College of Arts and Sciences

Diane Filion, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Cognitive psychophysiology research involving collaboration with several universities/agencies, including Department of Occupational Therapy Education.

Linda Garavalia, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Investigating gender differences and the role of psychosocial factors in patients’ perspectives of their cardiovascular disease and health status following treatment.

Kathleen Goggin, Ph.D., Associate Professor
HIV/AIDS research group director. Numerous collaborative relationships with institutions and universities both locally and nationally.

C. Keith Haddock, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Psychological aspects of cardiovascular disease and health outcomes.

Christopher T. Lovelace, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
To make full use of our many senses, it is advantageous to compare and integrate information entering through multiple sense modalities. Dr. Lovelace is interested in the behavioral consequences and physiological (neural) mechanisms of multisensory integration. He works within the field of cognitive neuroscience, using techniques from psychophysiology, neuropsychology, psychophysics, electrophysiology, and neuroanatomy. His work has centered on such topics as crossmodal feature binding, synesthesia, and the organization of auditory, visual, and somatosensory convergence in the brain. He has recently become interested in the physiology of motor function and dysfunction, and have used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to examine the neurobiology of impaired self-care motor behavior in chronic stroke.

Sharon Portwood, J.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor; Director, KC Metro Child Traumatic Stress Program
Child maltreatment; Child trauma; Community psychology; Family violence; Health promotion; Human development; Prevention; Program evaluation; Psychology and law; Public policy; Therapeutic jurisprudence; Violence prevention; Youth development

Walker S. Carlos Poston, II, Ph.D., MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine and Health Psychology
Dr. Poston's primary research interests are in the following areas: 1) the long term interdisciplinary management of chronic medical disorders, primarily obesity and cardiovascular disease; 2) public health approaches to primary and secondary prevention of obesity and cardiovascular diseases; and 3) understanding the epidemiology of obesity and cardiovascular diseases, including environmental, psychosocial, and genetic risk factors.

Lisa Terre, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Health research

Social Work Research Faculty
J. Larry Dyer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Mental health services

Kathylene Siska, Ph.D., Professor
Family medicine

Sociology Research Faculty
Deborah Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Family Studies program. Participant in Governor's Initiative for Families and Children, focusing on how to ensure "mentally healthy families."

Chemistry Research Faculty
Keith R. Buszek, Ph.D., Associate Professor
The total synthesis of marine natural products; elucidating the molecular target & mode of action of the potent antitumor agent octalactin A; development of new combinatorial strategies & scaffolds for diversity-oriented synthesis.

Jerry Dias, Ph.D., Professor
The chemistry and molecular architecture of bile (cholic) acids, tetracyclic triterpenoids, and benzenoids are being investigated. Our research has resulted in the first transformation of cholic acid to derivatives of 17,19-dinorquassinoids, delineated the mechanism of electron impact induced fragmentation of the methyl ester triacetate of cholic acid through extensive deuterium labeling, identified a conversion of isocholesterol to a B-ring aromatic tetracyclic triterpenoid derivative by ejection of the C19-methyl, led to the discovery a diagnostic ¹³ C NMR y-oxygen shielding effect in cholic acid, and led to the synthesis and characterization of one of the largest open macrocycles ever subjected to X-ray crystallography.

James Durig, Ph.D., Curators' Professor
Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy

Andrew J. Holder, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Dr. Holder's work involves the application and development of computational chemistry to a wide variety of questions in the general area of life sciences. Current research projects are focused on multidisciplinary development of dental restorative materials using quantitative structure activity relationship and quantum mechanical methods.

Y.C. Jerry Jean, Ph.D., Curators' Professor
Development of radio analytical techniques for drug delivery and cancer detection; Positron annihilation spectroscopy

Ekaterina Kadnikova, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Dr. Kadnikova's research interests lie in the bioorganic chemistry of materials. Her research program focuses on design and synthesis of new enantioselective biocatalysts and functional hybrid nanopartcles for organic and materials chemistry.

Kathleen Kilway, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Synthesis and conformational studies of novel host-guest systems, hydrogen bonding

Zhonghua Peng, Ph.D., Professor
Biosensors, drug delivery systems.

Thomas C. Sandreczki, Ph.D., Professor
Properties of advanced materials; Electron spin resonance spectroscopy

Kenneth S. Schmitz, Ph.D., Professor
Colloids; complex fluids

J. David Van Horn, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Dr. Van Horn's lab is investigating the bioinorganic chemistry of two elements, uranium and chromium. His lab is interested in quantitative aspects of the kinetics and thermodynamics of these metals complexing with biological ligands. In the bloodstream, uranium is complexed almost completely by carbonate; his team is describing the U-peptide or U-protein interactions that describe the transport of U in the blood serum. Recently, Dr. Van Horn's lab described interactions of the uranyl cation with a short peptides which led them to a model of non-specific transport in serum, and continue to study U-peptide complexes. His lab is also exploring the fundamental coordination chemistry of chromium as it applies to the expected forms of Cr in vivo, its transport in the bloodstream, its excretion, and its potential pharmacological action in the human body. The lab has completed a bioinformatics study to locate the origin of Cr-peptide complexes in the body, and has made some new Cr-peptide complexes.

Charles J. Wurrey, Ph.D., Distinguished Teaching Professor
Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy

Geosciences Research Faculty
Jimmy Adegoke, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Satellite climatology including air-surface interactions

Raymond Coveney, Ph.D., Professor
Metal pollutants from the weathering of black shales in Kansas City area

Caroline Davies, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Paleo-climatology and climate change

Steven Driever, Ph.D., Professor
Flood hazards

Richard Gentile, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor
Analysis of water supplies to Kansas City area

Syed Hasan, Ph.D., Professor
Medical geology related to toxic soil pollutants, aqueous pollution, and lead-based paint; Flood hazards.

Daniel Hopkins, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Cartography and GIS applications in bio-informatics and land-usage studies.

Wei Ji, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Cartography and GIS applications in genetic variations, bio-informatics & land-usage studies

James Murowchick, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Aqueous pollution and sources of contaminants in local region

Mathematics and Statistics Research Faculty
Jie Chen, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Statistical approaches to genetic analysis

Physics Research Faculty
Wai-Yim Ching, Ph.D., Curators' Professor
Electronic calculations of bio-materials

Michael Kruger, Ph.D., Professor
Dental material research; Raman spectroscopy for study of dental interfaces.

David Wieliczka, Ph.D., Professor
Dental material research

Da-Ming Zhu, Ph.D., Professor
Atomic force microscopy applied to surface imaging of dentin and cells.

Bioethics Research Faculty
Wayne Vaught, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Dr. Vaught's area of research is biomedical and healthcare ethics. His research focuses on ethical issues in clinical care with an emphasis in pediatrics. Recent work includes ethical issues arising in cross-cultural decision-making, complementary and alternative medicine, covert surveillance in clinical care, and stem cell research.

