Dissertation: "Essential Roles of the HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Smurf2 in Mitotic Progressions and Fidelity "
Mentor: Dr.Hiroaki Kiyokawa (now at Northwestern U)

Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics

Pre-Residency: Dr. Ralph Weichselbaum

Dept of Radiation and Cellular Oncology

University of Chicago

Prajna Banerjee, PhD

Dissertation: “Maternal Fetal Communication: Signal transduction by chorionic gonadotropin in the endometrial epithelium ”
Mentor: Dr. Asgerally Fazleabas

Dept of Physiology and Biophysics

Postdoc: University of Illinois at Chicago

Mentor: Dr. Asgerally Fazleabas

Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Rahul Dave, PhD

Dissertation: "Molecular mechanisms of functional Gs alpha-tubulin interactions"

Mentor: Dr. Mark M. Rasenick

Dept of Physiology and Biophysics

Current Position: M3 in MSTP at University of Illinois at Chicago

Lauren Taglia, PhD

Dissertation: "Gastrin releasing peptide receptor mediates its morphogenic properties via ICAM-1 and Hsp72"

Mentor: Dr. Richard Benya
Dept of Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition

Current Position: M3 in MSTP at University of Illinois at Chicago

Shafi Kuchay, PhD

Dissertation: “Regulation of Calpain-1 Signaling in Platelets”
Mentor: Dr. Athar Chishti

Dept of Pharmacology

Postdoc: New York University School of Medicine

Mentor: Dr. Michele Pagano

Dept of Pathology

Melissa Coughlin, PhD

Dissertation: "Characterization of Human Neutralizing Anitbodies Against Severe Acute Resporatory Syndrome Coronavirus"

Mentor: Dr. Bellur Prabhakar

Dept of Micriobiology and Immunology

Predoctoral Awards: American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship

Postdoc: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA

Mentor: Dr. Paul Rota

Postdoctoral Awards: American Society for Microbiology Postdoctoral Fellowship

Angie Bair, PhD

Dissertation: “Calcium Signaling Mediates Nuclear Factor KappaB Activation in Endothelial Cells”

Mentor: Dr. Chinnaswamy Tiruppathi

Dept of Pharmacology

Postdoc: Harvard University Medical School, Boston, MA

Massachusetts General Hospital

Mentor: Dr. Roy Soberman

Dept of Medicine, Section of Nephrology

Richa Bedi, PhD

Dissertation: "Characterization of the Activities of the Human C/EBPe Activator and Repressor Isoforms in

Myelopoiesis"
Mentor: Dr. Steven Ackerman
Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics

Current Position: Senior Scientist at Abraxis Biosciences

Melrose Park, IL

Omar Perez, PhD

Dissertation: "In Situ Analysis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Uncoating"

Mentor: Dr. Tom Hope

Dept of Micriobiology and Immunology

Predoctoral Awards: DFI Fellowship
American Society for Microbiology Robert D. Watkins Fellowship

Postdoc: Northwestern University

Mentor: Dr. Richard Longnecker

Dept of Microbiology and Immunology

Zongdi Feng, PhD

Dissertation: "Viral modulation of the host innate stress responses"

Mentor: Dr. Bin He

Dept of Micriobiology and Immunology

Postdoc: University of Texas Medical Branch

Mentor: Dr. Stanley Lemon

Dept of Microbiology & Immunology

Aurora Shehu, PhD

Dissertation: "Regulation and function of HSD17B7 enzyme in tumorigenesis and fetal survival"

Mentor: Dr. Geula Gibori

Dept of Physiology and Biophysics

Postdoc: University of Illinois at Chicago
Mentor: Dr. Geula Gibori

Dept of Physiology and Biophysics

Additional Courses

Cell Physiology - 27966 - PHYB 586

3 Credit hours COMRB room 2175
Course Director: Dr. Justin O'Donnell; odonnell@uic.edu ; 413-8276

M 1:00 - 2:30 PM , F 1:00 - 2:30 PM

CoMRB, room 1115

COURSE DESCRIPTION:    Selected topics in cellular physiology with an
emphasis on the collective scientific & experimental progress leading to
current concepts. Students are expected to have a fundamental background
in cell physiology. In PHYB 586, the Instructors (11 invited facultly)
will select a topic and describe how our understanding has evolved
recently as a result of a variety of studies, hypotheses, and experimental
approaches. The course is largely literature based. The students will
gain experience communicating the concepts of the literature through two
oral presentations and weekly essays.

PREREQUISITES:        Students are required to have completed two of the
following three    courses; Biochemistry GCLS 501, Molecular Biology GCLS
502, and/or Cell Biology GCLS 503. Students should check with the course
coordinator to qualify equivalent course work.

Biology and Pharmacology of the Lung - 28191 - PCOL 550

2 Credit hours

Course Directors: Dr. Dolly Mehta, dmehta@uic.edu, 355-0236; Dr. Ruxana Sadikot, sadikot@uic.edu, 996-8039

T 2:00 - 4:00 PM

CoMRB, room 4175

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will cover topics in biology and pharmacology of lung; e.g., lung structure and developement, surfactant, lung volumes, lung cells, oxidant and NO signaling, lung genomics, and lung angiogenesis. The course will also describe the importance of impaired lung function in inducing lung diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, edema, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, cancer and TB. Lectures will be taught by basic and physician scientists. Physician scientist will provide case-related descriptions of the diseases. Current therapeutics for treating lung diseases including gene and cell-based therapies will also be discussed. The students will have the opportunity to interact with physician scientists and therefore will learn about translationing basic lung biology to the clinical setting.

PREREQUISITES: Credit for or concurrent registration in GCLS 501 and 503, or consent of the instructor.

Stem Cells - 26754 - PHYB 530
2 Credit hours: Moss Auditorium, Room 1020 CMRB, 909 S Wolcott
Course Director: Brenda Russell
M 3:30 to 5:30 PM.
CoMRB auditorium Room 1020 (909 S Wolcott Ave)

Syllabus: Discussion of stem cell development into different cell types that may offer a renewable source of replacement cells to treat diseases, conditions, and disabilities. Cells from adult tissue, fetal tissue, and embryonic sources are discussed. This course aims to provide background material and current research in this rapidly moving field.

Recommended background: Knowledge of cell biology.

Advanced Oral Sciences II - 27842 - OSci 581

2 credit hours

Special Topics in Oral Sciences - 27273 - OSci 594

1 - 4 credit hours

Course Director: Xianghong Luan, luan@uic.edu

Th 4:30PM

Dental College, Lecture Hall North, 4th floor

Course topics are related to development, stem cells, evolutionary biology, > bioengineering, and history of science. GEMS students are welcome to register for this course offered by the College of Dentistry. We will offer a journal club on Thursdays at 12noon in parallel with the lecture series (OSci 594).