For a better experience, click the Compatibility Mode icon above to turn off Compatibility Mode, which is only for viewing older websites.

Department of Pharmacology & Physiology Events

Pharmacology & Physiology Fall 2024 Seminar Schedule

Download seminar schedule flyer

Adam Resnick, PhD

September 17, 2024

Building “Big Data” Multi-Omic Resources for Cross-Disease Discovery and Clinical Translation: From Collaborative Networks to the Cloud and Back to Patients
Adam Resnick, PhD – Director, Center for Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine, Alexander B. Wheeler Endowed Chair in Neurosurgical Research, Research Professor of Neurosurgery at the Perelman School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Download seminar flyer

Isaac Chiu, PhD

October 22, 2024

Nociceptor Neuron Interactions with Microbes and Immune Cells in Barrier Immunity
Isaac Chiu, PhD – Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard University Division of Medical Sciences
Download seminar flyer

Jennifer Kelschenbach, PhD

November 18, 2024

The Impact of Buprenorphine on Neurocognitive Impairment in EcoHIV Infected Mice: A Potential Therapy for HIV-NCI
Jennifer Kelschenbach, PhD – Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Download seminar flyer.

Donna Calu, PhD

November 19, 2024

Amygdala Mechanisms of Incentive Motivational Strategy
Donna Calu, PhD – Associate Professor, Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Download seminar flyer

Katharine Bar, MD

December 17, 2024

The Impact of Early Antiretroviral Therapy on HIV-Specific Antibody Responses
Katharine Bar, MD – Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases); Director, Penn CFAR Viral and Molecular Core, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Download seminar flyer

Fall 2023 - Summer 2024 Seminars

Breana Channer

June 25, 2024

Impact of Microenvironment on Dopaminergic Immunomodulation in Human Macrophages
Breana Channer – Senior Pharm/Phys Student, Gaskill Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
Download seminar flyer

Geena John

July 9, 2024

Modulation of Astrocytic Calcium Dynamics in Ischemic Stroke Recovery
Geena John – Senior Pharm/Phys Student, Jackson Lab – Drexel University College of Medicine
Download seminar flyer

Clara Xu

July 16, 2024

Allosteric Modulator of Dopamine Transporter Inhibits Cocaine-Induced Hyperlocomotion
Clara Xu – Senior Pharm/Phys Student, O. Mortensen Lab – Drexel University College of Medicine
Download seminar flyer

Neha Mohan

July 30, 2024

From Organoids to Therapeutics: Unveiling Genotype-Phenotype Links in Spastic Paraplegia Type 4 with HDAC6 Inhibitors
Neha Mohan – Senior Pharm/Phys Student, Qiang Lab – Drexel University College of Medicine
Download seminar flyer

Rhea Temmermand

August 13, 2024

Development of Glutamate Transporter Modulators as a Non-Opioid Treatment for Neuropathic Pain
Rhea Temmermand – Senior Pharm/Phys Student, A. Mortensen Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
Download seminar flyer

Annalisa Scimemi, PhD

January 16, 2024

Perseverance Versus Cognitive Flexibility: Neuronal Glutamate Transporters Give Us a Reason Not to Indulge in Either
Annalisa Scimemi, PhD – Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, SUNY
Download seminar flyer

Lynette Daws, PhD

February 6, 2024

The Smoking Gun: Organic Cation Transporter 3 in the Actions of Amphetamine and Alcohol
Lynette Daws, PhD – Professor, Department of Cellular & Integrative Physiology, University of Texas San Antonio Health Center
Download seminar flyer

Margaret McCarthy, PhD

March 5, 2024

Neuroimmune Interactions Sculpt the Developing Brain
Margaret McCarthy, PhD – Professor & Chair, Department of Pharmacology; Director, University of Maryland - Medicine Institute of Neuroscience Discovery (UM-MIND), University of Maryland School of Medicine
Download seminar flyer

Alana Welm, PhD

March 26, 2024

Using Patient-Derived Models for Drug Discovery and Functional Precision Oncology in Advanced Breast Cancer
Alana Welm, PhD – Senior Director of Basic Science, Huntsman Comprehensive Cancer Center; Professor, Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah
Download seminar flyer

Howard Fox, MD, PhD

April 16, 2024

Neuropathogenic Microglia: Single Cell Analysis in SIV, ARV Treatment, and Drug Abuse
Howard Fox, MD, PhD – Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences; Senior Associate Dean of Research & Development, UNMC College of Medicine; Director, Center for Integrative and Translational Neuroscience; Co-Investigator, Co-Director, Great Plains IDeA-CTR, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Download seminar flyer