Conservatory of Music and Dance

School of Biological Sciences

Antony Cooper, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Our research seeks to understand the relationship between protein misfolding, cellular stress, cell death and human disease. An extensive array of human diseases result from the consequences of protein misfolding in the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) of the secretory pathway. Such diseases include cystic fibrosis, cytomegalovirus infections, type II diabetes, autosomal dominant familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (FNDI), adult emphysema and hepatitis. We also have evidence that such “ER stress” plays a critical role in Parkinson’s Disease. Using the model organism S. cerevisiae (yeast) we are use cell biology, genetics and molecular biology to elucidate (i) how different stresses result in lethal levels of ER stress and (ii) to identify the cellular machinery responsible for eliminating such stress and to understand their function. In this manner we hope to understand what conditions result in the saturation or failure of these “anti-stress defense systems” which can then lead to cell death and disease.

Leonard Dobens, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Dr. Dobens uses Drosophila to study intercellular signaling pathways that control basic developmental processes, including cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. His interest is the regulation and function of the bunched gene, a transcription factor similar to the human genes TSC-22, a tumor suppressor gene, and Glucocorticoid Induced Leucine Zipper (GILZ), which has poorly understood roles in adipogenesis, erythrogenesis and lymphogenesis. Using genetic tools to precisely manipulate gene activity, his long-term goal is to understand the conserved molecular mechanism by which bunched and its family members integrate cell signaling to direct tissue patterning.

Lawrence Dreyfus, Ph.D., Professor and Dean
Dean Dreyfus' research involves the structure/function analysis of bacterial protein toxin. Presently, his lab is investigating the Cytolethal Distending Toxin (CDT) of Escherichia coli. CDT is a hetero-trimeric toxin produced by a number of important bacterial pathogens. CDT kills cells by inducing a DNA damage-dependent cell cycle arrest or apoptosis, depending upon the target cell line. In vivo CDT appears to have immunosuppressive activity resulting from its anti-proliferative activity on mucosal epithelial lymphocytes. His lab is investigating the roles of the three subunits in toxin binding, cellular trafficking, and nuclear delivery of CdtB, a homolog of mammalian type I DNAse. His lab recently characterized the mode of CDT action and is now defining the receptor-binding properties of CdtA and Cdt, both of which we have shown to possess carbohydrate-binding activity. The studies are based largely on mutagenic analysis of the three CDT subunits and the structural and function consequences of these directed mutations.

Michael B. Ferrari, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Dr. Ferrari's research interests include neurobiology, cellular physiology, muscle biology, and developmental biology. Currently, his focus is on calcium signaling cascades which regulate both macromolecular assembly within skeletal muscle cells and cell-cell interactions between muscle cells during development. The long term goal is to understand how these physiological signals regulate both intra- and intercellular structural patterns in embryonic skeletal muscle. While basic research, it has potential relevance for understanding several skeletal and cardiac muscle diseases.

Brian Geisbrecht, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Despite the advances of modern medicine, many widespread public health problems worldwide still result from bacterial infections. Although bacteria in general are often considered simple organisms, many of these microbes have developed an astonishing array of proteins that function as virulence factors and toxins during the initiation and propagation of infection. The main goal of Dr. Geisbrecht's laboratory is to use a multidisciplinary approach, including bioinformatic, biochemical, and crystallographic tools, to study bacterial virulence factors and to understand how these molecules function to help bacteria adapt within their human and animal hosts. In addition, these studies have the potential to impact how these diseases are diagnosed, treated, and prevented through the development of vaccines, drug targets, and front-line diagnostic agents. This goal is particularly relevant today as the incidence of multidrug-resistant bacterial infection is rising dramatically at a time when the threat of bioterrorism looms large across the world.

Saul Honigberg, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Cells respond to extracellular signals through complex networks of signaling pathways. To address the molecular mechanisms underlying the organization and function of these networks, we use a comparatively simple model system-- the switch between mitotic proliferation and meiotic differentiation in the yeast S. cerevisiae. Because yeast is the experimental system, we can apply a range of genetic and genomic approaches not possible with other organisms. However, like the signaling enzymes themselves, the mechanisms underlying the organization of signal networks are likely to be conserved. The switch between mitotic proliferation and meiotic differentiation is regulated by several extracellular nutritional signals. These nutritional controls are mediated through the protein kinase A pathway, the Snf1p kinase pathway, Cln2:Cdc28p kinase, and possibly other pathways. Our research focuses on: 1) defining signal pathways connecting nutritional signals to meiotic regulators, and 2) determining the mechanisms and functions underlying the organization of these pathways into networks.

Tamas Kapros, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor
Plants produce a form of histone H3 protein that assists in the maintenance of chromatin structure in differentiated cells. Genes for such histone H3 variants show very high and constitutive expression. Our studies have shown that polypyrimidine (PPY) sequence elements located in the promoter, in the untranslated regions and in the introns play a role in the control of these genes. We hypothesize that these sequences are target sites for proteins similar to the Drosophila GAGA factors, which can cause chromatin de-repression by preventing nucleosome assembly. Dr. Kapros' research has the aim to study these PPY-binding proteins to be able to understand the way they function in plants. Transgene silencing by heterochromatin is a major problem in plant biotechnology. Specific PPY sequences as natural gene de-repressors have the potential to become an invaluable tool to prevent gene inactivation and to maintain high gene expression in transgenic crops.

Stephen J. King, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Cytoplasmic dynein and its activator, dynactin, convert chemical energy into mechanical force, moving cargo along microtubules. Our laboratory uses a combination of microscopic, biochemical and biophysical approaches to determine the mechanism by which dynein and dynactin provide motility for a range of cellular processes. Optical trapping experiments have shown that dynein can alter step size and force production in response to external load. Other experiments have shown that dynein “walks” along microtubules short distances before falling off the microtubules. The addition of dynactin allows cytoplasmic dynein to take more steps along the microtubule before falling off, increasing dynein’s “processivity.” We have identified and are characterizing protein domains that are important for these and other dynein functions. Future analysis of cytoplasmic dynein and dynactin will also examine if these motors have roles in the neuronal degeneration that leads to diseases such as ALS, epilepsy, lissencephaly, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.

Kevin McCluskey, BS, MS, PhD, Associate Research Professor
As curator of the Fungal Genetics Stock Center, Dr. McCluskey's program is service oriented. The development of the FGSC collection into the acknowledged world leader for biological and molecular materials for fungal genetics and more recently fungal genomics has had a profound effect on research with industrial, pathogenic and model organisms. Recent advances include genome-associated libraries for five important systems including agricultural and human pathogens, industrial, and research organisms. Resources recently available include systematic genome-based knockouts for several organisms. The FGSC collection now includes nearly 70,000 strains as well as hundreds of thousands of molecular clones.

