SCoBIRC POST-DOCTORAL TRAINEES & SCIENTISTS

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Post-Doctoral Trainee Alumni | Graduate Student Alumni

SCoBIRC Post-Docs

Mona Bains - mona.bains@uky.edu

Education

St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX, B.Sc., 2001, Biology

University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, TX, Ph.D., 2007, Pharmacology

University of Denver College of Medicine, Postdoctoral Fellow, 2007–2010, Pharmacology

University of Kentucky, Postdoctoral Scholar, 2010–Present, SCoBIRC

Research Interests

Evaluating the neuroprotective potential of calpain and lipid peroxidation inhibitors following focal traumatic brain injury. Compounds are assessed for their ability to inhibit post-traumatic calpain-mediated cytoskeletal degradation, reduce the volume of tissue damage and improve functional outcome.

Mentor

Dr. Edward D. Hall

Funding

2008–2010 NIH-NINDS 1F32-NS062534-01A1
National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke
Ruth Kirschstein National Research Service Award “Regulation of Autophagic Cell Death in Neurons”

Publications

Imam SZ, Zhou Q, Yamamoto A, Valente AJ, Ali SF, Bains M, Roberts JL, Kahle PJ, Clark RA, Li S. (2011) Novel Regulation of Parkin Function through c-Abl-Mediated Tyrosine Phosphorylation: Implications for Parkinson's Disease. Journal of Neuroscience. 31:157-163.

Bains M, Zaegal V, Mize-Berge J and Heidenreich KA. (2011) IGF-I stimulates Rab7-RILP interaction during neuronal autophagy. Neuroscience Letters. 488:112-7

Thompson SN, Carrico KM, Mustafa AG, Bains M and Edward HD. (2010) A pharmacological analysis of the neuroprotective efficacy of the brain cell permeable calpain inhibitor MDL-28170 in the mouse controlled cortical impact traumatic brain injury model. Journal of Neurotrauma. 27: 2233-43.

Bains M, Florez-McClure ML, and Heidenreich KA. (2009) Insulin-like growth factor-I prevents the accumulation of autophagic vesicles and cell death in Purkinje neurons by increasing the rate of autophagosome-to-lysosome fusion and degradation. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 284: 20398-407.

Bains M, Heidenreich KA. (2009) Live-cell imaging of autophagy induction and autophagosome-lysosome fusion in primary cultured neurons. Methods in Enzymology. 453:145-58.

Bains M, Cousins JC, and Roberts JL. (2007) Neuroprotection by estrogen against MPP+-induced cell death is mediated by ERa in primary cultures of mouse mesencephalon. Experimental Neurology. 204:767-76.

Lesley K. Gilmer - lkgilm@uky.edu

Education:

Ph.D., University of Kentucky, Lexington KY
(Anatomy and Neurobiology) 2009

B.A., Berea College, Berea, KY
(Cellular and Molecular Biology) 2004

Mentor

Dr. Ed Hall

Research Interests

Therapeutic intervention strategies following traumatic brain injury to minimize tissue loss and behavioral deficits

Mitochondrial bioenergetic changes associated with aging and following traumatic brain injury

Publications

Gilmer, L.K., Ansari, M.A., Roberts, K.N., and Scheff, S.W. Age-related mitochondrial changes after traumatic brain injury. J. Neurotrauma 2010, Aug; 27: 939-950.

Gilmer, L.K., M.A. Ansari, M.A., Roberts, K.N., and Scheff, S.W.. Age-related changes in mitochondrial respiration and oxidative damage in the cerebral cortex of the Fischer 344 rats. Mech Ageing Dev 2010, Jan; 27: 133-143.

Gilmer, L.K., Roberts, K.N., Joy, K.M, Sullivan, P.G., and Scheff, S.W. Early mitochondrial dysfunction following cortical contusion injury. J. Neurotrauma 2009, Aug; 26 (8): 1271-80.

Anderson, K.J., Scheff, S.W., Miller, K.M., Roberts, K.N., Gilmer, L.K., Yang, C., Shaw, G. The phosphorylated axonal form of the neurofilament subunit NF-H (pNF-H) as a blood biomarker of traumatic brain injury. J. Neurotrauma 2008, Sept; 25 (9):1079-1085.