Lindsay Festa, PhD

April 30, 2024

More Than Trash Cans: The Lysosome as a Novel Regulator of Oligodendrocyte Function
Lindsay Festa, PhD – Research Associate, Department of Oral Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Download seminar flyer

Giannina Descalzi, PhD

May 7, 2024

Sex Differences in the Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Chronic Pain Development
Giannina Descalzi, PhD – Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
Download seminar flyer

Melanie Nicol, PharmD, PhD

May 14, 2024

Translating the Complex Role of Antiretrovirals in the Brain
Melanie Nicol, PharmD, PhD – Associate Professor & Associate Director of Graduate Studies Department of Experimental & Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota
Download seminar flyer

Eleonora Gianti, PhD

September 5

Biomolecular Drug Targets Through the Lens of Computation
Eleonora Gianti, PhD – Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University
Download seminar flyer

Jason J. Paris, PhD

September 19

Natural Products Drug Discovery for the Eradication of NeuroHIV
Jason Paris, PhD – Research Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi
Download seminar flyer

Xuan Luo

September 26

Immune Regulation by Small Extracellular Vesicles in Attenuating Inflammatory Pain
Xuan Luo – Senior Pharmacology & Physiology Graduate Student (Ajit lab), Drexel University College of Medicine
Download seminar flyer

Silvia Fossati, PhD

October 10

Cerebrovascular Mitochondria and Apoptotic Mechanisms as Targets in Alzheimer’s Disease
Silvia Fossati, PhD – Associate Professor & Associate Director, Alzheimer’s Center at Temple; Associate Professor, Department of Neural Sciences & Lemole Center for Integrated Lymphatics Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Download seminar flyer

Anna Zhang

October 24

Phenotypic Plasticity of CX3CR1 is Associated with Metastasis Initiation
Anna Zhang – Senior Pharmacology & Physiology Graduate Student (Fatatis lab), Drexel University College of Medicine
Download seminar flyer

Jason Wickman

October 31

Immune Modulation Targeting T Cell Dysfunction in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Jason Wickman – Senior Pharmacology & Physiology Graduate Student (Ajit lab), Drexel University College of Medicine
Download seminar flyer

Ricardo Leao, PhD

November 17

Dynamic Control of Neuronal Firing by KATP Channels
Ricardo M. Leão, PhD – Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
Download seminar flyer

Amanda Brown, PhD

December 5

HIV-Infected Humanized Mice Reproduce Aspects of Neurologic Dysfunction and Other Comorbidities
Amanda Brown, PhD – Associate Professor, Department of Neurology & Neuroscience; Director, Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences; Co-Director, Johns Hopkins Center for the Advancement of HIV Neurotherapeutics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Download seminar flyer

 Back to Top

2022 Pharmacology and Physiology Department Retreat

Pharmacology and Physiology Department Retreat

Download Full Retreat Agenda

The Pharmacology and Physiology Department Retreat was held December 1-2, 2022, at The Study at University City, 20 S. 33rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19104.

The two-day event featured:

  • Research talks from faculty and trainees
  • Drexel applied innovation
  • TRaCES initiative and core facility
  • MOTOR center (new)
  • Education and career panels
  • Breakout sessions for trainees and faculty
  • Elevator talks in small groups
  • Keynote speaker - Dr. Nate Smith, Partner @ Maple Health Group, LLC

Retreat Awards

Student Awards

Best Research Talks: Julia Farnan & Amber Jones
Best Elevator Talks: Katelyn Reeb & Chun-Ta Ho
Fastest Elevator Talk: Anna Zhang

Best Question: Gabriele Romano, PhD

Don’t Say the Word Game Champions: Clara Xu & Christina Besada

Benjamin Weiss Scholar Award: Kathleen Bryant
Mary Hoffman Shaw Travel Awards: Xuan Luo, Rhea Temmermand & Deepa Reddy

Chair’s Awards

Exemplary Citizen Award: Jonathan Snyder
Outstanding Service Award: Liz Kopen
Faculty Service Award: Zachary Klase, PhD

Highest impact factor publication: Priscila Sato, PhD
Success in collaborative efforts: Peter Gaskill, PhD & Zachary Klase, PhD

