Core Research Concentrations
Cell Biology | Clinical Studies | Health Services Research | Molecular Biology/Genomics | Neuroscience | Pharmacology | Surgery

Norma Adragna, Ph.D.
Professor of Pharmacology/Toxicology
Phone: 937-775-2104
Email: norma.adragna@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/pharm/adragna.html
Research Mentor for: Residents, Postdocs
Research Interests: The main focus of the research is on the characterization, regulation, including signal transduction, and expression of ion transport systems and their relationship to abnormal cellular function and to cellular aging. Main cell models are cultured vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells, red cells, and cells cultured on a cell stretcher. The main techniques used are measurement of ion fluxes by atomic and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry or by radiotracers, use of fluorescent dyes, and molecular biological techniques for isolation, cloning and expression, in Xenopus oocytes and by cell transfection, of transport systems, in particular, the K-Cl cotransporter.
Clinical Relevance: Study of the role of ion transport abnormalities at a cellular level in diseases such as myocardial infarction, essential hypertension, sickle cell anemia, Alzheimer's disease, and in the mechanism of aging is intended to develop effective strategies to uncover their etiology and for their prevention and treatment.

Julian Gomez-Cambronero Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Email: julian.cambronero@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/bmb/jgc/
Research Mentor for: Grad students, Postdocs
Research Interests: The regulation of cell movement (chemotaxis) is a contemporary topic that aims at understanding the molecular basis of a key cellular process. To this, the laboratory studies the intracellular mechanisms of signal transduction in human neutrophil and macrophage leukocytes; hematopoietic growth factors; and molecular biology methodologies for the analysis of gene and protein expression.
Clinical Relevance: Cell migration (enhancement or lack thereof) has profound consequences on pathological processes such as chronic inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Peter K. Lauf, M.D.
University Professor of Pathology
Email: peter.lauf@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/path/lauf.html
Research Mentor for: Med students, Residents, Postdocs
Research Interests: Research on cell volume and ion homeostasis in:
erythrocytes, lens epithelial cells, glia cells, vascular smooth muscle cells.
Clinical Relevance: Relevance for hemolytic disorders in man, Rh null disease, sickle cell anemia, cataract formation, hypertension, peripheral neuropathies etc.

Osvaldo Lopez, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pathology
Phone: 937-775-4627
Email: osvaldo.lopez@wright.edu
URL: none
Research Mentor for: Med students, Residents, Postdocs
Research interests: We are interested in the early immune response against virus. We showed that foot-and-mouth disease virus induces a rapid protective immune response through a mechanism that reduces immunopathology. Marginal zone B cells (MZB), a newly described population of B cells, are responsible for this response. We proved that a similar mechanism seems to occur against pathogenic influenza virus in humans. We are now interested in studying the role of the putative MZB in humans in the immune response against influenza. We are also interested in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and looking at the possibility that this leukemia is originated from the human counterpart of the mouse MZB.
Clinical Relevance: Understanding the mechanisms causing immunopathology during infection with influenza could help in the design of strategies to decrease inflammation. Understanding the mechanism involved in the rapid protective response after infection will help in the development of next generation vaccines against this virus. This will help in the prevention campaign against the next pandemic. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is the most prevalent leukemia in people older than 55 years of age. There is no cure for CLL. We are studying a new therapeutic strategy against this B cell leukemia that involves the generation of peptides specific to CLLs.

Thomas Herchline, M.D.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Phone: 937-208-2873
Email: thomas.herchline@wright.edu
Research Mentor for: Undergrads, Grad students, Med students, Residents,
Key Words: Infectious diseases, Tuberculosis, Epidemiology, STDs, Public Health
Research Interests and Clinical Relevance: Opportunities exist for clinical research in an inpatient setting, STD clinic, TB clinic and a clinical lab which performs a variety of susceptibility testing.

Gary Onady, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor Pediatrics & Internal Medicine
Phone: 937-224-3078
Email: gmonady@pol.net
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/peds/, http://www.med.wright.edu/im/
Research Mentor for: Med students, Residents
Research Interests: 1) Inflammation may impact insulin resistance in the CF patient. Oral insulin sensitizing agents with anti-inflammatory activity may therefore provide duel benefit in CFRD as an anti-inflammatory mediator and as an agent for managing diabetes. 2) Team-base Learning is a dynamic educational method that integrates active learning into the more traditional lecture format. Research as to outcomes resulting from this educational method both from student and faculty development perspectives are being formulated at this time.
Clinical Relevance: 1) Optimizing clinical outcomes in both pulmonary function and diabetic control in Cystic Fibrosis. 2) Enhancing learning through team building skills acquired from Team-based Learning.

