Bradley J. Schnackenberg, PhD

Instructor of Pediatrics

Section of Allergy and Immunology

Contact Information

Arkansas Children's Hospital

1120 Marshall Street

Little Rock, AR  72202

Phone: (501) 364-1060

Fax: (501) 364-3173

Education

PhD - University of Kansas, 1998

Training

Post-Doctoral:  Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Research Interests

Dr. Schnackenberg's research focuses on the effects of ß-agonists on ß₂-adrenergic receptor (ß₂AR) down-regulation and on wound healing in asthmatic airways.  Using airway epithelial cell culture systems, he utilizes cellular and molecular biology techniques combined with state-of-the-art microscopy to study the effects of ß-agonists, which are commonly used in the treatment of asthma and respiratory disease.  Prolonged use of ß-agonists can result in desensitization and down-regulation of the ß₂AR leading to reduced responsiveness to ß-agonist medications and poor clinical outcomes.  He is working to determine if ß₂AR down-regulation can be reversed by modulating the receptor trafficking pathways, thereby improving responsiveness to ß-agonists.  The asthmatic airway also exhibits defects in proper wound healing and expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), known to be important in wound healing.  Since ß-agonists have been shown to trans-activate EGFRs in other systems, Dr. Schnackenberg is interested in studying the effects of ß-agonists on EGFR regulation in airways.