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Daniela Salvemini, Ph.D.

William Beaumont Professor and chair, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience
Director, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Fellow, Saint Louis Academy of Science
Fellow, National Academy of Inventors

Research interests: Over 30 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from chronic neuropathic pain. Treatment for these patients is very difficult and current medications are limited by severe side effects and poor efficacy. Novel non-narcotic analgesics are needed. My lab uses state-of-the-art multidisciplinary approaches to unravel molecular pathways through which injury produces changes in the peripheral nerves and the central nervous system that lead to the transition of acute to chronic pain. We are also interested in understanding how opioids such as morphine, cause increase pain sensitivity (a phenomenon known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia) and analgesic tolerance (which refers to a loss of opioid efficacy) known to limit opioid’s efficacy and contributing to over-prescription and abuse. Our overarching goal is to identify novel non-opioid based targets for therapeutic intervention for the treatment of neuropathic pain ultimately impacting the lives of patients afflicted with this debilitating disease.  This translational approach has led to the identification of several targets, some of which are in clinical development and others in clinical trials.

Willis K. Samson, Ph.D., D.Sc.

Professor and vice chairman of the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
Director of  School of Medicine Biomedical Sciences Graduate Programs
willis.samson@health.slu.edu
314-977-8677
Doisy Hall, R423 

Research interests: Central control of metabolism, reproduction and cardiovascular function, G protein-coupled receptors, pituitary function, ingestive behavior

Michael Ariel, Ph.D.

Professor, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
Professor, Center for Anatomical Science and Education

michael.ariel@health.slu.edu
Schwitalla Hall, M335A
314-977-8050

Research interests: My lab studies sensory information processing using a unique in vitro preparation of an intact brain. That brain tissue is removed from a pond turtle that is extremely resistant to the damaging effects of anoxia. Natural stimulation is presented to attached sense organs (the retina in the eye, the cochlear of the inner ear and the ampullae of labyrinthine semicircular canals in the temporal bone) while recording electrophysiological responses from brainstem neurons. The sensory responses are also measured in physiological media that lacks oxygen to evaluate the brain's ability to encode environmental cues during a turtle's wintering under the surface of a frozen pond in its prolonged cold season. These experiments reveal mechanisms of brain processing and the extent to which such processing is diminished during anoxia each winter.

Christopher Arnatt, Ph.D.

Assistant professor Department of Chemistry
Assistant professor Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
chris.arnatt@slu.edu
Monsanto Hall, 112

Research interests: The core theme of Arnatt's research revolves around using organic chemistry to decipher cellular processes and disease states. He has illustrated that by using bioorganic techniques, modern synthetic organic chemistry can be applied to make small molecules that are targeted toward any specific process or protein, which can significantly impact their study. Specifically, he is developing novel small-molecule chemical probes and fluorescent probes to help study biological systems. His research for the next five years will focus on nuclear proteins and DNA modifications as they pertain to cancer and stem cell biology.

Andrew A. Butler, Ph.D.

Professor
andrew.butler@health.slu.edu
314-977-6425
Schwitalla Hall, M325A 

Research interests: My research interests are in the general area of the integrative physiology of obesity and diabetes. I have published original research articles on the role of melanocortin receptors expressed in the nervous system. The "central nervous melanocortin system" is the canonical neural circuit that integrates signals of energy balance secreted from adipose tissues, the GI tract and pancreas to govern appetite and metabolism. My research has contributed to our knowledge of two melanocortin receptors expressed in the nervous system, one of which (MC4R) is a target for developing drugs against obesity. My current research focuses on a novel "micropeptide" involved in the control of liver metabolism and healthy aging of the nervous system. Proteogenomics has identified over a thousand small open reading frames (sORF) encoding proteins less than 100 amino acids in size. We identified a micropeptide named adropin. Our research focuses on the role of the micropeptide in regulating glucose and fatty acid metabolism in the liver and skeletal muscle. We are also investigating whether this micropeptide is a potential lead for developing treatments for cognitive impairment associated with aging and metabolic disease.