Gilmer, L.K., Roberts, K.N., Scheff, S.W. Efficacy of progesterone following a moderate unilateral cortical contusion injury. J. Neurotrauma 2008, Jun; 25 (6): 593-602.

Dayna Hayes

Talat Jamil, MD

UK HealthCare Stroke and Spinal Cord Neurorehabilitation Research at Cardinal Hill Hospital

Mentor

Lumy Sawaki, MD, PhD

Research Interests

My research involves interventions that promote motor recovery by harnessing neuroplasticity in patients with neurological disorders such as stroke and spinal cord injury. To this end, our lab uses novel neurorehabilitation interventions such as peripheral nerve stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation paired with intensive motor training. We measure the effects of such interventions using behavioral and neurophysiological data. For instance, we use transcranial magnetic stimulation to measure corticomotor reorganization and correlate with changes in upper extremity motor function. Recently, I have secured IRB approval to evaluate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation coupled with motor training delivered by a robotic device in chronic, incomplete spinal cord injury. My research is translational in that we apply concepts developed in animal studies to the clinical setting. The long term goal is to maximize restoration of motor function and quality of life in individuals with neurological injuries.

Binoy Joseph - binoy.joseph@uky.edu

Education

St. Aloysius College, Mangalore University, Karnataka, INDIA – BSc., 1999, Chemistry, Microbiology, Zoology

Manipal University, Karnataka, INDIA – MSc., 2002, Medical Biochemistry

Cochin University of Science and Technology – Ph.D., 2009

University of Kentucky, Post Doctoral Scholar, 2009 – Present, SCoBIRC

Research Interests

My current work is to elucidate the kinase activation/deactivation mechanism during axonal transport impairment during traumatic axonal injury in TBI. To this end, we use mouse optic nerve stretch as the model. In the lab, we use immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting and tract tracing techniques in this project. This work may lead to identification of a signal molecule which can modulate the anterograde/ retrograde transport providing us with a therapeutic target.

Mentor

Dr. Kathryn E. Saatman

Publications

Joseph B, Nandhu MS, Paulose CS. Dopamine D1 and D2 receptor functional down regulation in the cerebellum of hypoxic neonatal rats: neuroprotective role of glucose and oxygen, epinephrine resuscitation. Pharmacol Res. 2010, 61(2):136-41.

Savitha B, Joseph B, Peeyush Kumar T, Paulose CS. Acetylcholine and muscarinic receptor function in cerebral cortex of diabetic young and old male Wistar rats and the role of muscarinic receptors in calcium release from pancreatic islets. Biogerontology. 2010, 11(2):151-66.

Gireesh G, Thomas SK, Joseph B, Paulose CS. Antihyperglycemic and insulin secretory activity of Costus pictus leaf extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats and in in vitro pancreatic islet culture. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009, 23(3):470-4.

Sulaiman P, Joseph B, Kaimal SB, Paulose CS. Decreased hepatic 5-HT1A receptors during liver regeneration and neoplasia in rats. Neurochem Res. 2008, 33(3):444-9.

Pyroja S, Joseph B, Paulose CS. Increased 5-HT2C receptor binding in the brain stem and cerebral cortex during liver regeneration and hepatic neoplasia in rats. J Neurol Sci. 2007, 254(1-2):3-8.

Chih-Lung Lin

Justin McClain

Ansari Mubeen

Jignesh D. Pandya

Education

The Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, INDIA. B.Sc., 1995, Biochemistry

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, INDIA. M.Sc., 1997, Biochemisty

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, INDIA. Ph.D. 2004, Biochemisty

The SUNY at Buffalo, NY, USA, Post Doctoral Research Fellow, 2003-2004, Biochemistry

University of Kentucky, Post Doctoral Fellow.2004-2007, SCoBIRC

Research Interests

My current project is to understand role of mitochondrial bioenergetics in response to Traumatic brain injury (TBI), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and other neurodegenerative disease like Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Aging. I am currently targeting mitochondrial functional improvement through various therapeutic interventions to provide neuroprotection.

