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Genetic science research

SSB Alumni Research Topics

Current and Prospective SSB students should use this page when searching for academic advisers

MS Bioinformatics

Research Topic: Unbinding of A-beta peptides from amyloid fibrils: Explicit solvent molecular dynamics study (Klimov) - 2008

Research Topic: Annotation of Mariprofundus Ferroxydans bacterial genome (Seto) - 2008

Research Topic: DNA to Protein Patenting Issues (Gillevet) - 2008

Research Topic: Computational modeling of the Cofilin Pathway Advisor (Jafri) - 2008

Research Topic: Comparison of two genome sequences representing Ad5 and a recent isolate Ad5FS for recombination (Seto) - 2008

Research Topic: Study of recombinant adenoviruses in humans Advisor (Seto) - 2008

Research Topic: Evolution and variation of the human adenovirus Advisor (Seto) - 2007

 

PhD Bioinformatics

Project: Computational Geometry Approach to the Analysis of Organism-Dependent Features in Protein Structures (Vaisman) -2009

Project: Gene association study of spatial working memory (Fryxell) - 2009

Project: Genomic Profiling of Blood for Stroke Diagnosis (Solka) - 2009

Project: Elucidating a splice variant list using the Affymetrix Human Exon 1.0 St Array: effective probeset filters are essential (Solka) - 2009

Project: Origin and Evolution of Cultivated Agrostis Spp (Seto) - 2009

Project: A Network-Based Approach to Prioritize Results from Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) in Multigenic Traits (Seto) - 2009

Project: Exploring Protein Folding in-vivo Using Coarse Grained Models (Klimov) - 2008

Project: Data Mining Human Adenovirus Genomes Using Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics Approaches (Seto) - 2008

Project: Calcineurin-NFAT Signaling Network: Microarray Meta-Analysis on Mouse Genome (Jafri) - 2008

Project: A Computational Study of Excitation-Contraction Coupling: Mechanisms of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Leak and the Role of Mitochondria in Myoplasmic Calcium Regulation (Jafri) - 2008

Project: Computational Mutagenesis Models for Protein Activity and Stability Analysis  (Vaisman) - 2007

Project: Adaptation and use of four-body statistical potential to examine thermodynamic properties of proteins (Vaisman) - 2007

Project: On the Complexity Measures of Protein Mutant Activity, Stability, and Evolution (Vaisman) - 2007

Project: A computational geometry approach to the analysis of structure-function relationship in Beta strand proteins (Vaisman) - 2007

Project: A computational study of excitation contracrtion coupling in rat ventricular myocytes (Jafri) - 2007

Project: Validating Gene Expression Results from Microarray Dat (Solka/Weller) - 2007

Project: A computational analysis of signal transduction pathways and transcriptional factors in T lymphocytes (Jafri) - 2007

Project: Computational Approaches to Study Structural and Functional Effects of Single Point Mutations (Vaisman) - 2006

Project: Application of statistical geometry to the functional analysis of protein mutants (Vaisman) - 2006

Project: Site identification in proteins using a computational geometry approach and multi-body statistical potentials (Vaisman) - 2006

Project: Deriving Meaningful Structure from Spectral Embedding (Solka) - 2006

Project: Co-expressed gene clusters in the human and mouse genomes, mutational analysis of SNPS, and DNA microarray methods (Fryxell) - 2006

Project: A Computational model of the Regulation of Mitochondrial Respiration in Cardiac Ventricular Myocytes (Jafri) - 2006

Project: Computational Studies of Structure and Function of Viral Reverse Transcriptase (Vaisman) - 2006

Project: Analysis of the structure and topology of real and model proteins using Delaunay tessellation - 2006 (Vaisman)

Project: Prediction of Dimeric Structure of Proteins from Amino Acid Sequences (Gillevet) - 2000

MS BIOL - Bacteriology

PROJECT: An Environmental Health Specialist’s 3-Pronged Approach for the Improved Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Campylobacter Foodborne Illness Infections for Investigation (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

THESIS:Mechanisms of Innate Immune Response Activation in Human Monocytes by Small Extracellular Vesicles Released During Infection with Burkholderia thailandensis (Dr. Hakami) - 2022

THESIS:Type VI Secretion System Facilitates Intraspecies Killing in Vibrio Vulnificus via the Associated Rhs Toxin/Antitoxin System (Dr. Froelich) - 2022

THESIS: Regulatory Effects of Iron and Quorum Sensing on Virulence Factor Expression in Vibrio vulnificus (Dr. Froelich) - 2022

THESIS:Vibrio vulnificus Genotypes Exhibit a “Rock-Paper-Scissors” Pattern of Integration into Marine Aggregates and Uptake into Oyster Matrices (Dr. Froelich) - 2022

PROJECT: Differential microRNA expression in extracellular vesicles from Francisella novicida infected macrophages (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2022

PROJECT:Comparison of Long-read Sequencing Technologies for Clinical Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Testing (Dr. Gillevet/ Dr. Hauser)  - 2022

THESIS:β-lactamases in Francisella novicida (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2022

PROJECT: The Presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis and the Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis (Dr. Baranova) - 2021

THESIS: The Characterization of Tuberculosis Urinary Peptidome in Pediatric Patients  (Dr. Luchini) – 2021

PROJECT: Azetreonam and carbapenemase resistance in Francisella and the role of beta-lactamase (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2020

THESIS: Komodo-dragon inspired cathelicidin peptides are antibacterial against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2020

THESIS: Investigation of the Role of the capBCA Locus in Francisella novicida (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2019

PROJECT:A mechanism of Autophagy Regulation during Yersinia pestis and the effects on bacterial uptake and bacterial growth. (Dr. Hakami) - 2019

PROJECT:Potential use of Allium sativum extract in therapeutics for the treatment of S. aureus infection in atopic dermatitis patients (Dr. Baranova) - 2019

THESIS: Acetylation as a regulatory mechanism of chitinase activity in Francisella tularensis subsp. Novicida (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2019

THESIS: The Role of Vesicular Transport through Exosomal Exchange in the Pathogenesis of Burkholderia pseudomallei (Dr. Hakami) - 2018

PROJECT:Preventing the production of trimethylamine-N-oxide by gut bacteria to reduce cholesterol buildup in the heart (Dr. Baranova) - 2018

PROJECT:Salmonella: A Review of Food-Borne Illnesses and Resulting Actions That Can be Taken to Mitigate Outbreaks and Their Severity (Dr. Luchini) – 2018

PROJECT: Drug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Resistance Mechanisms and the Future of Treatment (Dr. Baranova) - 2017

THESIS: The Effect of Curcumin on Francisella and FtsZ (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2017

THESIS:Cold Shock Proteins in Francisella novicida(Dr. Van Hoek) – 2017

THESIS: Novel Antimicrobial Peptides in Alligator and Crocodile(Dr. Van Hoek) – 2015

