CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY TRAINING GRANT ALUMNI DIRECTORY

Erik Matthew Ehinger

Ph.D. 2025, Rao

Degrading transcription factors that impose T cell exhaustion

Sean Sandas Harvey

Ph.D. 2025, Daneman

Fatty Fortifications: Blood-Brain Barrier Lipids in Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation

Brandon Marshall Jones

Ph.D. 2025, Furnari

Investigating PTEN:Ki-67 interaction and its role in DDR

Reid Oliver Larsen

Ph.D. 2025, Daneman

The Blood-Brain Barrier Glycocalyx

Cheyanne Shinn

Ph.D. 2025, Gutkind, Handel

Reprogramming the Tumor Immune Microenvironment with CXCR3-Chemokines to Improve Cancer Immunotherapies

Norton Cheng

Ph.D. 2024, Trejo

Regulation of GPCR-Mediated Inflammatory Signaling by Deubiquitinases

Emily Diaz

Ph.D. 2024, Reya

Analysis and targeting of cell surface receptors in myeloid leukemia

Von Phan

Ph.D. 2024, Hook

Targeting Cytosolic Cathepsin B: Leveraging pH-Dependent Cleavage Preferences with Selective Inhibitors to Rescue Cell Death and Mitigate TBI-Induced Motor Def Deficits

Bryan Shing Hei Yung

Ph.D. 2024, Gutkind

Exploiting Next-Generation Preclinical Syngeneic Models to Enhance Responses to Cancer Immunotherapy

Matthew Louis McDermott

Ph.D. 2023, Reya

Intercepting Pancreatic Cancer Progression

Alexander Curtis Jones

Ph.D. 2023, Newton

Deregulation of Phosphatase Signaling in Disease

Mingyuan Chen

Ph.D. 2023, Zhang

Genetically encoded bioluminescent kinase activity reporter

Linnea Sandberg Ransom

Ph.D. 2023, Joiner, Chun

Somatic genetic mosaicism in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy and Huntington’s Disease

Helen Wedegaertner

Ph.D. 2023, Trejo

Regulation of protease-activated receptor-1 by the alpha-arrestin ARRDC3

Nadia Arang

Ph.D. 2022, Gutkind

Elucidating the oncogenic Gαq-FAK signaling networks in Ocular Melanoma

Evan Kazuo Kobori

Ph.D. 2022, S. Taylor

Conformations of p90 Ribosomal S6 Kinase (RSK) Activation

Christine Liu

Ph.D. 2022, Joiner, Chun

Identifying gencDNAs in the human brain from next-generation sequencing datasets

Caila Pilo

Ph.D. 2022, Newton

Protein Kinase Cγ in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 14

Thomas Shroka

Ph.D. 2022, Handel

Understanding the Role of Receptor Activity Modifying Proteins in Chemokine Receptor Function

Perla Jasmine Sandoval

M.S. 2022, Yang

Nana-Ama Andromachi Sackley Anang

M.S. 2022, Gutkind

Michael Allevato

Ph.D. 2022, Gutkind

Targeting the metabolic signaling network for immune cell longevity and function in oral cancer therapy

Aaron Jacob Frantz

M.S. 2021, Heller Brown, Chun

Samantha Byers

M.S. 2021, Handel

Cloning His-SUMO-CCL2-mRuby3 and His-SUMO-CCL2-Gluc constructs

Lesley (Paige) Ferguson

Ph.D. 2021, Reya

The role of epigenetic remodeling complexes in pancreatic cancer

Anaamika Campeau

Ph.D. 2021, Gonzalez

Using mass spectrometry, rigorous microbiology, and cell culture methods to study the host-pathogen interaction surrounding Group B Streptococcal penetration of the blood-brain barrier and subsequent meningitis and encephalopathies

Aleena Arakaki

Ph.D. 2020, Trejo

Examining the Role of the Tumor Suppressor ARRDC3 in Regulation of PAR1 Trafficking and Signaling in Invasive Breast Carcinoma

Cayce Elizabeth Dorrier

Ph.D. 2020, Daneman

The role of the fibrotic scar in the repair of neuroinflammatory lesions

Vivian Fu

Ph.D. 2020, Guan, Newton

Genome-Wide CRISPR Screen for Novel Lats1/2 Interactors in Cancer Cell Adaptation to Nutrient Deficiency

Agneszka Teresa Kawashima (Grzechnik)