Henry Miziorko, Ph.D., Marion Merrell Dow Professor
The Miziorko lab investigates enzyme function and catalytic/regulatory mechanisms. Currently, efforts focus on enzymes in the pathway of polyisoprenoid and sterol biosynthesis. The lab has developed a variety of mechanistic tools (spectroscopically detectable substrate analogs, inhibitors, etc.) that are useful for studying these proteins and employs a variety of experimental approaches including: protein engineering/mutagenesis, bioorganic chemistry, biophysical chemistry, mechanistic enzymology, and collaborative structural work. For example, the lab has published a variety of studies on HMG-CoA synthase and mevalonate kinase. Recent work on HMG-CoA synthase has documented active site residues involved in reaction chemistry. The prokaryotic enzyme and a reaction intermediate have been crystallized in our lab and the structures have been solved in collaboration with Prof. David Harrison. Our work on recombinant human, rat, and bacterial mevalonate kinases includes the functional assignment of several active site residues as well as elucidation of the structure of an enzyme-Mg-ATP complex in collaboration with Prof. Jung-Ja Kim.

Michael O’Connor, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Our laboratory is interested in the mechanism of protein synthesis. We are approaching this question by constructing mutant ribosomes and characterizing their altered properties genetically, biochemically and structurally. Of particular interest to us are the bridges connecting the large and small ribosomal subunits. We have constructed mutant ribosomes with altered bridges and are using a variety of analyses to characterize their properties with the aim of uncovering the function of these bridges. Other interests are the mechanism of reading frame maintenance and the mechanism of trans-translation. We have demonstrated that the ability of tRNAs to shift reading frames is influenced by tRNA levels, post-transcriptional modification and tRNA structure. Our current work on tmRNA is aimed at determining the features of the RNA and protein components of this system (tmRNA and SmpB, respectively) responsible for recognizing stalled ribosomes, ribosome binding of tmRNA and tmRNA-dependent tagging.

Anthony Persechini, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Disturbances in cell signaling are associated with many clinical disorders, including cancer, Altzheimer’s, arthritis, chronic pain syndrome, cardiac arrythmias and hypertension. Ca²⁺ ion is a universal intracellular signaling molecule, and the Ca²⁺-binding protein calmodulin plays a central role in converting Ca²⁺ signals into the biochemical changes needed to produce the desired cellular response. Our work is focused on both the cell biology and biochemistry of this process. An ongoing interest is in defining the thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms that govern the interactions between calmodulin and its many protein targets. More recently we have begun investigations of calmodulin function using genetically-encoded fluorescent indicator proteins developed in our laboratory. These tools allow us to follow calmodulin-dependent signaling using imaging techniques, with the ultimate goal of developing a mechanistic understanding of how calmodulin controls and coordinates the activities of its many targets in living cells.

Lynda Plamann, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Curriculum
The ability to detect and respond to signals from the environment and neighboring cells is of fundamental biological importance. Myxococcus xanthus , a rod-shaped soil bacterium, provides an attractive model system for studies of intracellular and intercellular signaling. When M. xanthus cells sense that they are starving, the cells begin to construct multicellular, spore-filled fruiting bodies. Successful fruiting body formation requires a high cell density. An extracellular signal, A-signal, is produced and sensed by M. xanthus as a means to monitor the cell density. We are studying genes that participate in the A-signal-generating (asg) pathway. Molecular genetic and biochemical analyses indicate that these genes are likely to be involved in environmental sensing and regulating gene expression. Through our studies of the asg genes, we hope to gain a clearer understanding of the signal transduction mechanisms and cell-cell interactions that promote the multicellular state.

Michael Plamann, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Cytoplasmic dynein is a multisubunit complex that functions as a microtubule-associated motor required for organization of Golgi, ER to Golgi trafficking, retrograde transport of organelles in axons, assembly of the spindle, and intracellular transport of viruses such as herpes simplex and rabies. Cytoplasmic dynein function and interaction with various cargoes requires an additional multisubunit complex know as dynactin. A genetic screen has been developed, using the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa that allows the isolation of hundreds of mutants defective for cytoplasmic dynein or dynactin. All of the genes encoding subunits of dynein and dynactin have been cloned, and additional genes have been identified that encode potential regulators of dynein/dynactin function. A combination of genetic and biochemical approaches are being used to examine motor activity and membrane interaction in a wild-type strain and in various mutants.

Jeffrey Price, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Our lab is investigating circadian rhythms, which have periods of approximately 24 hours. For example, human sleep/wake behavior is a circadian rhythm. While responsive to environmental cycles, circadian rhythms are known to be generated within the organism because they persist under constant environmental conditions. Genetic approaches, which require the isolation and analysis of mutations affecting circadian rhythms, are revealing the cellular and molecular mechanisms of these “biological clocks.” Molecular analysis of clock genes affected in mutant fruit flies (Drosophila) has identified circadian transcription factors, photoreceptors and a protein kinase, which is the principal focus of our work. Using a combination of genetic, biochemical and immunocytochemical approaches, our lab is investigating how all of these components interact with the protein kinase to produce a functional clock. We also are investigating the role of this protein kinase in vertebrate clocks, which have a mechanism similar to the Drosophila one.

G. Sullivan Read, Ph.D., Associate Professor
The focus of our research is the control of translation and mRNA stability in mammalian cells and, specifically, in cells infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV encodes a polypeptide, the virion host shutoff (Vhs) protein, that induces rapid turnover of both viral and cellular mRNAS in infected cells. By regulating the rate of mRNA turnover, the Vhs protein plays an important role in the overall scheme of gene regulation in infected cells and in HSV virulence. In isolation, the Vhs protein is a sequence non-specific endoribonuclease which, nevertheless, in infected cells is specific for mRNAs, as opposed to non-messenger RNAs, and cleaves many mRNAs in regions of translation initiation. Our laboratory has shown that Vhs binds the cellular translation initiation factors eIF4H, eIF4AII, and eIF4B and that mutations that abrogate some of these interactions abolish targeted mRNA degradation in vivo. Work focuses upon how interactions with cellular translation factors target the non-specific Vhs endonuclease to mRNAs and to regions of translation initiation, as well as to mechanisms linking mRNA decay and translation in mammalian cells.

Ann Smith, B.Sc. Ph.D., Professor
Coordinate regulation of gene expression for proteins that protect against oxidative stress and cancer. Mechanisms include: ARE and StRE-mediated gene regulation, de-repression and activation of gene transcription by heme; hierarchy of a signaling network comprising the PKC, NFkB and JNK pathways; novel roles for metals in regulation. Heme transport mechanisms in liver, eye, enterocytes and the peripheral and central nervous systems as well as human pathogens. Neurodegeneration. Receptor-mediated endocytosis of heme-hemopexin, which is analogous to the paradigm for recycling receptors, transferrin. The hemopexin system is being used to define at the molecular level the pathway from the plasma membrane to the nucleus for protective gene regulation. This requires a cellular response not only to signals from the hemopexin receptor, which include novel roles for redox-active copper and electron transport at the cell surface, but also to direct interactions of heme with transcription factors for derepression and activation of gene transcription.