THESIS: Mechanism of Intracellular Communication during Yersinia Pestis Infection (Dr. Hakami) – 2015

THESIS: The Mechanism for Bacillus cereus Toxicity under Microaerobic Conditions (Dr. Popov) – 2014

PROJECT: The characterization of bactericidal and antibioflim activity of antimicrobial peptides against Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2014

MS BIOL - Virology

THESIS: Characterization of Gordonia rubripertincta Bacteriophage with Myoviridae Morphology (Dr. Scherer/ Dr. Grant) - 2023

PROJECT: Human Papilloma Virus Biology and Vaccine Components (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: Phage Therapy Literature Review (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: General anesthesia management of adult patients with Covid-19 in emergency settings: pharmaceutical challenges (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: Understanding HIV Latency & Exploring Pharmacological Agents to Eliminate the Latent Reservoir (Dr. Chandhoke) -2022

THESIS: Inhibitors of Ubiquitin Signaling Pathways Exhibit Antiviral Activities against Venezuelan Equine EncephalitisVirus (Dr. Narayanan) – 2022

THESIS:The Characterization of RNAs in Extracellular Vesicles Released from Coronavirus Infected Cells  (Dr. Kashanchi)  - 2022

PROJECT: Coagulopathies Associated with COVID-19 Infection (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: Using CRISPR/Cas9 to Eradicate Retroviruses: a review of a concept (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

THESIS:CBD Regulation of Extracellular Vesicles, and their Cargo Released from HIV-1 Infected Cells (Dr. Kashanchi)  - 2022

THESIS:Extracellular Vesicle Subpopulations From HTLV-1 Infected Cells Induce Differential Effects in Recipient Cells (Dr. Kashanchi)  - 2022

THESIS:SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a Binds to and Modulates HMOX1 Expression and Function (Dr. Kehrl (NIH)/ Dr. Baranova) – 2022

THESIS:Novel Anti-viral Synthetic Peptides as Therapeutic Strategy for Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Infection (Dr. Narayanan) – 2022

PROJECT:Effects of Nigella sativa on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infected Cells (Dr. Baranova) – 2021

PROJECT: South Korea’s Epidemiologic Response to Covid-19 compared to Germany and the United States (Dr. Birerdinc) – 2021

THESIS: Characterization and Identification of Large Extracellular Vesicles, Released by HIV-1 Infected Myeloid and T-cells (Dr. Kashanchi)  - 2021

THESIS:Brilacidin as a Broad-Spectrum Inhibitor of Enveloped, Acutely Infectious Viruses (Dr. Narayanan) – 2021

PROJECT:The Public Health Implications of SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Wastewater (Dr. Birerdinc) – 2021

THESIS:Efficacy of Brilacidin against Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV) (Dr. Narayanan) – 2021

THESIS: The effect of Autophagy Inhibitors on RVFV Production (Dr. Kehn-Hall)  - 2021

THESIS: Regulation of proinflammatory extracellular vesicles from HIV infected cells by CBD (Dr. Kashanchi)  - 2020

THESIS:Mycobacteriophage Cluster Identification Using the Minor Tail Protein Gene (Dr. Gillevet) – 2020

PROJECT:Role of the Ubiquitin Proteosome System in Replication of Alpha and Flaviviruses (Dr. Narayanan) – 2020

PROJECT:Therapy-related factors influencing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in older adults living with HIV (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

THESIS: Detection and Assessment of Nuclear Material Associated with Extracellular Vesicles from HTLV-1 Infected Cells (Dr. Kashanchi)  - 2019

THESIS: The Use of Antimicrobial Peptide, LL-37, to Target Rift Valley fever virus (Dr. Narayanan) – 2019

PROJECT:The Blood Brain Barrier and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Pathology in Mice and Non-human Primates (Dr. Kehn-Hall)  - 2019

PROJECT:Vector control in Prevention of Zika Virus Infections: Most Recent Advances and Challenges in the Field (Dr. Islam/ NIH)  - 2019

THESIS:Attenuation of Programmed -1 Ribosomal Frameshifting in Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus as a Vaccine Strategy (Dr. Kehn-Hall) - 2018

THESIS: A Proteomics Analysis of In Vitro Host-Protein Binding Partners of Western Equine Encephalitis Virus (WEEV) Capsid Protein (Dr. Kehn-Hall)  - 2018

THESIS: Characterization of V5 Tagged Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) and Identification of Host Proteins That Interact With RVFV (Dr. Kehn-Hall) - 2018

PROJECT:Chromatin’s Role in HIV-1 Latency (Dr. Kashanchi)  - 2018

PROJECT:Application of Antimicrobial Peptides as therapeutic strategies for the treatment of viral infections (Dr. Narayanan) – 2018

PROJECT:Evidence for Prenylation of Nef Protein in HIV-1 (Dr. Baranova) – 2017

THESIS: Efficacy of Host-Kinase Inhibitors as Antiviral Agents Against Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (Dr. Narayanan) – 2017

THESIS: Targeting Ebola Vp40 in Exosomes Can Cause Immune Cell Dysfunction (Dr. Kashanchi) – 2016

THESIS: Transcription and Chromatin Analysis of Human Retroviruses (Dr. Kashanchi) – 2016

THESIS: Exosomes from Uninfected Cells Cause Transcriptional Activation of Latent HIV-1 Virus in Infected Immune Cells (Dr. Kashanchi) – 2016

THESIS: Altered Mitochondrial Dynamics in Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Infected Cells(Dr. Narayanan) – 2016

PROJECT: Host genotypes predisposing to various viral infections: common trends and healthcare lessons(Dr. Baranova) – 2016

THESIS:Molecular Basis of Exosomal Function during Rift Valley Fever Virus Infection (Dr. Hakami) -2016

THESIS:Presence of Ebola structural proteins in exosomes can cause immune system dysregulation (Dr. Kashanchi) – 2015

PROJECT: Phosphorylation of viral proteins as targets for therapeutic intervention in RNA virus infections (Dr .Narayanan) - 2015

THESIS: Identification of a CBF-β-RUNX1 Inhibitor that Blocks HIV-1 Infection (Dr. Wu) – 2015

THESIS: Mutagenesis on HIV-1 gp120 V3 Loop to Determine Effects on gp120-Mediated CCR5 and CXCR4 Signal Transduction in Resting CD4 T-Cells (Dr. Wu) – 2015

THESIS: Characterizing the Effect of Bortezomib on Rift Valley Fever Virus Multiplication (Dr. Narayanan) – 2015

THESIS:The Role of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (Stat) Protein in Rift Valley Fever Virus Infection (Dr. Kehn-Hall) – 2014

THESIS: Role of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) in New World Alphavirus Multiplication (Dr. Narayanan) – 2014

THESIS: Influence of Cell Cycle Alteration on Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (Dr. Kehn-Hall) – 2014

