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Twenty-five Methodological Approaches Used to Answer Questions in Pharmacology & Toxicology at UTMB

  1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation, genome-wide 'omics' technologies, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, gene x environment interactions. 
  2. Primary neuronal and brain slice cultures and live cell analysis of cell signaling pathways  
  3. De novo synthesis of drug-like small molecules for development of chemical probes and therapeutics in cancer and brain diseases 
  4. Cellular and molecular live cell screening of novel chemical entities for drug discovery
  5. Preparation of pancreatic islet cells for study of pancreatic cancer
  6. Tissue specific (conditional) knockout mouse models  
  7. Silver, TUNEL, caspase-3 measurements as indices of neuronal death
  8. Quantitative immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry and Western analyses of disease and cell type markers (including Simple Wes)
  9. 40+ preclinical rodent models based on behavior, genetics and physiology, geared to uncover disease-modifying genes, therapeutic targets, mechanistic hypotheses, and in vivo drug discovery screens
  10. Design and employment of viral gene transfer approaches for RNAi mediated knockdown or over expression of genes of interest into specific brain regions and study of subsequent behaviors  
  11. C/MS  determination of pharmacokinetic identification of placental enzymes responsible for the biotransformation of medications during gestation
  12. Mechanism of action of human placental transporters and genomic SNPs that affect transfer of medication during pregnancy
  13. Use of nanoparticles for drug delivery
  14. Novel therapeutic approaches for prostate cancer using adipose stem cells and ultrasound-mediated gene delivery with molecular imaging to assess therapy efficacy and tumor growth in vivo
  15. Neuronal ion channel pharmacology and physiology; molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity & neuronal excitability
  16. Protein: protein interaction as a basis for GPCR drug discovery
  17. Methodological development to determine the concentrations of drug metabolites in fluids from pregnant patients in order to characterize drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics in the pregnant patient
  18. In vitro identification and characterization of kinetic parameters of placental metabolic enzyme(s) responsible for the biotransformation of medications in term and preterm trophoblast homogenates, vesicle preparations and cytosolic fractions
  19. Synthesis and loading of placenta-targeted nanoparticles with medications for fetal treatment during pregnancy
  20. Primary neuronal, brain slice culture and in vivo analysis of cell signaling pathways by western/northern analysis
  21. Behavioral assessment of locomotor activity, anxiety, pre-pulse inhibition of acoustic startle, social discrimination and feeding behavior
  22. DNA microarray, chromatin immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry in regulation of transcription.
  23. Intravenous self-administration of drugs of abuse or palatable food rewards by rats behaving under operant conditions
  24. Measurement of intracellular calcium concentration as a function of disease state and/or drug effect
  25. Employment of viral gene transfer approaches for RNAi mediated knockdown or overexpression of genes of interest in specific regions and study of specific behaviors