 Back to Top

Fall 2022 – Summer 2023 Seminars

Keisa W. Mathis, PhD

September 20

Keisa W. Mathis, PhD – Associate Professor, Physiology and Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Neuroimmune Communication in Health, Hypertension and Renal Inflammatory Diseases
Download seminar flyer

Johannes C. M. Schlachetzki, MD

October 11

Johannes C. M. Schlachetzki, MD – Assistant Project Scientist, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego
Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulation of Microglia in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Download seminar flyer

Lucas M. Cheadle, PhD

October 18

Lucas M. Cheadle, PhD – Assistant Professor, Neuroscience Program Area, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
More than Myelin: How Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells Sculpt Circuits in the Developing Brain
Download seminar flyer

October 19

Lucas M. Cheadle, PhD – Assistant Professor, Neuroscience Program Area, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Trainee Roundtable Discussion: Diversifying the Biomedical Sciences
Hosted by the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology and the Biomedical Graduate Students for Diversity
1:00 p.m., NCB room 8312
Download roundtable flyer

David J. Clark, MD, PhD

November 1

David J. Clark, MD, PhD – Professor and Vice-Chair of Academic Affairs, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University; Chair, Board of Directors, Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research
The Contributions of Autoimmunity to Chronic Pain
Download seminar flyer

David L. Bartlett, MD

November 8

David L. Bartlett, MD – System Chair, Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Cancer Institute, Allegheny General Hospital
Translational Research for Peritoneal Tumors
Download seminar flyer

Lori Knackstedt, PhD

November 29

Lori Knackstedt, PhD – Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Florida
Drug Addiction and Glutamate Homeostasis in the Nucleus Accumbens
Download seminar flyer

Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha, PhD

December 13

Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha, PhD – Professor of Neuroscience in Pediatrics; Associate Dean of Program Development, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical College
Learning to Forget: Could Neuropsychiatric Risk Gene, CACNA1C, Underlie Individual Susceptibility to Addiction?
Download seminar flyer

Julia Farnan

January 31

Julia Farnan – Senior Pharmacology & Physiology Graduate Student (Jackson lab), Drexel University College of Medicine
Astrocyte Secreted Factors Activate Neural Development Programs in Melanoma Brain Metastasis
Download seminar flyer

Frederick 'Chris' Bennett, MD

February 7

Frederick “Chris” Bennett, MD – Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania
Brain Macrophage Transplantation for Research and Therapy Development
Download seminar flyer

Pablo E. Castillo, MD, PhD

March 7

Pablo E. Castillo, MD, PhD – Harold and Muriel Block Chair, Professor, Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Long-term Presynaptic Plasticity: Novel Functions and Mechanisms
Download seminar flyer

Kathleen R. Cho, MD

March 14

Kathleen R. Cho, MD – Peter A. Ward Professor of Pathology, Vice Chair for Academic Affairs, Director, Gynecologic Pathology, Interim Director, Division of Education Programs, Professor of Internal Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan
Mouse Models of “Ovarian” Cancer: Progress, Problems and Platforms for Testing Prevention Strategies
Download seminar flyer

Jason J. Paris, PhD

March 28 (postponed until Fall 2023)

Jason J. Paris, PhD – Research Associate Professor, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi
Natural Products Drug Discovery for NeuroHIV

Jonathan Snyder

April 4

Jonathan Snyder – Senior Pharmacology & Physiology Graduate Student (Sato lab), Drexel University College of Medicine
Pancreatic Islet GRK2 Regulates Hormone Secretion and Glycemic Control by Regulating Metabolism and GPCR Sensitivity
Download seminar flyer

Mariana Cherner, PhD

April 25

Mariana Cherner, PhD – Professor of Psychiatry, Director, Interdisciplinary Research Fellowship in NeuroHIV, HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego
Contributions of substance use to neurocognitive functioning in HIV
Download seminar flyer

Geoffroy Laumet, PhD

May 2

Geoffroy Laumet, PhD – Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, College of Natural Science, Michigan State University
Peripheral interleukin-10-producing monocytes contribute to sex differences in pain resolution in mice and humans
Download seminar flyer

Katelyn Reeb

June 27

Katelyn Reeb – Senior Pharmacology & Physiology Graduate Student (A. Mortensen lab), Drexel University College of Medicine
Determining the mechanism and clinical potential of positive allosteric modulation of glutamate transporters

