CBR Members
CBR members are active biomedical researchers who are affiliated with OU. Members are expected to publish biomedical research regularly in professional journals and have external support for their research or be actively applying for external support.
Amy Banes-Berceli
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Banes-Berceli studies the molecular mechanisms of hypertension and diabetes with a focus on the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. She investigates the role of this pathway with other known pathways in these disease states, focusing on their effects and regulation in the kidney and in vascular function. Learn more about Banes-Berceli
Rasul Chaudhry
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Stem cells provide a renewable resource for basic research, tissue engineering and clinical applications. Chaudhry is investigating the molecular mechanisms of neurogenesis and osteogenesis; therapeutic applications of stem cells for treating spinal cord injuries, neurological and degenerative diseases including disc, retinal, and nerve degeneration, Multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Learn more about Chaudhry
Ferman Chavez
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry
Chavez's current research aim is to develop synthetic models for active sites of various metalloenzymes. Such models will be used to probe enzymatic mechanisms and as catalysts for organic transformations and bioremediation. He is also interested in the controlled release of nitric oxide (NO) from synthetic materials for biomedical applications. Learn more about Chavez
Shravan Chintala
Associate Professor, Eye Research Institute
Irreversible loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) leads to blindness in more than 60 million Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients worldwide. However, the mechanisms underlying the death of RGCs are poorly understood. Chintala’s laboratory is investigating whether elevated levels of certain protein-degrading enzymes (proteases) cause the death of RGCs. Learn more about Chintala
Roman Dembinski
Associate Professor. Department of Chemistry
Dembinski is pursuing the synthesis of nucleosides analogues, particularly their coordination complexes. It is expected that such compounds may exhibit interesting biological properties. The ultimate goal is to synthesize materials that exhibit antiviral, anticancer properties, serve as bio-probes, and also to develop new synthetic methodologies. Learn more about Dembinski
Frank Giblin
Professor, Eye Research Institute
Giblin studies metabolic and biochemical properties of the lens, with focus on oxidative and free radical processes in the formation of nuclear cataract, a common type of maturity-onset human cataract that affects the lens, causing blindness. He also investigates unusually active antioxidant mechanisms present in the epithelium of the lens. Learn more about Giblin
Andrew Goldberg
Associate Professor, Eye Research Institute
The molecular pathologies involved in the great majority of inherited retinal degenerations remain largely unknown, despite identification of the genes involved. Goldberg's efforts are focused on understanding disease at the molecular level by studying affected protein structure and function. Ongoing studies address mechanisms of photoreceptor outer segment renewal and stability. Learn more about Goldberg
Chhabi Govind
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Govind strives to discover the molecular mechanisms regulating gene expression. His lab utilizes powerful yeast genetics and biochemistry to understand mechanisms involved in recruiting chromatin modifying and remodeling complexes, and their role in transcription elongation. He is currently investigating how histone acetylation modulates chromatin plasticity during RNA polymerase II elongation.
Learn more about Govind
Tamara Hew
Assistant Professor, School of Health Sciences
Hew’s research focuses on disorders of water and sodium balance and exercise-related collapse. Her expertise is in the area of exercise-associated hyponatremia. Her research emphasizes measurement of biomarkers to explore neuroendocrine regulation and dysregulation of integrated physiological systems at rest and during exercise, in health and disease.
Learn more about Hew
Lan Jiang
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
The Drosophila tracheal system is an excellent model to study the morphogenesis of mammalian branched structures, such as the vertebrate airway, circulatory system, kidney ducts, and excretory epithelia. Jiang’s research interests center around identifying novel genes and studying the functions of these novel genes during tubular organ formation.
Evgeniy Khain
Assistant Professor, Department of Physics
Biological multicellular systems present an exciting example of stochastic non-equilibrium systems. Khain investigates collective behavior of a large number of living cells, in the context of wound healing and tumor growth. His primary goal is modeling the growth of malignant brain tumors, which are not treated effectively by current therapies. Learn more about Khain
Ravindra Khattree
Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Khattree’s current research interests lie in the area of multivariate statistical methods for biomedical research. In particular, he is interested in the repeated measures data, clinical trials and problems involving the determination of bioequivalence. Presently, Khattree is studying the interconnections between spirituality and various neuropsychological measures for breast cancer patients. Learn more about Khattree
Shailesh Lal
Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Transposable elements constitute a large proportion (44%) of the human genome and are linked to a number of genetic disorders and cancer. Lal is using maize as a model to study Helitrons, a novel superfamily of recently discovered transposable elements to study their mechanism of transposition and gene capture. Learn more about Lal
Zijuan Liu
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
The focus of Liu's research is to study arsenic detoxification mechanisms using zebrafish as a new vertebrate model. She intends to elucidate the metabolic pathways, identifying the transporters and enzymes involved in arsenic uptake. Her long-term goal is to validate zebrafish as a model to study arsenic associated human diseases. Learn more about Liu
Gerard Madlambayan
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Madlambayan focuses on defining how different cancers (solid and liquid) exploit normal stem and progenitor cell activity to foster their growth and subsequent relapse post-therapy. The ultimate goals are to identify promising cellular and molecular targets for cancer treatment, prevention of relapse and disease monitoring.
