Research Interests of Faculty
 

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Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Macon Campus
Michael N. Horst, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry:  biosynthesis of chitin in fungi and invertebrates; adhesion of Pneumocystis, Cryptosporidium, and Candida albicans; effects of pesticides on chitin synthesis by animals.
Balint Kacsoh, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Cell Biology:  regulation and effects of prolactin and growth hormone; involvement of the whn transcription factor in breast cancer, smooth muscle cells, and prolactin signaling; involvement of cannabionids in the regulation of prolactin; regulation of growth hormone in newborn rats; role of prolactin in regulation of rapid-eye-movement sleep.
Henry E. Young, Ph.D., Professor of Anatomy/Embryology:  identifying the stem cells and signaling factors that promote functional tissue replacement and repair. View News Article
Ananda Weerasuriya, Ph.D., Professor of Neuroscience:  regulation of peripheral nerve microenvironment; mechanisms for maintaining the endoneurial microenvironment surrounding axons and glial cells in peripheral nerves; carpal tunnel syndrome; diabetic neuropathy; traumatic nerve degeneration and regeneration; neurobiology of rapidly executed ballistic movements; characterization of groups of neurons that orchestrate the activity of muscles involved in ballistic movement.
Rudolfs K. Zalups, Ph.D., Professor of Cell Biology:  effects of mercury and heavy metals on the kidney; mercury transport and handling in kidney.
Sandra Leeper-Woodford, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physiology:  sites and regulation of tumor necrosis factor secretion during acute sepsis and pharmacological intervention; acute lung injury; Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome; septic shock; functions of pulmonary alveolar macrophages.
James L. Thomas, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pharmacology:  reaction mechanisms of human 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase, relation of structure to function, mutagenesis of targeted amino acids to determine key structure/function relationships in two isoenzyme forms. Read More!
Christy C. Bridges, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Cell Biology
Susan Cline, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biochemistry:  the effects of physiological aldehydes on the replication and transcription of mitochondrial DNA with a focus on the molecular interactions of mitochondrial RNA and DNA polymerases with the biologically-prevalent DNA adduct of guanine, M1dG.
Dayle Daines, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Microbiology  Professional subject interests:  molecular mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis; host response to infection; microbial physiology. Current research projects:  metabolic regulation in otitis media; identification and characterization of toxin inhibitors.
Rob McKallip, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Immunology:  My laboratory is interested in determining the role of the immune system in the regulation of tumor growth.  Specific projects include exploring novel strategies to stimulate the immune response to tumors and to understand mechanisms used by tumor cells to escape immune recognition and destruction.
Michael J. Russell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Physiology: Professional subject interests:  Cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology, fluorescence microscopy of vascular smoth muscle, non-mammalian models of cardiovascular disease, mechanisms underlying hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, explant lung tissue storage. Current research projects:  Isolated lung perfusion, three-axis seismocardiography, isolated vascular ring studies, calcium imaging in vascular smooth muscle cells. View Faculty Webpage:  http://faculty.mercer.edu/russell_mj/webpage1.mht
Qian Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anatomy:  morphology and biomechanics of craniofacial skeletons and their clinical relevance. Download CV
Clinical Departments, Macon Campus
John Boltri, M.D., Professor, Family Medicine: Professional subject interests:  diabetes mellitus prevention; early detection of diabetes mellitus Current research projects: Using a prompt to increase early detection of diabetes in out-patient primary care offices Church-based diabetes prevention
William J. Butler,M.D., Professor and Chair, Obstetrics & Gynecology: Professional subject interests:  genetics, menopause, endometriosis, ART Current research project:  mentoring resident research
Kerry L. Coburn, Ph.D., Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioral Science: Professional subject interests:  neuroscience, quantitative EEG, dementia, attention, neuropsychiatric disorders Current research projects: Neurophysiology of vigilance Effects of nicotine on symptoms and brain activity in dementia qEEG diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease Applications of qEEG to neuropsychiatric disorders Brief Description of Research:  applications of qEEG to the study of normal and abnormal brain processes
Paul Seale, M.D., Professor, Family Medicine: Professional subject interests:  epidemiology of alcohol misuses; screening and brief intervention for misuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; physician training in substance abuse; faith-based substance abuse recovery     Current research projects:  evaluation of the Georgia Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral for Treatment project; analysis of student alcohol seminar training; implementation of alcohol screening and brief intervention in a family medicine clinic; impact of vital-signs screening on alcohol and tobacco interventions   Outside Link:  http://medicine.mercer.edu/Departments/family
Mike U. Smith., Professor/Director of AIDS Education & Research, Internal Medicine: Main Focus:  developing, implementing, and evaluating a peer counseling program for youth (13-25yo) living with HIV who are patients at Grady Hospital (Atlanta) Second focus:  developing an effective model for teaching the nature of science to pre-service science teachers
Abdelmoneim Younis, DVM, PhD, HCLD, Associate Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology Professional subject interests:  assisted reproductive technology; sperm and oocyte biology; fertility preservation for cancer patients; human andrology and embryology. Current research projects:  cryopreservation of human eggs and sperm; proteomics of human follicle cells and oocyte maturation; cryobiology of primate gametes. Website:  http://www.centralgafertility.com/services.htm
Department of Community Medicine, Macon Campus
McKinley Thomas, Ed.D., Associate Professor, Community Medicine: Professional subject interests:  GIS / Mapping, Disease Prevention / Health Promotion / Research Methodology / HIV/AIDS / Suicide / Educational Technology / Trend Analysis and Mortality/Morbidity / Qualitative Research Methods Current research projects:  Suicide Among Elderly Females / Using Multivariate Statistics to Predict SAT / Forecasting TB Cases in the U.S. Website:  http://faculty.mercer.edu/thomas_bm/
Department of Basic Science, Savannah Campus
Wayne Glasgow, Ph.D., Professor and Chair:  role of bioactive lipids in cell proliferation, differentiation, and transformation; characterization of regulation of epidermal growth factor-dependent fibroblast proliferation by metabolites of arachidonic and linoleic acid; involvement of arachidonic and linoleic acid metabolism in the transformation process induced by the analogous tyrosine kinase of the erbB oncogene family; determination of mechanism(s) by which tyrosine kinases regulate metabolism of arachidonic and linoleic acid in tumor cells; identification of cellular targets of metabolites that modulate mitogenic or apoptotic signal transduction.
Ron E. Garner, Ph.D., Associate Professor:  tumor-induced immune dysfunction; intestinal immunity; immunoregulatory properties of fungal products; the process of antigen capture and processing; biofilms.
Tina Thompson, Ph.D., Associate Professor:  how ovarian steroids, estrogen and progesterone, modulate neuronal activity in certain disease states. modulation of dopamine transporter function by dopamine autoreceptor- mediated mechanisms; specifically interested in how developmental time periods and steroid exposure influence dopaminergic activity over the long term. This is critical for understanding the effect of early alteration in neuronal activity on adult brain function. Professional subject interests:  curriculum development, assessment, and evaluation. Current research projects:  developmental and steroidal regulation of mesolimbic dopamine uptake.