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.

James L. Thomas, Ph.D., 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!

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.

Christy C. Bridges, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Cell Biology: molecular mechanisms involved in the transport of mercury in placenta and kidney; effects of kidney disease on mechanisms involved in mercury transport.

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.

Ashley Horner, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmacology:

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.

Rick McCann, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biochemistry: the structure, function, regulation, and evolution of multi-component protein assemblies involved in cell motility and cell adhesion in striated muscle development, cancer progression, and the pathogenesis of Entamoeba histolytica infection.                                                                              

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.

Barry Prior, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Physiology: signaling pathways involved with vascular remodeling and development; in particular, how the local energetic demands of the tissue affects vascular growth.

Qian Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anatomy: morphology and biomechanics of craniofacial skeletons and their clinical relevance.

• Download CV

Andon N. Placzek, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience: I am currently studying molecular and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying dysfunctional learning in drug addiction. I am also studying the mechanism of developmental regulation of neuronal excitability in the brain's dopaminergic reward system. My lab uses molecular, neurophysiological, and behavioral methods to study the altered brain function underlying drug addiction and developmental disorders.

Qihai (David) Gu, Assistant Professor of Physiology: