hand in purple glove using a microscope

Central Nervous System Disorders

Eric Eisenmann, PharmD, PhD

Assistant Professor

My current research focuses on determining how targeted and cytotoxic chemotherapy impact the brain and how drug transporters contribute to these effects. Consistent with this research, I am interested in the translational pharmacology of anticancer therapeutics, especially the characterization of preclinical and clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
Other research areas: The Division of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology, Cancer, Clinical & Pre-Clinical Pharmacology
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Eric Eisenmann

Kari Hoyt, PhD

Professor

Our research team members are engaged in pre-clinical target identification for pharmacologic treatment of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. We use in vivo and in vitro high-resolution fluorescence microscopy and high-content analysis of live neurons to reveal complex interactions between signaling pathways that regulate cell survival/function and circadian clock signaling. This work is designed to identify new avenues of chronotherapeutic target development for CNS disorders. Current work focuses on two related themes: (1) Alzheimer’s Disease and desynchronization of cortico-limbic circadian rhythms and (2) MAPK signaling: gates, oscillators and circadian timing.
Other research areas: Clinical & Pre-Clinical Pharmacology, The Division of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology
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Kari Hoyt

Mengying Hu, PhD

Assistant Professor

The Hoo (Hu) research group focuses on the functional and mechanistic exploration of immune cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) and EV-DNA in the context of diseases such as cancer and chronic inflammatory disorders. The ultimate goal is to inform the rationale design of non-viral gene therapies and diagnostic/prognostic tools. Specific research interests include functional and mechanistic exploration of immune cell-derived EVs and EV-DNA in disease settings such as cancer and auto-immune disorders, engineering core-shell lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the targeted delivery of nucleic acids, proteins, peptides, and small molecules to support therapeutic development for cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases, and autoimmune disorder and diagnostic/prognostic biomarker development based on circulating EVs and EV-DNA.
Other research areas: The Division of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology, Cancer, Nanotechnology & Drug Delivery Systems
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Mengying Hu

Kou-San Ju, PhD

Associate Professor

My interdisciplinary research program is inspired by the metabolic diversity of microorganisms and the vast array of compounds they produce. Working at the interface of chemistry and biology, my group combines approaches in chemistry, biochemistry, bioinformatics, genetics, and systems biology to discover new natural products, identify bioactivity and mode of action, and to decipher the metabolic basis of their biosynthesis. Ultimately, we seek to translate insights gained from our investigations into solutions for modern day challenges facing human health and the environment. These include new antibiotics to counter drug-resistant pathogens, novel herbicides and biocontrol agents to improve pest management and food security, and engineered biocatalysts to facilitate chemical production by green chemistry and industrial biotechnology.
Other research areas: Division of Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy, Infectious Diseases, Chemical Biology, Computational Biomedicine & Data Analytics, Natural Products
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Kou-San Ju