Kenneth Mitton
Associate Professor, Eye Research Institute
Gene-based therapy for retinal degeneration will require the manipulation of gene expression within a complex regulatory network. However, the extent of the encompassing transcription factors, and all the genes targeted by the network, are unknown. Mitton addresses these questions by focusing on interactions of FIZ1, a transcriptional coregulator he discovered. Learn more about Mitton
Lakshmi Raman
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
Raman explores our understanding of biological and psychological concepts such as the origins of illness and the impact of nutrition on mind-body interactions. Her interests include examining if and when children and adults think biological and psychological factors impact health issues, and assessing how healthy/unhealthy nutrition affects growth and mood. Learn more about Raman
Libin Rong
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Rong's research is focused on infectious disease modeling. He develops mathematical models and data analysis methods to study within-host dynamics of virus infections and immune responses. He also uses models to investigate the transmission and control of infectious diseases between hosts. Learn more about Rong
Bradley Roth
Professor, Department of Physics
Roth's research focuses on bioelectric phenomena, such as the electrical activity of nerves and muscle. His particular interests are electrical stimulation of the heart, pacemakers and defibrillation, magnetic stimulation of nerves, biomagnetism, and using the Lorentz for imaging current or electrical conductivity. Learn more about Roth
Michael Sevilla
Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry
Sevilla's current research interest is the chemistry of free radical species produced by the irradiation of biomolecules, including mechanisms for radiation damage to DNA. He established that the initial effect of radiation is to produce ion radicals on the DNA bases, which lead to strand breaks and biologically relevant damage. Learn more about Sevilla
Mohammad-Reza Siadat
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Siadat’s interests are medical image and signal analysis, and
medical informatics. His curvature and shape analysis of the gray-white
matter interface in the deep perisylvian area (DPSA) is an attempt to
fully utilize MRI data. The DPSA and insula harbor hidden
epileptogenic foci that cannot be localized by conventional means. Learn more about Siadat
Susmit Suvas
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Suvas's focus is to understand immunity to herpes simplex virus-1 infection, using a mouse model to study infection-induced corneal inflammation, a cause of corneal blindness. He also studies age-related changes in the immune regulatory network and its affect on reactivation of the latent herpes virus infection in the aged host. Learn more about Suvas
Douglas Wendell
Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Wendell is working on the identification of genes that regulate tumor growth using an estrogen-induced tumor model in the rat. He is also collaborating with Craig Hartrick of William Beaumont Hospital on a pilot project to explore the possibility that susceptibility to chronic pain is affected by common genetic variants. Learn more about Wendell
Keith Williams
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
Williams explores the behavioral and biological components that
modulate drug-taking behavior and addiction. His interests include the
pharmacological and behavioral mechanisms of drug reinforcement and
craving, drug discriminative stimulus properties, hormonal influences
on drug self-administration, and contribution of food intake mechanisms
on drug consumption. Learn more about Williams
Patricia Wren
Assistant Professor, School of Health Sciences
Wren's research is focused on quality of life and other patient-centered outcomes including satisfaction and optimism, health expectations, body image, health decision-making, and compliance with medical regimens. She has collaborated on clinical trial and intervention studies related to glaucoma, breast cancer, ulcerative colitis, stroke, and pelvic floor disorders. Learn more about Wren
Yang Xia
Professor, Department of Physics
Xia develops multidisciplinary microscopic imaging techniques (µMRI, PLM, FTIRI) and their novel applications in biomedicine, with a current research focus on molecular activities in articular cartilage, its degradation plays a major role in the development of osteoarthritis. Learn more about Xia
Xiangqun Zeng
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry
Zeng directs a chemical and biosensor research group that focuses on developing non-labeled biosensors and chemical sensors for rapid detection of biomarkers and pollutants in complex clinical and environmental samples by exploring new strategies for surface design and new applications for emerging interesting materials for chemical and biological sensing. Learn more about Zeng
Affiliated Researchers
Aaron Bird
Assistant Professor, School of Health Sciences
Bird is currently involved in research for protective and preventive technologies in the field of biosafety for researchers and medical clinicians. Recently, work has included fluid dynamics design of automatic secondary containment for BSL-2 and BSL-3 facilities and prediction of aerosol and bio-aerosol transport.
Susan Bowyer
Senior Staff Investigator, Neurology Research, Henry Ford Hospital & Health Sciences Center
Bowyer explores brain activity using noninvasive imaging techniques, including magnetoencephalography, electroencephalography and functional MRI. She localizes functional brain processing for language, memory, and control of attention, and investigates the underlying mechanisms of migraine, tinnitus generation, driver distractions, and sensory inhibition, as well as looking for biomarkers indicating recovery from stroke.
Hongwei Qu
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Qu's research interest centers on micro-electro-mechanical
systems (MEMS). His on-going research efforts include the development of
CMOS-MEMS force sensors for cell motility studies, in collaboration with Dr.
Lindemann, Dept. Biological Sciences. He also collaborates with researchers at William
Beaumont Hospital to develop MEMS devices for biomedical imaging.
Richard Sabina
Associate Professor, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Plants contain only one AMP Deaminase (AMPD) gene and its expression is essential for embryonic development. AMPD is also a herbicide target. Sabina is collaborating with Bayer CropSciences to generate high-resolution structures of Arabidopsis AMPD in complex with transition-state inhibitors and is testing lead herbicide compounds generated by their chemists.
Lorenzo Smith
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
With the goal of developing improved methods of detecting breast cancer, Smith has initiated research in the area of biomimetic tactile sensors using advance optical techniques. On-going work is aimed toward collaboration with researchers at the University of Southern California and William Beaumont Hospital.
Anna Maria Spagnuolo
Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Spagnuolo's research focus is on modeling physical phenomena, developing numerical methods for their solution, and implementing the methods (sometimes on new hardware) to create computer simulations. She is specifically interested in modeling disease dynamics such as Vibrio cholerae in the human intestine and Chagas disease in villages in South America.
Lianxiang Yang
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Yang is the director of the Advanced Optical Laboratory. His research interests lie in the areas of modern optical measuring techniques for characterization of advanced materials, such as, biomaterials, with a focus on whole field, three dimensional measurement of contour, deformation/displacement, strain/stress, vibration, and mechanical properties.