Jakob H. Waterborg, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Structure-function relationships in chromatin, post-synthetic modification of histones by acetylation and methylation, transcriptionally active chromatin structures, assembly and stability of nucleosomal structure. Histones repression of gene expression in nucleosomes and chromatin is regulated by dynamic acetylation and site-specific methylation of core histone termini, especially histones H3 and H4. Histone variant expression and function in replication-dependent and cell cycle-independent is studied in vivo in plants like alfalfa, in algae like Chlamydomonas, in yeast and Physarum, by radioactive tracers, HPLC and gel electrophoresis.

Gerald J. Wyckoff, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
A major effort of Dr. Wyckoff's work has been to create a relational database of genomic sequences and associated information. This includes expression information, divergence information, protein function information, and positional information. Dr. Wyckoff envisions several types of research dealing directly with the techniques and programs built to handle and query the data, but more importantly, observations made using this tool will lead to hypothesis testing experiments performed at the bench. He is interested in developing the informatics structure necessary to allow for the incorporation of many other types of research data, including protein structure, pathway information, and disease linkage information.

Marilyn D. Yoder, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Dr. Yoder’s research utilizes tools of structural biology and bioinformatics to elucidate structure/function relationships. Structure determination primarily involves X-ray crystallographic methods. Comparison and pattern mapping of different protein families, isoforms, and orthologoues have provided important characterization of enzymatic parameters, structural requirements, and evolution. Current areas of interest are 1) pectate-degrading enzymes and 2) phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITP). The pectate-degrading enzymes, including pectate lyase and polygalacturonase, are secreted by bacterial plant pathogens and cleave the same saccharide bond in the plant cell wall but by different enzymatic mechanisms. Although they have no detectable amino acid sequence similarity, the 3-dimensional structures are similar. The PITPs are a family of proteins ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotic cells. They have been implicated in numerous cell signaling pathways involving phosphoinositides.

Xiao-Qiang Yu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Dr. Yu investigates pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) involved in the innate immune system using a model insect. Insects have developed an effective and sophisticated immune system similar to the innate immune system of vertebrates. In the innate immune system, initial recognition of pathogens is mediated by PRRs that recognize structural molecular patterns present in molecules found in many microorganisms but not in host cells. Recognition of pathogens by PRRs is linked to immune responses such as phagocytosis, hemocyte nodule formation, encapsulation and melanization, activation of prophenoloxidase, and synthesis of antimicrobial peptides. Dr. Yu’s laboratory focuses on calcium-dependent (C-type) lectins as PRRs to initiate recognition process and mediate protein-protein interactions to localize prophenoloxidase activation on pathogen surface, and to trigger signal transduction pathways to activate antimicrobial genes.

School of Computing and Engineering

Reza Derakhshani, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Dr. Derakhshani's research interests include computational intelligence with a focus on biomedical signal and image processing, physiological modeling, and biometrics. His past research projects include recognition of skin's temporal dielectric patterns through fingerprint scanners, which resulted in a patent-pending, software-based method for detection of liveness of fingerprints. His interdisciplinary research has brought about close collaborations with researchers from different medical fields. Recently he has been studying noninvasive brain computer interfacing through application of soft computing techniques to real-time EEG. In 2005, he introduced a patent-pending novel biometric modality based on conjunctival vasculature for eye-based biometric identification. Conjunctival vascular biometrics can be used by themselves or in conjunction with the existing iris biometric systems to increase their precision and security. Dr. Derakhshani's research is funded in part by the National Science Foundation.

Deendayal Dinakarpandian, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics/ Computer Science
Machine learning for the prediction of gene targets for transcription factors; Iterative search methods for discovering and characterizing unknown protein domains.

Brian A. Fricke, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical and fracture properties of dental tissues and interfaces; modeling and numerical analysis of heat and mass transport and freezing phenomena in biological materials.

Trent M. Guess, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Musculoskeletal biomechanics, dynamic loading of joints and tissues due to the musculoskeletal and external forces of functional activities.

Gregory W. King, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. King’s research interests are in the field of musculoskeletal biomechanics, with specific emphasis on the kinetic, kinematic, and electrophysiological components of human balance, ambulation, and motor control.

Vijay Kumar, Ph.D., Professor of Bioinformatics/Computer Science
Mobile computing, Data warehousing, Workflow, Web, and Bioinformatics.

Yugi Lee, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Knowledge Management, Decision Supporting, Pervasive Computing, Data Mining, Semantic Web, Distributed Software System; Biomedical Informatics

Deep Medhi, Ph.D., Professor of Computer Science
Network Survivability - Architecture & Design; Dynamic QoS Routing; Network Design, Management, Optimization and Performance; Medical Informatics

Anil Misra, Ph.D., Professor of Civil Engineering
Multi-scale modeling and nano-micro-macro correlations applied to constitutive behavior of interfaces, and composites; Modeling mechanical behavior of dental and craniofacial tissues with the view of developing new materials/diagnostic tools for clinical dentistry.

Ganesh Thiagarajan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering
Dynamic fracture simulation in materials; Behavior of FRP and concrete; Parallel computing in Engineering and Science.

Yu-Ping Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics/Computer Science
Bio-medical imaging, Computer vision and image analysis, bioinformatics, data mining; computational algorithms, imaging in cytogenetics and functional genetics, cardio-vascular imaging.

School of Dentistry

Lynda Bonewald, Ph.D., Curators' Professor; Lee M. and William Lefkowitz Professor
Performs research in the area of bone and directs the Bone Biology Program

Sarah Dallas, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Latent transforming growth factor beta binding proteins (LTBPs) and their role as bone extracellular matrix proteins and as regulators of TGFb and Breast cancer metastasis to bone and the role of bone matrix-bound growth factors, such as TGFb, in bone metastatic breast cancer.

J. David Eick, M.S., Ph.D., Curators' Professor and Chair
Dr. Eick's current research interests are largely in the area of dental biomaterials and are extremely interdisciplinary in nature involving surface chemistry, toxicology, mechanical and biomaterial engineering, and polymer chemistry. Current funded research projects include a Program Project Grant: Improved Polymeric Restorations through Molecular Design, an NIH Ph.D. training grant: Biomaterials Training for Dentists-UMKC, and a 3M Company Post-Doctoral Support Training Grant: Pre and Post Doctoral Training, UMKC School of Dentistry.

Jeff Gorski, Ph.D., Professor
Osteogenic mechanisms in primary and lamellar bone, and the functions for bone acidic glycoprotein-75 (BAG-75).

Laura Iwasaki, D.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D., Associate Professor and Leo A. Rogers Chair
Research interests: biomechanics of the human craniomandibular complex, in particular the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), muscles of mastication, and the movement of teeth. Example projects: biomechanical, developmental, and genetic determinants for rate of orthodontic tooth movement in humans; effects of gender and temporomandibular disorders on mandibular mechanics; pathomechanics of osteoarthritis of the TMJ; biophysical properties of the TMJ disk; analyses of friction in orthodontic appliances.

