Eduard I. Dedkov, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Physiology
Department of Biomedical Science

The overall goal of my current research is to understand the mechanisms involved in growth and adaptation of cardiac coronary vessels in health and disease. My approaches include the use of in vivo and in vitro experimental models, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy and quantitative image analysis.

One area of my research concerns angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in developing hearts (1, 2). Using in ovo and organ/tissue culture (heart explants) models, my experiments address the role of neurogenic peptides (vasoactive intestinal peptide and neuropeptide Y) during embryonic and fetal development of the coronary arterial system. The results of this study may affect our understanding of various congenital anomalies of human coronary arteries.

A second area of investigation concerns coronary vessel growth and remodeling in adult hearts subjected to experimental myocardial infarction (3, 4, 5). This study includes non-invasive therapeutic interventions that affect growth and remodeling of coronary resistance vessels to restore compromised blood perfusion within the surviving myocardium. These interventions are regarded as alternatives to gene therapy and the direct application of growth factors to the post-infarcted heart.

Donna Dixon, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Science

My research interests are in the field of medical education, particularly the factors that influence medical school performance. In attempting to predict performance on the COMLEX examinations, I have investigated the relationship of preadmission academic varibles and individual course grades to COMLEX-USA scores. COMLEX–USA Level 1 performance predictive models used preadmission variables combined with the year 1 and year 2 course grades. The year 2 courses’ model had a higher predictive value for COMLEX–USA Level 1 performance (R2 = 0.81) than the year 1 courses’model (R2 = 0.77). Significant predictors of COMLEX–USA Level 1 performance in the combined year 1 and 2 courses’model were the pharmacology II, neuropathology, and pulmonary pathology grades, and the verbal and physical MCAT
MCAT subscores (R2 = 0.820).

Male and female performance data from seven classes (1,258 students) were combined for analysis. Male students had higher total MCAT scores than women in the combined group and performed better than female students on COMLEX Level 1. There were no significant differences between women and men in their year 1 & 2 GPAs or COMLEX Level 2 scores. Women and men performed equally well on clinical clerkship examinations, while women had significantly higher clinical evaluations.

Christine M. Hutak, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Science

Use of SIRC rabbit corneal cell lines grown on polycarbonate-or polyester-based filters to assess corneal transport/toxicity screening using pilocarpine with or without benzalkonium chloride.

Chellappa Kumar, Ph. D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Science

Dr. Kumar’s current interests center on the effective use of new information technologies in medical education.

Dr. Kumar’s past research focused on the biophysical chemistry of model membranes and on oxygen metabolism.

Charlene Duncan McWhinney, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Science

Dr. McWhinney's research revolves around understanding the molecular mechanism(s) that contribute to heart failure and myocyte gene expression.

Charles Pavia, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Microbiology
Department of Biomedical Science

Dr. Pavia, in collaboration with others, has become interested in evaluating whether shorter antibiotic-treatment regimens are just as effective as those currently recommended for patients afflicted with Lyme disease.

Ronald Portanova, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair,
Department of Biomedical Science
Associate Dean,
Educational Development and Assessment

Dr. Portanova has published research articles dealing with his work on the biosynthesis and secretion of vasopressin, the regulation of ACTH secretion and the negative feedback effects of corticosteroids on the adenohypophysial-hypothalamic axis, and the physiologic actions of human Growth Hormone (hGH) in hGH-transgenic animals.

Larry Robert Stepp, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Science

Research interest focus on the following areas: 1) Structure, function and regulation of Na+, K—ATPase, and 2) Role of folic acid in preventing formation of plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s disease.