MS BIOL - Cancer

THESIS:Establishment of Monoclonal Cell Subpopulations as Model Systems for Functionally Exploring Resistance Mechanisms in EGFR Mutation Non-Small Cell Cancer (Dr. Pierobon) - 2023

PROJECT: Pharmacogenomics in Oncology (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2022

PROJECT:Defining the mechanism of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors in cancer (Dr. Pierobon) – 2022

THESIS:Dissecting mechanisms of resistance to anti-EGFR treatment in Non-Small cell lung cancer using monoclonal cell populations (Dr. Pierobon) – 2022

PROJECT: A place of Immunotherapy in treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT:Evaluating anticancer properties and therapeutic potential of Withaferin A (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: Role of EZH2 in lineage change in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Dr. Pierobon) – 2021

THESIS: Understanding Lineage Plasticity in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers Using Monoclonal Populations of Cells (Dr. Pierobon) – 2021

PROJECT: Effect of Exercise on cancer: a systematic review (Dr. Baranova) – 2021

PROJECT:Fourth Generation Cancer Therapy: CRISPr- Cas9 editing of the autologous T cells to express tumor specific receptors (Dr. Baranova) – 2021

PROJECT:Prevention of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) and the Mechanisms involved in its Development (Dr. Baranova) – 2021

THESIS:Cell Signaling Analysis of Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer Following Dual PI3K/mTOR Inhibitor (PIKTOR) (Dr. Liotta/Dr. Espina) – 2021

THESIS: Cell Death Mechanisms and Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Lung Cancer (Dr. Pierobon) – 2021

THESIS: Exploring differences in KRAS oncogenic signal transduction in isogenic Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts (MEF) expressing different mutant and wild-type allelic variances (Dr. Pierobon) – 2021

PROJECT: Autoantibodies as Potential Biomarkers for Risk of Recurrence in Lung Cancer (Dr. Pierobon) – 2020

PROJECT:The Inhibition Effect of Bioactive Components of Ginger on Cancer Cell Proliferation in Reproductive Organs (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:Effect of Oral Contraceptives and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) on Breast Cancer (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:In Vitro Implications of Ataxia Telangiectasia Rad-3 Related Protein Kinase [ATR] Inhibitor Resistance Characteristics in Ovarian Cancer Cells (Dr. Baranova/ Dr. Conrads) - 2020

THESIS: A study of the humanized monoclonal antibody CT109 in combination with FOLFIRI and Bortezomib as a treatment for colorectal cancer (Dr. Luchini/ Dr. Gelber) -2019

THESIS:The Effect of Serum Deprivation and Simulated Hypoxia on Clonal Interactions In U87MG Glioblastoma Cells (Dr. Mueller) - 2018

THESIS:Investigation of Small Peptide Inhibitors on PD-1 PD-L1 Protein-Protein Interactions (Dr. Luchini) – 2018

PROJECT: B-Cell Based Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer (Dr. Baranova) – 2017

THESIS: Protein Network Mapping of Bladder Cancer: An Analysis of Tumor Compartment and the Surrounding Microenvironment(Dr. Petricoin) – 2016

PROJECT: Identification of biomolecules involved in CTC-endothelium interactions during early metastasis (Dr. Agrawal) - 2015

MS BIOL - Human Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes

PROJECT: Long COVID and Metabolic Syndrome (Dr. Birerdinc) - 2022

PROJECT: Increased Mortality in Patients with Type II Diabetes (Dr. Dobrydneva) - 2022

PROJECT: Time-Restricted Eating: Effects on Metabolic Disease and Cancer (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT:HLA Variants in Diabetes Mellitus Type 1: A Systematic Review (Dr. Baranova) – 2021

PROJECT:Melanogenic pathways in adipose tissue: a crossroad of insulin sensitivity and chronic inflammation (Dr. Baranova) – 2021

PROJECT:Optimizing Insulin Sensitivity in Nondiabetic and Diabetic Populations: A Review (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:The Effects of Fructose on Cardiovascular Health (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:Association of NAFLD with serum levels of LDL and amounts of brown fat (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT: MODY diabetes due to inherited mutations (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:A role of glycosylated hemoglobin in clinical manifestations and molecular pathophysiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Dr. Baranova) – 2019

THESIS: Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Models For Preclinical Testing of Cell Death Inhibitors In Vitro (Dr. Baranova) – 2019

PROJECT: Medical and Therapeutic Applications of Ketosis: An Overview (Dr. Baranova) – 2018

THESIS: Association of Serum Cytokines with Liver Fibrosis as Measured by Computerized Morphometry Across Diseases of NAFLD Spectrum (Dr. Baranova) – 2017

PROJECT:Gender-specific morphometry in liver biopsies of patients diagnosed with either NAFLD or NASH (Dr. Baranova) - 2017

THESIS:Gene Polymorphisms of the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products and Its Role in the AGE-RAGE Pathway and Inflammation(Dr. Baranova) – 2017

PROJECT: Expression of Pro-Fibrotic mRNAs in Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT) of Patients with Various Forms of NAFLD(Dr. Baranova) – 2017

PROJECT: Comparative Anatomy of Brown and White Adipose Tissue(Dr. Baranova) – 2016

PROJECT:The Role of Leptin and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 in the Interplay Between Metabolic Syndrome and PCOS(Dr. Baranova) – 2015

THESIS: Mitochondrial Haplogroups In Obese Patients Predisposed To Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFLD) (Dr. Baranova) – 2014

THESIS: A study of the systemic inflammation and the brown adipose tissue embedded in visceral adipose of obese patients (Dr. Baranova) – 2014

MS BIOL - Other Human Diseases

PROJECT:Coagulation Testing in Acute Stroke for Patients on Direct Oral Anticoagulants (Dr. Dobrydneva) – 2022

PROJECT: General anesthesia management of adult patients with Covid-19 in emergency settings: pharmaceutical challenges (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: The Biogenesis of Extracellular Vesicles and Their Role in Pulmonary Inflammatory Pathologies (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: Evaluation of stroke neurobiology and risk relationship (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: Targeting pain medication toward the right patient at the right time to produce desired outcomes (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: Coagulopathies Associated with COVID-19 Infection (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: Scientific Evidence Behind Therapy by Scraping  (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT:Genetic Determinants of Cleft Lip and Palate (Dr. Dobrydneva) – 2022

PROJECT:Comparing the Transcatheter versus Repair or Surgery Approaches to Treat Severe Mitral Regurgitation: a literature review (Dr. Dobrydneva) – 2022

THESIS: Untargeted Metabolomic Studies to Assess Immunogenicity of Centrin Gene-Deleted Leishmania major Parasites in a Mouse Model (Dr. Gannavaram (FDA) / Dr. Baranova) – 2021

PROJECT: Systematic Review of the Effects of Sinus Allergies on Susceptibility to Covid-19 (Dr. Liotta) – 2021

PROJECT: Factors Contributing to a Heart Attack in Patients with Normal Body Mass (Dr. Birerdinc) – 2021