Anutosh Chakraborty, Ph.D.

Associate professor
anutosh.chakraborty@health.slu.edu
314-977-6480
Schwitalla Hall, M467A

The prevalence of obesity has increased globally and in the US. Obesity and type-2 diabetes also greatly increase the risk of various other diseases, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH), osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Pathways that reduce body fat and insulin resistance are being targeted to treat these diseases. The long-term goal of my lab is to define the mechanisms of these processes for rational drug development. A related goal is to identify and validate novel targets in these diseases. We discovered the inositol pyrophosphate biosynthetic enzyme IP6K1 as a novel target in obesity and type-2 diabetes. Thus, pharmacologic inhibition of IP6K1 should improve human health by boosting metabolism. The ongoing research is to determine cell- and tissue-specific mechanisms by which IP6K1 causes metabolic diseases and to develop IP6K1 inhibitors to treat these diseases. Moreover, we identified several other novel proteins such the E3 ubiquitin ligase Ube4A that regulate obesity, insulin resistance and NAFLD. Studies are ongoing to 1) determine cell-specific role of Ube4A in metabolic diseases; 2) identifying targets and regulators of Ube4A and deciphering their role in these diseases and 3) development of Ube4A activator compounds for the treatment of obesity and NAFLD/NASH.  

John C. Chrivia, Ph.D.

Professor
john.chrivia@health.slu.edu
314-977-6486
Doisy Hall, R420

Research interests: The overall research interest of my laboratory is to understand mechanisms regulating transcription of genes. In particular, we are interested in understanding the role that chromatin structure plays in this process. Using biochemical and molecular biology approaches, we are examining the ability of the SRCAP chromatin remodeling complex to regulate gene expression. One conclusion of our recent studies is that the SRCAP complex regulates transcription, in part by depositing the histone variant H2A.Z into nucleosomes and, in part, through an unknown activity. On going studies suggest this activity may be due to the ability of SRCAP to recruit the transcription elongation factor pTEFb to promoters. A second interest of the laboratory is to determine if targeted disruption of SRCAP function can be used to control growth of some tumor cells.

Vincenza Cifarelli, Ph.D.

Assistant professor
vincenza.cifarelli@health.slu.edu
314-977-6400
Doisy Hall, R415 

Lab Website

Research interests: The contribution of endothelial dysfunction in the development of the immuno-metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Her interdisciplinary research program investigates how blood and lymphatic vasculature regulate the gut-adipose tissue axis. Her studies aim to provide a plausible original therapeutic strategy for treating obesity by targeting the intestinal vascular and lymphatic endothelium, which recent studies indicate to be an important regulator of body fat distribution, visceral fat deposition and inflammation during diet-induced obesity. 

Ian de Vera, Ph.D.

Assistant professor
ian.devera@health.slu.edu
314-977-6400
Schwitalla Hall, M471 

Research interests: Our lab focuses on drug discovery targeting orphan nuclear receptors. Using a combination of high-throughput biophysical screening, LC-MS, NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, our goal is to find new drugs for various pathological conditions, such as cancer and neurological disorders. Our lab specializes in a diverse arsenal of biophysical techniques to determine the affinity, thermodynamics and kinetics of nuclear receptor-ligand interactions, which will guide the design of drug analogues. These techniques include multidimensional protein NMR, isothermal titration calorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, time-resolved FRET, fluorescence polarization, differential scanning fluorimetry and cell-based techniques. Using a metabolomics approach, we identify possible endogenous ligands that bind orphan nuclear receptors, and subsequently map their binding site and characterize the dynamics of the interaction using structural elucidation techniques, such as X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. We also perform in silico molecular docking of ligand libraries to determine which drug-like molecular scaffolds fit into the pocket, which could corroborate the positive hits identified in the high-throughput biophysical screening.

