August 2006 - May 2007 PhD Graduates

Abu-Hamdah, Rania
Major:  Physiology
Advisor:  Jena Bhanu 
Dissertation Title: Regulation of the Water Channel Aquaporin 1and Aquaporin 6: Isolation and Reconstitution of the Regulatory Complex.

Dilworth, Joshua
Major:  Pharmacology
Advisor:  Raymond Mattingly 
Dissertation Title: The EGFR:RAS Axis In Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells

Fridman, Aviva R.
Major:  Cancer Biology
Advisor:  Michael Tainsky 
Dissertation Title: Gene Expression Pathways Altered In Cellular Immortalization

Glaros, Selina
Major:  Cancer Biology
Advisor:  Kaladher Reddy 
Dissertation Title: The Role Of MAPK,AKT, and ER alpha in Tamoxifen Resistant Breast Cancer

Hu, Caiping
Major:  Anatomy and Cell Biology
Advisor:  Zhuo-Hua Pan 
Dissertation Title: Voltage Gated Calcium Channels in retinal bipolar cells

Koepke, Jay
Major:  Physiology
Advisor:  Stanley Terlecky 
Dissertation Title: Peroxisome Senescene And The Role OF Catalase Import In Cellular Aging

Krishnamoorthy, Sriram
Major:  Cancer Biology
Advisor:  Kenneth Honn 
Dissertation Title: 12-Lipoxygenase and Prostate Cancer Angiogenesis in the Normoxic and Hypoxic Microenvironment

Krolewski, David
Major:  Anatomy and Cell Biology
Advisor:  Paul Walker 
Dissertation Title: Dopamine D1 and D2 Receptor-Mediated Immediate-Early Gene Expression in the Striatum and Frontal Cortex and Its Relationship to Motor Behaviors in the Rat.

Lin, Yung-Feng
Major:  Biochemistry
Advisor:  Barry Rosen 
Dissertation Title: An Arsenic metallochaperone for an arsenic detoxification pump

Lockett, Jaron
Major:  Pathology
Advisor:  Shijie Sheng 
Dissertation Title: Maspin As A Regulator Of Extracellular Matrix Proteolysis

Phelps, Hilary
Major:  Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor:  Melody Neely 
Dissertation Title: Characterization of streptococcus pyogenes factors required for host-pathogen interactions

Sanderson, Thomas
Major:  Physiology
Advisor:  Gary Krause 
Dissertation Title: Insulin-Mediated Suppression Of Cytochrome C Release From Mitochondria After Transient Brain Ischemia

Sawarynski, Kara
Major:  Cancer Biology
Advisor:  George Brush 
Dissertation Title: Characterization Of A Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor During Meiosis IN Yeast

Schaubert, Keri
Major:  Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor:  June Kan-Mitchell 
Dissertation Title: Characterization And exploitation Of the Human T Cell Repertoire To A Potentially Protective HIV-1 Epitope In GAG p24

Speshock, Janice
Major:  Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor:  Christopher Roberts 
Dissertation Title: Fatal Bacteremia Occurs In Mice Co-Infected with Filamentous Influenza A Virus And Serotype 3 Streptococcus Pneumoniae

Szliter, Elizabeth
Major:  Anatomy & Cell Biology
Advisor:  Linda Hazlett 
Dissertation Title: Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide:Immunoregulatory Role In Occular Inflammation

Wang, Zhiwei
Major:  Pathology
Advisor:  Fazlul Sarkar 
Dissertation Title: Notch signaling:A pothentical therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer

Wood, Christopher
Major:  Pharmacology
Advisor:  Stanley Terlecky 
Dissertation Title: Cellular characterization of human hypocatalasemia and the role of PEX 14 P phosphorylation in peroxisome biogenesis

Zhong, Wenjing
Major:  Anatomy and Cell Biology
Advisor:  Dan Rappolee 
Dissertation Title: Stress and Elevated MAPK8,9 Phospho Mediate Decreased Growth And Induce Differentiation Of Trophoblast Stem Cell During Implantation

