Cell Biology Faculty
Track Leader-Brian Storrie, Ph.D.

Giulia Baldini, Ph.D. (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) Web profile
Molecular mechanism of storage and secretion of hormones in endocrine cells; Novel therapeutics for diabetes and obesity
Gbaldini@uams.edu

Steven Barger, Ph.D. (Geriatrics) Web profile
Cell biology of Alzheimer's disease; transcriptional regulation in neurons
bargerstevenw@uams.edu

Helen Benes, Ph.D. (Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences) Web profile
Insect models (fruitflies, mosquitoes) to study molecular basis for regulated gene activity, in response to gender, nutrition, aging and oxidative stress, for insight into human reproductive development, diseases of aging, including cardiac ischemia.
beneshelen@uams.edu

Puran Bora, Ph.D. (Opthalmology) Web profile
Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), an eye disease which can cause loss of central vision in the population over the age of 50. Our laboratory is studying the Molecular and Biochemical mechanisms of AMD and uvietis in order to find a cure and/or prevention of the diseases.
pbora@uams.edu

Timothy Chambers, Ph.D. (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) Web profile
Cancer chemotherapy, apoptosis, cell signaling, cell cycle regulation
ChambersTimothyC@uams.edu

Amanda Charlesworth, Ph.D.(Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences) Web profile
Molecular mechanisms behind developmental processes. Signal transduction, mRNA translation, gene expression, cell cycle control. Areas of study include meiosis and CNS development.  
charlesworthamanda@uams.edu

Marie Chow, Ph.D. (Microbiology and Immunology) Web profile
The research program uses RNA viruses to study host physiological processes (such as RNA interference), the cell biology of the virus replication cycle (such as virus entry and exit) and the role of virus-induced immune responses in neurodegenerative diseases (such as post-polio syndrome).
chowmarie@uams.edu

Parimal Chowdhury, Ph.D. (Physiology and Biophysics) Web profile
Mechanism of Nicotine- induced Exocrine Pancreatic injury in an Animal Model
PChowdhury@uams.edu

Paul D. Drew, Ph.D. (Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences) Web profile
Neuroimmunology, with emphasis on multiple sclerosis.
drewpauld@uams.edu

Dana Gaddy, Ph.D. (Physiology and Biophysics) Web profile
Our laboratory focuses on the endocrine, cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern the maintenance of the musculoskeletal system, with particular focus on the normal and pathophysiological changes associated with age, disuse, menopause, and metastatic disease.
gaddydana@uams.edu

Jill James, Ph.D. (Pediatrics) Web profile
JamesJill@uams.edu

Michael Jennings, Ph.D. (Physiology and Biophysics) Web profile
Transport and regulation of inorganic ions, especially sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfate
JenningsMichaell@uams.edu

Robert L. Jilka, Ph.D. (Internal Medicine) Web profile
Osteoblast apoptosis as a determinant of bone mass; the regulation of bone remodeling and osteoblast number by parathyroid hormone; the impact of lipid oxidation on osteoblast differentiation and its role in age-related bone loss.
JilkaRobertL@uams.edu

Thomas Kelly, Ph.D. (Pathology) Web profile
Proteases and heparanases in cancer metastasis
KellyThomasJ@uams.edu

Fusun Kilic, Ph.D. (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) Web profile
KilicFusun@uams.edu

Vladimir Lupashin, Ph.D. (Physiology and Biophysics) Web profile
Molecular mechanisms of intracellular membrane trafficking
LupashinVladimirV@uams.edu

Lee Ann MacMillan-Crow, Ph.D. (Pharmacology and Toxicology) Web profile
Our laboratory has been investigating the role that increased mitochondrial oxidant production has on the early events leading to renal dysfunction following renal preservation and warm ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in vivo. Previous studies have suggested that inactivation of the major antioxidant within the mitochondria, manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), plays a pivotal role in inducing renal injury during I/R injury. Using both cell and rodent models we are also assessing the therapeutic potential of known and novel antioxidants to alter I/R and transplantation induced renal dysfunction.
macmillancrowleea@uams.edu

Angus MacNicol, Ph.D. (Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences) Web profile
Cell cycle control, gene expression, early vertebrate development, signal transduction
macnicolangus@uams.edu

Philip Mayeux, Ph.D. (Pharmacology and Toxicology) Web profile
Renal epithelial cell signaling: My laboratory is studying signal transduction pathways in renal epithelial cells that result in oxidative stress (reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species) in response to bacterial toxins and peptide hormones.
prmayeux@uams.edu

Judit Megyesi, M.D. (Medicine)
MegyesiJuditK@uams.edu

Donald Mock, M.D., Ph.D. (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) Web profile
Our research group uses biochemistry, molecular biology, physical chemistry, and organic chemistry to answer questions concerning the pathogenesis of vitamin-related birth defects and anemia of low birth weight infants.
MockDonaldM@uams.edu

Kevin D. Phelan, Ph.D. (Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences) Web profile
Mechanisms underlying synaptic transmission between developing and adult neurons
phelankevind@uams.edu

Steve Post, Ph.D. (Pathology) Web profile
Our lab studies the coupling of specific receptors and signaling pathways to cell function and disease. Of particular interest are the regulation of macrophage scavenger receptors and their role in chronic inflammation. Another area of interest relates to understanding the signaling pathways that regulate cardiac myocyte survival.
SPost@uams.edu

Paul L. Prather, Ph.D.(Pharmacology and Toxicology) Web profile
Opioid and cannabinoid receptor signaling mechanisms; cell biology and therapeutic drug development for neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
PratherPaulL@uams.edu

Peter M. Price, Ph.D. (Internal Medicine) Web profile
Role of cell-cycle events in renal failure and cellular stress
PMPrice@uams.edu

Nancy J. Rusch, Ph.D. (Pharmacology, Interdisciplinary Toxicology) Web profile
NRusch@uams.edu

Rosalia C.M. Simmen, Ph.D. (Physiology and Biophysics) Web profile
Regulators of gene expression in the mammary gland and uterus that are essential for proper function and development
SimmenRosalia@uams.edu

Joseph R. Stimers, Ph.D. (Pharmacology and Toxicology) Web profile
Role of ion channels and transporters in regulating cell function in the heart, neurons, and muscle
StimersJosephR@uams.edu

Brian Storrie, Ph.D. (Physiology and Biophysics) Web profile
Research focuses on two aspects of the secretory pathway in mammalian cells: 1)assembly and dynamics of the Golgi apparatus using cultured HeLa cells as the model and 2)assembly and function of alpha granules in human and mouse platelets.
StorrieBrian@uams.edu

Alan Tackett, Ph.D. (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) Web profile
Our laboratory uses cutting-edge proteomic and biochemical tools to understand how chromatin-associated protein complexes regulate chromosome structure and thereby influence cellular mechanisms like gene transcription.
AJTackett@uams.edu

Wayne Wahls, Ph.D. (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) Web profile
Chromosome dynamics; meiosis; homologous recombination; chromatin; combinatorial bZIP dimers and cellular growth control; stress-activated signal transduction pathways.
WahlsWayneP@UAMS.edu

Patricia Wight, Ph.D. (Physiology and Biophysics) Web profile
Developmental, cellular and molecular neurobiology; regulation of gene expression; proteomics.
pwight@uams.edu

Fang Zheng, Ph.D. (Pharmacology, Interdisciplinary Toxicology) Web profile
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurotoxicity related to neurological disorders, using a multidisciplinary approach.
zhengfang@uams.edu