PROJECT:Effects of Acute and Chronic Stress on Emergency Personnel and Possible Treatments (Dr. Baranova) – 2021

PROJECT:Biological Factors Contributing to the Coexistence of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (Dr. Baranova) – 2021

THESIS:Investigation of Urinary peptides in congenitally Infected Chagas Disease Infants (Dr. Luchini) – 2021

PROJECT: The evolution of Lymph Nodes (Dr. Liotta) – 2021

PROJECT:Genetic Predisposition to Migraines and Migraine Pathways (Dr. Baranova) – 2021

PROJECT:The Disproportionate Representation of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in COVID-19 Cases (Dr. Baranova) – 2021

PROJECT:Modeling prevention of perinatal asphyxia  using a hypothesis generating tool Pathway Studio (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:The Effect of Biological Sex on Autoimmune Diseases (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:Disease Models and the US Government’s Role in Mitigating Foreign Epidemic (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:Vaccination Information: What Gaps Exist? (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:A micro-CT analysis of atrioventricular node size and morphology among populations of varying heart size and BMI (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:Evaluation of pathogen-specific urinary peptides in tick-born illnesses (Dr. Luchini) - 2019

PROJECT: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Pathways in Wound Repair and Regulation of Fibroblasts (Dr. Baranova) - 2019

THESIS:Investigation of Fibroblast Markers in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (Dr. Grant) - 2019

PROJECT:Systematic literature review of the integration of oral health and primary care: Emphasis on bone disorders and their relevance to the progression of dental abnormalities (Dr. Baranova) - 2019

PROJECT:Anatomical lung variations: a study of fissure and lobar patterns in cadaver specimens (Dr. Leighton/ USUHS) -2019

THESIS:An In-Vitro Investigation of Glutathione Transferases in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (Dr. Grant) - 2018

PROJECT:A Review of Rare Diseases Around the World: Emerging Technology, Treatment Options and Drug Development (Dr. Baranova) - 2018

PROJECT:The Role of Ubiquitination on the Regulation of Mitochondrial Proteins in Neurodegenerative Disease States (Dr.Narayanan)  - 2018

PROJECT: A Systematic Literature Review of the Association between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Periodontitis (Dr. Baranova) - 2018

PROJECT:High Rates of Osteoarthritis in U.S. Military Population: Causes, Effects and Treatments (Dr. Baranova/ Dr.Tondi) - 2018

PROJECT: Differences in Incidence of Illness and Injury between Females and Males: a Meta-analysis of Risk of Gender Integration for Military Combat Service (Dr. Baranova/ Dr.Tondi)  - 2018

THESIS: Inflammatory Profiles of Asthma and COPD Primary Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells in Response to LPS and an Inflammatory Inhibitor (Dr. Baranova/ Dr. Arold) – 2017

PROJECT: An investigation of interstitial cystitis through its biomarkers(Dr. Baranova) – 2016

THESIS:The Investigations of the Effect of In-Vitro Combination Treatment: Curcumin, Aspirin, and Sulforaphane on Idopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (Dr. Grant) – 2015

PROJECT: Mitochondrial DNA mutations in PBMCs of patients with age-related pathologies (Dr. Baranova) – 2015

MS BIOL - Nutrigenetics and Nutrition Science

PROJECT: An Environmental Health Specialist’s 3-Pronged Approach for the Improved Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Campylobacter Foodborne Illness Infections for Investigation (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: Effects of Artificial Sweeteners on Human Metabolism (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: Time-Restricted Eating: Effects on Metabolic Disease and Cancer (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT:Evaluating anticancer properties and therapeutic potential of Withaferin A (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT:The Metabolic Health Effects of Stevia in Adults (Dr. Dobrydneva) – 2022

PROJECT:The role of the aqueous extract of Polypodium leucotomos in photoprotection: a literature review (Dr. Dobrydneva) – 2022

PROJECT: Evaluation of St. John’s Wort and its interactions with commonly prescribed drugs (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT:Effects of Nigella sativa on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infected Cells (Dr. Baranova) – 2021

PROJECT:The Inhibition Effect of Bioactive Components of Ginger on Cancer Cell Proliferation in Reproductive Organs (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:Effect of Ultra-Processed Foods on Gut Microbiota (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:The Effects of Fructose on Cardiovascular Health (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:Potential use of Allium sativum extract in therapeutics for the treatment of S. aureus infection in atopic dermatitis patients (Dr. Baranova) – 2019

PROJECT: Medical and Therapeutic Applications of Ketosis: An Overview (Dr. Baranova) – 2018

PROJECT: The Biomedical uses of probiotics and bioengineered Lactic Acid Bacteria(Dr. Baranova) - 2017

MS BIOL - Molecular and Cell Biology

THESIS:Neural Effects of Estrogen on Mitochondrial Lipids and Cardiolipin Levels and Distribution (Dr. Kabbani) - 2023

THESIS:Determining the Safety of Wound-Healing Antimicrobial Peptides, Gatr3 and Drgn1, Against Host Cells and Red Blood Cells (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2022

PROJECT:Production of the melanin in adipose tissue: how and why? (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

THESIS:A Proteomic Profile of Imidacloprid and its Active Metabolites Desnitro-Imidacloprid and Imidacloprid-Olefin in Human Neural Cells (Dr. Kabbani) – 2022

THESIS:Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of a Standardized Peptidyl Prolyl Cis-Trans Isomerase Ligand (Dr. Paige/ Baranova) – 2022

THESIS: Analysis of Human Scent (Dr. Couch) – 2021

THESIS: Exploring differences in KRAS oncogenic signal transduction in isogenic Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts (MEF) expressing different mutant and wild-type allelic variances (Dr. Pierobon) – 2021

PROJECT:Cellular Relatedness in Toxin and Toxin-like Nicotinic Receptor Targeting Proteins (Dr. Kabbani) – 2021

PROJECT:Activating transcription factor (ATF)7: a Comprehensive Review (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:An Investigation of the Protein-Protein Interactions of Cardio-protective Target LRP1 & Small Peptide Agonist Sp16, and between Immunotherapy Targets PD-1 & PD-L1 (Dr. Luchini) - 2020

THESIS: Effects of Apolipoprotein H and STAT3 on Cell Clustering in Glioblastoma Multiforme Sub-clones (Dr. Baranova/ Dr. Mueller) – 2019

PROJECT:Intercellular Signaling and the Glycocalyx (Dr. Couch) – 2018

PROJECT: A Review of Dedifferentiation Occurring in Cultured Chondrocytes (Dr. Christensen) – 2017

THESIS:The Effect of the Treatment with Various Lipid Species on Mitochondrial and Cellular Functions of Hepatocytes(Dr. Baranova) – 2017

THESIS: The Role of Antimicrobial Peptides in Innate Immunity of Insects and Their Proposed Mode of Action (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2016

THESIS: Dissecting microRNA-mediated control mechanisms regulating dendrite development (Dr. Cox) - 2015

