Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty

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  Cherif Boudaba
  Professor of Practice, Ph.D., University of Bordeaux, France, 2001.  Bursting activity
  and its synchronization in the hypothalamic magnocellular neurons. Study focuses on
  neuronal circuits ending on these neurons that may control their electrical pattern and
  therefore their hormonal release. Intracellular patch-clamp recordings in brain slice
  preparation and immunocytochemical techniques are used.   Dr. Boudaba teaches
  CELL 103, Heredity and Society, CELL 106, Heredity and Society Laboratory, CELL
  211, General Biology Laboratory, and CELL 411/611, Cells and Tissues.   

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  Carol Burdsal
  Associate Professor, Ph.D., Duke University, 1990.  Pattern formation during
  embryogenesis in the mouse. Cellular and molecular studies using embryonic stem
  cell technology are conducted to assess developmental mechanisms in the mouse
  embryo. Cell culture, in situ hybridization, and manipulation of gene expression are
  used to study the regulatory factors involved in differentiation in the developing
  embryo.  Dr. Burdsal teaches CELL 301/701, Cell Biology, CELL 471/671, Molecular
  Biology of Cancer, CELL 608, Advanced Developmental and Cell Biology II, and CELL 684, Current Topics in Developmental Biology. Dr. Burdsal also serves as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Science and Engineering.

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  YiPing Chen
  Chair in Cell and Molecular Biology and Professor, Recipient, Provost’s Award for
  Excellence in Research and Scholarship, 2005. Ph.D. University of Iowa, 1993. Molecular
  mechanisms and genetic control of vertebrate organogenesis. We are particularly
  interested in the roles of growth factors and transcription factors in craniofacial and cardiac
  development and congenital defects. We use a combination of in vivo genetic modifications
  and in vitro experimental approaches to address fundamental questions in the
  development of tooth, palate and heart. Dr. Chen teaches CELL 416/616, Developmental
  Biology, CELL 478/678, Developmental Genetics.

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  James Cronin
  Professor of Practice, Ph.D., Tulane University, 1990. Research interests include the
  neurophysiology of epilepsy, and developing viral-vector based techniques for gene
  transfer to the nervous system.Dr. Cronin teaches CELL 321/621, Cellular
  Physiology, CELL 636, Topics in Neurophysiology, and CELL 666, Topics in
  Neuroscience Research.   

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  Robert Dotson
  Professor of Practice, Ph.D., Tulane University, 1998. Coordinator of Cell Biology
  Laboratories. Neuroendocrinology; signal transduction in response to cytokines
  and growth factors. Dr. Dotson teaches CELL 103, Heredity and Society,
  CELL 205, Genetics, CELL 301/701, Cell Biology, CELL 302/702, Cell Biology
  Laboratory, and CELL 411/611, Cells and Tissues.  

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  Garic Grisbaum
  Co-director of Pre-Medical Education; M.D., Louisiana State University Medical
  Center, 1995.  Dr. Grisbaum's interests are in Psychiatry, Anatomy, Pathology, and
  a healthy mind/body.  He acts as the CMB liaison with the Health Professions
  Office.  Dr. Grisbaum teaches CELL 222, Exploring Careers in Biology, CELL 649,
  Gross Anatomy, CELL 786-787, Seminars in Cell and Molecular Biology, and
  CELL 799-800, One-Year Masters' Research.  

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  Benjamin Hall
  Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Simon Fraser University, 2002. Research interests:
  Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control synapse
  development and function in the neocortex. The goal is to understand how
  perturbations in synapse maturation and circuit formation relate to behavioral
  changes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Studies are carried out
  both in vitro and in vivo through a combination of techniques in mouse genetics,
  electrophysiology, molecular biology, and cellular imaging.

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  Nancy Hopkins
  Professor of Practice; Ph.D., Tulane University, 1992.  Research centers around
  the understanding of the interaction of the xenobiotics, both naturally occurring and
  synthetic, with the cytochrome P450 enzymes and the nuclear steroid hormone
  receptor superfamily.  My lab uses hormone sensitive cancer cells to study the
  mechanism of the effects of these chemicals on P450 isoform induction and
  hormone receptor response.  We also use a bacterial P450 induction system as a
  model for the induction of P450 in mammaliam cells.  Purified human P450
  isoforms are used to test xenobiotics as inhibitors of certain isoforms that have
  been implicated in carcinogenesis.  Dr. Hopkins teaches CELL 106, Heredity and Society Lab, CELL 312, Molecular Biology Lab, CELL 401, Cellular Biochemistry, and CELL 423, Microbiology Lab.