Zhou, Yao
Major:  Biochemistry
Advisor:  Barry Rosen 
Dissertation Title: Biochemical And Functional Studies On The Eukaryotic Arsenate/Antimonate Reductases

May 2006 PhD Graduates

Abdelmegeed, Mohamed
Major:   Anatomy and Cell Biology
Advisor:   Raymond Novak  
Dissertation Title : The Activation of Signaling Pathways and the Regulation of Heme-Oxygenase 1 and Cytochrome P4502E1 by Ketone Bodies in Primary Cultured Rat Hepatocytes

Alilain, Warren
Major:   Cellular and Clinical Neurobiology
Advisor:   Harry Goshgarian  
Dissertation Title : NMDA and AMPA Receptor Subunit Plasticity in the Phrenic Motor Nucleus Following Chronice Upper Cervical Level Spinal Cord Injury in the Rat

Alyousef, Khalid
Major:   Medical Physics
Advisor:   Mark Yudelev  
Dissertation Title : A Novel Approach to Mixed Field Dosimetry Utilizing a Prototype Silicon Based P-1-N Diodes

Imad, Mays
Major:   Cellular and Clinical Neurobiology
Advisor:   Thomas Fischer  
Dissertation Title : 5-HT2A Receptor Activation Excites a Subpopulation of Pyramidal Cells in Deep Layer V of the Rat Prefrontal Cortex

Li, Gang
Major:   Pathology
Advisor:   Todd Leff  
Dissertation Title : Molecular Anaylsis of PPARy Mutations Associated with Diabetes and Lipodystrophy

Payton, Scott
Major:   Pharmacology
Advisor:   Larry Matherly  
Dissertation Title : Transcriptional and Post-Transcriptional Regualtion of the Human Reduced Folate Carrier Gene

Roshy, Stefanie
Major:   Cancer Biology
Advisor:   Bonnie Sloane  
Dissertation Title : The Role of Protesases During Development and Malignant Progression of the Mammary Acinar Structure In Vitro

Shi, Jinghua
Major:   Pathology
Advisor:   Lucia Schuger  
Dissertation Title: P311 Induces Myofibroblast Amebiod-Like Migration Through Rala Activation

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Fall 2005 PhD Graduates

Albertson, Dawn
Major:   Cellular and Clinical Neurobiology
Advisor:   Michael Bannon  
Dissertation Title : Gene Expression Profiles of Drug Abuse: An Analysis of Transcriptome Alterations in the Nucleus Accumbens of Human Cocaine and Heroin Abusers

Colen, Chaim
Major:   Physiology
Advisor:   Andrew Sloan  
Dissertation Title : Gene Therapy and Radiation of Malignant Glioma by Targeting Glioma Specific Lactate Transporter

Hill-Pryor, Crystal  
Major:   Physiology
Advisor:   Joseph Dunbar  
Dissertation Title : The Leptin-Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) Regulation of Cardiovascular Dynamics in Rats

Parks, Quinn
Major:   Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor:   Jeffrey Hobden  
Dissertation Title : Determinants of Pseudononas Aeruginosa Ocular Virulence

Roberts, George
Major:   Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor:   Alan Hudson  
Dissertation Title: In Yeast, the RSF1 Gene Product Functions in the Transition From Fermentative to Glycerol-Based Respiratory Growth

Sigoillot, Frederic
Major:   Biochemistry
Advisor:   Hedeel Guy-Evans  
Dissertation Title : Phosphorylation of the Multifunctional Protein CAD by MAP Kinase, PKA and PKC Cascades Leads to the Cellular Control of De Novo Pyrimidine Biosynthesis and is Associated with Differential Localizations of CAD

Sin, Mihaela
Major:   Cellular and Clinical Neurology
Advisor:   Michael Bannon  
Dissertation Title : Development of Experimental Models to Study the Expression of the Preprotachykinin-A Gene in the Striatum