Mentor

Dr. Patrick G. Sullivan

Publications

J. D. Pandya, K. R. Dave and S. S. Katyare, 2001. Effect of long term aluminium feeding on lipid / phospholipid profiles of rat brain synaptic plasma membranes and microsomes. J. Alz. Dis. 3: 531-539.

S. D. Katewa, B. D. Patel, J. D. Pandya and S. S. Katyare, 2003. Lysosomal membrane stabilizing effect of antimalarials – An in-vitro study Jr. Ani. Morphol. Physiol., 50: 71-75.

J. D. Pandya, B. D. Patel, S. D. Katewa and S. S. Katyare, 2003. Studies on kinetic properties of acid phosphatase - a lysosomal enzyme form rat liver, using different substrates. Ind. J. Exptl. Biol., 41 205-210.

J. D. Pandya, N. A. Agarwal and S. S. Katyare, 2004. Effect of dexamethasone treatment on oxidative energy metabolism in rat liver mitochondria during postnatal developmental periods. Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 27 (4) :389-403.

J. D. Pandya, K. R. Dave and S. S. Katyare, 2004. Effect of long-term aluminium feeding on lipid / phospholipid profiles of rat brain myelin. Clues for Alzheimer's disease from a rat model? Lipids in Health and Diseases 3(1): 13-13.

S. S. Katyare and J. D. Pandya, 2005. Modified fluorimetric method for corticosterone estimation and its application for measurement of corticosterone content in rat serum tissues and mitochondria. Ind. J. Biochem. Biophys. 42: 48-53.

Samir P. Patel – skpate2@uky.edu

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, India. B.Sc., 1998, Zoology

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, INDIA. M.Sc., 2000, Biochemisty

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, INDIA. Ph.D. 2006, Biochemisty

University of Kentucky, Post Doctoral Fellow. 2006-Present, SCoBIRC

Research Interests

The main aim of my research is to characterize the role of mitochondria in the development of secondary pathophysiology and tissue damage after contusion spinal cord injury (SCI) in adult rats. Using sensitive biochemical assessments of isolated mitochondria, behavioral testing of injured animals, and long-term histological outcome measures, I am further investigating the in vivo administration of novel pharmacological interventions designed to maintain mitochondrial integrity and minimize secondary tissue damage, with the ultimate goal of enhancing functional recovery following contusion SCI.

Mentor

Dr. Alexander G. Rabchevsky

Publications

Patel, S. P.; Sullivan, P. G.; Pandya, J.D. and Rabchevsky, A. G. (2009) Differential effects of the mitochondrial uncoupling agent, 2,4-Dinitrophenol, or the nitroxide antioxidant, Tempol, on synaptic or non-synaptic mitochondria following spinal cord injury. J. Neurosci. Res. 87:130-140.

Patel, S. P.; Gamboa, J. L.; McMullen, C. A.; Rabchevsky, A. G. and Andrade, F. H. (2009) Extraocular muscle mitochondria have a lower respiratory capacity: evidence for intrinsic differences in mitochondrial composition and function. Invest. Ophthalmol. Visual Sci. 50:180-186

Katyare S. S., Patel, S. P. and Modi H. R. (2008) Diabetic modulation of the temperature kinetics properties of cytochrome oxidase activity in rat brain mitochondria. Neurochem Res. 33:422-429.

Modi, H. R., Patel S. P., Katyare S. S. and Patel M. A. (2007) Thyroid hormone treatments differentially affect kinetic properties of FoF1 ATPase and succinate oxidase and lipid/phospholipid composition of rat kidney mitochondria. a correlative study. J. Membr. Biol. 215:135-145.

Sullivan, P. G., Krishnamurthy, S., Patel, S. P., Pandya, J. D. and Rabchevsky, A. G. (2007) Temporal characterization of mitochondrial bioenergetics after spinal cord injury. J. Neurotrauma. 24:991-999.

Billimoria, F. R., Katyare, S. S. and Patel, S. P. (2006) insulin status differentially affects energy transduction in cardiac mitochondria from male and female rats. Dia. Obes. Metab. 8:67-74.

