomy)
 Metal biology in steroidogenic human adrenocortical carcinoma cells
Dr. Joshua Edwards (Pharmacology)
 The effects of metal exposure on insulin release and other pancreatic islet functions
Dr. Chris Evans (PT), Dr. Ciancio (BMS) Dr. LePard (Physiology)
 Exercise prevents diet-induced obesity: the role of the gut flora and heat shock protein 70
Dr. Michael Fay (Pharmacology)
 Expression and function of the putative tumor suppressor gene product Cullin-5 in cancer
Michele Fornaro, Ph.D. (Anatomy)
 Neuronal plasticity in the PNS during development and adulthood.
Dr. Joshua Gasiorowski (Biomedical Sciences)
 Gene therapy enhancements and biomaterial development for tissue engineering projects
www.midwestern.edu/joshuagasiorowski.html
Annette Gilchrist (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
 Assessing dual CCR1/CCR5 antagonists for use in multiple myeloma.
Dr. Joanna Goral (Anatomy)
 Effects of ethanol exposure on immune response
Dr. David Green (Anatomy)
 Comparative anatomy and functional morphology of the primate shoulder
Dr. Jacalyn Green (Biochemistry)
 Folic acid metabolism in Escherichia coli
 Role of the abg operon in wildtype and pathogenic bacteria
 Folate transport protein expression in human tissue samples
Dr. Anil Gulati (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
 Resuscitation of hypovolemic shock
 Endothelin, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases
Melphine Harriott (Microbiology and Immunology)
 Development of a chronic in vivo wound model to evaluate polymicrobial biofilms
Dr. Kyle K. Henderson (Physiology)
 Thyroid hormone deiodinases in the pathogenesis and treatment for heart failure
 Cranial OMT (entrainment, proof-of-principle: mechanical, surgical, video)
 Lymphatic OMT and cranial O2 saturation
Dr. Sandra Inouye (Anatomy)
 Growth, function, and evolution of the human and non-human primate skeleton; including
comparative anatomical orthopaedic studies
Dr Medha Joshi (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
 Nanoparticles for targeted delivery of pharmaceuticals
Dr. Phillip Kopf (Pharmacology)
 Pharmacology of steroidogenic eicosanoids and endocrine disruptors
 Vascular activity of endocrine disruptors in resistance vessels
Dr. Kolla Kristjansdottir (Biomedical Sciences)
 Identification of proteins important for the high-risk form of Neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer
Dr. Sophie La Salle (Biochemistry)
 Meiosis and fertility: characterizing the role of new genes during germ cell development
Dr. Kathy LePard (Physiology)
 Effect of diabetes on pancreatic morphology and gastrointestinal function
Dr. Erin Leslie (Anatomy)
 Growth, function, and evolution of the human and non-human primate skeleton; including
comparative anatomical studies using two-dimensional radiographic images
Dr. Sean Lynch (Biochemistry)
 Thiocyanate and myeloperoxidase involvement in the oxidation of human high-density
lipoprotein
Dr. Latha Malaiyandi (Anatomy) and Kirk Dineley (Pharmacology)
 Metal biology in steroidogenic human adrenocortical carcinoma cells
Dr. Alejandro Mayer (Pharmacology)
 Pharmacology and toxicology of marine natural products
Dr. Paul McCulloch (Physiology)
 Brainstem cardiorespiratory control mechanisms
Dr. Rafael Mejía-Alvarez (Physiology)
 Biophysical properties of SR Cl- channels from neonate heart
 Postnatal development of excitation-contraction coupling in heart
Dr. Ashlesh Murthy (Pathology)
 Mechanisms of protective immunity and immunopathogenesis following bacterial mucosal
infections
 Vaccine development against mucosal bacterial pathogens
Dr. Glenn Nordehn (Clinical Medicine)
 Human heart sound analysis and classification - Artificial intelligence in auscultation systems
Dr. Jacob Peuler (Pharmacology)
 Effects of drugs on contractile properties of smooth muscle
Dr. Balbina Plotkin (Microbiology and Immunology)
 Effect of stress hormones on microbial pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance
Dr. Maura Porta (Physiology)
 Electrophysiology of the heart: modulation of ryanodine receptors by endogenous and exogenous
agents.
Dr. Walt Prozialeck (Pharmacology)
 Cadmium toxicity
Dr. Kyle Ramsey (Microbiology and Immunology)
 Plasmid-mediate virulence and immunity in chlamydial infections
 “Genomic variation and its effects on immunity and virulence in chlamydial infection”
Dr. Ira Sigar (Microbiology and Immunology)
 Comparison of in vitro Chlamydial infection under aerobic and anaerobic conditions
 Graviola extract efficacy on oral microbes
Dr. Michelle Singleton (Anatomy)
 Investigation of primate cranial evolution and development using 3D morphometric analysis and
computer simulation
Dr. Michelle Swanson-Mungerson (Microbiology and Immunology)
 Effects of Epstein-Barr virus latency on B cell function and tumor development
Dr. Vaibhav Tiwari (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
 Viral entry into the cell
Dr. Lon J. Van Winkle (Biochemistry)
 Amino acid transport regulation of preimplantation embryo development, implantation and
embryonic stem cell differentiation.
Dr. Natarajan Venkatesan (Venkat) (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
 Formulation of poorly soluble/absorbable drugs for improved bioavailability.
Dr. Susan Viselli (Biochemistry)
 Androgens and environmental anti-androgens in the development of autoimmune diseases
Dr. Michael Volin (Microbiology and Immunology)
 Inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of anterior uveitis and rheumatoid arthritis
Dr. Robin Zavod (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
 Benign by design drug discovery methods
 Practical application of medicinal chemistry
 Pharmacy student self-efficacy (confidence) evaluation
 Pharmaceutical and personal care products in the environment
Rev 2/15