Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy Hosts Annual Research Forum
A wealth of research projects by high school students, undergraduates, M.S., Ph.D., and M.D./Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral fellows were presented at the annual Cell Biology Research Forum on May 29.
Judges Arthur J.L. Cooper, Ph.D., D.Sc., professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Esther L. Sabban, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, and Michael S. Wolin, Ph.D., professor of physiology, evaluated the student research and their communication and presentation skills. Joseph D. Etlinger, Ph.D., standing far left, professor and chair of the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Gary G. Guo, M.D., Ph.D., standing second from left, instructor of medicine and a forum sponsor, and Victor A. Fried, Ph.D., standing far right, professor of cell biology and anatomy and of pathology, and graduate program director, joined the presenters.
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy Research Forum Presenters
Standing from left:
Price Obot (M.D./PhD. candidate)
Cell-type specific role of pannexin I to distant seizure parameters
Faculty Advisors: Libor Velíšek, M.D., Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy, pediatrics and neurology, Eliana Scemes, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy, and Jana Velíšková, M.D., Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy, neurology and of obstetrics and gynecology
Qian Zhu, Ph.D. (postdoctoral fellow)
Chemical control of grafted human PSC-derived GABAergic interneurons in epileptic mice
Faculty Advisor: Sangmi Chung, Ph.D., associate professor of cell biology and anatomy, neurology and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences
Elizabeth Berry (Ph.D. candidate, second place)
Modeling the impact of chronic morphine on the electrical properties of orexin neurons
Faculty Advisor: Christopher S. Leonard, Ph.D., professor and interim chair of the Department of Physiology
Galadu Subah (M.D./PhD. candidate, first place)
Spreading depolarization as a therapeutic marker of Panxl-induced allodynia in a mouse of pathological pain
Faculty Advisors: Patric K. Stanton, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy and of neurology, and Eliana Scemes, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy
Gunhoo Park, Ph.D. (postdoctoral fellow)
Deficits in metabolic pathways via activation of CTGF and THBSJ as a major deficit in cortical interneurons from developmental immune activation
Faculty Advisor: Sangmi Chung, Ph.D., associate professor of cell biology and anatomy, neurology and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences
Seated from left:
Chian-ru Chern (Ph.D. candidate)
AN 2-73 has anticonvulsant effect in infantile spasms rat model, but not through Sigma 1 receptor
Faculty Advisors: Libor Velíšek, M.D., Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy, pediatrics, and neurology and Jana Velíšková, M.D., Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy, neurology and of obstetrics and gynecology
Alexander Moghadam (M.D./PhD. candidate)
Pairing of neonatal phencyclidine and adolescent stress as a model of schizophrenia
Faculty Advisor: Patric K. Stanton, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy and of neurology
Jenna Westley (undergraduate student)
Phase-separated MxA biomolecular condensates in antiviral mechanisms
Faculty Advisor: Pravin B. Sehgal, M.D., Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy and medicine
Christina Faltas (Ph.D. candidate)
Crosstalk between estrogen and insulin signaling pathways
Faculty Advisor: Marina K. Holz, Ph.D., dean of the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences and professor of cell biology and anatomy
Brandon Kahen (M.S. candidate)
Subconvulsive stimulation in early postnatal life produces sex-related differences in stereotypic behavior, mood, and the seizure threshold during the juvenile period
Faculty Advisor: Linda K. Friedman, Ph.D., research associate professor of cell biology and anatomy, Libor Velíšek, M.D., Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy, pediatrics, and neurology and Jana Velíšková, M.D., Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy, neurology and of obstetrics and gynecology
Nancy Feng (high school student)
Functional analyses of pannexin 1 channels and its variants
Faculty Advisor: Eliana Scemes, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy
The forum was sponsored by alumni and associates: Gary G. Guo, M.D., Ph.D., instructor of medicine, Simon X. Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Jin Li, M.D., Ph.D., clinical associate professor of neurology, Nai-xi Li, M.D. '98, Ph.D., and Robert Ludemann, M.D., Ph.D.