Ph.D. 2020, Newton

The Role of the Tumor Suppressor Phosphatase, PHLPP, in the Regulation of Histone Modifications

Mark Lampert

Ph.D. 2020, Gustafsson

Beclin1 regulates the endosomal degradation pathway

Hannah Majeski

Ph.D. 2020, Yang

The role of Tyk2 in matrix stiffness-driven EMT and metastasis

Ian Thomas Mathews

Ph.D. 2020, Jain

Metabolite Mediators of Inflammation and Immunity

Miles Paszek

Ph.D. 2020, Tukey

Isothiocyanates Induced ROS Activation of the Constitutive Androstane Receptor

Cara Rada

Ph.D. 2020, Trejo

Thrombin-induced p38, MK2, and HSP27 signaling cascade in endothelial barrier permeability

Dana Ramms (Steffen)

Ph.D. 2020, Gutkind

The GNAS-PKA Oncosignaling Network in Colon Cancer

Valerie Sapp

Ph.D. 2020, Jain

Genome-wide Approaches for Understanding Disease Mechanisms in Human iPS Derived Cells

Lawrence Kendall Satterfield

Ph.D. 2020, Joiner

Molecular Mechanisms and Neural Circuitry that Regulate Sleep Homeostasis

An-Angela Ngoc Van

Ph.D. 2020, Newton

The Role of Protein Kinase C Fusion Proteins in Cancer

Jacob Wozniak

Ph.D. 2020, Gonzalez

Exploring the Hidden World of MRSA Pathogenesis

Timothy Baffi

Ph.D. 2019, Newton

The Regulation of Protein Kinase C by the mTOR Complex 2

Julia Callendar

Ph.D. 2019, Newton

Deregulation of conventional Protein Kinase C in Alzheimer’s Disease

Joyce Chen

Ph.D. 2019, Rao

Physical and functional interactions of OGT and TET proteins

Amy Chinn

Ph.D. 2019, Insel

Decreased Cyclic AMP Levels in Dendritic Cells: Effects on Cell Signaling and Role in Allergic Inflammation

Jason Del Rio

Ph.D. 2019, S. Taylor

Noncanonical PDZ Interaction between PKA RIα R368X Acrodysostosis Mutant and P-Rex1 PDZ Domain

Audrey W. Hong

Ph.D. 2019, Gutkind, Guan

MST1/2 activates LATS1/2, which phosphorylates the transcriptional co-activators YAP and TAZ, resulting in YAP/TAZ cytoplasmic retention

Kimberly C. Lin

Ph.D. 2019, Guan, Cheresh

Regulation of the TEAD Family of Transcription Factors

Olga Prikhodko

Ph.D. 2019, Chang, Wagner

The GSM BPN-15606 as a Potential Candidate for Preventative Therapy in AD

Robert S. Pulido

Ph.D. 2019, Daneman

Dynamic Regulation of the Blood-Brain Barrier by Neural Activity

Sarah Shires

Ph.D. 2019, Gustafsson

The Role of Parkin in Protein and Organelle Quality Control 

Tamara Escajadillo

Ph.D. 2018, Nizet

RBC derived nanoparticles inhibit GAS SLO toxin induced damage in vitro and in vivo

Yike Jiang

Ph.D. 2018, Yang

Fibroblast activation protein in Twist-induced invado-podiamediated ECM degradation

Nicole C. Lummis (Stoddard)

Ph.D. 2018, Daneman, Chun

The Mechanism of LPA-induced Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus

Nikki Lytle

Ph.D. 2018, Reya

Stem cell signals in pancreatic adenocarcinoma metastasis and therapy resistance

Steven W. Plouffe

Ph.D. 2018, Guan

Upstream regulators of the Hippo-YAP pathway

Steven Rees

Ph.D. 2018, Chang

Effect of Environmental Pollutants on Xenobiotic Regulation by P-glycoprotein

Christopher A. Abdullah

Ph.D. 2017, Courtneidge, Wang

The Role of SRC Kinase in Estrogen Receptor-positive Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation and Tumor Growth

Anna Busija

Ph.D. 2017, Insel, Patel

Caveolin-3 overexpression increases the responsivity of beta adrenergic receptors in cardiac myocytes

Alisha Caliman

Ph.D. 2017, McCammon

Computer-aided drug discovery

Patrick Gomez-Menzies

Ph.D. 2017, Trejo

Defining PAR1- and S1PR1-

Suzanne E. Rohrback

Ph.D. 2017, Heller Brown, Chun

Single-cell whole-genome sequencing reveals widespread somatic copy number variations in the developing cerebral cortex