Steele III, John
Major:   Physiology
Advisor:   J Pat McAlliester  
Dissertation Title: Patterns of Neuronal Degeneration in a New Muring Model of Diffuse Closed Head Injury (CHI)

Sun, Beimeng
Major:   Pharmacology
Advisor:   Nicholas Davis  
Dissertation Title : The Yeast Casein Kinase YCK3P is Pamitoylated, then Sorted to the Vacuolar Membrane with AP-3 Dependent Recognition of a YXX Adaptin Sorting Signal

Taylor, Jennifer
Major:   Cellular and Clinical Neurology
Advisor:   Paul Walker  
Dissertation Title: The Contribution of Serotonin 2A Receptors to Excessive Motor Behaviors Related to Dopamine Receptor Supersensitivity in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

Yang, Yufang
Major:   Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor:   Roy Sundick  
Dissertation Title : A Novel Method to Produce Avian Influenza Vaccine Bearing Membrane-Bound Chil-2

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Kim, Jong-Kyung
Major: Physiology
Advisor: Donal O'Leary
Dissertation Title: Interaction Between the Arterial Baroreflex and Muscle Metaboreflex

Lighvani, Shahrzad
Major: Anatomy and Cell Biology
Advisor: Linda Hazlett
Dissertation Title: The Role of Neuropeptides in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Cornell Infection

Miller, Janet
Major: Physiology
Advisor: J.P. McAllister
Dissertation Title: Gene Expression in Congenital Hydrocephalus and the Subsequent Effects of Gliosis

Miller, Jesse
Major: Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor: Melody Neely
Dissertation Title: Large Scale Screen Highlights the importance of Capsule for the Systemic Zoonotic Pathogen, Strptococcus iniae

Montie, Heather
Major: Physiology
Advisor: Donald DeGracia
Dissertation Title: The Unfolded Protein Response: Differentiation, Nitric Oxide and Ischemic Injury

Osenkowski, Pamela
Major: Cancer Biology
Advisor: Rafael Fridman
Dissertation Title: Regulation of Membrane Type 1 - Matrix Metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) on the Cell Surface

Sala-Mercado, Javier
Major: Physiology
Advisor: Donal O'Leary
Dissertation Title: Muscle Metaboreflex Control of Ventricular Contractility During Dynamic Exercise in Normal and Heart Failure Conditions

Trivedi, Prachi
Major: Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor: Robert Swanborg
Dissertation Title: Mechanism of Regulation of T Cell Responses by Natural Killer (NK+ CD3-) Cells

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Anderson, Jamie
Major: Physiology
Advisor: Barry Franklin
Dissertation Title: Comparison of Thrombotic and Fibrinolytic Responses to Submaximal and Maximal Arm Versus Leg Exercise in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Blouse, Grant
Major: Pharmacology
Advisor: Joseph Shore
Dissertation Title: Protien Engineering of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Provides New Insights into the Inhibition Mechanism of Serpins

Britton, Mark
Major: Physiology
Advisor: Joseph Dunbar
Dissertation Title: The Effects of Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusoions on CNS Apoptotic Events in Normal and Diabetic Rats

Cao, Wei
Major: Pharmacology
Advisor: Ray Matherly
Dissertation Title: Characterization of Membrane Topology and a Substrate-Binding Domain of the Human Reduced Folate Carrier

Castelli, Michelle
Major: Cancer Biology
Advisor: David Kessel
Dissertation Title: Mechanisms by Which the Bile Acid UDCA Enhances the Efficacy of BCL-2 Targeting Photodynamic Therapy

Chandana, Sreenivasa
Major: Pharmacology
Advisor: Diane Chugani
Dissertation Title: Functional Neuoimaging of Autism Using Positron Emission Tomography

Conant, Stephaine
Major: Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor: Robert Swanborg
Dissertation Title: Amino Acid Recognition of Encephalitogenic Myelin Peptides and the Participation of Innate Immunity in Expiramental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Induction