Timothy Doyle, Ph.D.

Associate research professor
timothy.doyle@health.slu.edu
314-977-6432
Doisy Hall, R417 

Research interests: We study the pathophysiological and signaling mechanisms (e.g,. glutamatergic signaling, neuroinflammation and nitro-oxidative stress) common to the development of cognitive impairment, chronic pain of various etiologies and opioid-induced tolerance and hyperalgesia (OIH) to identify and develop potential novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of these largely unmet medical needs. We use a number of molecular, biochemical, proteomic and cellular methods to identify transcriptional and signaling changes within peripheral and central nervous tissues and cell culture models.

John C. Edwards, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Internal Medicine - Nephrology
Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
john.edwards@health.slu.edu
SLUCare Academic Pavilion, 2501 
314-977-2636

Research interests: CLIC family of chloride channels, acidification of intracellular compartments, mechanisms of angiogenesis and intracellular tubulogenesis, the role of ApoL1 in the progression of chronic kidney disease. Hyperkalemia and arrhythmias in dialysis patients.

Terrance M. Egan, Ph.D.

Emeritus professor
terrance.egan@health.slu.edu 
314-977-6429
Schwitalla Hall, M364 

Research interests: We study the physiology and pharmacology of primary human microglia and macrophages maintained in culture and tissue slices. We are particularly interested in the ability of purines to initiate and/or modulate the innate immune response in these cells, with particular emphasis on the role of ATP and P2X7 receptor ion channels. We use a range of techniques, including voltage-clamp electrophysiology (to study transmembrane currents), patch-clamp photometry (to quantify changes in intracellular calcium), immunocytochemistry, and methods of molecular biology.

Susan A. Farr, Ph.D.

Professor of Internal Medicine - Geriatrics
Professor of Pharmacology and Physiology
susan.farr@health.slu.edu
Doisy Hall, R219A 
314-977-6084 

Research interests: Age-related dementia such as Alzheimer's disease. Risk factors for age-related dementia such as traumatic brain injury, diabetes and chemobrain

Liberty Francois-Moutal, Ph.D.

Assistant research professor
liberty.francoismoutal@health.slu.edu
314-977-6400
Schwitalla Hall, M432

Research interests: Characterizing and targeting protein/protein and protein/RNA interactions relevant to synaptic RNA transport. 

Koyal Garg, Ph.D.

Associate professor of biomedical engineering
Assistant professor, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
koyal.garg@slu.edu
Biomedical Engineering, 2005

Research interests: Our primary objective is to develop innovative strategies for the regeneration and rehabilitation of functional muscle tissue in cases of traumatic injuries, with a specific focus on volumetric muscle loss. To achieve this goal, we are pursuing a regenerative approach that involves the use of multifunctional biomaterials that enhance muscle regeneration and function. These biomaterials are composed of chemically cross-linked extracellular matrix proteins and are processed in various forms such as biosponges, hydrogels, micro-particles, or nano-particles, depending on the specific application. These biomaterials not only provide mechanical support but also deliver growth factors, pharmaceuticals, stem cells, and exosomes to targeted areas, suppress immune responses, and act as a substrate for host cell infiltration and proliferation. Furthermore, we are exploring rehabilitative strategies, including neuromuscular electrical stimulation, to improve muscle mass and strength. Ongoing studies are exploring the combined application of regenerative and rehabilitative strategies to maximize their effectiveness. Check out my

Ajay K. Jain, M.D., DNB 

Associate division chief, director, M.D./Ph.D. Program, School of Medicine
Associate professor of pediatrics, pharmacology and physiology
Section head, pediatric nutrition
Medical director, pediatric liver transplantation, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center
ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÖÆƬ³§ Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Physiology
ajay.jain@health.slu.edu
314-577-5647 