Mark Johnson, Ph.D., Professor
Dr. Johnson’s research is currently focused on understanding the role of Lrp5 and the Wnt signaling pathway in the regulation of bone mass and the response of bone to mechanical loading. This research includes understanding how bone cells communicate with each other. It is hoped that these fundamental bone biology studies will reveal new targets for the development of pharmaceutical agents that can increase a person’s bone mass and thereby result in new treatments and possibly a cure for osteoporosis.

Carole P. McArthur, Ph.D., M.D., Professor
The mechanism of exocrine gland pathogenesis in HIV/AIDS and autoimmune disease. Gene expression is studied in vitro in salivary cells lines and in tissues obtained from HIV patients in Cameroon, West Africa.

Jeffrey Nickel, D.M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D., Associate Professor
Dr. Nickel’s research interests include numerical modeling of central nervous system control of the human mandible, biomechanics of the temporomandibular joint disc, biomechanics and cytokine function during orthodontically induced tooth movement, and static and dynamic mechanical analysis of orthodontic hardware.

John H. Purk, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., Associate Professor
The bond to the gingival wall of proximal restorations frequently fails. Dr. Purk's current research involves identifying variables that lead to a poor bond to the gingival wall and improving adhesive bonding success to this fragile wall of the cavity preparation. This work is significant because current restorations of interproximal caries is performed with amalgam. Amalgam is under pressure to reduce its use due to environmental concerns. There needs to be an adequate substitute for this material in order to restore posterior teeth. Composite resin which is adhesively bonded to the tooth is an acceptable substitute. However, composite resin has a high failure rate at the gingival margin.

Yasuyoshi Ueki, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Dr. Ueki joined the Department of Oral Biology as an Assistant Professor in 2008. He is engaged in research in the areas of molecular and cellular pathogenesis of the human craniofacial disorder, Cherubism. Dr. Ueki’s current specific interest is molecular composition of signaling complexes mediated by SH3BP2 in myeloid cells that can explain how mutant SH3BP2 enhances TNF-alpha production and osteoclastogenesis.

Mary Walker, D.D.S., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies and Research
Dr. Walker's research explores cyclic fatigue effects on filled, polymeric dental restorative materials: morphologic, chemical, and mechanical property characterization; dimensional accuracy and surface detail reproduction of polyether and polyvinyl siloxane impression materials used under wet conditions; and oral cancer therapeutic radiation effects on the physicochemical and micromechanical properties of the dentin-enamel junction.

Yong Wang, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Design and synthesis of novel materials for repair and/or replacement of dental tissues; Biomedical and dental materials: interface science and adhesion; Molecular vibrational spectroscopic characterization of material/tissue and tissue/tissue interfaces; Morphology and mechanical properties of polymeric composite materials.

School of Medicine

Asaf Qureshi, Ph.D., Research Professor
Research focusing on the role of lipids in various pathological processes, including infectious diseases

Nilofer Qureshi, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Intracellular signaling, with an emphasis on the proteasome, and its role in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases

Alexander A. Shnyra, Ph.D., MD, Assistant Professor
Role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of bacterial infections

Internal Medicine Research Faculty
Eyad M. Al-Hihi, M.D., Assistant Professor
Clinical research of diabetes

David Bamberger, M.D., Vice Chair, Internal Medicine, UMKC; Chief, Infectious Diseases, Truman Medical Center
Antimicrobial activity in abscesses. Specifically, Dr. Bamberger's work has studied the factors that allow bacteria, particularly S. aureus to persist in abscesses, despite antimicrobials. More specifically we have studied the influence of neutrophils on penicillin-binding proteins, antimicrobial activity against intracellular organisms, the role of calprotectin, and neutrophil phagocytosis and killing capacity in an abscess milieu. Additional research activities include histoplasmosis, particularly in AIDS, and osteomyelitis.

C. Keith Haddock, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Behavioral health

Betty L. Herndon, Ph.D., Research Associate Professor
Research Topics: models of pulmonary disease (constrictive bronchiolitis and sarcoidosis) and infectious disease (bacterial endocarditis; the neutrophil in chronic infection). The Medicine Research Lab is active in medical student research, Medicine dept. resident research, and basic science projects for the Pulmonary-critical care and Infectious Diseases fellows. The topics covered are unfailingly applied to medical problems, and the lab goal is to see students at all levels publish the results of their research—an abstract or occasionally full paper—which can open doors to their future bench-to-bedside approaches.

Ben D. McCallister, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Medicine; Director Emeritus, Cardiovascular Research, St. Luke's Mid America Heart Institute
Dr. McCallister is the Director Emeritus of Cardiovascular Research at St. Luke's Mid America Heart Institute. Cardiovascular research at the Heart Institute is a fully integrated program with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. The research program includes approximately 70-80 ongoing IRB-approved clinical trials in interventional cardiology, congestive heart failure, behavioral health, cardiovascular surgery, preventive cardiology, lipid metabolism, cardiac transplantation, and noninvasive imaging. The Heart Institute has one of the 3-4 largest single center national databases in cardiovascular diseases. The Research Center employs 50 personnel including research nurses, computer programmers, technicians, database administrators, administrative assistants and four biostatisticians. Approximately 20 cardiologists and surgeons are involved in research activities at the Mid America Heart Institute.

Joseph P. McGuirk, D.O., Associate Professor
Publications regarding allogeneic blood and marrow transplantations; proteomic study of graft-versus-host disease in BMT.

Yugi Oba, M.D., Assistant Professor
Clinical asthma research

Walker S. Carlos Poston, II, Ph.D., MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine and Health Psychology
Dr. Poston's primary research interests are in the following areas: 1) the long term interdisciplinary management of chronic medical disorders, primarily obesity and cardiovascular disease; 2) public health approaches to primary and secondary prevention of obesity and cardiovascular diseases; and 3) understanding the epidemiology of obesity and cardiovascular diseases, including environmental, psychosocial, and genetic risk factors.

Dennis R. Pyszczynski, M.D., Associate Professor
Clinical asthma research

Marilyn M. Rymer, M.D., Professor
Clinical research in stroke (CVA) prevention and treatment

Gary A. Salzman, M.D., Professor
Pulmonology research, primarily in the area of asthma

Rebecca L. Shriver, M.D., Assistant Professor
Clinical asthma research

John A. Spertus, M.D., Professor
Quantifying patients’ perspective of their cardiovascular disease and using these disease-specific health status assessments as endpoints in clinical trials, as measures of health care quality.

Julie Wright, Pharm.D., FCCP, Associate Professor
Dr. Wright is deeply involved in HIV/AIDS clinical research areas such as pharmacotherapy, adherence and prevention. She leads UMKC as one of six national sites for a CDC demonstration project to evaluate the impact of the implementation of CDC/IDSA recommendations for the Incorporation of HIV Prevention into the Medical Care of Persons Living with HIV. She is a co-investigator for the UMKC interdisciplinary research trial, Motiv8 the Kansas City Adherence Project, which is an NIH funded randomized controlled trial led by Dr. Goggin, Dept of Psychology. Dr. Wright also participates in a variety of other areas of research such as pharmacotherapy, study design, and principles of informed consent.

