Potential Faculty Mentors, Project Titles and Descriptions for Research Semester 2014
Faculty Mentor / Title of Project and project number / Contact InformationAhn, Changwoo
Associate Professor
Department of Environmental Science and Policy / 1. Effects of Plant Diversity on Soil Quality Development in Mesocosm Wetlands
2. Soil Bacterial Community Patterns / Changwoo Ahn
Ascoli, Giorgio
Professor,
Molecular Neuroscience, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study / 3. Hippocampome Project
4. NeuroMorpho.Org / Giorgio Ascoli
Baranova, Ancha
Associate Professor,
School of Systems Biology; Director, Study of Chronic Metabolic Diseases
and
Birerdinc, Aybike
Research Assistant Professor, School of Systems Biology; Assistant Director, Study of Chronic Metabolic Diseases / 5. Molecular Pathways Involved in the Pathogenesis of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Other Obesity Related Pathologies
6. Candidate genes in esophageal cancer: Novel Human Tumor Suppressor Gene Candidates Identified by Exome Sequencing
7. The Development of In Vitro System for Migraine Studies / Baranova, Ancha
Birerdinc, Aybike
NB: Research site - Inova Hospital on Gallows Road
Blackwell, Kim L. (Avrama) Professor,
Molecular Neuroscience, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study / 8A. and 8B.
Signaling pathways involved in striatal synaptic plasticity / Avrama Blackwell
Cox, Daniel
Associate Professor
and Graduate Program Director,
School of Systems Biology and
Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study / 9. Transcriptional and Cytoskeletal Control Mechanisms of Dendrite Development
10. Epigenetic Regulation Via MicroRNAs of Class Specific Dendrite Morphogenesis
11. Genetic Analysis of Pain Sensation in Response to Noxious Cold Stimuli / Daniel N Cox
de Mutsert, Kim
Assistant Professor,
Department of Environmental Science & Policy / 12. Fish diets and food webs in tidal freshwater ecosystems
13. The larval fish community composition of tidal freshwater ecosystems / Kim de Mutsert
Dumas, Theodore
Assistant Professor of Molecular Neuroscience,
Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study / 14. Pharmacological Ignition of Hippocampal Function In Juvenile Rats
15. Synaptic and Cognitive Development in NMDA Receptor Chimeric Mice
16. Neuronal Silencing the Mouse Hippocampus Using the Fly Allatostatin Receptor
17. Tardigrades and the Survival of Learned Information in a Cryogenic Regime (with Dr. Harold Morowitz) / Theodore C Dumas
Frankenfeld, Cara
Assistant Professor,
Global & Community Health, College of Health & Human Services / 18. Nutrition and Environmental Risk Factors for Human Health Conditions / Cara Frankenfeld
Gallo, Sina
Assistant Professor,
Department of Nutrition and Food Studies
College of Health and Human Services / 19. Predictors of Adiposity in Preschool-Aged Children / Sina Gallo
Gillevet, Patrick
Professor,
Department of Environmental Science and Policy
Director,
MicroBiome Analysis Center / 20. Metabiome of Human Disease
21. Microbial Ecology of Environmental Disease / Patrick Gillevet
Grant, Geraldine M.
Associate Professor,
School of Systems Biology / 22. Studies of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
A. Over expression of KLF4 in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
B. Localization of KLF4 in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) by immunohistochemistry.
C. Effect of cytokine exposure on the activation status of a novel human lung fibroblast population.
D. Investigations for novel surface and secreted markers for human fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in IPF.
23. Tissue Engineering / Geraldine M Grant
Hakami, Ramin
Assistant Professor,
School of Systems Biology / 24. Exosome-mediated intercellular communication during bacterial infections.
25. Host signaling during infection with biodefense bacterial agents. / Ramin Hakami
Hamdan, Leila J.
Assistant Professor,
Department of Environmental Science and Policy / 26. Microbial ecology of the marine deep biosphere /
Jafri, Saleet
Professor,
Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, School of Systems Biology and Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study / 27. Systems Biology Approaches to Understanding Cardiac Arrhythmias / Saleet Jafri
Jones, R.C.