MS BIOL - Biotechnology and Bioengineering

THESIS: Creation of a Novel Fusion Protein WGA-eNpHR3.0 for Circuit Dissection in The Brain (Dr. Dumas) – 2023

PROJECT: Overcoming Biological Barriers to Drug Delivery (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

THESIS: Affinity Functionalized Strings for Blood Purification (Dr. Luchini) - 2022

PROJECT: Optimizing SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Available Diagnostic Testing via Nucleic Acid Amplification (PCR), Antigen, and Antibody Tests (Dr. Dobrydneva) - 2022

THESIS: Development of Methods for Improved Isolation and Reliable Purification of 2K and 10K Extracellular Vesicles to Study their Immune Regulation Properties (Dr. Hakami) - 2022

PROJECT: The use of nanoparticles to enhance BCG vaccine efficacy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Dr. Baranova) - 2020

PROJECT:Comparative evaluation of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) assay and conventional PCR in the detection of Mycoplasma Tuberculosis in the global health context (Dr. Baranova) - 2020

PROJECT:Design and Application of Next-Generation Probiotics (Dr. Baranova) - 2020

 

THESIS: Magnetic Nanotrap Particles Capture and Enrich Bacillus anthracis Analyte in Blood (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2020

PROJECT:Design of a novel antimicrobial peptide against Gram-positive bacteria (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2019

PROJECT:Development and validation of a rapid molecular assay to replace animal based viral studiesfor monoclonal antibody production (Dr. Baranova) - 2020

PROJECT: Platform Development for Measuring Mycobacterium tuberculosis Antigens in Urine (Dr. Luchini) – 2019

THESIS:Comparing Fan Beam and Cone Beam CT for Non-Clinical Imaging of Tuberculosis (Dr. Via/ NIH) – 2019

THESIS:Predicting When Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Progresses to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome with a Nanotechnology-Enhanced Blood and Urine Test (Dr. Luchini) – 2018

PROJECT: The Biomedical uses of probiotics and bioengineered Lactic Acid Bacteria(Dr. Baranova) - 2017

THESIS: Application of Hydrogel Nanoparticles for Detection of Dengue Virus (Dr. Narayanan) - 2017

THESIS:The Optimization of a Cost-Effective Lentiviral Vector Production Protocol for Animal Gene Therapy Trials (Dr. Wu) – 2017

THESIS:Nanoaerosols for Potential Pulmonary Delivery of Critical Therapeutics (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2017

THESIS: Effects of Hydrogel Nanoparticles as a Novel Adjuvant for a Purified Whole Inactivated Chikungunya Virus Vaccine (Dr. Luchini) – 2016

PROJECT:An SOP for DNA extraction from frozen and histologically prepared coral samples (Dr. Peters) – 2016

THESIS: Exploration of the Diabetic Urinary Proteome via Hydrogel Nano-Technology and Proof of Principle of a Non-Invasive A1C Assay (Dr. Luchini) – 2016

PROJECT:Whole Genome Solutions in Aquaculture(Dr. Baranova) – 2016

THESIS: Targeting HBV cccDNA with Viral Vector Carrying HBV-Specific CRISPR/Cas9 (Dr. Wu) – 2016

THESIS: Nanoparticle Capture of Exosomes And siRNA Knockdown of ESCRT (Dr. Kashanci) – 2016

THESIS: Development and Validation of a Real-Time Multiplex PCR Assay for Diagnosis of Carbapenem Resistant AcinetobacterBaumannii (Dr. Popov) – 2016

THESIS:Development and optimization of novel tools for exploring RNA-based cell-cell communications (Dr. Mueller) – 2015

PROJECT: The detection of 8-oxodeoxyguanosine in mitochondrial DNA(Dr. Baranova) – 2015

THESIS: Screening and Characterization of Anti-HIV Small Molecule Inhibitors (Dr. Wu) - 2014

THESIS: Simultaneous Application of Chromosomal Microarray Analysis and Polymerase Chain Reaction Genetic Disease Detection (Dr. Liotta) - 2014

MS BIOL - Evolutionary, Environmental and Organismal Biology

THESIS: Color and Temperature are Not Related in the Crepuscular Reptile Eublepharis Macularius (Dr. Chiari)  - 2022

THESIS:Investigating Reproductive Senescence in Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) Through Long-term Hormone Monitoring (Dr. Prado-Oveido/ Dr. Baranova)  - 2022

THESIS: Geospatial Analysis of Urban Tree Distribution and Effectiveness of Ecosystem Services in Washington, D.C. With Relation to Traffic Volume (Dr. Gallo)  - 2021

PROJECT:The Geographic Expansion Of Baylisascaris procyonis Emphasizes  the Need for Increased Surveillance (Dr. Baranova)  - 2021

PROJECT:A Comparison Between Laboratory and Field Samples of Lobsters Infected With Epizootic Shell Disease (Dr. Gillevet)  - 2020

THESIS:Identifying and projecting novel long-term phenological trends: Integrating heterogeneous data sources Communities (Dr. Forkner)  - 2020

THESIS: Assessing the Impacts of Oil and Gas Wastewater Dumping in the Permian Basin on Soil Microbial Communities (Dr. Akob/ UCSIS)  - 2020

PROJECT: Social learning in primates over the course of lifelong development (Dr. Madden) – 2021

THESIS: Prevalence and Cross Infection of DNA and RNA Pathogens of Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, and Mason Bees (Dr. Lim) - 2020

THESIS: Evaluating the relationship between the gut microbiome and health issues in captive African and Asian elephants (Dr. Lim) - 2020

PROJECT:A Critical Analysis of Biological Effects and Exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) in Thermal Paper Products (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

THESIS: Fine-scale Movement Ecology of Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) Based on GPS Tag Data and Movement Modeling (Dr. Rockwood) - 2019

THESIS: Aspects of Herpetofaunal Diseases at two Natural Areas in Maryland and Virginia (Dr. Rockwood) - 2019

THESIS: A Floristic Survey of Vascular Plants of the Blue Ridge Center For Environmental Stewardship, Purcellville, Loudoun County, Virginia (Dr. Weeks) - 2018

THESIS: A Microscopic Analysis of the Plumulaceous Feather Characteristics of Accipitriformes with Applications of Spectrophotometry to Supplement Feather Identification (Dr. Rockwood) - 2018

THESIS: Environmental Effects on the Microbial Community of Homarus americanus Afflicted with Epizootic Shell Disease (Dr. Gillevet) – 2018

PROJECT: Current Understanding of the Mechanisms of the Bioluminescence in Fungi (Dr. Torzilli) – 2015

THESIS: Geographical history and infraspecific morphological variation of the hemiparasitic wildflower, American Cow-Wheat (Melampyrum lineare; Orobanchaceae) (Dr. Weeks) – 2015

THESIS:Life History Ecology of the Sharksucker, Echeneis Naucrates, in the Gulf of Mexico (Dr. Birchard) – 2015

