SCoBIRC POST-DOCTORAL TRAINEES

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Post-Doctoral Trainee Alumni | Graduate Student Alumni

AnShu Chen - achen2@uky.edu

Education

Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China, B. Sc., 1998, Pharmacy

Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China, Ph.D., 2003, Biochemical Pharmacology

Meharry Medical College, Postdoc, 2004-2006, Proteomics

University of Kentucky, Postdoc, 2006, Neuroproteomics

Research Interests

The central focus of my research is to use two-dimensional difference in gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) coupled with mass spectrometry proteomic technology as a non-biased tool to elucidate the mechanisms of acute spinal cord dysfunction. An additional goal is the discovery of novel biomarker candidates to evaluate injury by identifying dynamical changes in protein levels following contusive spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.

Mentor

Dr. Joe E. Springer

Publications

An-Shu Chen, Ichitomo Miwa et al. Effect of Chitobiose and Chitotriose on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Hepatoxicity in Rat. Biol. Pharm. Bull 2005; 28 (10): 1971-1973

An-Shu Chen, Hirokazu Okamoto, Kazumi Danjo, Ichitomo Miwa et al. Pharmacokinetics of Chitobiose and Chitotriose Administered Intravenously or Orally to Rats. Biol. Pharm. Bull 2005; 28 (3): 545-548

An-Shu Chen, Akira Kamei, Ichitomo Miwa et al. Pyridoxal-Aminoguanidine Adduct Is More Effective than Aminoguanidine in Preventing Neuropathy and Cataract in Diabetic Rats. Horm. Metab. Res. 2004; 36: 183-187

An-Shu Chen, Ichitomo Miwa et al. Antioxidant Activity of a Schiff Base of Pyridoxal and Aminoguanidine. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 2003; 35 (11): 1392-1403

An-Shu Chen, Ichitomo Miwa et al. Antioxidant Activities of Chitobiose and Chitotriose. Biol. Pharm. Bull 2003; 26 (9): 1326-1330

Ichitomo Miwa, An-Shu Chen, Tadao Taguchi, Sayaka Aoyama, Michiharu Sugiura, Naohito Takeda, Tadashi Takashima. Comparison in Antioxidant Activity between Pyridoxal-Aminoguanidine adduct and Aminoguanidine. Journal of Research Institute of Meijo University 2003; 2:19-26 (In Japanese)

An-Shu Chen, Min-Wei Wang, Jun-Jiu Xu, Le-Ling Gan. Effects of Cytochrome-c on Acute Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Hepatic Injury and Experimental Acute Hypoxic Stress in Mice. Journal of Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 2002; 19:46-49 (In Chinese)

AnShu Chen, Bei-Li Qian. Development of Toxicology in 2000 (Review). Research of Shanghai Medicinal Message 2000; 4: 26-33 (In Chinese)

Gabrielle M. Curinga - gcuringa@uky.edu

Education

LeMonye College, B.Sc., 1994, Biology

University of Washington, Ph.D., 2003 Pathology

University of Kentucky, Postdoctoral Scholar, 2004, SCoBIRC.

Research Interests

Develeoping therapeutic strategies to enhance axon regeneration following spinal cord injury. My current project focuses on a gene therapy approach to mitigate inhibition by chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans which upregulated in the glial scar following injury.

Mentors

Dr. George Smith and Dr. Diane Snow

Funding

NIH T32 NRSA Post-doctoral Translational Neuroscience Training Grant, "Therapeutic Strategies for Neurodegeneration," 2007-2008.

University of Kentucky Minorities and Women in Underrepresented Areas Fellowship 2005-2007

Publications

Curinga GM, Snow DM, Mashburn C, Kohler K, Thaboben R, Caggiano AO, Smith GM (2007). "Mammalian-produced chondroitinase AC mitigates axon inhibition by chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans." Journal of Neurochemistry. 102 (1): 275-88.

Heron PM, Sutton BM, Curinga GM, Smith GM, and Snow DM (2007). "Gene expression of axon guidance molecules in neuronal co-cultures." Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 159 (2): 203-14.

Yang H, Curinga G, and Giachelli CM (2004). "Elevated Extracellular Calcium Levels Induce Smooth Muscle Cell Matrix Mineralization in vitro." Kidney International. 66 (6): 2293-9.

Steitz SA, Speer MY, Curinga G, Yang HY, Haynes P, Aebersold R, Schinke T, Karsenty G, and Giachelli CM (2001). "Smooth muscle cell phenotypic transition associated with calcification: upregulation of Cbfal and downregulation of smooth muscle lineage markers." Circulation Research. 89 (12): 1147-54.

