Neuroscience and Cell Biology at UTMB

Analysis of neuroplasticity at the level of the spinal cord and peripheral nerve terminal, with emphasis on elucidating mechanisms underlying chronic pain states.

Investigating the neurobiological mechanisms of chronic pain. Currently, the three main topics include pathophysiological mechanisms of: 1) peripheral neuropathic pain; 2) acupuncture analgesia; and 3) lower back pain.

My research interest is the mechanisms of neuropathic pain, especially the involvement of the sympathetic nervous system in the generation and maintenance of pain. My research utilizes anatomical, molecular, physiological, pharmacological, and behavioral techniques.

The primary focus of our research is characterizing novel proteins regulating the cytoskeleton.

Noninvasive sensing and monitoring of cerebral blood oxygenation, total hemoglobin concentration, glucose concentration with novel high-resolution optical techniques; drug and gene delivery by using interaction of nanoparticles with ultrasound or laser radiation.

Molecular mechanisms underlying mechanically gated membrane ion channels and biophysical aspects of apoptosis.

Study of modulation of ion channel activities by Ca2+, peptides and second messengers in neurons.

Mammalian spinal cord organization and reorganization after spinal cord injury (SCI); central nervous system plasticity; neural transplant models; mechanisms of chronic central pain; acute intervention for prevention of excitotoxicity and apoptosis after SCI.

Electrophysiology of epithelial tissues, cellular and extracellular regulation of ion channels and tight junctions.

The studies on central mechanisms by which inflammatory pain is mediated and on the role of second messenger signal transduction cascades in the processing of nociceptive transmission.

Applying analytical chemical approaches to understanding the mechanisms of secondary damage following neurotrauma is also a long-term focus of the lab. Current emphasis is on proteomic studies of the changes in expression and modification of large numbers of proteins following spinal cord injury and the contribution thereof to the injury. Chromatography, electrophoresis and mass spectrometry are applied to the studies of proteins.

Peptide and protein pheromonal communication. Aplysia, squid, and cuttlefish are used as model organisms.

Structure and function of ligand-binding receptors coupled to G-proteins; mechanisms of gene expression.

Emotional-affective component of pain. Behavioral and electrophysiological in vivo and in vitro techniques are combined to analyze pain mechanisms and pain modulation in the amygdala, a key player in emotional behavior and affective state.

Renal disease and intestinal absorption, structure/function studies of membrane transport proteins

Structural neurobiology and structure-function studies of vGLUT and related prokaryotic SLC17 sugar porter transmembrane proteins with an emphasis on X-ray crystallography.

Researches molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative events occurring in the aged central nervous system, with particular regard to age-associated neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease.

Mechanisms of cellular injury of viral hepatitis C; Chloride channel function in the liver.

Spinal cord organization, somatic sensory pathways, pain mechanisms, reticular formation.

Structure-function studies of epithelial ion channels: Functional studies of mutations of ClC-5 channels related to Dent's disease; ClC chloride channel function in retinal pigment epithelium.

Cell biology and cell therapy using human neural stem/progenitor cells. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-mediated gene delivery in the central nervous system. AAV-mediated gene therapy for neurological disorders.



Research Laboratories Barral, José Protein folding mechanisms and molecular chaperones in health and disease. Boehning, Darren Apoptotic regulatory mechanisms; molecular pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Carlton, Susan Analysis of neuroplasticity at the level of the spinal cord and peripheral nerve terminal, with emphasis on elucidating mechanisms underlying chronic pain states. Chung, Jin Mo Investigating the neurobiological mechanisms of chronic pain. Currently, the three main topics include pathophysiological mechanisms of: 1) peripheral neuropathic pain; 2) acupuncture analgesia; and 3) lower back pain. Chung, Kyungsoon My research interest is the mechanisms of neuropathic pain, especially the involvement of the sympathetic nervous system in the generation and maintenance of pain. My research utilizes anatomical, molecular, physiological, pharmacological, and behavioral techniques. Elferink, Lisa Membrane trafficking and receptor mediated signaling. Epstein, Henry The primary focus of our research is characterizing novel proteins regulating the cytoskeleton. Esenaliev, Rinat Noninvasive sensing and monitoring of cerebral blood oxygenation, total hemoglobin concentration, glucose concentration with novel high-resolution optical techniques; drug and gene delivery by using interaction of nanoparticles with ultrasound or laser radiation. Hamill, Owen Molecular mechanisms underlying mechanically gated membrane ion channels and biophysical aspects of apoptosis. Huang, Li-Yen Mae Study of modulation of ion channel activities by Ca2+, peptides and second messengers in neurons. Hulsebosch, Claire Mammalian spinal cord organization and reorganization after spinal cord injury (SCI); central nervous system plasticity; neural transplant models; mechanisms of chronic central pain; acute intervention for prevention of excitotoxicity and apoptosis after SCI. Lewis, Simon Electrophysiology of epithelial tissues, cellular and extracellular regulation of ion channels and tight junctions. Lin, Qing The studies on central mechanisms by which inflammatory pain is mediated and on the role of second messenger signal transduction cascades in the processing of nociceptive transmission. McAdoo, David Applying analytical chemical approaches to understanding the mechanisms of secondary damage following neurotrauma is also a long-term focus of the lab. Current emphasis is on proteomic studies of the changes in expression and modification of large numbers of proteins following spinal cord injury and the contribution thereof to the injury. Chromatography, electrophoresis and mass spectrometry are applied to the studies of proteins. Nagle, Gregg Peptide and protein pheromonal communication. Aplysia, squid, and cuttlefish are used as model organisms. Navarro, Javier Structure and function of ligand-binding receptors coupled to G-proteins; mechanisms of gene expression. Neugebauer, Volker Emotional-affective component of pain. Behavioral and electrophysiological in vivo and in vitro techniques are combined to analyze pain mechanisms and pain modulation in the amygdala, a key player in emotional behavior and affective state. Oberhauser, Andres Single molecule studies using the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) techniques. Obermann, Wolfgang Regulation of protein folding by the Hsp90 chaperone system in health and disease. Peerce, Brian Renal disease and intestinal absorption, structure/function studies of membrane transport proteins Singh, Pomila Research in the area of hormones and growth factors as it relates to GI diseases. Sutton, R. Bryan Structural neurobiology and structure-function studies of vGLUT and related prokaryotic SLC17 sugar porter transmembrane proteins with an emphasis on X-ray crystallography. Taglialatela, Giulio Researches molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative events occurring in the aged central nervous system, with particular regard to age-associated neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease. Weinman, Steven Mechanisms of cellular injury of viral hepatitis C; Chloride channel function in the liver. Willis, William Spinal cord organization, somatic sensory pathways, pain mechanisms, reticular formation. Wills, Nancy Structure-function studies of epithelial ion channels: Functional studies of mutations of ClC-5 channels related to Dent's disease; ClC chloride channel function in retinal pigment epithelium. Wu, Ping Cell biology and cell therapy using human neural stem/progenitor cells. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-mediated gene delivery in the central nervous system. AAV-mediated gene therapy for neurological disorders. Zou, Zhihua Odor and pheromone sensing in mammals.
UTMB \| Search \| Directory \| Toolbox \| News \| Jobs \| Contact \| Sitemap \| UT System \| Reports to the State \| Compact With Texans \| Statewide Search
This site published by Pelican Labs for Neuroscience and Cell Biology. Copyright © 2006 The University of Texas Medical Branch. Please review our privacy policy and Internet guidelines.

Research Laboratories