Patel, S. P. and Katyare, S. S. (2006)Effect of alloxan-diabetes and subsequent treatment with insulin on lipid/phospholipid composition of rat brain microsomes and mitochondria. Neurosci. Lett. 399:129-134.

Katyare, S. S. and Patel, S. P. (2006) Insulin status differentially affects energy transduction in cerebral mitochondria from male and female rats. Brain Res. Bull. 69:458-464.

Patel, S. P. and Katyare, S. S. (2006) Insulin-status-dependent modulation of FoF1 ATPase activity in rat liver mitochondria. Lipids 41:695-703.

Patel, S. P. and Katyare, S. S. (2006) Insulin-status-dependent alterations in lipid/phospholipid composition of rat kidney mitochondria and microsomes. Lipids. 41:819-825.

Patel, S. P. and Katyare, S. S. (2006) Insulin-status-dependent modulation of FoF1 ATPase activity in rat kidney mitochondria. Arch. Physiol. Biochem. 112:150-157.

Yang Ping

Colin Rogers - Colin.rogers@uky.edu

Auburn University, B.Sc., 2002, Molecular Biology

Auburn University, Ph.D., 2009, Biomedical Sciences

University of Florida, Postdoctoral Associate, 2009-2010, Translational Oncology

University of Kentucky, Postdoctoral Scholar, 2010-present, SCoBIRC

Research Interests

Using cell culture and animal models to investigate mechanisms implicated in the secondary neurodegeneration following spinal cord injury. My primary focus is on understanding the role of the calpain/calpastatin system in spinal cord injury and the potential of calpain inhibition as a therapeutic target for spinal cord injury.

Mentor

Dr. James Geddes

Publications

Rogers, C.B., H.G. Edwards, D.D. Schwartz. Heat stress and I/R cause oxidative stress via NOX4 in hypothalamic neurons. BBRC. In Review, 2011.

Edwards, H.G., Rogers, C.B., El-Orabi,N., Schwartz, D.D. Activation of Nrf2 required for protection against lethal oxidative stress in H9c2 cardiac cells. Free Radical Research. In Review, 2011.

Rogers, C.B., Liu, G., Gordon, V.S., Munoz, D., Reisman, D.N. Novel BRM promoter polymorphisms and loss of BRM expression in Lung Cancer. Oncogene. Accepted for publication, 2011.

El-Orabi, N.F., Rogers, C.B., Edwards, H.G., Schwartz, D.D. Heat-induced inhibition of superoxide dismutase and accumulation of reactive oxygen species leads to HT-22 neuronal cell death. Journal of Thermal Biology. doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio. 2010. 11.02, 2010.

Gordon, V.S., Rogers, C., Reisman, D. Alteration to the SWI/SNF complex in human cancers. Oncology Reviews. 4:89-99, 2010.

Pooja Talauliker

Thersa Currier Thomas - theresa.thomas@uky.edu

Education

University of Kentucky, B.Sc. 1999, Agricultural Biotechnology

University of Kentucky, Ph.D., 2008, Anatomy and Neurobiology

University of Kentucky, Postdoctoral Scholar, 2008, SCoBIRC

Research Interests

Using enzyme-based, multi-site microelectrodes to measure extracellular glutamate in diffuse brain injured circuits and provide a neurochemical profile of the microenvironment surrounding the recording sites. These techniques can be employed in an acute or chronic indwelling protocol and then correlated to behavior and histopathology.

Mentor

Dr. Jonathan Lifshitz

Funding

NIA Training Grant 2T32AG000242-16 “Cellular and Molecular Basis of Brain Aging” 2009-2011.

Publications

T.C. Thomas, D.K. Grandy, G.A. Gerhardt, P.E.A. Glaser. Decreased Dopamine D4 Receptor Expression Increases Extracellular Glutamate and Alters Its Regulation in Mouse Striatum. Accepted for publication in Neuropsychopharmacology - April 2008.

T.C. Thomas, P.J. Kruzich, B.M. Joyce, K. Suchland, S.P. Surgener, E.C. Rutherford, D.K. Grandy, G.A. Gerhardt, P.E.A. Glaser. Dopamine D4 receptor knockout mice exhibit neurochemical changes consistent with decreased dopamine release. J Neurosci Methods. 2007 Nov 30;166(2):306-314.