Curinga G, Snow DM, Smith GM 2008. "Mechanisms regulating interpretation of guidance cues during development, maturation, and following injury." Reviews in the Neurosciences- In Press.

Curinga G, Smith GM. 2008. Molecular/genetic manipulation of extrinsic axon guidance factors for CNS repair and regeneration. Experimental Neurology 209(2):333-42.

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.

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

KSCHIRT "Somatosensory Circuit Disruption and Rehabilitation after Diffuse Brain Injury" 2008-2011.

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.

Radhika A Vaishnav - rvais2@uky.edu

Education

Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, B.Sc., 1996, Zoology

Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, M.S., 1998, Biochemisty

Loyola University Chicago, M.S., 2002, Molecular Biology

University of Kentucky, Ph.D., 2007, Physiology

University of Kentucky, Postdoctoral Scholar, 2007, SCoBIRC

Research Interests

Spinal cord injury ( SCI) is a devastating condition that affects active individuals of all ages for whom treatment options remain inadequate. Two well-established injury mechanisms are reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated oxidative damage to lipids and proteins; and the activation of calcium-dependent proteases (calpains) and consequent breakdown of a number of proteins, including cytoskeletal proteins. Despite the progress made in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration following acute SCI, treatment of this condition has remained a challenge. The overall aim of my research is to systematically block post-traumatic neurodegeneration following SCI by scavenging ROS and inhibiting calpain-mediated proteolytic degradation of the neuronal cytoskeleton. These fundamental studies will provide a foundation for future translational studies in human SCI.

Mentor

Dr. Edward D. Hall

Funding

NIH T32 NRSA Post-doctoral Translational Neuroscience Training Grant, "Therapeutic Strategies for Neurodegeneration," 2007-2009.

Publications

R.A. Vaishnav, M.L. Getchell, L. Huang, M. Hersh, A.J. Stromberg, T.V. Getchell "Cellular and molecular characterization of oxidative stress in the olfactory epithelium of the Harlequin mutant mouse." J. Neurosci. Res., 2008; 86(1):165-182.

R.A. Vaishnav, M.L. Getchell, H.F. Poon, K.R. Barnett, W.M. Pierce, J.B. Klein, S.A. Hunter, D.A. Butterfield, T.V. Getchell "Oxidative stress in the aging murine olfactory bulb: redox proteomics and cellular localization." J. Neurosci. Res., 2007; 85(2):373-85.

M.L. Getchell, H. Liu, R.A. Vaishnav, A.S. Borders, J. Witta, N. Subhedar, W. de Villiers, A.J. Stromberg, T.V. Getchell "Temporal gene expression profiles of target-ablated olfactory epithelium in mice with disrupted expression of scavenger receptor A: impact on macrophages." Physiol. Genomics, 2006; 27(3):245-63.

H.F. Poon, R.A. Vaishnav, T.V. Getchell, M.L. Getchell, D.A. Butterfield "Quantitative proteomics analysis of specific protein expression and oxidative modification in aged mice brain - insights into compensatory mechanisms for lost protein activity due to age-related oxidative modification." Neurobiol. Aging, 2006; 27(7):1010-9.

H.F. Poon, R.A. Vaishnav (co-first author), D.A. Butterfield, M.L. Getchell, T.V. Getchell "Proteomic identification of differentially expressed proteins in the aging murine olfactory system and transcriptional analysis of the associated genes." J. Neurochem., 2005; 94, 380-392.

T.V. Getchell, H. Liu, R.A. Vaishnav, K. Kwong, A.J. Stromberg, and M.L. Getchell "Temporal profiling of gene expression during neurogenesis and remodeling in the olfactory epithelium at short intervals after target ablation." J. Neurosci. Res., 2005; 80(3):309-29.

K. Kwong, R.A. Vaishnav, Y. Liu, N. Subhedar, A.J. Stromberg, M.L. Getchell, and T.V. Getchell "Target ablation-induced regulation of macrophage recruitment into the olfactory epithelium of Mip-1alpha-/- mice and restoration of function by exogenous MIP-1alpha." Physiol. Genomics., 2004; 20(1):73-86.

S. Weijzen, P. Rizzo, M. Braid, R. Vaishnav, S.M. Jonkheer, A. Zlobin, B.A. Osborne, S. Gottipati, J.C. Aster, W.C. Hahn, M. Rudolf, K. Siziopikou, W.M. Kast, L. Miele "Activation of Notch-1 signaling maintains the neoplastic phenotype in Ras-transformed cells." Nature Medicine, 2002; 8(9):979-86