Delazerda, Alberto
Major: Medical Physics
Advisor: Colin Orton
Dissertation Title: Inverse Planning For Low-Dose-Rate Prostate Brachytherapy By Simulated Annealing Under Fuzzy Expert Controll

Feroze-Merzoug, Farhana
Major: Cancer Biology
Advisor: Fazlul Sarkar Yong Chen
Dissertation Title: Androgen Regulation of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and its Receptor in Prostate Cancer

Franklin, Michael
Major: Physiology
Advisor: Dixon Woodbury
Dissertation Title: Calculation, Comparison and Modeling of SingleChannel Proton Flux Across Reconstituted Wildtype and Lutnat Fo of the F1F0 Atpase From Eschichia Coli

Greene, Sonya
Major: Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor: Nancy Freitag
Dissertation Title: Characterization of PRFA-Regulated Virulence Gene Expression in Listeeria Monocytogenes

Hart, Dawn
Major: Cancer Biology
Advisor: George Brush
Dissertation Title: Meiosis-Specific Phosphorylation of Replication Protein A: A Mechanistic and Functional Analysis

Henry, Scott
Major: Molecular Biology and Genetics
Advisor: Scott Dulchavsky
Dissertation Title: Biolistic Augmentation of Wound Healing in Diabetic and Steroid Treated Rats

Hinton, Ayana
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Advisor: Sharon Ackerman
Dissertation Title: Probing the Mechanisms of ATP11P and ATP12P Through Biochemical and Molecular Biological Studies."

Jiang, Yong
Major: Biochemistry and Mocular Biology
Advisor: Barry Rosen
Dissertation Title: Mechanisms of Insulator-Like Element and the Nucleutide Binding Domains of a Resistance Pump

Kreipke, Christian W.
Major: Cellular and Clinical Neurobiology
Advisor: Paul Walker
Dissertation Title: NMDA and D1 Receptor Mechanisms of Movement Control: Differential Regulatory Mechanisms in the Intact and Dopamine Depleted Striatum

Li, Qunfang
Major: Molecular Biology and Genetics
Advisor: Jeffrey Loeb
Dissertation Title: Neuregulin-Extracellular Matrix Interactions in Synaptic Development and Cancer

Liu, Ming
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Advisor: Richard Needleman
Dissertation Title: Targets of Phenylbutyrate - A Differentiating Agent - In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

Liu, Zitao
Major: Anatomy and Cell Biology
Advisor: Randell Armant
Dissertation Title: Regulations of Trophoblast Differentiation During Implantation and Placentation: The Centrla Role of Intracellular Calcium as a Second Messenger and Its Transactivation of ERBB Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

Marinetti, Laureen
Major: Physiology
Advisor: Randall Commissaris
Dissertation Title: The Pharmacology of Gamma Valerolactone (GVL) as Compared to Gamma Hydroxybutrate (GHB), Gamma Butyrolactone (GBL), 1,4, Butanediol (1,4 BD), Ethanol (EtOH) and Baclofen (BAC) in the Rat

Menard, Raymond
Major: Pharmacology
Advisor: Raymond Mattingly
Dissertation Title: The Role of P21-Activated Kinase in Cell Signaling

Mitchell, Todd
Major: Cellular and Clinical Neurobiology
Advisor: Gregory Moore
Dissertation Title: Mood Stabilizers and Neuroprotection

Moosa, Mahomed-Yunus S.
Major: Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor: Robert Akins
Dissertation Title: Investgation of Virulence and Resistant Gene Expression in Candida Albicans: Studies on Primary Isolates Form Patients' with Acute Vulvovaginal Candidiasis.