Research interests:  My research interests include pediatric liver diseases and nutrition. Our lab evaluates strategies targeting liver and gut injury noted in short bowel syndrome (SBS), which results from bowel resection or lack of functional gut. Enteral nutrition (EN) cannot sustain nutritional needs, and such patients require intravenous nutrition through a process called Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN). TPN is used worldwide as a common and critical therapy in SBS and its use has grown enormously over the last few decades. Despite being a lifesaver, complications in SBS, include life-threatening and potentially fatal liver and gut injuries. While the etiology of such injury is likely multifactorial, recent evidence, including our results, point to an alteration of gut-derived signaling, due to a lack of EN (luminal contents) as occurs is SBS driving such injury. We hypothesize that in SBS, a lack of EN disrupts the normal enterohepatic circulation of bile acids (BA), resulting in inadequate activation of gut Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) and a decreased synthesis of Fibroblast Growth Factor 19, which regulates hepatic bile acid (BA) synthesis, lipid and glucose homeostasis. Thus, restoration of FGF19 or enteral gut FXR agonists in SBS would mitigate injury. Our data also suggests that during TPN (lack of EN) there is a decrease in Glucagon-like Peptides (GLPs). While GLP-1 regulates insulin, glucose homeostasis and hepatic steatosis, GLP-2 is a known gut tropic protein. Since GLPs are modulated via the G protein-coupled receptor TGR5 we hypothesize that a lack of TGR5 regulation in SBS drives injury and such can be prevented by dual GLP-1/GLP-2 therapy and by gut TGR5 activation. Additionally, further implicating the role of luminal signaling, we have noted significant alterations in the gut microbial colonies in SBS animals on TPN. Since gut microbes can transform primary BA (FXR ligands) to secondary BA (TGR5 ligands), microbial shifts can modulate FXR-FGF19, TGR5-GLP signals and alter key hepatobiliary receptors, transporters contributing to injury.

Mark M. Knuepfer, Ph.D.

Professor
mark.knuepfer@health.slu.edu 
314-9776462 
Schwitalla Hall, M369B 

Research interests: Autonomic neuroscience, cardiovascular regulation, renal denervation as a treatment for hypertension, stress responsiveness, responses to psychostimulants, sensory neuroscience, pain modulation

Grant Kolar, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of pathology
Professor of pharmacology and physiology
grant.kolar@health.slu.edu 
Schwitalla Hall, M111 
314-977-7848 

Andrew Lechner, Ph.D.

Professor
andy.lechner@health.slu.edu 
314-977-6475 
Doisy Hall, R415 

Research interests: oxygen transport; erythrocyte biology; all aspects of respiratory physiology; extreme environments of heat, cold, and high altitude; sepsis; septic shock; acute lung injury; immuno-pathophysiology of multiple organ failure; cytokine biology; host defense functions of the lung.

Heather Macarthur, Ph.D.

Professor
Department liaison to the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
heather.macarthur@health.slu.edu 
314-977-6456 
Schwitalla Hall, M328

Research interests: Vascular control and dysfunction in hypertension and other disease states. Role of oxidative stress in disease states. Neurodegeneration.

Teaching interests: Autonomic physiology and pharmacology, vascular physiology and pharmacology, neurotransmission, neurodegeneration, neuropharmacology, general principles of physiology and pharmacology

R. Scott Martin, Ph.D.

Professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry
Professor of pharmacology and physiology
scott.martin@slu.edu
Monsanto Hall, 033 
314-977-2836

Research interests: Research in the Martin group has been focused on using microchip technology to study cellular systems in a manner where an analysis scheme can be integrated to study the release of neurotransmitters in close to real-time. We feel that this approach will allow us to use in vitro models to study the processes that lead to disease onset by studying cell-to-cell interaction on a molecular level and in a quantitative fashion.

Erick Messias, M.D., Ph.D.

Samuel W. Fordyce Professor and chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience
Professor of pharmacology and physiology
erick.messias@health.slu.edu
Montelone Hall, 105

Aubin Moutal, Ph.D.

