ADRC Affiliated Researchers

Neuromodulation; Neurorestoration; Bioengineering; Medical Device Design; Clinical Trials; Data Science; Health Outcomes.

Cancer detection and treatment and, to a more limited extent, inflammatory diseases.

Dr. Lee’s lab is to illuminate the role of cerebral vasculature, blood-brain barrier, in mediating the cross-talks between immune systems of the brain and peripheral bloodstream. They approach it by reconstructing a functional neurovascular unit (NVU) in a microfluidic chip as an experimental model to efficiently track the immune dynamics throughout the disease progression and treatments.

Dr. Lee’s areas of interest are brain tumors and new imaging techniques. Dr. Lee serves as the Department’s “translational” scientist and clinical neuroradiologist. He plays a key role in the development of the carbon nanotube CT scanner.

The three main research components of his laboratory are focused on the themes of the basic neurobiology of cognition and addiction, neurobehavioral toxicology and the development of novel therapeutic treatments for cognitive dysfunction and substance abuse.

1. Investigate a neurodevelopmental disorder, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, which has the potential to provide insight into the pathophysiological mechanism of a neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer’s Disease. 2. In collaboration with Dr. Cathrine Hoyo, we are investigating an epigenetic mechanism to explain the racial disparities in the development of Alzheimer’s disease between underrepresented minorities and European Americans. 3. I am interested in clinically characterizing the long-term cognitive and behavioral consequences in convalescent COVID-19 patients.

I am a physician scientist with a clinical focus on neuropathology, and a research interest in brain tumors.

Professor Lopez is an associate professor in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department at North Carolina Central University. Her research interests include regulation of the hepatic LDL receptor and PCSK9 and the role of hypothyroidism in Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer.

Areas of expertise: Health Services Research, Health Economics, Health Policy, Multimorbidity

Her research focuses on addressing neurocognitive disparities in aging and promoting health equity.

We are interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying chemosensation (taste and smell) in mammals. The receptors that detect odorants, pheromones, and many tastants including bitter and sweet chemicals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), which typically have seven transmembrane domains.

Our laboratory is interested primarily in the responses of macrophages during injury to the central nervous system and during inflammation after insult by bacterial pathogens. We use molecular, cellular and biochemical approaches both in vitro and in vivo to identify the function of key mediators during pathogenesis.

Dr. McConnell’s program of research focuses on factors that influence functional decline in very frail older adults. Her academic interests include frailty in the aged, the role of the environment in promoting function, and the conduct and testing of nursing interventions to prevent decline in those with chronic illness.

Her research focuses on identifying gaps in healthcare delivery and using implementation science to adapt and assess evidence-based interventions.

My lab has a translational research focus exploring the damaging effects of inflammation and calcium dysregulation on early HIV and Alzheimer’s disease progression. Modification of neurotrophin receptor signaling by small molecules is emphasized for therapeutic intervention. A clinical trial has been proposed to prevent cognitive decline in people with HIV. Key words: calcium imaging; neuroinflammation; neurodegeneration; HIV; Alzheimer’s disease; neurotrophins; multielectrode arrays