Bryan Stephens

Ph.D. 2017, Handel, Trejo

Understanding CXC chemokine receptor 4 activation by CXC chemokine ligand 12

Andrew Willeford

Pharm.D. 2017, Heller Brown

The Role of CaMKIId in Pathophysiological Responses Induced by Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation and Angiotensin II

Charlie Gray

Ph.D. 2016, Heller Brown

CaMKIIδ subtypes differentially regulate infarct formation following ex vivo myocardial ischemia/reperfusion through NF-κB and TNF-α

Claire Koechlein

Ph.D. 2016, Reya

Asymmetric Division in the Hematopoietic System

Bailey Miller

Ph.D. 2016, Hook, Gerwick

A Structural Analysis of the Synaptic Adhesion Properties of A- and B-Neurexins

Jason Munguia

Ph.D. 2016, Nizet

Bacterial evasion of host innate immunity

Amabel Marie Cristobal Orogo

Ph.D. 2016, Gustafsson

Mitoconrial quality control is essential for cardiac progenitor cell function

Vincent Haw Tien Pai

M.S. 2016, Yang

Role of Zeb2 mechanosensing in matrix stiffness-induced EMT

Sakina Palida Lemieux

Ph.D. 2016, Tsien

Visualizing the Structure and Dynamics of Proteins Implicated in Long-Term Memory

Thomas Smith

Ph.D. 2016, Trejo

Regulatory Mechanisms of Protease-activated Receptor-4 Signaling and Trafficking

Irene Tobias

Ph.D. 2016, Newton

Molecular Mechanisms of Atypical Protein Kinase C Regulation in Insulin Signaling

Olivia Yu

Ph.D. 2016, Heller Brown

GPCR and RhoA mediated transcriptional regulation

Corina Antal

Ph.D. 2015, Newton

Investigating means of potentiating pancreatic adenocarcinoma therapies by targeting the tumor microenvironment

Stephanie Dusaban Gonzales

Ph.D. 2015, Heller Brown

Phospholipase C-epsilon Mediates Heterotrimeric and Small GTPase Signaling in Central Nervous System Injury and Disease

Aran Groves

M.D./Ph.D. 2015, Chun

Astrocyte activity modulated by S1P-signaling in a multiple sclerosis model

James Robinson

Ph.D. 2015, Joiner

Genetic and Anatomical Dissection of Sleep and Arousal in Drosophila melanogaster

Noah Spiegel

M.S. 2015, Yang

Andres Betancourt-Torres

M.S. 2014, Sewer

Regulation of Cortisol Biosynthesis by Lipin1

Loren Brown

Ph.D. 2014, Insel

Development of a BRET-based Assay to Identify Modulators of Epac Activity: A Protein Up-Regulated in Cancer

Isabel Canto Cordova

Ph.D. 2014, Trejo

Functional characterization of protease-activated receptor-1 palmitoylation in receptor signaling and trafficking

Brittney N. Leyman (Miller)

M.S. 2014, Nizet

Terminal MS 14

Shannon Muir

Ph.D. 2014, Arden, Cavenee

The role of miRNA in myogenesis and rhabdomyosarcoma

Navneeta Patel (Pathak)

Ph.D. 2014, Yang

The Role of Twist1-Mediated Induction of FAP-alpha in Invadopodia and Breast Cancer Metastasis

Tamara Bhandari

Ph.D. 2013, Nizet

The Role of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor in the Immune Response to Infection

Diane Bushman

Ph.D. 2013, Chun

Extreme DNA content variation in the mammalian central nervous system

Aaron Friedman

Ph.D. 2013, McCammon

Leveraging Evolutionary Information to Guide Structure-Based Drug Design

Christian Taylor Gilliland

Ph.D. 2013, Handel

Structural and Functional Analysis of the Constitutively Active C-C Chemokine Receptor Type 1 (CCR1)

Qi (Jenny) Huang

M.S. 2013, Hoffmann

Delays and variability in single cell NFKB signalling

David Lu

Ph.D. 2013, Insel

ATP Release and Signaling via P2Y Receptors Regulate Cardiac Fibroblast Phenotype and Activity

Paul Norris

Ph.D. 2013, Dennis

A Lipidomic Perspective on Inflammatory Macrophage Eicosanoid Signaling

Kate Rogers Standish

Ph.D. 2013, McCammon

Computational Methods for Studying Molecular Recognition, and Applications for Drug Discovery and Improved Treatment Options