Assistant professor
aubin.moutal@health.slu.edu 
314-977-6400 
Schwitalla Hall, R432

Research interests: My lab focuses on studying rare autoimmune clinical conditions to discover novel proteins involved in the transition to chronic pain. To achieve this goal, we use a variety of in vitro and in vivo approaches, from biochemistry and CRISPR to electrophysiology and pain behavior. My goal is to better understand the synaptic dysregulations underlying the increased spinal neurotransmission in chronic pain conditions.

Andy Nguyen, Ph.D.

Assistant professor, Department of Internal Medicine - Geriatrics
Assistant professor, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
andy.d.nguyen@health.slu.edu
Doisy Hall, R218 
314-977-4036

Research Interests:  Our lab studies progranulin – a protein linked to frontotemporal dementia (FTD) – and how its deficiency causes neurodegeneration. We are currently testing strategies (including antisense oligonucleotides) for increasing progranulin levels as potential therapies for progranulin-deficient FTD. We are also investigating progranulin’s structure and function using a variety of molecular and cellular approaches.

Alicia Pate, Ph.D.

Assistant professor, Center for Anatomical Science and Ed-MAPP  
alicia.pate@health.slu.edu

Juliana Navia Pelaez, Ph.D.

Assistant professor
juliana.navia@health.slu.edu  
314-977-6400
Schwitalla Hall, M354

Research Interests:  Navia Lab's research seeks to understand how lipid metabolism affects pain states and chronic pain susceptibility. The lab investigates immuno-metabolic changes and transcriptional regulation underlying chronic pain development. We explore neuro-immune interactions, cellular reprogramming, and metabolic mechanisms across various cell types involved in nociceptive pathways in different animal models of chronic pain. The lab aims to uncover new mechanisms, pathways, and potential therapeutic targets for safe chronic pain treatments.

Randy S. Sprague, M.D.

Emeritus professor
randy.sprague@slu.edu 

Research interests: Randy Sprague's research interests are the definition of the role of erythrocyte-released adenosine triphosphate in the regulation of the microcirculation and the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension.

Joshua Stafford, Ph.D.

Assistant research professor
joshua.stafford@health.slu.edu 
314-977-6400
Doisy Hall R418

Research Interests: I am a research scientist in the lab of Gina Yosten. My particular research interests are in characterizing the role of islet hormones in modulating the counter-regulatory response to hypoglycemia.

John K. Walker, Ph.D.

Associate professor
john.walker@health.slu.edu 
314-977-6427 
Schwitalla Hall, M132 

Medicinal chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, pharmacokinetics, chemical biology

Research interests: Research in our lab is focused on the application of medicinal chemistry in the design and synthesis of new bioactive molecules. We incorporate several computations such as molecular modeling and docking techniques, virtual screening, data analysis and physical property descriptors to design new compounds as potential bioactive molecules. We then employ modern state-of-the-art organic synthesis techniques to synthesize these new molecules and test them with our biology collaborators. This is often an iterative process with this design-synthesize-test cycle being repeated several times to arrive at molecules with the desired profile for a given target. We also synthesize tool compounds and probes that can be used by biologists to study various pathways and mechanisms. The overarching theme of research in the Walker Lab is the design and synthesis of new bioactive molecules to address important biology questions.

Recent publications:

• Hampton, C. S.; Situala, S.; Billon, C.; Haynes, K.; Avdagic, A.; Wanninayake, U.; Adeyemi, C. M.; Chatterjee, A.; Griffett, K.; Banerjee, S.; Burris, S. L.; Schoepke, E.; Boehm, T.; Bess, A.; de Vera, I. M.; Burris, T. P.; Walker, J. K.* “Development and pharmacological evaluation of a new chemical series of potent pan-ERR agonists, identification of SLU-PP-915. Euro. J. Med. Chem., 258, 115582 Oct 5th, 2023. PMID 37421886
• Cao, F.; Kinthada, R.; Boehm, T.; D’ Cunha, N.; Leus, I. V.; Orth, C.; Zgurskaya, H. I.; Walker, J. K.*J; Identification and structure-activity relationships for a series of N, N-disubstituted 2-aminobenzothiazoles as potent inhibitors of S. aureus. Bioorg med chem lett., 89, 129301 Apr, 23, 2023. PMID 37094726
• Billon, C.; Situala, S.; Banerjee, S.; Welch, R.; Elgendy, B.; Hegazy, L.; Oh, T. G.; Kazantris, M.; Chatterjee, A.; Chrivia, J.; Hayes, M. E.; Xu, W.; Hamilton, A.; Huss, J. M.; Walker, J. K.; Downes, M.; Evans, R. M.; Burris, T. P. Synthetic ERRa/b/g Agonist Induces an ERRa-dependent Acute Aerobic Exercise Response and Enhances Exercise Capacity. ACS Chem Biol. 18(4), Apr 21, 2023, 756-771. PMID 36988910
• Murray, M. H.; Valfort, A. C.; Koelblen, T.; Veerakanellore, G. B.; Elgendy, B.; Walker, J. K.; Hegazy, L.; Burris, T. P. Structural Basis of Synthetic Agonist Activation of the Nuclear Receptor REV-ERB. Nat. Comm., 13(1), 7131, Nov 21, 2022. PMID:36414641
• Moniruzzaman, M.; Cooper, C. J.; Uddin, M. R.; Walker, J. K.; Parks, J. M. and Zgurskaya, H. I. Analysis of Orthogonal Efflux and Permeation Properties of Compounds Leads to the Discovery of New Efflux Pump Inhibitors. ACS Infect. Dis. 8(10), 2149-2160, Oct, 14, 2022. PMID3641464

L. James Willmore, Jr, M.D.

Associate dean for Admissions for the School of Medicine
Emeritus faculty 
Neurology-Epilepsy-Pharmacology and Physiology
SLUCare Academic Pavilion 

Research interests: As an epileptologist, Willmore’s dedication to the study and treatment of epilepsy has led to active involvement as a researcher and clinician. His work has involved studies of neurotransmitters and their agonists, and various investigations into the action and pharmokinetics of anti-epileptic drugs. He has conducted multiple anti-epileptic drug trials.

Gina Yosten, Ph.D.

Professor
gina.yosten@health.slu.edu 
314-977-6354 
Doisy Hall, R416 

Research interests: Our lab is focused on understanding the role of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and in particular orphan GPCRs, in endocrine diseases, including diabetes and obesity.

Silvia Squillace, Ph.D.

Assistant research professor
silvia.squillace.1@health.slu.edu 
Doisy Hall, R405 

Research interests: Squillace’s research activity in Daniela Salvemini’s lab is focused on the study of cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) as well as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Her recent publications contributed to unraveling the molecular mechanisms that, following chemo, led to the onset and maintenance of neuroinflammatory states that ultimately cause the detriment of cognitive functions and neuropathic pain development. In particular, she is investigating the dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism in the nervous system, aiming at repurposing FDA-approved S1PR1 functional antagonists for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced neurotoxcities. 

Silviya Petrova Zustiak, Ph.D.

Associate professor of biomedical engineering
Associate professor of pharmacology and physiology
Co-director, Institute of Drug and Biotherapeutic Innovation at SLU
silviya.zustiak@slu.edu 
Biomedical Engineering, 2024
314-977-8331 

Research interests: Zustiak’s primary research interests are in hydrogel biomaterials and tissue engineering, with emphasis on developing novel biomaterials as cell scaffolds and drug screening platforms, and elucidating matrix structure-property relationships as well as cell-matrix interactions. Biomaterial-based models are crucial for bridging the gap between traditional tissue culture and animal models by providing a cell environment that closely mimics real tissue. This research is highly multidisciplinary, merging the fields of engineering, materials science, and biology.