Morgan, Rebecca
Major: Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor: Paul Wooley
Dissertation Title: Glucose-6-Phosphate and Joint Antigen Reactivity in Two Mouse Models of Autoimmune Arthritis

Morris, Gerald
Major: Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor: Yi-Chi Kong
Dissertation Title: Characterization of Regulartory T Cells Mediating Induced Tolerance to Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Murariu, Alina
Major: Physiology
Advisor: Jonathon Sullivan
Dissertation Title: Survival Signaling by Insulin in Early Brian Reperfusion

Nanua, Suparna
Major: Immunology and Microbiology
Advisor: Fayth Yoshimura
Dissertation Title: Elucidation of the Mechanism Involved in Oncogenic Murine Leukemia Virus Induced Apoptosis

Owen, Cheri
Major: Physiology
Advisor: Blaine White
Dissertation Title: Mechanisms Regulating Phosphorulation of the a-Subunit of Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2 During Post-Ischemic Brain Reperfusion

Parman, Amy
Major: Cancer Biology
Advisor: George Brush
Dissertation Title: MEC1 and Replication Protein A: Biochemical and Functional Analysis of an Extraordinary Enzyme and Protein

Rhiew, Richard
Major: Physiology
Advisor: John Phillis
Dissertation Title: Gene Expression Profiling of Chemoresistance in Human Malignant Gliomas

Rizk, Natalie
Major: Physiology
Advisor: Joseph Dunbar
Dissertation Title: Cerebral Ischemia Induced Apoptosis and Necrosis in Normal and Diabetic Rats

Rodenbaugh, David
Major: Physiology
Advisor: Stephen DiCarlo
Dissertation Title: The Influence of Paraplegia on Blood Pressure Related Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and the Subceptibility to Ventricular Arrhythmias

Sadidi, Mahieh
Major: Cellular and Clinical Neurobiology
Advisor: Donald Kuhn
Dissertation Title: Footprints of Neurotoxicity: Posttranslational Modication of Tyrosine Hydroxylase

Santanam, Lakshmi
Major: Medical Physics
Advisor: Jay Burmeister
Dissertation Title: Clinical Applications of IMRT to Adenocarcinoma of Prostate: Portal Dose Verification and Intensity Modulated Neutron Radiotherapy

Schober, Megan
Major: Pathology
Advisor: Yong Chen Hyeong Reh Kim
Dissertation Title: Effects of Hormonal Environment on Prostate Cancer Progression

Shaikh, Aasef
Major: Physiology
Advisor: Paul Finlayson
Dissertation Title: Pharmacological Modulation of Superior Olivary Complex Neural Excitability

Sun, Haihao
Major: Cancer Biology
Advisor: Anthony Shields
Dissertation Title: Development of the Thymidine Analogs as Positron Emission Tomography Imaging and Antineoplastic Agents

Swick, Lance
Major: Cellular and Clinical Neurobiology
Advisor: Gregory Kapatos
Dissertation Title: Discovery of Human GTP Cyclohydrolase I Protein Binding Partners

Tang, Lin
Major: Cancer Biology
Advisor: Michael Tainsky
Dissertation Title: Study of Promoter Hypermethylation Regulated Interferon Signaling Pathway in Immortalization

Wang, Jian
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Advisor: Domenico Gatti
Dissertation Title: Structure and Function of Aquifex Aeolicus 3-Deoxy-D-Manno-Octulosonate-8-Phosphate Synthase and Protein and Ligand Dynamics in 4-Hydroxybenzoate Hydroxylase

Wang, Zhiyu
Major: Anatomy and Cell Biology
Advisor: Michelle Kurpakus-Wheater
Dissertation Title: The Effect of Hypoxia on the Urokinase Plasminogen Activator System and Cell Adhesion and Migration in Human Corneal Epithelial Cells

Wykes, Susan
Major: Molecular Biology and Genetics
Advisor: Stephen Krawetz
Dissertation Title: Dynamic Chromatin: The Organization and Regulation of Haploid-Specific Domains

Zhang, Wei
Major: Pharmacology
Advisor: Bruce Berkowitz
Dissertation Title: Retinal Oxygenation in Experimental Retinopathy of Prematurity