Professor,
Department of Environmental Science and Policy / 28. Water Quality and Aquatic Ecology in The Tidal Potomac River and its Local Tributaries / R Christian Jones
Kabbani, Nadine
Assistant Professor,
Molecular Neuroscience, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study / 29. Axon Growth and Regeneration in the Brain / Nadine Kabbani
Luther, David
Assistant Professor,
Biology Department / 30. The Evolution of Acoustic Competition in Songbirds / David Luther
Kehn-Hall, Kylene
Assistant Professor,
National Center for Biodefense & Infectious Diseases,
School of Systems Biology / 31. Novel Therapeutics for Viral Infections
32. Secretome of Viral Infections / Kylene Kehn-Hall
Paige, Mikell
Assistant Professor,
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry / 33. Design and Synthesis of Inhibitors of Protein-Protein Interactions for the Treatment of Cancers
34. Synthesis and Characterization of a Breast Homing Peptide Conjugate for the Treatment of Breast Cancer
35. Investigating the Pathobiology of Lung Cancer / Mikell Paige
Peters, Esther
Associate Professor,
Department of Environmental Science and Policy / 36. Using Histology to Understand Interactions between Organisms and the Environment / Esther Peters
Pollack, Anna
Assistant Professor,
Global & Community Health College of Health & Human Services / 37. Environmental Chemical Exposure and Women’s Health / Anna Pollack
Popov, Serguei
Professor,
Center for Biodefense & Infectious Disease,
School of Systems Biology / 38. Novel Aspect of Anthrax Toxicity: Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species Generated by Bacterial Cells.
39. Nanoparticles for Interrogation of the Infectious Disease Mechanisms / Serguei Popov
Van der Ham, Joris
Adjunct Assistant Professor,
Department of Environmental Science and Policy / 40. Biodiversity of Virginia Spring Seeps
41. Succession of Invertebrate Communities in Potomac Tributaries
42. Insects of the George Mason University campus / Joris Van der Ham
van Hoek, Monique
Associate Professor,
School of Systems Biology / 43. Antimicrobial Peptides
44. Novel Antibiotics / Monique Van Hoek
Willett, James D.
Professor and Director,
School of Systems Biology / 45. Exploring Metabolic Changes in Very Old Nematodes / Willett Jim
Wu, Yuntao
Professor,
School of Systems Biology / 46. Role of Pyk2 activation in HIV infection
47. Role of Jak/Stat pathway in HIV infection / Yuntao Wu
Description of Potential Projects for Research Semester, Fall 2014
1. Effects of Plant Diversity on Soil Quality Development in Mesocosm Wetlands
This study investigates the nutrient levels in tissues in wetland plants and calculates the ratios of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, aiming to test if the ratios can be used as an indicator for predicting productivity of a wetland. The project also involves studying the relationship between plant diversity and productivity in created wetlands.
2. Soil Bacterial Community Patterns
This study investigates soil bacterial community patterns as affected by initial planting richness in three year old mesocosm wetlands. The student will conduct DNA extraction from mesocosm soil samples and fingerprint them using T-RFLP, and analyze them by different make-up of wetland vegetation. There is a potential for the student to be trained in molecular analysis of samples at the USGS, Reston, VA.
3. The Hippocampome Project
In the same vein as a genome, the Hippocampome is envisioned as the ultimate knowledge base describing the structure, activity, and function of the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for processing conscious autobiographic memories and plans. The foundation of this project is a catalogue of the many classes of neurons found in the hippocampus and the wiring diagram that interconnects all of them. The descriptions of these classes are distilled from data published in peer-reviewed journals. Compiling and collating all of this knowledge into a single computerized resource will uncover new correlations and interrelations that will help discover the cellular mechanisms of hippocampal function and dysfunction. The student will learn to identify dendritic and axonal morphologies, microscopy techniques for their visualization, how they relate to the surrounding nervous tissue, and their effect on neuronal activity and network function. See also http://hippocampome.org and http://krasnow.gmu.edu/cn3
4. NeuroMorpho.Org
NeuroMorpho.Org is a central, one-of-a-kind online neuroscience resource that provides free worldwide access to 3D digital reconstructions of neurons. Neurons are traced from microscopy imaging in many types of research laboratories, from the study of pharmacology to that of development. These same data can be reanalyzed for additional discoveries, including computational models of brain function. Data are deposited in NeuroMorpho.Org from various species ranging from flies, to rats, to humans, to elephants. Millions of neurons have been downloaded in more than 100 countries. NeuroMorpho.Org is a leading project in the emerging trend of data sharing in the neuroscience community that aims to maximize the research potential of collected data. The student will learn to identify dendritic and axonal morphologies, microscopy techniques for their visualization, how they relate to the surrounding nervous tissue, and their effect on neuronal activity and network function. See also http://NeuroMorpho.Org
5. Molecular Pathways Involved in the Pathogenesis of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Other Obesity Related Pathologies
Obesity is the abnormal or excessive increase in adiposity. Lately, obesity has got attention as the state of low grade chronic inflammation characterized by both macrophage infiltration of AT and increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines that play a role in insulin resistance (IR). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disease that comprises a morphological spectrum of liver pathologies ranging from simple triglyceride accumulation in hepatocytes (fatty liver or hepatic steatosis) to inflammatory conditions (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; NASH), eventually leading to fibrosis and cirrhosis.