THESIS: The Genetic Variation of Falco peregrinus in the Chesapeake Bay (Dr. Aguirre) – 2014

THESIS:A Phylogenomic Analysis of the Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) and Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus columbianus) (Dr. Gillevet) – 2014

MS BIOL - Neurobiology

THESIS: Creation of a Novel Fusion Protein WGA-eNpHR3.0 for Circuit Dissection in The Brain (Dr. Dumas) – 2023

PROJECT: Potential Treatment Innovations for Huntington’s Disease (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: “Functional Implications of CaMKII Variants in Brain Disease (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: Inflammatory Signaling and Mood Disorders: A Broad-Spectrum Investigation (Dr. Birerdinc) – 2022

PROJECT: Ethanol Consumption in CD81 Mutant and Wildtype Mice (Dr. Fryxell) – 2022

PROJECT: Degenaration of the Substantia Nigra Dopameniergic neurons (Dr. Kabbani) – 2022

PROJECT: Evaluation of stroke neurobiology and risk relationship (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

PROJECT: Targeting pain medication toward the right patient at the right time to produce desired outcomes (Dr. Baranova) – 2022

THESIS:Systematic Review of Opiate Use Disorder in Connection to Social Salience Attribution (Dr. Krueger) - 2022

PROJECT: Huntington’s Disease: A review of Pathophysiology and Available Treatments (Dr. Baranova) - 2022

 

THESIS:Age and sex differences in the effects of nicotine on tyrosine hydroxylase protein levels and DARPP-32 phosphorylation at Ser130 in mice (Dr. Fryxell) – 2022

THESIS:Facilitating NeuroMorpho.Org Curation via Neuronal and Glial Metadata Analysis (Dr. Ascoli) – 2021

PROJECT:Oxytocin’s role in Human-Autonomous Bonding: A review of current literature (Dr. Krueger) – 2021

PROJECT:Cellular Relatedness in Toxin and Toxin-like Nicotinic Receptor Targeting Proteins (Dr. Kabbani) – 2021

THESIS:Targeting Rab6-Km23-1 Mediated Compartmentalized Trafficking as a Novel Therapeutic Approach to Alzheimer's Disease (Dr. Luchini) – 2020

PROJECT:Analysis of molecular pathways shared between common psychiatric disorders (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

THESIS: Prediction of Neural Diameter From Morphology to Enable Accurate Simulation (Dr. Blackwell) – 2020

PROJECT: Repetitive Transcranial Electromagnetic Stimulations (RTMS) role in the health of humans in space (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:Novel Diagnostics and Treatments for Blast Induced, Minor Traumatic Brain Injury and Associated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Personnel (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:Under Pressure: A Critical Review of the Off-Label Usage of Blood Pressure Medications for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT: The therapies of Multiple sclerosis: an up-to-date review (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

THESIS: Validation of Reference Genes for RT-PCR Studies of Migraine Triggers in CA77 Cells (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

THESIS: Prediction of Neural Diameter from Morphology to Enable Accurate Simulation (Dr. Blackwell) – 2020

PROJECT:Reliability, Utility, and Cost Efficiency of Measuring Neurotransmitters in Urine in Autism Spectrum Disorders (Dr. Baranova/ Dr. Slavin) – 2019

THESIS: Changes in Cortical Responses Caused by Learning Novel Optogenetic Stimuli (Dr. Histed/ NIH) -2019

THESIS: Differences in LTP between Dorsomedial and Dorsolateral Striatum: Induction Frequency and D1 Receptors (Dr. Blackwell) – 2018

PROJECT: Characterization of alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor signaling and regulation through G protein beta gamma mediated pathways (Dr. Kabbani) – 2018

PROJECT: Assessing Deception using Eye-Tracking Technologies (Dr. Baranova) – 2018

THESIS: Social Isolation Effect on Nicotine Consumption in Adolescent Mice (Dr. Fryxell) – 2017

PROJECT: Cognition and the Microbiome-Brain Axis (Dr. Gillevet) – 2017

THESIS:Enhanced Recording of Discharge Events by Localizing Genetically Encoded VoltageIndicators to the Neuronal Soma(Dr. Dumas) – 2017

THESIS: Improved Monitoring of Single Unit Activity in Neuronal Circuits by Localization of a Hybrid Optical Voltage Sensor to the Soma(Dr. Dumas) – 2016

PROJECT:Regionalization of LTP in the dorsal striatum(Dr. Blackwell) – 2015

THESIS: The cellular and molecular basis of noxious cold detection in Drosophila melanogaster larvae (Dr. Cox) – 2015

THESIS: The role of basal autophagy in regulating class specific dendrite morphogenesis in Drosophila sensory neurons (Dr. Cox) – 2014

PROJECT: Nejire, a CBP/p300 family transcription factor, regulates dendritic development by modulating the localization of the Kruppel-like transcription factor Dar1 Drosophila da neurons (Dr. Cox) – 2014

THESIS: Micro-RNA mediated regulatory control of class specific dendrite morphogenesis in Drosophila (Dr. Cox) – 2014

MS BIOL - In silico Biology and Bioinformatics

PROJECT:Comparison of Long-read Sequencing Technologies for Clinical Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Testing (Dr. Gillevet/ Dr. Hauser)  - 2022

THESIS:Facilitating NeuroMorpho.Org Curation via Neuronal and Glial Metadata Analysis (Dr. Ascoli) – 2021

PROJECT:Modeling prevention of perinatal asphyxia using a hypothesis generating tool Pathway Studio (Dr. Baranova) – 2020

PROJECT:Designing an Intra-lab Database to Facilitate the Maintenance and Spread of “Van Hoek Laboratory” knowledge of Francisella (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2019

PROJECT:A computational analysis of the differential gene expression in liver tissue samples of patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Dr. Baranova) – 2018

PROJECT:Bioinformatics characterization of a human adenovirus 14 pathogen recently isolated in China (Dr. Seto) – 2018

PROJECT:Computational Analysis of Differential DNA Methylation and Its Association with the Diseases of NAFLD Spectrum (Dr. Baranova) – 2017

PROJECT: Comparative analysis of phage cluster identification using the Tape Measure Protein (Dr. Schwebach) – 2017

PROJECT: In Silico Dissection of the Transcription Control of Toll-like Receptors (TLR) expression(Dr. Baranova) – 2017

PROJECT: A comparison between de novo and reference-based assembly of human adenovirus D37 genome (Dr. Seto) – 2016

PhD BIOL - Bacteriology

Secreted Proteome, Nanotrap-Associated Proteins and the Role of Tul4 in Francisella novicida (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2021

Computationally Designed Novel Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides Against Gram-negative Bacteria (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2021

FisTS: A Novel Toxin-Antitoxin System In Francisella Tularensis (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2020

Mechanism of Regulating Autophagy as Part of Innate Immune Response to Infection with Yersinia pestis (Dr. Hakami) – 2019