Zhong, Jinhui
Major: Molecular Biology and Genetics
Advisor: Russell Finley
Dissertation Title : Development of High Throughput Yeast Two-Hybrid Strategies for Proteome-Wide Protien-Protein Interaction Maps

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Samuel Edwin
Major: Physiology (Advisor: Marappa Subramanian)
Dissertation Title: Matrix Metalloproteinases in Pregnancy and Parturition

Bin Fan
Major: Biochemistry (Advisor: Barry Rosen)
Dissertation Title: Biochemical and Functional Studies on Copa: The Escherichia Coli Cu (I)-TranslocatingP-Type Atpase

Jonathan Farr
Major: Medical Physics (Advisor: Mark Yudelev)
Dissertation Title: A Fast Neutron Multi-Leaf collimator (MLC) for Intensity Modulated Neutron Radiotherapy (IMNRT)

Jinzhu LI
Major: Immunology and Microbiology (Advisor: Harley Tse)
Dissertation Title: Immunological Mechanism for Initiation of Relapses of Experimental Allergic Encephalitomyelitis

Ye Liu
Major: Biochemistry (Advisor: Vasily Studitsky)
Dissertation Title: Mechanism of Enhancer Action Over a Large Distance and Transcription Through Nucleosome by Rna Polymerase II

Lin Lu
Major: Immunology and Microbiology (Advisor: Alan Hudson)
Dissertation Title: RSF1 and RSF2, Nuclear Genes Encoding Proteins Required for Respiratory Growth and Mitochondrial DNA Maintenance in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

Edith Mensah-Osman
Major: Cancer Biology (Advisor: Ramzi Mohammed)
Dissertation Title: Mechanism of DNA Damage, Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Indolent B-Cell Lymphomas

Paramita Mukherjee
Major: Immunology and Microbiology (Advisor: Paul Wooley)
Dissertation Title: Effect of TNF-R Gene Therapy on the Reactivity of Autoimmune Lymphocytes in Collagen Induced Arthritis

Audelia Munguia
Major: Immunology and Microbiology (Advisor: Paul Roberts)
Dissertation Title: Host Cell and Viral Determinants Involved in the Formation of Filamentous Influenza a Virus Particles

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School of Medicine PhD Graduates
Fall 2002

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Lisa Demchik
Major: Cancer Biology (Adviser: Bonnie Sloane)
Dissertation Title: “Trafficking of Cathepsin B-GFP Fusion Proteins in Breast Carcinoma Cells and Cathepsin B Deficient Fibroblasts.”

Mohammad Khalil
Major: Cellular and Clinical Neurobiology (Adviser: Gregory Kapatos)
Dissertation Title: “The De Novo Biosynthesis of Tetrahydrobiopterin by the No-Producing Cerebellar Granule Neurons: Its Regulation by cAMP and Potential Ability to Augument Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity.”

Joseph Krueger
Major: Cancer Biology (Adviser: Kaladhar Reddy)
Dissertation Title: “The Role of MAPK and PKC in Breast Cancer Progression.”

Dana Mahadeo
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Adviser: Sharon Ackerman)
Dissertation Title: “A Network Model Governing Spore Formation, Dormancy, and Germination in Dictoselium Discoideum.”

Andrea Page
Major: Anatomy and Cell Biology (Adviser: Jose Rafols)
Dissertation Title: “Differential Phosphorylation of Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2-Alpha in Brain Neurons Following Ischemia and Reperfusion and Its Relationship to Mitochondrial Release of Cytocrome c.”

Amy Wesa
Major: Cancer Biology (Adviser: Anne Galy)
Dissertation Title: “The T Cell Stimulatory Function of Dendritic Cells: Regulation by Cytokines and CD40 Ligand.”

Catherine White
Major: Immunology and Microbiology (Adviser: Jeffrey Hobden)
Dissertation Title: "Quorum Sensing and Virulence in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Ocular Infection"

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