Ying Yan, Ph.D., MD, Associate Professor
Publications regarding human leukemia SCID mice model; nature killer cell mediated cancer immunity

OBGYN Research Faculty
Richard Derman, M.D., MPH, Professor
Women’s health and outcomes

David C. Mundy, M.D., Assistant Professor
High risk pregnancy, nutrition/obesity in pregnancy

D. Mark Schnee, D.O., Assistant Professor
Reproductive hormones, student education, DVT prophylaxis

Roger P. Smith, M.D., Professor of Medicine; Vice Chair, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Research in the area of pelvic pain

Julie L. Strickland, M.D., Associate Professor
Adolescent pregnancy, adolescent GYN contraception, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases

Jeffrey Wall, M.D., Assistant Professor
Reproductive hormones, genital herpes, menopause

James P. Youngblood, M.D., Professor
Gynecological research

Pathology Research Faculty
William J. Castellani, M.D., Associate Professor
Lipids metabolism

Kamani M. Lankachandra, M.D., Assistant Professor
Neonates' pathology and genetics

Roberto Miranda, M.D., Associate Professor
Pulmonary pathophysiology, flow cytometry, hematology

Agostino Molteni, M.D., Ph.D., Professor
Antioxidant lung damage and ACE inhibitors in different models of lung injury and in hypertension

Pediatrics Research Faculty
Susan M. Abdel-Rahman, Pharm.D., Associate Professor
PK/PD of drugs in children, ontogeny of drug metabolism in children, drug metabolism, and pharmacogenomics.

John J. Alexander, M.D., Assistant Professor
Treatment of seizures in children

Uri S. Alon, M.D., Professor
Bone and Miberal disorders

Walter Andrews, M.D., Professor
Liver transplantation

Charles S. Barnes, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Environmental contributors to chronic respiratory disease in children, specifically asthma

J. Robert Batterson, M.D., Assistant Professor
Pediatric behavioral disorders, schizophrenia

Douglas L. Blowey, M.D., Associate Professor
Disorders of the kidney

Merlin G. Butler, M.D., Ph.D., Professor
Dr. Butler directs the Section of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. Besides his responsibilities as a clinical geneticist, he actively participates in genetics research using cutting edge, state-of-the-art techniques and equipment. Dr. Butler and his research team concentrate on the following three main research areas: 1) the genetics of obesity including Prader-Willi syndrome (the most common genetic cause of morbid obesity); 2) the genetics of neurodevelopmental disorders such as Prader-Willi, Angelman and fragile X syndromes, cytogenetic disorders and autism; and 3) causation and natural history of genetic disorders. More recently, he has been involved with microarray gene expression analysis of pediatric heart disease. Dr. Butler has published extensively in the areas of phenotype-genotype correlations, clinical delineation and description of rare and common genetic syndromes, and principles of medical genetics and genetic mechanisms.

Robin Carroll, M.S., Assistant Professor
Neonatal nutrition

Edward R. Christopherson, Ph.D., Professor
Behavioral disorders, informed consent

M. Denise Dowd, M.D., MPH, Professor
Firearm safety, intimate partner violence, childhood injury

Andrea Gaedigk, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
PK/PD of drugs in children, ontogeny of drug metabolism in children, drug metabolism, and pharmacogenomics

Roger Gaedigk, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
PK/PD of drugs in children, ontogeny of drug metabolism in children, drug metabolism, and pharmacogenomics

Alan S. Gamis, M.D., MPH, Associate Professor
Hematology, oncology, bone marrow transplantation

George K. Gittes, M.D., Associate Professor
Cell signaling involved in differentiation of stem cells into pancreatic beta-islet cells

William D. Graf, M.D., Professor
Childhood neurological disorders, especially neurodevelopmental, metabolic and neurogenetic disorders.

Marilyn S. Hamilton, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor
Diagnosis of infectious diseases

Stanley Hellerstein, M.D., Professor
Renal function

Maxine Hetherington, M.D., Associate Professor
Childhood cancer

George W. Holcomb III, M.D., MBA, Professor
Pediatric surgery and minimally invasive surgery in children

Christopher L. Hubble, M.D., Assistant Professor
End of life; palliative care

Mary Anne Jackson, M.D., Professor
Infectious diseases, vaccines

Jill D. Jacobson, M.D., Professor
Role of GnRH in modulating the immune response in autoimmune disorders, with an emphasis on gender differences

Ralph E. Kauffman, M.D., Professor; Marion Merrell Dow/Missouri Chair in Medical Research, CMH
PK/PD of drugs in children, ontogeny of drug metabolism in children, drug metabolism, and pharmacogenomics

Gregory L. Kearns, Pharm.D., Professor
PK/PD of drugs in children, ontogeny of drug metabolism in children, drug metabolism, and pharmacogenomics

Howard W. Kilbride, M.D., Professor
Developmental outcome of newborn infants at high risk: extremely preterm infants; infants with perinatal cocaine exposure

Jane Knapp, M.D., Professor
Intimate partner violence, injury and injury prevention

Joan H.M. Knoll, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Cytogenetics with emphasis on single copy fluorescence in-situ hybridization

J. Steven Leeder, Ph.D., Pharm.D., Professor
Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics, ontogeny of drug metabolism in children. Specific emphasis on pharmacogenetic determinants of drug-induced birth defects and advesre drug reactions in children.

Gary K. Lofland, M.D., Professor
Cardiovascular disease and conotruncal defects

Kristin R. Melton, M.D., Assistant Professor
Genetics of craniofacial malformations and development of the cranial mesoderm

Wayne V. Moore, M.D., Ph.D., Professor
Immunology of islet cell transplantation for diabetes; techniques to improve viability of transplanted islet cells

Frank P. Morello, M.D., Associate Professor
Pharmacokinetics and imaging of Gadolinium contrast during MRI of children (industrial grant funded research)

Jerome V. Murphy, M.D., Professor
Treatment of epilepsy and other seizure disorders

James E. O'Brien, Jr., M.D., Assistant Professor
Dr. O'Brien is nvolved in research in multiple areas concerned with congenital heart defects. Some of the ongoing projects include: 1) Gene expression in patients with conotruncal types of congenital heart defects 2) Outcomes analysis of corrective surgical techniques for congenital heart defects 3) Imaging strategies for patients with cardiopulmonary abnormalities.

Scott E. Olitsky, M.D., Associate Professor
Glaucoma, ocular hypertension

Lloyd C. Olson, M.D., Professor
Infectious diseases

P. Gary Pettett, M.D., Professor
Neonatology, bioethics

Jay M. Portnoy, M.D., Professor
Environmental contributors to chronic respiratory disease in children, specifically asthma

Krishna Prasadan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Dr. Prasadan's interest is to conduct research attempting to engineer insulin-producing beta cells from stem cells for the treatment of type-1 diabetes. To achieve this goal, the lab is studying molecular factors that regulate cell lineage selection during mouse embryonic pancreas development. The research so far has identified a key role of notch-signaling pathway during pancreatic beta cell differentiation. In addition, Dr. Prasadan's research discovered intra-endocrine regulation of beta cell differentiation during pancreas development. This study found that glucagon expressed early in embryonic pancreas effect differentiation of other components such as early insulin expression in the endocrine pancreas.

