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Dr. Paul Carvey works on the pharmacology of the dopamine system in the brain with particular interest in Parkinson's disease. Using both in vitro and in vivo models he is currently looking at the role of the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) as it relates to the entry of environmental toxins as well its relationship to peripheral immune cell involvement of disease progression.
Dr. Bill Hendey examines how early stages of neutrophil apoptosis affect neutrophil response to inflammation. Other interests include how inflammation contributes to neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Xiu-Ti Hu investigates the cellular mechanism of cocaine withdrawal, which is associated with the chronic cocaine-induced neuroadaptations in voltage-gated ion channel function and signaling in the mesocorticolimbic system (as known as the reward pathway), particularly in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc)
Dr. Judith Luborsky examines immune responses in ovarian autoimmune disease and ovarian cancer in humans and in an animal model with a focus on early events and early detection. Dr. Luborsky is also Director of the Rush Proteomics Core Research Facility.
Dr. Hazel Lum investigates mechanisms of inflammatory injury of vascular endothelium, leading to increased permeability and leukocyte extravasation. Specific projects include study of pro-inflammatory lipids such as lysophospholipids and their receptors, signaling intermediates (i.e., Rho GTPases, PKC) and remodeling of endothelial junctional complexes.
Dr. Celeste Napier examines changes in the adult mammalian brain that alter motivative behaviors, including those associated with drug addiction. Behavior, electrophysiological and biochemical approaches are used in rodent models of the human addict to ascertain neuronal substrates that are altered during this disorder.
Dr. Dan Predescu performs research in vascular biology with emphasis on endothelial heterogeneity cellular signaling, signaling to and from cytoskeleton, inter-endothelial communications and endothelial interaction with themselves and with their surroundings. My special interest is on the development and adequate usage of molecular methods particularly the one related to gene expression and gene activity control.
Dr. Sandra Predescu uses cell and molecular biology approaches, imaging techniques and animal models to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of transendothelial exchanges between the blood plasma and the interstitial fluid in normal and pathological states. Emphasis is on the role of intersectin proteins in regulating caveolae endocytosis and transcytosis in the lung microvasculature, the signaling events that regulate endothelial cell survival, growth and proliferation, vesicular trafficking and actin cytoskeletal remodeling.
Dr. John Somberg is interested in cardiovascular pharmacology with specific interest in drugs that affect the rapid potassium channel (IKr). His interests also include chiral separation of drugs and how this effects drug action and the role of the nervous system in facilitating cardiac arrhythmias.
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