Tallie Baram, MD PhD

In the post genomic era, we know that environment and experience shape neuronal function and contribute to human disease. Thus, early-life input, including stress and seizures, may influence the integrity and function of select neuronal circuits and may contribute to the generation of several important neurological diseases such as epilepsy and dementia. Our lab strives to understand the underlying processes in hopes of prevention and intervention.

 

 

Frances Leslie, PhD

Dr. Leslie is a neuropharmacologist whose primary interests lie in the effects of drugs of abuse on brain development. She is particularly interested in characterizing the expression and functional roles of the endogenous opioid and nicotinic cholinergic systems which are activated by heroin and nicotine, respectively. Several techniques are used for visualization of these neurotransmitters and their related receptors in developing brain and body. These include in situ hybridization for analysis of mRNA expression, and quantitative autoradiography and immunocytochemistry for localization of proteins.

 

Edward Robinson, MD PhD

The research in the laboratory has concentrated on anti-HIV drug development. Working with organic chemists, we are developing new anti-HIV compounds that target a specific viral protein called integrase. Integrase is absolutely required for HIV replication and has no mammalian homolog. Furthermore, integrase is the third of three viral enzymes and the only enzyme for which no inhibitors are used to treat patients. To date, we have identified over 100 compounds that inhibit HIV integrase; some of these are the most potent small molecule inhibitors of HIV integrase yet described. We are using these compounds as tools to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in HIV integrase function and retroviral integration. In particular we are studying the effects of inhibitor resistance mutations on integrase function and on HIV replication.

Ming Tan, MD

Dr. Tan is an Infectious Disease physician who is interested in how bacteria cause disease, with an eye towards developing novel antimicrobial approaches. He is studying Chlamydia as a model system for a chronic bacterial infection. Chlamydial infections are the most common infectious disease reported to the CDC and a major public health problem in both the developed and developing world. Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular parasites, and the main focus of the lab is in defining the mechanisms of chlamydial gene regulation during infection of a eukaryotic host cell. The lab also has a translational project examining the effect of antimicrobial peptides on intracellular chlamydiae.