My project is on the role of Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) in the lung following exposure to the chemical warfare agent, nitrogen mustard. FXR is a nuclear receptor involved in lipid homeostasis and we speculate that FXR regulates differential macrophage activation by altering lung lipids
Bile acids are a diverse population of amphipathic molecules synthesized through the enzymatic oxidation of cholesterol in the liver. The synthesis of bile acids has traditionally been shown to occur via two pathways. Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) performs the initial and rate-limiting step in the classical pathway while sterol 27-hydroxylase (Cyp27a1) initiates the hydroxylation of […]
Role of FFAR1/4 in excitation-contraction coupling in human airway smooth cell. Asthma is an airway disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), inflammation and remodeling. This project is about the role of free fatty acid receptors FFAR1 and FFAR4 in human ASM cells to regulate AHR. Our findings show that FFAR1 agonists attenuate MLC phosphorylation, a […]
“Metallodrugs, or compounds with metal cores intended for therapeutic purposes, have shown great promise as anticancer compounds. However, the current means of assessment are limited. We propose coupling the use of the zebrafish model with ICPMS metal equivalent analysis in order to investigate drug uptake correlated with therapeutic/toxicological response and mechanistic activity.”
My project utilizes stem cell-derived neurons, the only way of studying human neurons, to explore the mechanistic interactions between APOE and DDT and how they can synergistically enhance the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by increasing hallmarks of AD. A better understanding of this can provide insight to the pathogenesis of AD which can ultimately lead to […]
Exposures to engineered nanomaterials and ultra fine particulate air pollution are associated with early pregnancy loss or reduced fetal growth. Here we sought to evaluate whether exposure to nano-sized particles during pregnancy led to the generation of an exaggeratedly hypoxic environment within the utero-placental unit, contributing to the fetal growth restriction observed. These ex […]
My project was looking at the effects of a nitrated fatty acid, OANO2, on belomycin induced lung injury. We used several techniques such as flow cytometry and single cell westerns to see if injury was reduced when the compound was given and to look at changes in macrophage populations. Overall we saw a reduction in […]
. G protein-coupled receptor signaling regulates many human airway smooth muscle (HASM) functions which are levels often associated with bronchodilator therapy for obstructive lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The G protein signaling network modulates airway smooth muscle relaxation through the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR), Gs, and adenylyl cyclase axis.Our previous studies […]
“My research focuses on a particular compound used in fire protection – organophosphate flame retardants (OPFR). Human exposure to OPFR has health concerns due to their endocrine disruption capacity through interactions with endogenous hormone receptors that regulate energy homeostasis. Our research has shown OPFR cause sex-dependent disruptions of energy balance in adult mice.”
In Spring 2019, scientists from Novartis conducted the “Safety Assessment of Pharmaceuticals” elective class for JGPT students and postdocs. This hands-on course provides real-world scenarios and data that are encountered in drug development. Topics covered included Safety Pharmacology, Imaging and Pathology, Carcinogenicity, Metabolites, Investigative Safety, and more. JGPT students benefit from the strong ties between […]
