Dynamic control of signaling networks in living cells; Rho family and MAPK networks in motility and network plasticity; new tools to study protein activity in living cells (i.e., biosensors, protein photomanipulation, microscopy). Member of the Molecular & Cellular Biophysics Training Program and the Medicinal Chemistry Program.
My lab studies a gene silencing phenomenon called RNA interference, or RNAi. We are interested in the role of RNAi in regulating endogenous genes, particularly those involved in cancer progression pathways.
We focus on mechanistic/structural aspects of regulatory proteins (heterotrimeric and Ras family GTPases, RGS proteins, and PLC isozymes) involved in inositol lipid signaling, and on G protein-coupled receptors for extracellular nucleotides.
The Neurotoxicology Group examines the role of microglia interactions with neurons and the associated immune-mediated responses in brain development and aging as they relate to the initiation of brain damage, the progression of cell death, and subsequent repair/regenerative capabilities. We have an interest in the neuroimmune response with regards to neurodegenerative diseases such as, Alzheimer's disease.
Research in my laboratory focuses on how animals produce and control movement, with a particular interest in animal flight. We use both computational and experimental techniques to examine how organismal components such as the neuromuscular and neurosensory systems interact with the external environment via mechanics and aerodynamics to produce movement that is both accurate and robust. Keywords: biomechanics, flight, avian, insect, neural control, muscle, locomotion, computational modeling
We study alphavirus infection to model virus-induced disease. Projects include 1) mapping viral determinants involved in encephalitis, and 2) using a mouse model of virus-induced arthritis to identify viral and host factors associated with disease.
bioinformatics, scholarly communications, digital libraries, user interface design, annotation, virtual environments, medical informatics, databases and datamining.
Our research focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of leukocyte (white blood cell) trafficking and homing in vascular inflammation and immune responses. We are interested in the glycobiology of the Selectin leukocyte adhesion molecules and their ligands, and understanding the roles for these glycoproteins in the pathogenesis of inflammatory/immune cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and vasculitis. We are also interested in the mechanisms whereby the selectins and their ligands link the inflammatory response and coagulation cascade and thereby modulate thrombosis and hemostasis.
One focus of my research has been the investigation of the neural consequences of reflexive, or automatic, shifts of visual attention. I have combined behavioral measures with recordings of event-related brain potentials in humans. A second interest has been to gain a more temporally precise and anatomically specific understanding of human attention systems, through the development of a multi-methodological approach that combines event-related potentials with neuroimaging methods like positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Finally, I am also investigating mechanisms of top-down attentional control in order to understand the cognitive neural architecture of executive attentional processes.
Our research focuses on determining the mechanisms responsible for craniofacial birth defects. We use the whole embryo culture system to expose mouse conceptuses to toxicants and evaluate morphological, molecular (Affy arrays) and protein changes. Antisense morpholinos and adenoviruses are used to modulate gene expression and determine phenotypic effects. We are using embryonic stem cells as a model to evaluate the effects of environmental chemicals on differentiation. Using molecular markers to identify differentiation may provide critical information to identify developmental toxicants.