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  Fiona Inglis
  Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Glasgow, U.K., 1992. Developmental
  neurobiology; neuronal plasticity. Studies include molecular interactions that
  underlie neuronal plasticity during development. Viral vectors and transient
  transfection techniques are used in tissue culture and in vivo systems. In addition,
  integrated neuronal function is studied using in vivo microdialysis to measure
  changes in neurotransmitter release.  Dr. Inglis teaches CELL 435/635,
  Developmental Neurobiology, CELL 437/637, Molecular Neurobiology, CELL 608,
  Advanced Developmental and Cell Biology II, and CELL 684, Current Topics in
  Developmental Biology. .  

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  David Mullin

Research in the Mullin lab is divided between two main Projects.  The first project focuses on a new chemical class of antimicrobial agents that we discovered called the DDPs.  One of these, 4-DDP1956, is effective in vitro against all gram positive bacterial pathogens tested including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MRSA), vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE), and Bacillus anthracis to name a few.  We are in the process of identifying the cellular target of 4-DDP1956, and we preparing to begin testing the therapeutic potential of 4-DDP1956 in mice.  Finally, we are preparing to synthesize chemical derivatives of 4-DDP1956 that have higher antimicrobial activity and lower toxicity.

Our second major project is to use bacterial fermentation end products to produce liquid fuels for automobiles.  We now have several dozen novel bacterial strains that produce liquid fuel that has the same energy content as conventional unleaded gasoline, works in unmodified automobiles, but does not contribute toward increasing the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere.  Dr. Mullin teaches CELL 311/711, Molecular Biology, and CELL 422/622, Microbiology. 

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  Ken Muneoka
  John L. & Mary Wright Ebaugh Chair in Science and Engineering and Professor;
  Ph.D., University of California Irvine, 1983. Limb development; developmental
  growth control; cell-cell interactions; pattern formation. The role of cellular position
  and positional information in the control of cell proliferation is being investigated in
  the developing mouse limb. We employ embryonic surgical procedures to
  investigate spatial and temporal differences in the regulation of cell growth by
  introducing cells that have been characterized in vitro. By using a combination of in
  vitro and in vivo approaches, our long term goal is to understand how cellular
  interactions regulate the reproducible patterns of proliferation during limb development.  Dr. Muneoka teaches CELL 413/613, Embryology, CELL 608, Advanced Developmental and Cell Biology II, and CELL 684, Current Topics in Developmental Biology.  

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  Laura Schrader
  Assistant Professor, PhD., Tulane University, 1997. Molecular mechanisms of
  synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. Techniques include: patch clamp
  electrophysiology in brain slices, behavioral paradigms, molecular biology and
  biochemistry. Our ultimate goal is to better understand how modulation of ion
  channels regulates neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity in the context of
  learning and memory. Dr. Schrader teaches CELL 332, Systems Neuroscience.   

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  Jeffrey G. Tasker
  Recipient, Provost's Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship, 2005
  Catherine and Hunter Pierson Chair in Neuroscience; Ph.D., University of
  Bordeaux, France, 1986. Intracellular and patch-clamp electrophysiology using in
  vitro brain slices. Study of membrane electrical properties, synaptic circuits and
  hormone regulation of hypothalamic neuroendocrine cells. Combined
  electrophysiological and neuroanatomical studies with intracellular markers,
  histochemical and immunocytochemical techniques.  Dr. Tasker teaches CELL 331/631, Cellular Neuroscience, CELL 636, Topics in Neurophysiology, and CELL 655, Synaptic Organization of the Brain.   

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  Leonard B. Thien
  Professor; Ph.D., University of California, 1968. Evolution and molecular
  systematics are studied using a combination of PCR, nucleotide sequencing and
  morphometric analysis. Other areas of interest include ant-plant interactions,
  reproductive biology of primitive angiosperms and ecology of the Mississippi delta
  ecosystem.  Dr. Thien teaches CELL 101, General Biology, CELL 311/711,
  Molecular Biology, and CELL 444/644, Advanced Molecular Biology.   

 
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 Nandini Vasudevan

 Assistant Professor. Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science, 1999. Research Fields:
 Hormonal control of genes and behavior; hormone-mediated signaling in neurons
 and glia. Techniques include: cell cultures, behavioral paradigms, molecular
 biology and biochemistry. Our aim is to understand how different modes of
 hormone signaling integrate to regulate genes that ultimately govern behaviors. In
 rodents, we study how estrogen signaling controls reproductive and social behaviors and how thyroid hormone signaling regulates mood as model systems to understand hormonal action.    

nandini@tulane.edu                

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  Meena Vijayaraghavan
  Professor of Practice, Ph.D., University of Madras (India), 1994. Dr. Vijayaraghavan
  teaches CELL 101, General Biology, and CELL 205, Genetics. Research interests
  are in the areas of environmental carcinogenesis, cancer studies, and pediatric
  nephrology. She has teaching and research experience in India, Japan, and the
  US. She is interested in incorporating service learning in her biology courses.
   

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