Peter K. Rogan, Ph.D., Professor
Our laboratory has a long term interest in defining and predicting the functional consequences of sequence variation in non-coding sequence elements. We apply information theory to distinguish mutant and normal variant genotypes, specifically for sequences that affect mRNA splicing in genetic disease and transcription factor binding site recognition by nuclear receptors. More recently, in collaboration with Dr. Joan Knoll’s laboratory, we have also computationally designed and produced single copy FISH probes capable of detect of chromosomal rearrangements and breakpoints with very high genomic resolution. These probes are yielding valuable insight into the structural definition of sequences that predispose to chromosome breakage and functional distinctions between pathogenic and non-pathogenic chromosome rearrangements.

Stephen Simon, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Biostatistics

John F. Sommerauer, M.D., Professor
Pharmaceutical treatment of acutely ill children

William E. Truog, M.D., Professor
Mechanisms of lung injury in very premature infants, studies of oxygen regulations of immature pulmonary vasculature

Susan M. VanScoyoc, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Quality of life in children with chronic diseases

Bradley A. Warady, M.D., Professor
Renal disease and transplantation; dialysis

Gary S. Wasserman, D.O., Professor
Poisons and toxins

Robert A. White, Ph.D., Associate Professor
The research focus in Dr. White's lab is the identification of genes involved in the normal production of red blood cells using 5 mouse mutants with iron metabolism defects or other hereditary anemias. The positional cloning of several genes for these anemia mouse mutants is underway, one of which was recently identified. The significance of this work is in the possible development of novel therapies for iron overloading, a condition that leads to severe morbidity and death. These diseases include hereditary hemochromatosis (a common genetic disease in man) and transfusion-dependent sickle cell anemia. A second area of research includes an investigation into the stem cell plasticity of bone marrow cells with specific emphasis on the expression of a muscle transgene in bone marrow-derived myoblasts. His lab is interested in a gene therapy strategy including the use of a human retinal dystrophin transgene in experimental bone marrow transplantation in muscular dystrophy mice.

Brian M. Wicklund, M.D., MPH, Associate Professor
Hemophilia and coagulation disorders

Gerald M. Woods, M.D., Professor
Hemoglobinopathy; sickle cell disease

Dong Xu, M.D., Assistant Professor
Mechanisms of lung injury in very premature infants, studies of oxygen regulation of immature pulmonary vasculature

Surgery Research Faculty
Stanley Augustin, M.D., Assistant Professor
Critical care, pulmonary macrophages

Douglas M. Geehan, M.D., Associate Professor
Trauma surgery

Paul W. Nelson, M.D., Professor; Chairman, Department of Surgery, Saint Luke’s Hospital
Renal transplantation, especially for his work in transplantation across compatibility barriers

Charles Van Way III, M.D., Professor
Study of shock; work in nutritional support. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Basic mechanisms of hemorrhagic shock.

Orthopaedic Surgery Research Faculty
Nicholas U. Ahn, M.D., Assistant Professor
Spinal surgery

Donna Pacicca, M.D., Assistant Professor
Osteogenesis

John L. Williams, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Cartilage ephyiseal plate and mechanical fixation of fractures

Psychiatry Research Faculty
Jan L. Campbell, M.D., Associate Professor
Addiction psychiatry, methamphetamine addiction

Timothy Dellenbaugh, M.D., Assistant Professor
Neuroscience and psychopharmacology

Bill D. Geis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Dr. Geis' research areas include suicide prevention, clinical intervention for suicidal thoughts, self-injury typologies and data-driven coalition models; psychosocial factors in weight loss surgery and psychosocial outcomes in weight loss; measurement and the long-term impact of early life psychological trauma; attachment styles and access to health care; homeless support and women’s homeless and domestic violence outcomes; substance abuse treatment linkage in a public hospital and patterns of community substance abuse; psychosocial support for cancer patients.

Kemal Sagduyu, M.D., Professor
Neurobiology and clinical psychiatry, translational research directed at mood disorders, obesity and weight gain, aggression, sleep disorders, emergency psychiatric interventions and brain injury

Roger W. Sommi Jr., Pharm.D., Professor
Psychopharmacology research

Radiology Research Faculty
Gregory I. Gordon, M.D., Assistant Professor
Interventional radiology with an emphasis on vascular access in coagulopathic patients, contrast nephropathy oncology intervention and venous insufficiency

School of Nursing

Maithe Enriquez, Ph.D., RN, Assistant Professor
Maithe Enriquez, PhD, RN, teaches in the PhD program at UMKC School of Nursing. She also mentors and guides graduate and undergraduate nursing students in clinical research projects. Her program of research focuses on developing interventions that help disadvantaged populations prevent and manage chronic illness and decrease health disparities. Her current research projects include an intervention program to ehance the health outcomes of low-acculturated Latinas living with HIV and implementing a violence prevention program among a group of low-income Hispanic high school students. Her recent publications include: "Poverty, Pregnancy & HIV", "A pilot self-care group intervention for low-income HIV-positive women" and "Health concerns of mature women living with HIV in the Midwest.". Dr. Enriquez is a mentor for the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations (NCEMNA) and an editorial board member for the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (JANAC). Dr. Enriquez is also an adult nurse practitioner who has a clinical appointment at the UMKC School of Medicine with a practice based in the Infectious Diseases Clinic at Truman Medical Center (TMC). She is a member of the bilingual care team at TMC and in addition volunteers at the Helen Gragg Adult Clinic at Operation Breakthrough.

Tina Hines, Ph.D., RN, Thompson/Missouri Endowed Professor of Nursing
Tina Hines, RN, PhD is the Thompson Endowed Professor of Research and Associate Dean for Research. As one of few Nurse Physiologists in the country, she teaches undergraduate Anatomy and Physiology. Her active and long standing research focus has been alterations in autonomic nervous system regulation of cardiovascular function during pregnancy. She is also investigating effects of hypertensive pregnancy on mothers and offspring. In collaboration with three other physiologists at UMKC, she is exploring effects of adverse prenatal environments on gender differences in cardiac and skeletal muscle metabolism as it relates to aging, obesity and metabolic disease.

Jennifer Hunter, Ph.D, RN, Assistant Professor
Dr. Hunter’s doctoral degree is in cultural/medical anthropology, and her research program has grown from her interests in end of life care, symptom management, culture, cancer and literacy. Her doctoral research was an ethnographic study of the experience of cervical cancer in Iquitos, Peru. The study identified (1) global, theoretical, and health policy issues that contribute to neglect of cervical cancer in underdeveloped areas of the world, and (2) local and national realities and resources that must be considered to plan relevant and effective cervical cancer prevention and treatment programs. In the U.S., Dr. Hunter has continued to study cervical cancer issues in vulnerable populations, addressing how culture, language, and literacy impact prevention education. In 2003 – 2004 she was selected as a Fellow of the Cancer, Culture and Literacy Institute, Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida. Future research interests include addressing long-term consequences of radiation-therapy in cervical cancer survivors, and related symptom-management needs.