Post-translational Modifications of Francisella tularensis Proteome (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2018

Exosomes From Cells Infected With Yersinia pestis Amplify Innate Immunity Through p38 and Jak2, Inducing Macrophage Differentiation and IL-6 Dependent Bacterial Clearance (Dr. Hakami) – 2017

Signal Transduction in Francisella novicida (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2016

Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides Against Burkholderia and Bacillus (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2016

Lung-Directed Delivery of Therapeutics for the Treatment of Pulmonary Francisella Infection (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2015

Regulation of Francisella novicida Biofilm by LL-37 Peptide (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2012

Induction of Host Extracellular Protein Dysfunction by Bacillus anthracis Hemolytic Factors (Dr. Popov) – 2012

Bacillus Anthracis Protease Regulates Bacterial Adhesion and Invasion (Dr. Myung Chung) – 2011

Specific and Innate Immunity Against Francisella (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2011

An Analysis of Signaling Pathways Activated by Francisella Tularensis Infection (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2010

Quorum Sensing and Biofilm Formation in Francisella novicida Mediated by the QseBC Two-Component System (Dr. Van Hoek) – 2010

Studies in Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in Anthrax Meningitis (Dr. Popov) – 2009

Inhalational anthrax disease pathogenesis and progression from initial mucosal interactions to organ system functional genomics response (Dr. Ken Alibek) – 2006

PhD BIOL - Virology

Molecular Characterization of PSGL-1 Decameric Repeats For Inactivating HIV-1 Infectivity (Dr. Wu) - 2022

The Effects of Extracellular Vesicle-Associated Kinases on HIV-1 Pathogenesis (Dr. Kashanchi) - 2022

Mechanisms of Exosome-Autophagy Interplay in Host Response to the Cytoplasmic RNA Virus (Rift Valley Fever Virus) and Development of Promising Countermeasure Approaches (Dr. Hakami) - 2022

Egr1 Upregulation During Encephalitic Viral Infections Contributes to Inflammation and Cell Death (Dr. Kehn-Hall) - 2022

Effect of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) from HTLV-1 on Cell Proliferation via Autocrine Feedback Loop (Dr. Kashanchi) - 2021

Identification of PSGL-1 and the SHREK Family of Proteins as Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Host Factors (Dr. Wu) - 2021

Characterization of Hyper-Inflammatory pathways Involved in the Detrimental Pulmonary and Neurological Phenotypes Associated with Coronavirus and Alphavirus Infections(Dr. Kehn-Hall) - 2021

Viral Vector Engineering in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Development (Dr. Wu) - 2021

NsP3 phosphorylation as a mediator of alphaviral virulence through protein:protein interactions (Dr. Narayanan) – 2021

Identification and Molecular Characterization of a Natural Plant-Derived Anti-HIV Compound, Ahah-10 (Dr. Wu) - 2020

An Improved Method for Quantification of Infectious Ebola Virus in Dilute Aerosols (Dr. Kehn-Hall) - 2020

Stem Cell Extracellular Vesicles as a Holistic Approach for CNS Repair (Dr. Kashanchi) - 2020

Functional Effects of Extracellular Vesicles on HTLV-1 transmission (Dr. Kashanchi) - 2020

The impact of PERK on Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replication and cell death (Dr. Kehn-Hall) - 2020

Natural and Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides as Therapeutic Strategies to Treat Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Infections and the Associated Inflammatory Response (Dr. Narayanan) – 2020

 

The interplay between pro-inflammatory extracellular vesicles, antiretrovirals, and novel therapeutics in HIV-1 latent viral reservoirs (Dr. Kashanchi) - 2019

The Effects of Ebola virus VP40 on Cell Cycle, Extracellular Vesicle Biogenesis, and Recipient Immune Cell Dysfunction (Dr. Kashanchi) - 2019

An Omics Approach to EV Content Reveals that EV-Associated c-Src Activates Latent HIV-1 (Dr. Kashanchi) – 2019

The Phosphorylation Cycle of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Capsid Protein (Dr. Kehn-Hall) - 2018

Mitochondrial-Derived Oxidative Stress is a Major Contributor to Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus-Induced Inflammation (Dr. Narayanan) – 2018

Alterations in the Host Transcriptome Following Rift Valley Fever Virus Infection (Dr. Kehn-Hall) - 2018

Development of a Human Cellular G-Protein Profiling System for HIV Reservoir Identification (Dr. Wu) - 2018

Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Capsid and Host Nucleocytoplasmic Trafficking (Dr. Kehn-Hall) - 2018

The Inhibition of Rift Valley Fever Virus Using FDA-Approved Drugs (Dr. Kehn-Hall) - 2017

Tinkering with Translation to Handcuff Rift Valley Fever Virus (Dr. Kehn-Hall) - 2017

Host Gene Variants as Biomarkers for Stratification of Patients with Viral and Non-Viral Liver Diseases (Dr. Baranova) - 2016

The Roles of LIM Kinase (LIMK) Inhibitors in the Regulation of Actin Dynamics During HIV-1 Infection (Dr. Wu) - 2016

Characterization of the Interactions of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Nonstructural Protein 3 (nsP3) With Host Proteins in Infected Cells (Dr. Narayanan) - 2015

Identification of Modulators of HIV-1 and HTLV-1 Proviral Transcription from a Library of FDA Approved Pharmaceuticals (Dr. Kashanchi) - 2015

Dependence of Two Arboviruses on the Host MicroRNA Pathway (Dr. Kehn-Hall) – 2015

Protein Phosphatase 1 Alpha Modulates L Polymerase Phosphorylation and Regulates Rift Valley Fever Virus Replication (Dr. Kehn-Hall) – 2015

The Elucidation of the Role of Arp2/3 in HIV-1 Replication in CD4 T Cells (Dr. Wu) – 2014

BRCA1 Functions as a Novel Transcriptional Cofactor in HIV-1 Infection (Dr. Kehn-Hall) – 2014

Regulation of Preintegration Transcription by Tat and Cellular Transcription factors NF-kappa B and Sp1 (Dr. Wu) – 2014

Discovery and Mechanism of Action of Cyclonucleoside Anti-HIV Activity(Dr. Wu) – 2012

A dichotomy in cortical actin and chemotactic actin activity between memory and naïve T cells contributes to their differential susceptibility to HIV (Dr. Wu) – 2011

Role of HIV-1 Preintegration Transcription in the Viral Life Cycle (Dr. Wu) – 2011

HIV Stimulated Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Production of IFN-A and its Potential Role in HIV Pathogenesis (Dr. Connors/ NIH) – 2011

HIV Initiates Multiple Signaling Cascades Required for Effective Replication (Dr. Wu) – 2010

PhD BIOL - Cancer

Targeting CEACAM5/6 With a Novel Dual Specific Antibody-Drug Conjugate as a Therapeutic Strategy in Gastrointestinal Cancers (Dr. Gelber/ Dr. Luchini ) – 2023

