School of Medicine

Department of Physiology

The Biomedical Alcohol Research Training Program - Current Trainees
 

Postdoctoral Fellows

Xavier Chapa-Dubocq, PhD

Degree: PhD, University of Puerto Rico: Medical Sciences Center
Advisor:
Patrica Molina, MD, PhD
Research:
Examining the Interplay between Alcohol Metabolism and Recovery from Post-Concussion Syndrome
Department:
Physiology
Email:
xchapa@lsuhsc.edu

The goal of my research is to determine how alcohol consumption post-mild TBI may increase the severity of symptoms related to Post-Concussion syndrome. Specifically, I want to focus on metabolic changes in the frontal lobe of the brain which may be associated to behavioral changes such as impulsivity and decision-making. Additionally, I am interested in developing mitochondria-targeted therapeutics that may help alleviate symptoms found in Post-Concussion syndrome.

 

chapa

Andrea Jones, PhD

Degree: PhD, Tulane University School of Medicine
Advisor: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD
Research: The role of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) in chronic inflammatory pain
Department: Physiology
Email:ajon41@lsuhsc.edu

The goal of my research is to determine how the MC4R changes with chronic pain. I am interested in sex- and age-specific differences in the way the MC4R functions within brain circuits associated with chronic inflammatory pain. Additionally, I am interested in the role of alcohol use disorder in the transition from acute to chronic pain. 

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Keishla Rodriguez-Graciani, PhD

Degree: PhD, University of Puerto Rico - Medial Sciences Campus
Advisor: 
Liz Simon, MVSc, PhD
Department: 
Physiology
Email: krodr7@lsuhsc.edu 

keishla

Lisa Wilson, PhD

Degree: PhD, University of Florida
Advisors: Tiffany Wills, Phd and Nicholas Gilpin, PhD
Research: Adolescent opioid modulation of alcohol-induced hyperalgesia in adult mice
Department: Cell Biology & Anatomy
Email:lwil73@lsuhsc.edu

The goal of my research is to determine how chronic adolescent opioid exposure modulates changes in alcohol-induced hyperalgesia in adult mice.  I am interested in how early life opioid exposure modifies PKCδ cell excitation and if those modifications exacerbate alcohol-induce hyperalgesia in adulthood.    

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Predoctoral Fellows

Meagan Donovan

Degree: BS, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Mentors: 
Janos Paloczi, PhD
Department: Cardiovascular Center
Email:  mdono2@lsuhsc.edu

I am currently investigating potential therapeutics to target the mitochondrial changes that occur in cardiomyocytes following alcohol exposure.

donovan

Nicholas Harris, BSE

Degree: BSE, Tulane University
Mentor: Jason Gardner, PhD
Department: Physiology
Email: nharr8@lsuhsc.edu

My research focus is the mechanism of alcohol-induced cardiac inflammation.

Harris Nick

John Lammons, BS

Degree: BS, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Mentors:
Christopher Taylor, PhD and David Welsh, MD
Department:
Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology
Email:
jlamm1@lsuhsc.edu

I study the impacts of HIV and alcohol on the gut microbiome related to intestinal leak and mucosal immunity. 

lammonst32

Sumin (Stephanie) Lee, BS

Degree: BS, Emory University
Mentor: Scott Edwards, PhS
Department:  Physiology
Email: slee21@lsuhsc.edu

My research focus is endocannabinoid system contributions to chronic pain and AUD.

stephanie lee

Tamara Morris, BS

Degree: BS, Louisiana State University
Mentor: Peter Winsauer, PhD
Department: Pharmacology
Email:tmorr6@lsuhsc.edu
 

My research goal is to look at SHISA7's role in the effects of alcohol on learning and memory in rats. SHISA7 is a part of a family of transmembrane proteins that regulate the conformational activity of the GABAA receptor complex, and deletion of SHISA7 have been shown to diminish the effects of benzodiazepines in mice. However, there are no data indicating that SHISA7 might also modulate the disruptive effects of alcohol on learning and memory. Therefore, I aim to demonstrate SHISA7's effect on the capacity of alcohol to disrupt learning and memory.

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