Antonio Soto

Ph.D. 2013, Trejo

N-linked glycosylation regulates protease-activated receptor-1 trafficking and signaling

Karen Tumeneng

Ph.D. 2013, Guan

Elucidation of the mechanisms of the Hippo-YAP pathway in organ size control and cancer

Amanda T. White

Ph.D. 2013, Murphy

Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Insulin Action by SIRT1 and STAT3

Margaret Butko Timmers

Ph.D. 2012, Karin, Tsien

Monitoring Synaptic Protein Dynamics with Higher Temporal, Spatial, and Molecular Resolution

Andrew Chang

Ph.D. 2012, Yang

Dissecting the molecular mechanism of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in development and in Twist-driven tumor metastasis

Boryana M. Eastman

Ph.D. 2012, Gonias

The Role of uPAR in Including a Cancer Cell-like Phenotype in Breast Cancer and Contributing to the Development of Endocrine Therapy Resistance

Merrie W. Mosedale

Ph.D. 2012, Chessler

The Role of Neurexins in Insulin Exocytosis from Pancreatic Beta Cells

Audrey O’Neill

Ph.D. 2012, Newton

Drug development using animal models of disease

Jon Steichen

Ph.D. 2012, S. Taylor

Investigating the Role of Turn Motif and Activation Loop Phosphorylation in the Regulation of PKA Structure and Function

Jennifer Ann Stokes

Ph.D. 2012, Yaksh

Spinal Toll-like Receptors and Nociceptive Processing

Alyssa Wu-Zhang

Ph.D. 2012, Newton

A Tale of Two Protein Kinase C Isozymes: Cellular Pharmacology of PKMzeta and Interaction of PKCdelta with Mitochondria

John Yamauchi

Ph.D. 2012, P. Taylor

Developing Selective Pharmacological Lead Compounds for the alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor using Click-Chemistry

Christina Christianson

Ph.D. 2011, Yaksh

Spinal Glial Regulation of Nociceptive Processing During Inflammation

Alexander H. Joyner

Ph.D. 2011, Schork

Bioinformatics analysis of clinical next-generation sequencing data. Variant interpretation and classification

Meghan Miller

Ph.D. 2011, P. Taylor

Discovery and pharmacology of neuropeptide biosynthesis inhibitors

Devendra S. Mistry

Ph.D. 2011, Webster

The Molecular Mechanism Underlying the Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Pulse Sensitivity of the Follicle Stimulating Hormone Beta Subunit Gene

Akos Nemecz

Ph.D. 2011, P. Taylor

Converting the acetylcholine binding

Matt Niederst

Ph.D. 2011, Newton

Researching mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies in non-small cell lung cancer

Morgan L. O'Hayre

Ph.D. 2011, Handel

Cancer cell signaling and chemokines

Esmeralda (Emi) Ruiz

Ph.D. 2011, Yang

The Role of the Snail2 Transcription Factor in Twist 1-induced EMT and Metastasis

Noel Warfel

Ph.D. 2011, Newton

Regulation of PHLPP and Akt Signaling

Jacob D. Durrant

Ph.D. (MSTP) 2010, McCammon

Computational Drug Design Applied to Neglected Disease

Stephen R. Fuhs

Ph.D. 2010, Insel

Posttranslational Regulation of Caveolin-3 by Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier (SUMO) Proteins

Lindsay K. Lewellyn

Ph.D. 2010, Oegema

Integration of aster and midzone based signaling promotes cytokinesis in the C. elegans embryo

Julianne R. McCall

M.S. 2010, Blesch, Zheng

Shikha Mishra

Ph.D. 2010, Heller Brown

Localization and activation of CaMKII delta isoforms and their involvement in heart failure

Arthur T. Suckow

Ph.D. 2010, P. Taylor, Chessler

The Role of the Synaptogenic Adhesion Molecules, Neuroligin & Neurexin, in Pancreatic Beta Cells: Like the CNS, But not so Much

Linda Lyn-Yee Woo

M.S. 2010, Akassoglou

Erin J. Brace-Sinnokrak

Ph.D. 2009, Tukey

Nuclear Receptor Regulation of the UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 1 Locus and the Role of the Pregnane X Receptor as a Tissue-Specific Master Regulator