P.E.A. Glaser, T.C. Thomas, B.M. Joyce, F.X. Castellanos, G.A. Gerhardt. Differential effects of amphetamine isomers on dopamine release in the rat striatum and nucleus accumbens core. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005 Mar;178(2-3):250-8.

M.F. Salvatore, J. Zhang, D.M. Large, P.E. Wilson, C.R. Gash, T.C. Thomas, J.W. Haycock, G. Bing, J.A. Stanford, D.M. Gash, G.A. Gerhardt. Striatal GDNF administration increases tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation in the rat striatum and substantia nigra. J Neurochem. 2004 Jul;90(1):245-54.

M.S. Purdom, J.A. Stanford, T.D. Currier, G.A. Gerhardt. Microdialysis studies of D-amphetamine-evoked striatal dopamine overflow in young versus aged F344 rats: effects of concentration and order of administration. Brain Res. 2003 Jul 25;979(1-2):203-9.

J.A. Stanford, T.D. Currier, G.A. Gerhardt. Acute locomotor effects of fluoxetine, sertraline, and nomifensine in young versus aged Fischer 344 rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2002 Jan-Feb;71(1-2):325-32.

J.A. Stanford, T.D. Currier, M.S. Purdom, G.A. Gerhardt. Nomifensine reveals age-related changes in K(+)-evoked striatal DA overflow in F344 rats. Neurobiol Aging. 2001 May-Jun;22(3):495-502.

Nishant P. Visavadiya – nishant.visavadiya@uky.edu

Education

Saurashtra University, Gujarat, INDIA. B.Sc., 1999, Zoology.

Sardar Patel University, Gujarat, INDIA. M.Sc., 2001, Zoology.

Sardar Patel University, Gujarat, INDIA. Ph.D., 2006, Zoology.

University of Kentucky, Postdoctoral Scholar, 2008-2009, GCNS.

University of Kentucky, Postdoctoral Scholar, 2009, SCoBIRC.

Research Interests

The focus of current project is to understand the mechanism of secondary injury following spinal cord injury (SCI), including glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative damage. In addition, I plan to evaluate the therapeutic potential of NIM811, a non-immunosuppressive cyclosporin A derivative, and Neu2000, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist and free radical scavenger, as neuroprotective treatments for secondary injury following experimental SCI.

Mentor

Dr. Joe E. Springer

Publications

Visavadiya NP, Soni B, Dalwadi N & Madamwar D. Chlorophytum borivilianum as potential terminator of free radicals in various in vitro oxidation systems. Drug & Chemical Toxicology (In press).

Visavadiya NP, Soni B & Dalwadi N. Free radical scavenging and antiatherogenic activities of Sesamum indicum seed extract in chemical and biological model systems. Food & Chemical Toxicology 2009, 47: 2507-2515.

Soni B, Visavadiya NP & Madamwar D. Attenuation of diabetic complications by C-phycoerythrin in rats: antioxidant activity of C-phycoerythrin including copper-induced lipoprotein and serum oxidation. British Journal of Nutrition 2009, 102: 102-109.

Visavadiya NP, Soni B & Madamwar D. Suppression of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide by Asparagus racemosus root extract using In vitro studies. Cellular & Molecular Biology 2009, 55: OL1083-OL1095.

Visavadiya NP & Narasimhacharya AVRL. Asparagus root regulates cholesterol metabolism and improves antioxidant status in hypercholesteremic rats. eCAM 2009, 6: 219–226.

Soni B, Visavadiya NP & Madamwar D. Ameliorative action of cyanobacterial phycoerythrin on CCL4-induced toxicity in rats. Toxicology 2008, 248: 59–65.

Visavadiya NP & Narasimhacharya AVRL. Ameliorative effect of Chlorophytum borivilianum root on lipid metabolism in hyperlipaemic rats. Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology 2007, 34: 244-249.

Visavadiya NP & Narasimhacharya AVRL. Hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Linn) in rats. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 2006, 50: 1080–1086.