- Dr. Rami A. Al-Horani’s research area is the chemical, biochemical, and pharmacological design, discovery, and development of orthosteric peptidomimetics and allosteric glycosaminoglycan mimetics which can serve as novel therapeutics to treat cardiovascular diseases and/or chemical probes to investigate unknown mechanisms of pathological conditions, with special emphasis on haemostasis and thrombosis.
- Dr. Robert Blake’s research focuses on the study of the kinetics and thermodynamics of receptor-ligand binding interactions. In particular, his lab t has an integrating cavity absorption meter that offers the unique capability to monitor absorbance or fluorescence changes in turbid suspensions that scatter light. These functional studies are complemented with other instrumentation that focuses on the structural characterization of nanoparticles.
- Dr. Levon Bostanian conducts research in the areas of preformulation and formulation of drug delivery systems; he is one of the inventors of a U.S. patent on small particle formation. His research has resulted in several peer-reviewed publications with his current research focusing on enhancing the bioavailability of drugs with low water solubility.
- Dr. KiTani Parker Lemieux’s research is aimed at understanding the molecular determinants that are critical in the progression, migration, and invasion of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The approach is to identify these factors from the noncancerous microenvironment and to determine their role in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of TNBC.
- Dr. Tarun K. Mandal is an Endowed Professor, Director of the Center for Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery, and Co-Director of the Louisiana Vaccine Center. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. His research focuses on the design and development of commercially viable formulations to improve safety, efficacy, and patient compliance. Cutting-edge research in his laboratory has resulted in patented controlled-release formulations of many therapeutic agents. He has published close to 200 original research papers, reviews, abstracts, and monographs.
- Dr. Tommy C. Morris’ research is focused in the area of transdermal drug delivery systems with emphasis on “drug in adhesive” technology. Using a COX-2 inhibitor such celecoxib, the goal is to study the feasibility of developing a transdermal patch that when applied to specific areas of the body, such as the knees, will deliver a sufficient dose locally to alleviate osteoarthritis pain, while limiting systemic absorption and minimizing the adverse effects associated with current oral dose regimens.
- Dr. Patience Obih’s research focus currently is in the area of Transcriptional Regulation of Natriuretic Sensitivity in Diabetes Mellitus and Drug Discovery. In her quest for new drugs for diabetes, her laboratory screens medicinal herbs for antidiabetic activities. Projects underway include characterization and purification of the medicinal extracts and examining the samples for inhibition of amylase and alpha-glucosidase as well as Glucose Signaling.
- Dr. Yashoda Pramar conducts research in the area of formulation and stability of drugs in oral and intravenous liquid dosage forms. She has spear-headed nation-wide, collaborative, funded ventures with the compounding industry. She has over 50 peer-reviewed publications, numerous presentations and a compounded monograph in the USP.
- Dr. Dinithia Sampson’s research focuses on central nervous system (CNS) drug design and development; she engages in providing interdisciplinary research and novel solutions integral to biomedical and pharmacological advancements within antipsychotic and Alzheimer's disease/ dementia drug development.
- Dr. Sunil Sirohi’s research focuses on the discovery and development of improved pharmacotherapeutic agents to treat addictive and related neuropsychiatric disorders. An integrative behavioral, pharmacological, biochemical, and molecular approach is utilized to examine how patterned feeding (over-consumption of palatable food and consequent under-consumption of less preferred food) impacts the brain and behavior.
- Dr. Thomas E. Wiese’s research focuses primarily on the molecular mechanisms involved in nuclear receptor mediated endocrine disruption. Projects underway include characterizations of the gene, receptor and tissue specific effects of hormone-active environmental chemicals, dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals. The goal of these studies is to define the endocrine disruption of these substances as primary molecular cellular level events.
- Dr. Christopher Williams’ research focuses on discovering novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of breast cancer. Specifically, this includes studies on the impact on Protein Kinase CK2 inhibition on estrogen signaling in breast cancer, as well as the impact of orphan nuclear receptor NURR1 on disease progression in hormone-related cancers. These studies are geared to increasing the therapeutic window for tamoxifen to prevent tumor progression towards endocrine insensitivity, as well as exploring the possibility that NURR1 may serve as a biomarker for cancer dormancy and low likelihood of progression.
- Dr. Justin Wilson’s research interests are in the area of health disparities among populations with a particular focus on hypertension and the role of the kidneys in regulating blood pressure and different metabolic diseases.