The major goals of the proposed studies are designed to provide novel insight into the molecular mechanisms by which adipose tissue of obese individuals promotes the development of secondary complication of obesity.
Techniques: ELISA assays, Bio-Plex assays, qRT-PCR, Cell culture
6. Candidate genes in esophageal cancer: Novel Human Tumor Suppressor Gene Candidates Identified by Exome Sequencing
Eleven NGS exome sequences have been performed on patients with genetic predisposition to esophageal cancer, from the same region. I have long lists of variations, and I will need a student to analyze these variations for their functional meaning and narrow down candidate gene lists for further studies. Preliminary work will be performed in the Spring 2014 semester. The Fall student will pick up where the other student leaves off and proceed with experimental studies of select candidates in a cell-based system.
7. The Development of In Vitro System for Migraine Studies
Migraine is a painful neurological disorder that affects 16% of the general population. Most commonly known triggers include sensory stimuli (light, smell), stress, changes in sleeping pattern or environment and certain foods. Serum levels of CGRP (Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide) are elevated in patients during migraine and cluster headaches. The ability of injected CGRP to induce migraine like headaches and of a CGRP receptor antagonist to provide relief in migraine clinical trials has established the involvement of CGRP in migraine. The aim of this/the project is to determine the expression of Cgrp in CA77 cells after exposure to potential migraine provoking food compounds. The cell line used for research is thyroid C-cell line, CA77 that is derived from calcitonin secreting endocrine cells of neural crest origin. CA77 cells possess neuronal properties. RT-qPCR will be used to monitor the CGRP expression to identify the chemicals that affect the development of migraine. This research project would generate and characterize a valuable model that will eventually help to understand the effect of exposure to various triggering food components on the pathogenesis of migraine. This research study is focused on the screening of migraine-provoking food compounds. We expect to quantify expression levels of Cgrp in the CA77 cells before and after exposure to a number of potential migraine provoking foods and measure the Cgrp expression by using qPCR technique.
8. Signaling Pathways Involved in Striatal Synaptic Plasticity
The striatum is a brain structure that governs habit and skill learning. In addition, Parkinson’s Disease and Huntington’s Disease are neurodegenerative diseases that involve the striatum. In this structure, the main neurons are the medium spiny projection neurons (MSPNs). They receive both excitatory inputs from the cerebral cortex, and dopamine inputs. Learning occurs when the cortical inputs and dopamine inputs are activated with appropriate temporal interval. We are studying the mechanisms that produce the plasticity underlying learning in striatal neurons.
8A) One project involves behavioral and electrophysiological experiments. The student will train rats to learn that turning in one direction is rewarded. Early in training this task requires the hippocampus, but later in training, when it has become a habit, the task requires the striatum. In addition, the student will learn to do electrophysiology, and evaluate the conditions that produce plasticity. Specifically, the student will investigate the dependence of plasticity on dopamine receptors and also acetylcholine receptors.
8B) A second project involves computer modeling. The student will develop biochemical kinetic models of signaling pathways underlying striatal synaptic plasticity. Knowledge of calculus and computer programming is advantageous but not required. The student will learn how experimental design applies to computer simulations.
9. Transcriptional and Cytoskeletal Control Mechanisms of Dendrite Development
The major goals of the proposed studies are designed to provide novel insight into the molecular mechanisms by which transcriptional and cytoskeletal regulation mediate class-specific dendrite homeostasis. We have identified a broad set of transcription factors that exhibit differential gene expression among distinct subclasses of neurons via class-specific microarray analyses and have been demonstrated to function in the specification of differential dendrite morphology. Specific functional areas of interest that are under transcriptional control include: autophagy, ribosome biogenesis, and cytoskeletal regulation. This project will afford students the operate to explore one or more of these questions using novel genetic tools and state-of-the-art cellular imaging techniques. This project likewise offers opportunities for students interested in genomic analyses and computational modeling/modeling.
Techniques: advanced genetics for temporal and spatial control of gene expression, phenotypic analyses of living neurons in real time, molecular biology, three-dimensional confocal laser scanning microscopy, and quantitative digital reconstructions of neuronal morphology.
10. Epigenetic Regulation via MicroRNAs of Class Specific Dendrite Morphogenesis
The major goals of the proposed studies seek to investigate the regulatory and epigenetic effect of microRNAs (miRNA) on differential dendrite morphogenesis within distinct neuronal subtypes. miRNAs play a critical role in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression within the genome and we have demonstrated via miRNA microarrays that there is differential expression of miRNAs in different neuron subclasses. Moreover, through a genome-wide screen we have identified and initially characterized >75 miRNAs that regulate this process. The proposed project will further explore the effects of of these miRNAs and their regulatory mRNA targets in Drosophila sensory neurons and examine in living organisms how these miRNAs mechanistically control unique aspects of dendrite development.