Alfred E. Chappell

Ph.D. 2009, Barrett

Regulation of intestinal chloride secrection by direct and indirect activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor

Robert H. Dowen

Ph.D. 2009, Dixon

Dynamics of the Plant-Pathogen Interaction: Strategies for Bacterial Virulence and Coordinating the Plant Defense Response

Christine Gould

Ph.D. 2009, Newton

Understanding the mechanism of how autophosphorylation of PKC beta2 controls its down-regulation

Chen-Ting Ma

Ph.D. 2009, Adams

Directional Phosphorylation and Dephosphorylation of the SR Protein ASF/SF2

Shannon Weiman

Ph.D. 2009, Nizet

Sialic Acid O-Acetylation in Group B Streptococcus: Impact on Pathogen-Host Interactions

Ross Corriden

Ph.D. 2008, Insel

The Role of ATP Release and Autocrine/Paracrine P1/P2 Receptor Signaling in the Modulation of Neutrophil Chemotaxis

Dominic P. Del Re

Ph.D. 2008, Heller Brown

RhoA as a mediator of cardiomyocyte survival and apoptosis

Jonathan Hagopian

Ph.D. 2008, Adams, Fu

The Mechanics of SR protein Phosphorylation by the Splicing Kinases SRPK1 and Clk/Sty

Matthew J. Rardin

Ph.D. 2008, Dixon

Reversible Phosphorylation in Mitochondria

Benjamin D. Sachs

Ph.D. 2008, Akassoglou

The Regulation of cAMP by the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor - A Novel Mechanism for the Inhibition of Scar Resolution After Injury

Anne Duran Valle

Ph.D. 2008, P. Taylor

The Cholinesterases : A Study in Pharmacogenomics

Jurjen (Will) Westra

Ph.D. 2008, Chun

Genetic Mosaicism in the Human Brain

John Fickes Brognard

Ph.D. 2007, Newton

PHLPP: A Novel Family of Phospatases that are Critical Regulators of Intracellular Signaling Pathways

Dan Dries

Ph.D. 2007, Newton

Kinetics and Mechanism of the Interaction of Protein Kinase C’s C1 domain with Lipid Membranes

Sarah Ann Epperson (Cohen-Hadria)

Ph.D. 2007, Brunton, Villareal

Adenosine Signaling and its Effect on Collagen Levels in Cardiac Fibroblasts

Jason Lanier

Ph.D. 2007, Turner

Corporate strategy professional focused on growth strategy development and operational performance improvement across a range of industries including life sciences, healthcare and high technology

Christopher Kable Means

Ph.D. 2007, Heller Brown

Sphingosine 1-phosphate signaling in the heart and its role in cardioprotection

Melissa Ann Passino

Ph.D. 2007, Akassoglou

Beyond the name: p75 neurotrophin receptor as a regulator of hepatic stellate cell differentiation in liver repair

Scott B. Hansen

Ph.D. 2006, P. Taylor

Protein structure function of the ligand

Ryan Hibbs

Ph.D. 2006, P. Taylor

Structural and biophysical studies of ligand-gated ion channels

Jaime Marach

Ph.D. 2006, Newton

Analytical method development and validation of test methods for drug substance and drug product

Caitlin Marlow-Schindler

M.S. 2006, Adams

Terminal MS 06

Brent Randall Martin

Ph.D. 2006, Tsien

Optimization of protein and RNA detection methodologies and a new approach for manipulating protein activity in living cells

Angela Scott-Silva

Ph.D. 2006, Newton

Mechanism of Membrane Binding of the C2 domains of Conventional Protein Kinase Cs Isoforms

Brandon E. Aubol

Ph.D. 2005, Adams

Mechanistic characterization of SR protein kinases using their physiological protein substrates

Jeremy R. Babendure

Ph.D. 2005, Karin and Tsien

Utilizing RNA Structure as a Tool in Molecular and Cellular Biology

Brian P. Head

Ph.D. 2005, Insel

The Role of Caveolin-Associated Microdomains in Adult Cardiac Myocytes: cAMP and Cytoskeletal Assembly

David Pagliarini

Ph.D. 2005, Dixon

Discovery of a PTPMT1, a Novel Mitochondrial Phosphatase Involved in ATP Productions and Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic Beta Cells

Julie Schames Pressman

Ph.D. 2005, McCammon

Structure - Based Drug Design: What to do when you don't have a structure

Michael McConnell

Ph.D. 2004, Chun and Barlow

An Impaired DNA Damage Response