New Hybrid Molecular Modalities Comprised of DNA-Origami and Interfering Peptides as Inhibitors of Protein-Protein Interactions in Mammary Cancers: The Development of Multivalent Synthetic Decoy Receptors (Dr. Liotta) – 2022

Biomarkers for Predicting Cancer in Women with Suspicious Mammograms (Dr. Luchini) – 2022

Investigating PD-1/PD-L1 Checkpoint Inhibition as a Treatment for Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer(Dr. Liotta) – 2022

A Secretory Form of Parkin-Independent Mitophagy Contributes to the Repertoire of Extracellular Vesicles Released Into the Tumor Interstitial Fluid In Vivo (Dr. Liotta) – 2022

Microbiome Analysis in Colorectal Cancer (Dr. Gillevet) - 2017

Killing Pre-Invasive Breast Cancer by Targeting Autophagy: A New Vision for Chemoprevention (Dr. Liotta) – 2013

Aberrant Signaling in Astrocytomas and Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM):  Utilizing Inhibitors of Proliferation as Potential Therapies (Dr. Reilly/NIH) – 2012

Role of KCNRG in B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (Dr. Baranova) – 2008

PhD BIOL - Human Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes

Imbalance of Selected Hormones in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) (Dr. Baranova) – 2015

A Role of Visceral Adipose and Gastric Tissue in Inflammatory Conditions Associated with Metabolic Syndrome (Dr. Baranova) – 2013

Differential Expression of microRNAs in the visceral adipose of patients with NASH, pericellular fibrosis and type II diabetes (Dr. Baranova) – 2012

Novel Biomarkers for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Associated Symptoms (Dr. Baranova) – 2011

Signaling Transduction Pathway Mapping of Mesenchymal Differentiation from Adult Adipose Derived Stem Cells (Dr. Petricoin) – 2011

Ectopic Synthesis of Melanin in Adipose from Morbidly Obese Subjects (Dr. Baranova) – 2008

Cytokine signaling gene expression in adipose tissue is associated with fibrotic changes in the liver of NAFLD patients (Dr. Baranova) – 2008

Comparative profiling of circulatory levels of adipokines and cytokines in patients with various types of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Dr. Baranova) – 2007

PhD BIOL - Other Human Diseases

Development of Programmed Cell Death Ligand Derived Peptides for the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases (Dr. Gelber/ Dr. Luchini ) – 2023

Developing Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor–Related Protein-1 Agonists as a Therapeutic Strategy in Allergic Inflammatory Disease (Dr. Gelber/ Dr. Luchini ) – 2021

Molecular Basis of Apoptotic-Resistance in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Fibroblasts (Dr. Grant) – 2019

Mechanisms of disease pathology: an in vitro investigation of pulmonary fibroblasts in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis(Dr. Grant) – 2019

Hidden Mysteries of the Thyroid Colloid Revealed(Dr. Espina) – 2019

Dysbiosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease(Dr. Gillevet) – 2013

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Investigations of the IPF Fibroblast and its Biological Behavior(Dr. Grant) – 2009

Genomic phenotype of pulmonary fibroblasts in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (Dr. Grant) – 2009

PhD BIOL - Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Viral Vector Engineering in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Development (Dr. Wu) - 2021

An Improved Method for Quantification of Infectious Ebola Virus in Dilute Aerosols (Dr. Kehn-Hall) - 2020

Fecal Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Metabolomics and Its Clinical Applications (Dr. Robin Couch) -2020

Structure-Function Studies of Apolipoprotein Mimetic Peptides for Cholesterol Efflux Mediated by ABCA1 Transporter (Dr. Remaley, NIH / Dr. Baranova) -2019

Painting a Target on Osteoarthritis: Protein Painting, IL-1β Inhibitor Development, and Optimization (Dr. Luchini) – 2019

Development of Chemokine-Releasing Microparticles for the Manipulation of Immune Cell Responses (Dr. Popov) -2017

Enhanced Detection of Influenza with Nanotrap Particles (Dr. Kehn-Hall) – 2015

Arthritic Cell-Based Assay Model for Measuring Inflammatory Response to Therapeutic Biological Agents(Dr. Baranova) – 2014

Active magnetic bead-linked immunoassay for the early diagnosis of West Nile virus (Dr. Bailey) – 2007

PhD BIOL - Evolutionary, Environmental and Organismal Biology

Novel approaches in conservation and evolutionary genomics for studying rare and elusive mammals across different ecological and geographical scales (Dr. Rockwood) – 2021

Stress Related Changes in Purine, Tyrosine and Trytophan Metabolites of Caenorhabditis Elegans (Dr. Willett) – 2010

Investigating the Influence a Matrilineal Social Structure has on Mitochondrial Fixation and Genetic Diversity within the Spotted Hyena, Crocuta crocuta (Dr. O’Brien/ NIH) - 2010

PhD BIOL - Neurobiology

Molecular and Functional Analysis of Age and Sex Differences in Nicotine-induced Cellular Signaling and Synaptic Plasticity (Dr. Fryxell) – 2020

Adolescent Nicotine Consumption in Relation to Social Interactions, Cd81 Gene Function, and Mesocorticolimbic Gene Expression (Dr. Fryxell) - 2017

The Drosophila spectroplakin, short stop, exerts context-dependent effects on class-specific dendrite morphology via modulation of the cytoskeleton (Dr. Cox) – 2017

Adolescent-specific regulatory gene expression responses to single and repeated nicotine injections (Dr. Fryxell) – 2012

Gene expression responses to single and repeated nicotine injections in adolescent and adult mice (Dr. Fryxell) – 2012

Effect of DBH, DRD2 and ADRA2A Gene Variants on Human Working Memory (Dr. Fryxell) – 2012

Proteomic Analysis of Eccrine Sweat: Implications for the Discovery of Schizophrenia Biomarker Proteins (Dr. Petricoin) – 2012

Characterization of arbor defective, a novel immunoglobulin superfamily molecule required for dendrite morphogenesis in Drosophila (Dr. Cox) – 2012

Dissecting Transcriptional Mechanisms Regulating Class-Specific Dendrite Development: A Systems Approach (Dr. Cox) – 2012

Nicotine Preference and Gene Expression: the Role of Cd81(Dr. Fryxell) – 2011

Transcriptional regulation of the Drosophila gene, turtle, is required for class-specific dendrite morphogenesis (Dr. Cox) – 2010

PhD BIOL - In silico Biology and Bioinformatics

Apolipoprotein-B100 Structural Model and Assembly by Computational Modeling, Cross-Linking, and Electron Microscopy (Dr. Baranova) - 2022

Global Patterns of Changes in the Gene Expression Associated With Genesis of Cancer (Dr. Baranova) -2009

Interpretational issues in human forensic mitochondrial DNA analysis (Dr. Gillevet) - 2005

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