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Melinda Larsen,
Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine;
Postdoctoral, National Institutes of Health |
| Dr.
Larsen’s research and expertise is focused
on tissue engineering of complex 3D structures.
Currently she is developing techniques to
engineer a complex 3D artificial salivary
gland using an innovative strategy combining
adult salivary gland cells with a micropatterned
artificial scaffold. Dr. Larsen’s research
program will serve to facilitate translational
research and engineering of an artificial
salivary gland for use in human patients suffering
from salivary hypofunction. The artificial
salivary gland created in Dr. Larsen’s laboratory
will also serve as a prototype for engineering
of other complex branched organs such as pancreas,
kidney, and lung. |
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Pan Li, Ph,
D., University of Buffalo-SUNY; Postdoctoral,
University of California-Berkeley |
| Dr.
Li is investigating a new strategy with which
to test thousands of potentially therapeutic
or diagnostic compounds individually. He utilizes
an novel technology to: (1) to detect the binding
of a ligand by changes in mechanical stability
of a single receptor molecule; (2) to modulate
the force field such that the receptor molecule
can be refolded; and (3) to assay a chemical
library altogether and identify potential binders
by repeatedly interrogating individual binding
events. Dr. Li’s research provides a number
of advantages over the conventional massive
parallel assays for drug screening and is suitable
for high throughput drug discovery. Dr. Li’s
single molecule detection system provides high
sensitivity to detect rare molecules in a complex
pool of candidate molecules and provides an
avenue for drug discovery and biosensor development. |
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| Haijun Chen, Ph.D. Max Planck
Institute; Postdoctoral, Yale University |
Ion
channel proteins control neuronal and cardiac
excitability and dysfunction of these membrane
proteins may cause human neuronal and cardiac
disorders such as epilepsy and arrhythmia.
Dr. Chen’s research goal is to understand
how these proteins function from the molecular
and cellular levels to the whole body level.
Dr. Chen uses the technology of molecular
biology and molecular genetics to test for
genetic and phenotypic changes. Dr. Chen’s
research will improve current knowledge about
human heart and brain, and may lead to novel
therapy methods and new treatment medicines
for human neuronal and cardiac diseases. |
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| Carla
Theimer, Ph.D. University of Texas; Postdoctoral,
University of California-Los Angeles |
| Dr.
Theimer research is focused on analysis of the
relationships between structure, thermodynamic
stability, and function in RNA molecules, both
non-coding RNAs with diverse functions, and
protein-encoding RNAs which have structures
involved in the regulation of protein expression.
These relationships are examined using NMR spectroscopy,
UV melting and calorimetry, and a range of functional
assays. Dr. Theimer’s studies focus the biophysical
characterization of the yeast telomerase RNA
and comparisons to the human telomerase system
in order to define the universal properties
of the enzyme telomerase from different organisms.
Dr. Theimer’s research has basic relevance to
understanding processes of aging and cancer. |
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Please send questions or comments to: sgalime@uamail.albany.edu
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