John McAlearney, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Community Health
Phone: 614-582-6869
Email: john.mcalearney@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/hsm/aboutus.html#mcalearney
Research Mentor for: Grad students, Med students, Residents
Research Interests: I always have a number of research projects in the areas of health economics and health policy. Currently, other WSU researchers and I are comparing advanced global health systems to that of the US.
Clinical Relevance: My research tends to focus on the economics or policy implications of clinical practice.

Steven Berberich, Ph.D.
Professor and Interim Chair of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Phone: 937-775-3041
Email:steven.berberich@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/bmb/sb/sb.html
Keywords: molecular basis of cancer, cancer biology, molecular biology
Research Interests: Our laboratory currently studies how HdmX and Hdm2, two critical negative regulators of the p53 tumor suppressor protein, function to control p53 activity in human cells during times of genotoxic stress and cellular senescence. Recent work from the laboratory has led to the discovery of several novel p53 regulated genes that may impact p53 functions of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Finally, while studying the activity of HdmX during DNA damage we discovered a novel post-transcriptional downregulation of hdmX RNA levels that leads to diminished HdmX protein activity during p53 activation.
Clinical Relevance: Approximately 50% of human tumors possess mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor genes. Within the remaining half of human tumors retaining a functional p53 gene we are interested in those human tumors that inactivate p53 signaling through deregulation of either Hdm2 or HdmX. Our mechanistic studies of the interplay between Hdm2, HdmX and p53 may one day lead to novel therapeutic approaches to reactive p53 signaling in human tumors.

Michael Leffak, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Phone: 775-3125
Email: michael.leffak@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/bmb/ml/ml.htm
Research Mentor for: Undergrads, Grad students, Med students, Residents, Postdocs
Research Interests: Our laboratory discovered the replication origin of the human c-myc oncogene; to identify proteins and DNA sequences necessary for origin activity, and to study how the replication of short repeated nucleotide sequences contributes to inherited diseases, we use site-specific chromosome integration to engineer human tissue culture cells with mutant forms of the c-myc origin. Our analysis of the c-myc origin has also led to our discovery of the DNA Unwinding Element binding protein DUE-B. Biochemical and genetic characterization of DUE-B has begun to suggest how this evolutionarily conserved protein functions in the initiation of DNA replication.
Clinical Relevance: Genetic expansion of trinucleotide repeat sequences, asymmetric polypurine•polypyrimidine tracts, or helically unstable DNA are characteristic of myotonic dystrophy, polycystic kidney disease and spinocerebellar ataxia, respectively. We have placed these sequences alongside the c myc origin and shown that DNA replication in these engineered cells mimics the genetic steps causing these diseases. Our analysis of DUE-B indicates that this protein is involved in the initiation of DNA replication and interacts with DNA damage recognition proteins. Hybridization and immunoblot data suggest that DUE-B is overexpressed in ovarian cancer; current work is focusing on testing DUE-B as a marker of ovarian tumorigenesis.

Timothy Cope, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology
Email: timothy.cope@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/ncbp/cope.html
Research Mentor for: Grad students, Med students, Residents, Postdocs
Research Interests: Sensorimotor integration in the adult nervous system normally and after nerve injury.
Clinical Relevance: Developing ways of promoting recovery of the injured or diseased nervous system

Adrian Corbett, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology
Phone: 775-2058
Email: adrian.corbett@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/ncbp/corbett.html
Research Mentor for: Grad students, Med students, Residents,
Key Word: Neuroscience
Research Interests: I am currently setting up an ischemic stroke model in adult rodents and will be testing delayed treatments in the functional recovery of these animals. I hope to enhance neurogenesis during stroke recovery, which may aid in neuronal remodeling following stroke, leading to greater functional recovery. I will be using various motor function tests to test recovery, immunocytochemistry, and electrophysiology of labeled newly born neurons to test integration into existing neuronal circuits. Some of the work will also look at changes in gene expression in the brain under certain conditions (environmental conditions or drug conditions).
Clinical Relevance: Approximately 93% of stroke patients get to the hospital too late to use the clot buster drug tPa. For these patients, the only regular treatment is currently aspirin. We are beginning to understand more about the mechanisms that are working during a stroke, so priority should be given to developing a delayed treatment that enhances functional recovery in an animal model that is closer to that seen in the majority of stroke patients.