Maria Cavallo

July 11

Maria Cavallo – Senior Pharmacology & Physiology Graduate Student (Hartsough lab), Drexel University College of Medicine
Exploiting pyroptosis in melanoma brain metastases

Qiaowei Xie

July 25

Qiaowei Xie – Senior Pharmacology & Physiology Graduate Student (Barker lab), Drexel University College of Medicine
The impact of EcoHIV on cocaine-related behaviors

Christina Besada

August 1

Christina Besada – Senior Pharmacology & Physiology Graduate Student (O. Mortensen lab), Drexel University College of Medicine
Bidirectional ERK 1/2 modulation in dopaminergic neurons regulates DAT trafficking and function

 Back to Top

Community of Scholars Seminar Series

Community of Scholars Seminar Series

June 16, 2022
12 – 1 p.m.

Research Highlights:

  • David L. Bartlett, MD
    System Chair, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Center
    Professor of Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine
  • Linwood Haith, MD
    Chief, Burn Surgery, Nathan Speare Regional Burn Treatment Center, Chester-Crozer Medical Center
    Associate Professor of Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine
  • Garth Ehrlich, PhD
    Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology and Department of Otolaryngology
    Executive Director, Genomics Core, Drexel University College of Medicine

Professional Development:
Strategies for obtaining NRSA pre-doctoral fellowships from the NIH

  • Jacqueline Barker, PhD
    Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine
  • Moderated by Seena Ajit, PhD
    Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine

Please contact Danielle Zimmerman (dnz29@drexel.edu) for the Zoom link.

 Back to Top

Fall 2021 – Spring 2022 Seminars

September 21

Maria Cecelia Marcondes, PhD

Maria Cecelia Marcondes, PhD – Associate Professor, Department of Neuroimmunology, San Diego Biomedical Research Institute (SDBRI)
Methamphetamine, Dopamine and Breaching Latency
Download seminar flyer

September 28

Angel Lin

Angel Lin – Senior Pharm/Phys Student, Klase Lab – Drexel University College of Medicine
RUNX1 and its Potential Involvement in the Establishment and Maintenance of HIV Latency
Download seminar flyer

October 12

Jessica Loweth, PhD

Jessica Loweth, PhD – Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Rowan University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ
Investigating Neuroadaptations in the Basolateral Amygdala Underlying Sex Differences In Cue-Induced Cocaine Craving
Download seminar flyer

October 19

Kathleen G. Bryant

Kathleen G. Bryant – Senior Pharm/Phys Student, Barker Lab – Drexel University College of Medicine
Low Dose Ethanol Effects on Reward Motivation
Download seminar flyer

October 26

Christopher M. Norris, PhD

Christopher M. Norris, PhD – Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, Sylvia Mansbach Chair in Alzheimer’s Research, Associate Director of Research & Faculty Advancement, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Professor, University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Targeting Reactive Astrocytes in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders
Download seminar flyer

November 9

Jared W. Young, PhD

Jared W. Young, PhD – Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, Co-Director, Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, VA Research, San Diego, CA
Determining the Impact of HIV-Relevant Proteins & Substance Use that Contribute to Cognitive and Behavioral Dysfunction Using Rodent Models
Download seminar flyer

January 11, 2022

Jared Luchetta

Jared Luchetta, Senior Pharm/Phys Student, Meucci Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
Examining the Role of Inhibitory Neurons in CXCL12’s Effect on Neuronal Network Activity and Structural Plasticity
Download seminar flyer

Jared Luchetta

January 11

Jared Luchetta – Senior Pharm/Phys Student, Meucci Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
Examining the Role of Inhibitory Neurons in CXCL12’s Effect on Neuronal Network Activity and Structural Plasticity

Louise Risher, PhD

January 25

Louise Risher, PhD – Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, W.Va.
Hippocampal Dysregulation Following Adolescent Binge Drinking: A Role for the Tripartite Synapse
Download seminar flyer

Krzysztof Kaminski, PhD

February 1

Krzysztof Kaminski, PhD – Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vice Chairman of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jagiellionian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
Modified Amino Acid Derivatives as Candidates for Novel and Broad-Spectrum Antiseizure Drugs
Download seminar flyer

Julia Farnan

February 15

Julia Farnan – Senior Pharm/Phys Student, Jackson Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
Investigating Astrocyte Reactivity in Melanoma Brain Metastases
Download seminar flyer

Rebecca Veenhuis, PhD

February 22

Rebecca Veenhuis, PhD – Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular & Comparative Pathobiology, Retrovirus Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Elucidating the SIV and HIV Latent Cellular Reservoirs
Download seminar flyer

Lindsay K. Festa, PhD

March 8

Lindsay K. Festa, PhD – Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania and Department of Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Lysosomal De-Acidification Inhibits Oligodendrocyte Maturation: Implications for HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorders
Download seminar flyer

Peter M. Grace, PhD

March 29

Peter M. Grace, PhD – Assistant Professor, Rita Allen Foundation Scholar, Department of Symptom Research, Neuroimmunology Laboratories, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Activating Endogenous Antioxidant Signaling to Relieve Neuropathic Pain
Download seminar flyer

Daniel P. Kelly, MD

April 12

Daniel P. Kelly, MD – Willard & Rhoda Ware Professor of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Targeting Metabolic Circuits in the Failing Heart
Download seminar flyer

Frank Maldarelli, MD, PhD

April 19

Frank Maldarelli, MD, PhD – Senior Investigator, HIV Dynamics and Replication Program; Head, Clinical Retrovirology Section, National Cancer Institute Center for Cancer Research
HIV Persistence During Antiretroviral Therapy in Anatomic Compartments: A View From the Fridge
Download seminar flyer

Alana L. Welm, PhD

April 26

Alana L. Welm, PhD – Professor, Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah; Director of Basic Science, Huntsman Comprehensive Cancer Center, Huntsman Cancer Institute
Patient-Derived Models of Breast Cancer for Pre-Clinical Research and Functional Precision Medicine
Download seminar flyer

Gonzalo Torres, PhD

May 10

Gonzalo Torres, PhD – Professor and Chair, Department of Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences, CUNY School of Medicine
G Protein Regulation of the Dopamine Transporter and the Actions of Amphetamine
Download seminar flyer

Eva Hernando-Monge, PhD

May 17

Eva Hernando-Monge, PhD – Professor, Department of Pathology, Assistant Dean for Research Integration, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health
Melanoma Brain Metastasis: An Unexpected Connection to Neurodegeneration
Download seminar flyer

Mitchell A. Nothem, PhD

May 31

Mitchell A. Nothem, PhD – Barker Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
The Effect of Ethanol on Pain-Related Behavior and Reward Seeking in a Model of Chronic Pain
Download seminar flyer

 Back to Top

Fall 2020 – Spring 2021 Seminars

September 22

Jay McLaughlin, PhD – Professor, Department of Pharmacodynamics, University of Florida College of Pharmacy
Evaluating contributions of HIV-1 Tat protein to neurodysfunction and psychiatric deficits associated with neuroAIDS
Download seminar flyer

October 6

Laura Giacometti, PhD – Barker Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
Astrocytic regulation of reward seeking in ethanol-dependent mice
Download seminar flyer

October 13

Stacia Lewandowski – Senior Pharm/Phys Student, O. Mortensen Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
In Vivo Studies of the Role of ERK 1/2 Phosphatase MKP3 in Dopaminergic Neurons on Cocaine-Associated Behavior, Dopamine Signaling and Gene Expression
Download seminar flyer

October 20

Jesse Schank, PhD – Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Georgia
The Role of the Neurokinin-1 Receptor in Stress-Induced Drug and Alcohol Seeking
Download seminar flyer

October 27

Shaili Aggarwal, PhD – O. Mortensen Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
Allosteric Modulation of the Dopamine Transporter: A New Opportunity in Developing Unique and Promising Therapeutics for Cocaine Abuse Disorder
Download seminar flyer

November 10

Harald Sontheimer, PhD – I. D. Wilson Chair and Professor, Founding Executive Director, Virginia Tech School of Neurosciences, Commonwealth Eminent Scholar in Cancer Research; Director, Center for Glial Biology in Health, Disease & Cancer, Virginia Tech Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
Glial Neuronal Vascular Interactions in Neurological Disease
Download seminar flyer

November 17

Zachary Campbell, PhD – Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas
RNA Control in Pain
Download seminar flyer

December 8

Emily Nickoloff-Bybel – Senior Pharm/Phys Student, Gaskill Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
Signaling mechanisms underlying dopamine-mediated increases in HIV entry
Download seminar flyer

January 12

Stephanie Matt, PhD

Stephanie Matt, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow, Gaskill Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
Dopamine-mediated mechanisms regulating neuroinflammation and neuroHIV in myeloid cells
Download seminar flyer

January 19

Claudia Capparelli, PhD

Claudia Capparelli, PhD – Research Assistant Professor, Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University
Tumor heterogeneity in melanoma, resistance and therapeutic opportunities
Download seminar flyer

January 26

Anthony DiNatale

Anthony DiNatale – Senior Pharm/Phys student, Fatatis Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
Molecular characterization of critical mediators of metastatic disease
Download seminar flyer

February 2

Brandon Henderson, PhD

Brandon Henderson, PhD – Assistant Professor, Neuroscience and Developmental Biology Research Center Coordinator, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marshall University
Nicotine flavorants and formulations unique to vaping alter dopamine neurons and impact reward and reinforcement
Download seminar flyer

February 16

Richa Gupta, PhD

Richa Gupta, PhD – Research Associate, Ajit Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
Dual and opposing roles of long non-coding RNA XIST in acute and chronic inflammation
Download seminar flyer

February 23

Jun Zhu, MD, PhD

Jun Zhu, MD, PhD – Professor, Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, South Carolina College of Pharmacy
Unlocking a mystery for neuroHIV: the impact of monoamine transporter on HIV-1 tat regulation of dopamine transmission
Download seminar flyer

March 16

Francesco Petrelli, PhD

Francesco Petrelli, PhD, Research Associate, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Laboratory of Stem Cell Metabolism, University of Lausanne (Switzerland)
How Mitochondrial Metabolism Controls Glial Cell Behavior
Download seminar flyer

March 23

Ramanpreet Kaur

Ramanpreet Kaur, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow, Fatatis Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
The Role of the CX3CR1-FKN Axis in Tumor Initiation and Metastatic Progression
Download seminar flyer

April 6

Steven P. Jones, PhD

Steven P. Jones, PhD – Professor, Director, Diabetes & Obesity Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Environmental Medicine, University of Louisville
Metabolic Regulation of Tissue Structure and Function: The Heart of the Matter
Download seminar flyer

April 20

Keiran Smalley, PhD

Keiran Smalley, PhD – Professor, Director of the Melanoma and Skin Cancers Center of Excellence, Professor and Donald A. Adam Chair in Melanoma Research, Senior Member, Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center
Multi-Omics Analysis of the Microenvironment Gives New Insights in Brain Metastasis Progression and Treatment
Download seminar flyer

May 4

Zhucheng Lin

Zhucheng Lin – Senior Pharm/Phys Student, Ajit Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
The Role of Small Extracellular Vesicles in Neuropathic Pain
Download seminar flyer

May 11

Michael Burton, PhD

Michael Burton, PhD – Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Neuroimmunology and Behavior Research Group, University of Texas at Dallas
Investigating Cell-Specific Mechanisms Driving Sex Differences in the Development of Inflammatory Pain
Download seminar flyer

May 25

Lena Al-Harthi, PhD

Lena Al-Harthi, PhD – The Thomas J. Coogan Sr., MD, Chair of Immunology, Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity, Director of Rush Initiative to Maximize Student Development (Rush-IMSD), Rush Medical College
Topic: The Brain, the Other Glia, and HIV
Download seminar flyer

June 8

Gabriele Romano, PhD

Gabriele Romano, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas
Topic: Intrinsic and Acquired Drug Resistance in Melanoma: Bench-to-Bedside and Back Again
Download seminar flyer

 Back to Top

Fall 2019 – Spring 2020 Seminars

Monday, September 16, 11:30 a.m.

Atom Sarkar, MD, PhD, professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Drexel Neurosciences Institute
Human Brain Tumors: Molecules and Models

October 8

Kathryn J. Reissner, PhD, associate professor, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A Role for Astrocytes in the Development of Cocaine Addiction

October 15

Allison M. Andrews, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Pathology, Temple University
Brain Endothelial Extracellular Vesicles (EVs): Biomarkers, Immune Regulators and Pathological Contributors

October 29

John D. Imig, PhD, professor, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin
Eicosanoid Drugs: Prospects for Treating Human Diseases

Friday, November 15, 1 p.m.

Jeffery D. Molkentin, PhD, professor, Division of Molecular & Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Can Adult Stem Cells Really Regenerate the Damaged Heart?

November 26

Ashley M. Kopec, PhD, assistant professor, Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College
Sex-Specific Immune Mechanisms Guide Adolescent Brain and Behavioral Development

December 3

Srinivas Malladi, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Metastatic Latency – A Veiled Threat

Download seminar schedule flyer

Please note: All Spring 2020 seminars have been postponed.

Unless otherwise noted, all seminars take place in the New College Building, 245 N. 15th Street, in the John A. Harvey Conference Room (Room 8312) at 11 a.m.

January 14

Luciano D’Adamio, MD, PhD, Rutgers University
BAD-Glu and Neurodegeneration

January 21

Michael Henderson, PhD, research associate, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania
Understanding and Developing Therapeutics for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Preclinical Models

January 28

Davide Trotti, PhD, Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center/Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Non-cell Autonomous Pathways of Neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: An Unconventional Role for the Astroglia Glutamate Transporter EAAT2

Wednesday, February 12, 3 p.m. (note different time)

Conor Liston, MD, PhD, Weil Cornell Medicine-Feil Family Brain & Mind Research Institute
Prefrontal Cortical Circuit Dysfunction in Depression-Like Behavioral States

March 3

Mitchell Lazar, MD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine 
Transcriptional Regulation of Circadian Rhythms and Metabolism

POSTPONED: March 17

Gonzalo Torres, PhD, CUNY School of Medicine
G Protein Regulation of the Dopamine Transporter and the Actions of Amphetamine

POSTPONED: March 24

David Clark, MD, PhD, Stanford University & VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Persistent Postoperative Pain: Mechanisms and Modulators

POSTPONED: March 31

Jesse Schank, PhD, University of Georgia
The Role of the Neurokinin-1 Receptor in Stress-Induced Drug and Alcohol Seeking

POSTPONED: April 14

Douglas Tilley, PhD, Temple University School of Medicine
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Regulation of Cardiac Health and Disease

POSTPONED: May 5

Jun Zhu, PhD, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy
Unlocking a Mystery for NeuroHIV: The Impact of Monoamine Transporter on HIV-1 Tat Regulation of Dopamine Transmission

POSTPONED: May 12

Harald Sontheimer, PhD, Virginia Tech
TBA

 Back to Top

Fall 2018 – Spring 2019 Seminars

September 18

Dr. Yesim Eralp, Istanbul University
Advances in Personalized Medicine and Immunotherapy in Oncology

October 9

Dr. Jacqueline Barker, Drexel University
Regulation of Flexible Behavior by Glutamatergic Circuits

October 16

Dr. Heidi Ford, University of Colorado
Tumor Heterogeneity, EMT and Metastasis

November 27

Dr. Tricia Burdo, Temple University
HIV-Associated Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Fibrosis

December 4

Dr. Eduardo Candelario-Jalil
University of Florida-Gainesville
Neurovascular Protection by Adropin in Experimental Ischemic Stroke

January 29

Dr. Priscila Sato, Drexel University
GRK2 in Mediating Metabolism

February 5

Dr. Ashani Weeraratna, The Wistar Institute
A Wrinkle in TiME: How the Aged TME Affects Tumor Progression

March 5

Dr. Jonathan Geiger, University of North Dakota
An "Iron-ic" Story About Endolysosomes and HAND Pathogenesis

March 26

Dr. Jonathan Javitch, Columbia University
A Tale of Two Substrates: an Allosteric Mechanism for Neurotransmitter: Sodium Symporters

April 2

Dr. Stanley Thayer, University of Minnesota
Adaptations to HIV Neurotoxins Change the Pharmacology of Synapses

April 30

Dr. Levi Beverly, University of St. Louis
Studying Mechanisms of Cancer Progression, Therapeutic Response and Detrimental Therapy-Related Side Effects

May 7

Dr. Cagla Akay Espinoza, University of Pennsylvania
Unintended Consequences: Adverse Effects of Antiretroviral Compounds in the CNS

May 21

Dr. Matt Wanat, University of Texas, San Antonio
Mesolimbic Dopamine Circuits in Positive and Negative Reinforcement

 Back to Top

Fall 2017 – Spring 2018 Seminars

September 19

Norman J. Haughey, PhD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Stimulus-Dependent Cargo Inclusion of Astrocyte Shed Extracellular Vesicles Regulates the Target's Response

October 10

Pietro P. Sanna, MD, The Scripps Research Institute
Lessons From the Transcriptome: Gene Network Dysregulations in NeuroAIDS and Substance Abuse

October 16

Priscila Sato, PhD, Temple University School of Medicine
Faculty Candidate Seminar: From Ion Channels to Cardiac GPCR-Signaling: In Search of New Therapeutic Targets

Monday, October 30 at 3 p.m.

Dr. Shubha Gururaja Rao, Drexel University
Role of Mitochondrial Structure and Function in Cell Physiology

December 5

Dr. Kevin Foskett, University of Pennsylvania
Molecular Mechanisms and Physiological Roles of Ca2+ Crosstalk Between ER and Mitochondria

January 9

Dr. Peter Gaskill, Drexel University
Mechanisms of Dopamine Mediated Increase in HIV Infection of Macrophages

February 20

Dr. Andreia Mortensen, Drexel University
Positive Allosteric Modulation of Glutamate Transporters for CNS Disorders

March 6

Please note that Dr. Levine's seminar has been rescheduled for May 22.
Dr. Jon Levine, University of California-San Francisco
Persistent, Chronic and Analgesic-Induced Pain

April 3

Dr. Sergi Ferre, National Institute on Drug Abuse
Pre-coupling of Receptor Oligomers and Signaling Molecules: Challenging Classical Pharmacology

May 1

Dr. Qiufu Ma, Harvard University
Mapping Spinal Circuits and Revisiting "Pain” Measurement in Mice

May 15

Dr. Devasena Ponnalagu, Drexel University
Mitochondrial Chloride Channels: A Newbie in the Family

May 22

Dr. Jon Levine, University of California-San Francisco
Persistent, Chronic and Analgesic-Induced Pain

May 29

Dr. Paul M. Mathews, NYU School of Medicine, Nathan Kline Institute/Center for Cognitive Neurology
Regulation of the Endosomal Pathway by Amyloid Precursor Protein Fragments: Implication for Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration

 Back to Top

Fall 2016 – Spring 2017 Seminars

October 18

Dr. Joan Berman, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Mechanisms of Neuroinflammation and Toxicity: Critical Roles in NeuroAids

November 8

Dr. Habibeh Khoshbouei, University of Florida
Sigma-1 Receptor Regulation of Dopamine Neurotransmission: Beyond the Surface Membrane

November 29

Dr. Fadi Akar, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Arrhythmia Mechanisms and Therapies in Large Animal Models of Advanced Heart Failure

January 17

Dr. Dennis Kolson, University of Pennsylvania
Brain Heme Oxygenase -1 Deficiency, Oxidative Stress and HIV-Associated Neuro Cognitive Disorders: Potential Therapeutic Targeting

January 24

Dr. Daniel Marenda, Drexel University
Flying in the Face of Disease: Using Drosophila to Identify Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease

February 7

Dr. Phil Wedegaertner, Thomas Jefferson University
Gβγ Regulation of Golgi Function and Structure

February 9

Faculty Candidate Seminar: Bradley K. Taylor, PhD, Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky
Trauma Establishes an Opponent Process of Latent Pain Sensitization and Mu Opioid Receptor Constitutive Activity

February 21

Dr. Elizabeth Heller, University of Pennsylvania
Elucidating the Function of Epigenetic Remodeling in Reward Pathology

March 21

Dr. Mohamed Trebak, Penn State University College of Medicine
STIM-ORAI Mediated Ca2+ Signaling in Disease: Lessons from Smooth Muscle

March 28

Dr. Marco Cosentino, University of Insubria, Italy
Adrenergic and Dopaminergic Pathways in the Nervous and Immune System as Opportunities for Novel Therapeutics

April 11

Dr. Yuan-Xiang Tao, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School
Epigenetic Mechanisms of Neuropathic Pain

April 18

Dr. Ru-Rong Ji, Duke University School of Medicine
Pain and Autism: Peripheral Regulation

April 19

Faculty Candidate Seminar: Jacqueline M. Barker, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina
Arbitration Between Actions and Habits by the Prefrontal Cortex

May 2

Dr. Jean-Pierre Vilardaga, University of Pittsburgh
Endosomal and Mitochondrial GPCR Signaling

May 9

Faculty Candidate Seminar: Giulio Agnetti, PhD, FAHA, assistant professor, Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiology; director, Center for Research on Cardiac Intermediate Filaments (CRCIF), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
What Do Intermediate Filaments Really Do? A Lesson from the Heart

June 6

Dr. Dionna Williams, Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins

June 14 (Wednesday)

Dr. Joseph Baker, The College of New Jersey
Biomolecules in Motion: Molecular Modeling and Simulation of Biomolecular Systems

 
 Back to Top

Elements of a laboratory experiment.