Faculty Research Interests

Dr. Asok Dasmahapatra - Use of fish models to study molecular mechanisms of ethanol-induced birth defects and to develop compounds that protect against these birth defects.

Dr. Mark T. Hamann - Marine natural products research.

Dr. John C. Matthews - Biochemistry and pharmacology of ion channels in excitable tissues; glutamatergic and stress related basis of dementia; neurodegenerative diseases of the aged, environmental toxicolgy.

Dr. Chris R. McCurdy - Synthesis and characterization of novel ligands for kappa and other opioid receptor subtypes.

Dr. David B. Murray - Current topics of study in my lab: Investigating the symmetry between diabetic cardiomyopathy and heart failure by determining: 1) the changes in myocardial scaffolding components (i.e. total collagen and collagen type, and cross-linking of collagen fibers that comprise the extracellular part of tissue that provides structural support to the cells, 2) the role of autocrine and paracrine signaling messengers in regulating cell-cell as well as cell-tissue scaffolding matrix interaction (specifically, cardiac mast cells and ventricular fibroblasts) in myocardial remodeling, and 3) the mechanism of action for several anti-inflammation therapies (cyclo-oxygnease inhibitors, anti-diabetic agents and endo- cannabinoids) in preventing adverse ventricular remodeling in hypertensive, diabetic, and heart failure patients.

Dr. Karen E. Sabol - Effects of methamphetamine on behavior, body temperature and neurochemistry.

Dr. Zia Shariat-Madar - Prolylcarboxypeptidase (PRCP)and plasma kallikrein kinin system (KKS), at the molecular protein, cellular, and animal levels. PRCP pharmacology and its role in blood pressure regulation and inflammation.

Dr. Kenneth J. Sufka - Neurochemical substrates of chronic pain; validation of novel animal models and paradigms; models of anxiolytic assessment; models of analgesic assessment.

Dr. Babu Tekwani - Molecular cloning and functional characterization of potential target genes and development of target-based assays for in vitro screening and new antiparasitic drug discovery.

Dr. Anthony Verlangieri - General toxicology; biochemistry of atherogenesis and vascular effects of diabetes; cytoprotective actions of vitamins C & E.

Dr. Kristine L. Willett - Environmental Toxicology Research Program, Toxicity of environmental contaminants of aquatic and marine organisms and characterization of the role of cytochrome 1B1 in cancer sensitivity.

Dr. Marvin C. Wilson - Psychopharmacology of medicinal compounds.