Chair:
Dale R. Abrahamson, PhD
Graduate Studies Director:
Douglas E. Wright, PhD
Director of
Medical Education:
George C. Enders, PhD
Email inquiries:
hallensw@kumc.edu
| Angelo Iulianella Postdoctoral Fellow Mentor: Paul Trainor |
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| Natalie Jones Postdoctoral Fellow Mentor: Paul Trainor |
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Takafumi Mizushige Mentor: Hiroshi Nishimune email: tmizushige@kumc.edu Research interest: I am looking for new ligands of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) in the brain synapse. At the neuromuscular junction, VGCCs interact with laminin beta 2, and the interaction is involved in the formation and/or maintenance of the active zone. However, laminin beta 2 is not present at the brain synapse. We speculate that protein-protein interaction including VGCCs participate in the formation and/or maintenance of the active zone at the brain synapse. |
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Rajat Sandhir Senior Scientist Mentor: Nancy Berman email: rsandhir@kumc.edu My research involves investigating molecular mechanisms involved in worse outcomes in aged following traumatic brain injury (TBI). We have observed exacerbated glial response and higher expression of pro- inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in aged mice compared to adult mice which may be responsible for poor outcome after brain injury in elderly. We are currently trying to role transcription factors in differential response of the aged brain to TBI. In addition we are investigating the role of metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in increased BBB permeability in the aged brain following TBI. |
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Madhulika Sharma Postdoctoral Fellow Mentor: Greg Vanden Heuval email: msharma3@kumc.edu Research interests: Cux-1 is the murine homologue of the Drosophila gene Cut, which is required for cellular differentiation in several tissues including the wing margin and Malphigian tubule. Mammalian cut proteins function as cell cycle-dependent transcriptional repressors in proliferating cells. Targets of Cux-1 repression include the cyclin kinase inhibitors p21 and p27. However, little is known about the regulation of Cux-1. In Drosophila, multiple genetic interactions between Cut and the Notch and Wingless signaling pathways occur during wing development. For the past couple of years , I have been interested in determining whether Cux-1 regulation by the Notch signaling pathway is conserved in mammals. Preliminary studies using immunohistocemistry and immunoprecipitations show that Cux-1 could indeed be regulated by notch pathway and to explore this would be my future target. |
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Brooke Steenhard, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow Mentor: Dale Abrahamson email: bsteenhard@kumc.edu Research interests: I am studying kidney development and disease using a mouse model of human Alport syndrome. This mouse has a deletion in the type IV collagen alpha 3 chain found in the glomerular basement membrane of the kidney. Mice lacking the alpha 3 chain of type IV collagen develop glomerulosclerosis and eventually die of end stage renal failure. I am analyzing glomerular RNA from these mice using DNA microarray to identify genes which are misregulated during the pathogenesis of the disease. |
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Veronica Zaga-Clavellina, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow Mentor: Dr. Joan S Hunt Immunologic privilege and innate immunology in pregnancy. Immunologic role of human chorioamnion and placenta in the normal and abnormal pregnancies. |
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