Patricia Kelly, Ph.D., RN, Professor
Dr. Kelly's research is focused on women's health issues in community settings. Using theories of Paolo Freire, she has developed and implemented a girls’ development program. She has recently completed an NINR-funded RO-1 focusing on dating violence prevention and sexual health with girls in the juvenile justice system. Dr. Kelly works with a UMKC School of Medicine research team that is a part of the Global Network on Women's and Children's Health Research. She is currently working on a community-based violence prevention program using methods of participatory action research.

Mary O'Connor, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Dr. O’Connor’s research interest is in the area of maternal, fetal infant morbidity and mortality. She is currently working on the Fetal Infant Mortality Review Case review team, the Perinatal Periods of Risk Project and the Newborn and Infant section of the Palliative Care Project. She has 12 years experience as an IRB member. Dr. O’Connor is seeking funding for establishment of parent care provider interrater reliability with the Neonatal Abstinence Scoring Tool.

Jane Peterson, Ph.D., R.N., Assistant Professor
Dr. Peterson teaches theory courses in the UMKC School of Nursing MSN and PhD programs. She also facilitates student learning and research by serving as a mentor and research advisor to graduate nursing students. Dr. Peterson’s program of research focuses on promoting health and reducing risks for chronic diseases. Her current research projects include the Heart and Soul Physical Activity Program, a church-based social support intervention designed to promote physical activity in diverse groups of women to reduce risks for cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions. An additional research project is the clinic-based program, Stay-Alive with 5-A’s, a physical activity intervention delivered in primary healthcare settings and the community to increase physical activity and promote weight loss and weight management. Dr. Peterson is a family nurse practitioner and maintains an active clinical practice at UMKC Student Health and Wellness Center and volunteers at the Helen Gragg Adult Clinic at Operation Breakthrough and as a Parish Nurse.

Peggy Ward-Smith, Ph.D., RN, Associate Professor
Dr. Ward-Smith investigates the effect various medical treatments have on quality of life. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, individuals receiving treatment are allowed to self-evaluate quality of life and describe how/if it has changed as a result of the health care plan. Along with collecting quality of life data, a values inventory instrument is under development. This instrument will provide cultural, ethnic and religious information, which health care professionals need to provide appropriate care. Working with the Children’s Mercy Hospital Pediatric Palliative Care Team, this research uses a multidisciplinary approach. Initial funding has been obtained locally, with plans in place to secure federal money.

Thad Wilson, Ph.D., RN, Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Dr. Wilson’s current interests focus on school-based, hepatitis B immunization programs – evaluation and analysis and adolescent and adult immunization issues. His research also explores health care systems related to immunization delivery, the relationship of personal characteristics to the use of health promotion services, and the graduate application processes.

School of Pharmacy

Simon Friedman, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Bioorganic Chemistry/Chemical Biology: Computational structure based ligand design, molecular recognition, fundamental issues of ligand receptor binding energetics, design, synthesis and testing of therapeutic molecules, molecular evolution.

William Gutheil, Ph.D., Associate Professor
The penicillin-binding proteins are ubiquitous bacterial enzymes involved in cell wall biosynthesis. As their name implies, these enzymes are the targets of the beta-lactam antibiotics. The emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacteria, including resistance to the beta-lactam antibiotics, poses a serious public health threat. This threat is increase given the potential use of antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacteria as bioterrorism agents. It is the goal of this research project to perform detailed enzymological studies of the PBPs, and to use information gained from these studies for the development of new inhibitors of the PBPs for use as new antibacterial agents. Our initial efforts in this area focused on the development of new and improved assay methods for these medically important enzymes. Additional studies to further explore the enzymology of these enzymes to develop improved peptide mimetic inhibitors are currently underway.

Orisa Igwe, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Role of pro-inflammatory cytokines/nuclear factor kappa B/cyclooxygenase system in integration of neuronal activity between periphery and spinal cord in chronic pain.

Thomas Johnston, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Research includes the delivery of peptide drugs by the oral (buccal) mucosa as well as determining the effect(s) of overall molecular dimensions imparted by secondary structure on their paracellular transport through tight junctions of the gastrointestinal tract. Another area of research involves elucidation of the causes of atherosclerosis using a non-genetically-altered mouse model of atherosclerosis developed in our laboratory.

Chi Lee, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Working on the calcium related regulation and the role of proteins in the area of fertility control, cardiovascular and skin/cervical cancer; the development and evaluation of transdermal/transmucosal/implantable delivery systems for drugs, proteins and genes; and the development of Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models and computer-simulated models.

Karen Mark, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Regulation of cerebral microvascular endothelial cells in neurological diseases; cytokine release in diseases and the effects on brain homeostasis.

Ashim Mitra, Ph.D., Vice Provost, Interdisciplinary Research, UMKC; Curators' Professor
Dr. Mitra’s research group has pioneered the use of a novel microdialysis technique to study ocular pharmacology of antiviral, antitumor and other anti-infective agents, has developed new techniques to implant multiple probes into both anterior and posterior chambers of the eye simultaneously. The work on peptide and protein delivery across pulmonary routes has taken him from animal models to cultured human lung epithelial cells. Using this cell line (Calu-3), his research team is investigating the role the apical membrane plays as compared to the basal membrane in controlling the transport of macromolecules. They have found the presence of a p-glycoprotein efflux system at the basal surface of these cells, which causes efflux of the peptide and peptidomimetics such as HIV-protease inhibitors out of the cytoplasm across the apical membrane. Currently, the focus is on the use of cell membrane natural transporters to deliver drugs to intracellular targets.

Rafia Rasu, MPharm, MBA, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Pharmacy and Nursing; Graduate Faculty, Bloch School
Dr. Rasu’s primary research interests are pharmacoeconomics & outcomes research, economic evaluation of health care interventions and public health. Her academic and research objectives focus on application of statistical methodology in examining issues related to effectiveness of medical care delivery and health outcomes in chronic diseases. Dr. Rasu has published more than 10 peer reviewed journal articles and has presented in many national and international conferences. Clinical Therapeutics, Medical Economics, Current Medical Research and Review, Sleep, Supportive Care in Cancer, Osaka Economic papers, Expert Review in Pharmacotherapy, Expert Review on Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine are a few journals where she published her research. She also has co-authored a book chapter on Economic Development and Population Health in a book titled "Reinventing Public Health: Policies and Practices for a Healthy Nation" that is currently used for graduate studies in Health Management and Policy Science related courses in schools of public health. She currently offers "Health Economics and Medicine", "Statistics II" and "Concepts of Epidemiology and Statistics" courses at UMKC.

Jianping Wang, Ph.D., MD, Assistant Professor
Signal transduction of cytokines in the CNS evaluated from an integrated neurobehavioral, pharmacological, neurochemical, molecular, genomic and proteomic approach.

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