Robert Fyffe, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research Affairs, Professor of Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology
Email: robert.fyffe@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/ncbp/fyffe.html
Research Mentor for: Undergrads, Grad students, Med students, Residents, Postdocs
Research interests: Mechanisms of synaptic integration and neuronal excitability. Activity-dependent regulation of synaptic and intrinsic membrane properties. Response of neurons to injury.
Clinical Relevance: Our studies of congenitally deaf mice may serve as models for human deafness. Our studies of nerve injury induced changes in motoneurons help us to understand the recovery, or lack thereof, of function following nerve damage.

Mel Goldfinger, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology
Email: mel.goldfinger@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/ncbp/goldfinger.html
Research Mentor for: Med students, Residents
Research Interests: the medically-oriented project involves sensory and motor deficits in musicians
Clinical Relevance: initially to develop a data base of clinical presentations; later to explore treatment strategies.

James Olson, Ph.D.
Professor of Emergency Medicine
Email: james.olson@wright.edu
URL: http://www.wright.edu/~james.olson/
Research Mentor for: Undergrads, Grad students, Med students, Residents, Postdocs
Research Interests: Mechanisms of cell injury in brain edema. Mechanisms of brain edema development. Blood-brain barrier water transport.
Clinical Relevance: Devising effective treatments for cytotoxic and vasogenic brain edema in trauma, ischemia, and toxic syndromes.

Robert Putnam, Ph.D.
Professor of Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology
Email: robert.putnam@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/ncbp/putnam.html
Research Mentor for: Undergrads, Grad students, Med students, Residents, Postdocs
Research Interests: I am studying the neurons within the brainstem that control breathing. I am specifically studying the cellular signaling pathways and ion channel targets that allows these cells to respond to increased carbon dioxide with an increase in firing rate using patch clamp and fluorescence imaging microscopy techniques.
Clinical Relevance: This research is most directly relevant to diseases involving disordered respiratory control including sleep apnea, sudden infant death syndrome, an disorders that involve CO2 retention like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiac failure.

Mark Rich, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology
Email: mark.rich@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/ncbp/rich.html
Research Mentor for: Grad students, Med students, Residents, Postdocs
Research Interests: There are two projects in my lab. In the first project we study the cause of muscle inexcitability in a disease triggered in patients by severe illness. In the second project we study activity-dependent synaptic plasticity at the neuromuscular junction.
Clinical Relevance: Both projects are clinically relevant. The project on muscle excitability is directed at understanding a disease of muscle. The project on synaptic plasticity is relevant to many nervous system injuries and diseases.

Yanfang Chen M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Phone: 937-775-3265
Email: yanfang.chen@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/pharm/yanfangchen.html
Research Mentor for: Undergrads, Grad students, Med students, Residents, Postdocs
Key Words: pharmacology, cardiovascular disease, hypertension
Research Interests: My major interests are to investigate the role of renin angiotensin system in hypertension, ischemic stroke and cardiovascular complications in diabetes. The main techniques used are: 1) radiotelemetric recording and analysis of blood pressure and heart rate, 2) brain microinjection, 3) laser Doppler measurement of cerebral blood flow, 4) in situ hybridization and real-time RT-PCR for analysis of mRNA expression, 5) cell cultures, immunohistochemistry and western blot, 6) adenovirus mediated small RNA interferencing.
Clinical Relevance: Mouse disease models, such as hypertension, stroke and diabetes, are used for our studies.

Alex G. Little, M.D.
Professor and Chair of Surgery
Phone: 208-3771
Email: alex.little@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/surg/
Research Mentor for: Undergrads, Med students
Research Interests: Clinical and animal investigations into the surgical treatment of esophageal disorders.
Clinical Relevance: To improve surgical patient care.

James Ouellette, D.O.
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Phone: 937-395-8686
Email: james.ouellette@wright.edu
URL: http://www.med.wright.edu/surg/
Research Mentor for: Undergrads, Grad students, Med students, Residents, Postdocs
Research Interests: Clinical Relevance: