BMS Faculty Research Interests

• Current Project: Investigating molecular mechanisms of cancer pathogenesis and development of strategies for mechanism-based therapy.

• Current project: Investigating ectrodactyly, spinal abnormalities, dwarfism, pigmentary uveitis, cranial cruciate ligament rupture, hypomyelination polyneuropathy, "hidden" coat color alleles, and others.

• Current Projects: 1) Gene delivery, using ultrasound-mediated sonoporation strategies to express targeted osteo-immune cytokines for restoring bone and immune cell homeostasis; 2) Stem cell delivery, exploring the therapeutic ability of adipose-derived mesenchymal/stromal stem cells to deliver the pro-osteogeneic and antiangiogenic Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor; 3) Role of small molecules for pharmacological interventions for mediating joint cartilage and bone repair

• Current Project: Delivering anatomical content in interactive mobile formats.

• Current Projects: Mechanisms of calcium influx during development and its effect on normal conceptus development; the roles of beta transforming growth factors and integrins during pre-implanatation development and placentation

• Current Projects: Neural networks and circuits involved in excessive alcohol drinking; understanding brain activity associated with oxycodone withdrawl; determining the neural mechanisms of polysubstance use disorder; understanding the impact of alcohol drinking on neurodegenerative disease.

Dr. Dianne Little  

• Current projects: Elucidating the role of MDM2, a critical negative regulator of the p53 tumor suppressor, in cerebellar development and tumorigenesis; exploiting genetically modified mice in combination with cell culture models to place MDM2 and p53 within the molecular signaling pathways that govern neuronal differentiation and cell fate decisions.

• Current Projects: Educational research focus on information literacy, team-based learning (e.g. Study the Effectiveness of Implementing Team Building Strategies Program for Nursing-Interns by Using Team- Based), social networking and learning; effectiveness of teaching the clinical administrative course by using computer-based training in developing nurse intern administrative knowledge and skills; Small ruminants for food security in poor households in Africa: The role of women's cooperatives and entrepreneurship; effects of drug-induced renal damage on CBC, biochemical profile of the serum, and kidneys histopathological changes in experimental rats; study of the possible association between some of the uremic toxins and allergic factors in hemodialysis patients suffering from pruritus; histological and ultra-structural studies of the major endocrine glands of Nile tilapia (in relation to Age and Weight).

• Current Projects: Creating new tools for the identification of food-borne pathoges; Using new approaches to intefrated spectrcopy for  rapid identification of pathogens, small molecules, cytokines, etcthey ge.

• Current Projects: Using nanotechnology to improve drug delivery to nervous tissue and incorporating biomedical engineering principles to enhance neuronal repair and diagnosis which includes designing innovative scaffolds to enhance neuronal regeneration and using bioadhesives for neuronal tissue repair

• Current Projects: Medical applications of Intracellular Doppler Imaging (Biodynamic Imaging) with a focus in drug discovery and personalized cancer therapy selection

Browse our featured faculty and their research.

Riyi Shi, MD, PhD

Professor of Basic Medical Sciences | Director, Center for Paralysis Research

Research Information:

Dr. Shi is a professor of Basic Medical Sciences and Director for the Center for Paralysis Research. Dr. Shi is a medical scientist specializing in uncovering the mechanisms of central nervous system trauma and diseases and instituting new treatments through innovative experimentation and pioneering new strategies in the field. His research contributions includes originating the use of double sucrose gap technique for recording action potential conduction, establishing the methods of neuronal membrane resealing by polyethelyne glycol (PEG), and identifying acrolein as a key pathological factor in spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. His research interests also include using nanotechnology to improve drug delivery to nervous tissue and incorporating biomedical engineering principles to enhance neuronal repair and diagnosis. This includes designing innovative scaffolds to enhance neuronal regeneration and using bioadhesives for neuronal tissue repair.

More Information »

Marxa Figueiredo, PhD

Associate Professor, Basic Medical Sciences

Research Information:

Dr. Figueiredo is an associate professor in BMS and her research focuses on understanding the interactions between the skeletal and immune systems to develop novel therapies for bone metastatic cancers and arthritis. The laboratory’s therapies build on multifunctional cytokines or small molecules, which can be targeted to bone or inflammatory cells in order to exert regenerative effects. The lab is developing several gene and stem cell delivery systems for cytokine-based gene therapy, with a focus on sonoporation gene delivery and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells as vehicles. Dr. Figueiredo has directed Veterinary Histology courses, coached A&I, and has trained MS, PhD, and DVM students in several summer research programs in laboratory research. The discoveries from Dr. Figueiredo’s lab are funded by multiple internal and external sources including NIH and can potentially benefit companion animals and humans.

More Information »

Kevin Hannon, PhD

Associate Professor of Basic Medical Sciences

Research Information:

Dr. Hannon is an associate professor of anatomy in BMS. He is the founder of Active Lesson LLC, which is a web-based educational app creation platform. Utilizing Active Lesson, Hannon created a Canine Anatomy app that included interactive, colorful images, dissection videos and detailed questions utilizing text, toggle and draw features to strengthen his students' understanding of canine anatomy. Using the information presented, he also included active retrieval review quizzes to reinforce the students' knowledge. Dr. Hannon’s main scholarship is optimizing interactive educational content delivery for maximum student understanding and retention.

More Information »