Raj Amin, Ph.D. (Wayne State University, 2003). Current research utilizes transgenic animals and primary heart cells to better understand the mechanism by which activation of these nuclear receptors controls the promoter activity of specific gene targets which are involved in regulating myocardial energy homeostasis such as fatty acid metabolism and glucose modulation. This goal will be accomplished by using chromatin immuno-precipitation and promoter activity assays; more specifically these techniques will better elucidate the role in which the nuclear receptors and transcriptional co-regulators control endogenous adiponectin expression and energy metabolism in the heart. The goal will then allow a better understanding as to how this protein and nuclear receptors protects the heart against diabetogenic stress and myocardial remodeling.
Robert D. Arnold, Ph.D. (University at Buffalo, SUNY, 2004). Research focuses on determining the effect of alternate dosing schedules and developing targeted nanomedicines to improve detection of disease and improve drug delivery and antitumor efficacy. Molecular pharmaceutics, quantitative analysis (LC-MS/MS), pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) principles are used to gain mechanistic insights into drug action, toxicity and delivery of lipid- and composite-nanomedicines. In vitro and in vivo models of human disease and in silico computational PK/PD modeling and simulations are used.
Subhrajit Bhattacharya, Ph.D. (Auburn University, 2015). Dr. Bhattacharya's lab uses a wide range of electrophysiological techniques to probe the function of neuronal circuits, and synapses, including voltage clamp recordings from neurons responding to electrical or optical activation of identified afferent inputs, whole cell currents from native and recombinant receptors, recordings from receptors incorporated into lipid bi-layers, and excised outside-out patches that contain a single active channel (in epilepsy, stroke, prenatal use of substances of abuse, AD, and neurodegeneration).
Angela I. Calderon, Ph.D. (University of Lausanne, Switzerland, 2002). Biomedical applications of mass spectrometry in the discovery and development of bioactive natural products from plants for tuberculosis and tropical diseases particularly malaria and leishmaniasis. Development of LC-MS based analytical methods for the identification and quantitation of bioactive or marker/standard compounds and potentially toxic compounds in botanical dietary supplements. In vitro assessment of stability, metabolism and bioavailability of bioactive natural products. LC-MS based metabolomic studies of promising medicinal and edible plant species.
C. Randall Clark, Ph.D. (University of Mississippi, 1973). Development of analytical methods for drugs and metabolites in biological samples using appropriate analytical techniques; quantitative structure-retention relationships in HPLC; development of derivatizing reagents to facilitate chromatographic analyses; synthesis and pharmacologic evaluation of potential anticonvulsant agents; studies of structural and stereochemical factors affecting the mechanism of drug action at the molecular level.
Jack DeRuiter, Ph.D. (Virginia Commonwealth University/MCV, 1982). Design, synthesis and biochemical evaluation of enzyme inhibitors; synthesis and chemical reactivity of potential chemotherapeutic agents; synthesis of novel heterocycles as potential medicinal agents.
Muralikrishnan Dhanasekaran, M. Pharm., Ph.D. (Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur University, 1999). Study the etiology and pathophysiology of aging and neurodegenerative disorders using valid animal models. Investigate the pharmacological and protective effects of various synthetic and alternative medicines in aging and neurodegenerative disorders.
Amit Kumar Mitra, Ph.D. (CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Jawaharlal Nehru University, 2009). Focuses on using multi-omics approaches to investigate inter-tumor (between-tumor) and intra-tumor (within-tumor or subclonal) heterogeneity in tumor progression, clinical aggressiveness, drug response, and eventual treatment outcomes in human cancers, particularly multiple myeloma. Current research involves integrating genomics (exome sequencing), transcriptomics (RNA sequencing), single-cell -omics, in vitro drug response modeling, and functional genomics (CRISPR, molecular genetics) with translational bioinformatics to generate pharmacogenomic signatures as predictive markers of drug sensitivity/resistance. Established a computational algorithm-based pipeline to predict, characterize and functionally validate novel combination therapies against relapsed/refractory cancers resistant to standard-of-care drugs. Also directing the Center for Pharmacogenomics and Single-Cell Omics (AUPharmGx).
Peter Panizzi, Ph.D. (Vanderbilt University, 2004). Current research is at the crossroads of molecular imaging, biochemistry and infectious disease research. Our goal is to better understand how certain bacteria are able to cause human disease and in turn we seek to use this knowledge against the microbe to detect specific sites of infections and identify the casual pathogen.
Jayachandra Babu Ramapuram, Ph.D. (Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, 1998). Topical and transdermal delivery of drug molecules, dermato-toxicity, dermal metabolism of chemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals. Design and formulation development of various dosage forms. Solid state characterization, stability and improvement of solubility and bioavailability of insoluble drugs. Protein and peptide stability characterization for drug delivery.
Miranda N. Reed Ph.D. (Auburn University, 2007). Current research focuses on identifying the mechanisms by which neuronal hyperexcitability increases the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive aging, determining how certain factors, like diabetes, increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, and development of therapeutics to alleviate memory deficits associated with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive aging.
David J. Riese II, Ph.D. (Yale University, 1993). Current work explores signaling specificity by receptor tyrosine kinases. Our goals is the development of novel therapeutic, staging, and diagnostic paradigms based on insights we glean from basic, mechanistic studies of receptor tyrosine kinase signal transduction.
Jianzhong Shen, Ph.D. (University of Missouri-Columbia, 2005). G protein-coupled P2Y nucleotide and adenosine receptors in vascular biology, disease and pharmacology. Signaling mechanisms governing the adhesion and migration of the inflammatory, progenitor/stem cells into the vascular wall. Protein phosphatase in vascular cell signaling, diseases and therapeutics.
Forrest T. Smith, Ph.D. (Virginia Commonwealth University/MCV, 1985). Development of synthetic methodology required for the synthesis of organic medicinal agents including antiarthritics and antineoplastics; natural product synthesis.
Vishnu Suppiramaniam, Ph.D. (Auburn University, 1993). Electrophysiological, biochemical and molecular approaches to understanding glutamate receptor channel behavior and effects of nootropic compounds. Use of artificial lipid bilayer models to determine the mechanism of cytolysis by viral glycoproteins and bacterial toxins.