Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty
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Cherif Boudaba Fiona Inglis
Carol Burdsal, Dr. Burdsal's website David Mullin, Dr. Mullin's website
James Cronin Ken Muneoka, Dr. Muneoka's website
Peter Cserjesi Laura Schrader, Dr. Schrader's website
Robert Dotson Jeffrey Tasker, Dr. Tasker's website
Garic Grisbaum, Dr. Grisbaum's website Leonard Thien
Nancy Hopkins Meena Vijayaraghavan


Cherif Boudaba
Professor of Practice, Ph.D., University of Bordeaux, France, 2001.  Bursting activity and its synchronization in the hypothalamic magnocellular neurons. Study focuses on neuronal circuits ending on these neurons that may control their electrical pattern and therefore their hormonal release. Intracellular patch-clamp recordings in brain slice preparation and immunocytochemical techniques are used.   Dr. Boudaba teaches CELL 103, Heredity and Society, CELL 106, Heredity and Society Laboratory, CELL 211, General Biology Laboratory, and CELL 411/611, Cells and Tissues.  
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Carol A. Burdsal
Associate Professor, Ph.D., Duke University, 1990.  Pattern formation during embryogenesis in the mouse. Cellular and molecular studies using embryonic stem cell technology are conducted to assess developmental mechanisms in the mouse embryo. Cell culture, in situ hybridization, and manipulation of gene expression are used to study the regulatory factors involved in differentiation in the developing embryo.  Dr. Burdsal teaches CELL 301/701, Cell Biology, CELL 471/671, Molecular Biology of Cancer, CELL 608, Advanced Developmental and Cell Biology II, and CELL 684, Current Topics in Developmental Biology. Dr. Burdsal also serves as the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programming in the School of Science and Engineering. 
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James Cronin
Professor of Practice, Ph.D.,  Dr. Cronin teaches CELL 321/621, Cellular Physiology, CELL 636, Topics in Neurophysiology, and CELL 666, Topics in Neuroscience Research. 
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Peter Cserjesi
Associate Professor, Ph.D., McGill University, 1991. Molecular Biology and Genetics of vertebrate organ development. Using a combination of mouse molecular genetics and in vitro systems, our long term goal is to understand the genetic and molecular pathways regulating the of development of the peripheral nervous and cardiovascular systems. We are currently focused on the neural crest derived components of these tissues.  Dr. Cserjesi teaches CELL 416/616, Developmental Biology, CELL 444/644, Advanced Molecular Biology, and CELL 478/678, Developmental Genetics. 
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Robert Dotson
Professor of Practice, Ph.D., Tulane University, 1998. Coordinator of Cell Biology Laboratories. Neuroendocrinology; signal transduction in response to cytokines and growth factors. Dr. Dotson teaches CELL 103, Heredity and Society, CELL 205, Genetics, CELL 301/701, Cell Biology, CELL 302/702, Cell Biology Laboratory, and CELL 411/611, Cells and Tissues. 
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Garic Grisbaum
Co-director of Pre-Medical Education; M.D., Louisiana State University Medical Center, 1995.  Dr. Grisbaum's interests are in Psychiatry, Anatomy, Pathology, and a healthy mind/body.  He acts as the CMB liaison with the Health Professions Office.  Dr. Grisbaum teaches CELL 222, Exploring Careers in Biology, CELL 649, Gross Anatomy, CELL 786-787, Seminars in Cell and Molecular Biology, and CELL 799-800, One-Year Masters' Research.
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Nancy Hopkins
Professor of Practice; Ph.D., Tulane University, 1992.  Research centers around the understanding of the interaction of the xenobiotics, both naturally occurring and synthetic, with the cytochrome P450 enzymes and the nuclear steroid hormone receptor superfamily.  My lab uses hormone sensitive cancer cells to study the mechanism of the effects of these chemicals on P450 isoform induction and hormone receptor response.  We also use a bacterial P450 induction system as a model for the induction of P450 in mammaliam cells.  Purified human P450 isoforms are used to test xenobiotics as inhibitors of certain isoforms that have been implicated in carcinogenesis.  Dr. Hopkins teaches CELL 106, Heredity and Society Lab, CELL 312, Molecular Biology Lab, CELL 401, Cellular Biochemistry, and CELL 423, Microbiology Lab. 
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Fiona Inglis
Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Glasgow, U.K., 1992. Developmental neurobiology; neuronal plasticity. Studies include molecular interactions that underlie neuronal plasticity during development. Viral vectors and transient transfection techniques are used in tissue culture and in vivo systems. In addition, integrated neuronal function is studied using in vivo microdialysis to measure changes in neurotransmitter release.  Dr. Inglis teaches CELL 435/635, Developmental Neurobiology, CELL 437/637, Molecular Neurobiology, CELL 608, Advanced Developmental and Cell Biology II, and CELL 684, Current Topics in Developmental Biology. . 
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David A. Mullin
Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin, 1983. Research in my laboratory is divided between two major projects. The main goal of the first project is to obtain a detailed understanding of the mechanism by which substrate molecules interact with the cytochrome P450 102 enzyme (Cyp102) of the bacterium Bacillus megaterium. The overall aim of the second major project is to investigate the genotoxicity of benzene in mice. We are particularly interested in determining if benzene induced mutations play a significant role in the development cancers that result from exposure to benzene.  Dr. Mullin teaches CELL 311/711, Molecular Biology, and CELL 422/622, Microbiology.
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Ken Muneoka
John L. & Mary Wright Ebaugh Chair in Science and Engineering and Professor; Ph.D., University of California Irvine, 1983. Limb development; developmental growth control; cell-cell interactions; pattern formation. The role of cellular position and positional information in the control of cell proliferation is being investigated in the developing mouse limb. We employ embryonic surgical procedures to investigate spatial and temporal differences in the regulation of cell growth by introducing cells that have been characterized in vitro. By using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches, our long term goal is to understand how cellular interactions regulate the reproducible patterns of proliferation during limb development.  Dr. Muneoka teaches CELL 413/613, Embryology, CELL 608, Advanced Developmental and Cell Biology II, and CELL 684, Current Topics in Developmental Biology.
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Laura Schrader
Assistant Professor, PhD., Tulane University, 1997. Molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. Techniques include: patch clamp electrophysiology in brain slices, behavioral paradigms, molecular biology and biochemistry. Our ultimate goal is to better understand how modulation of ion channels regulates neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity in the context of learning and memory. Dr. Schrader teaches CELL 332, Systems Neuroscience. 
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Jeffrey G. Tasker
Recipient, Provost's Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship, 2005
Catherine and Hunter Pierson Chair in Neuroscience, Interim Chair in Science and Engineering and Professor; Ph.D., University of Bordeaux, France, 1986. Intracellular and patch-clamp electrophysiology using in vitro brain slices. Study of membrane electrical properties, synaptic circuits and hormone regulation of hypothalamic neuroendocrine cells. Combined electrophysiological and neuroanatomical studies with intracellular markers, histochemical and immunocytochemical techniques.  Dr. Tasker teaches CELL 331/631, Cellular Neuroscience, CELL 636, Topics in Neurophysiology, and CELL 655, Synaptic Organization of the Brain. 
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Leonard B. Thien
Professor; Ph.D., University of California, 1968. Evolution and molecular systematics are studied using a combination of PCR, nucleotide sequencing and morphometric analysis. Other areas of interest include ant-plant interactions, reproductive biology of primitive angiosperms and ecology of the Mississippi delta ecosystem.  Dr. Thien teaches CELL 101, General Biology, CELL 311/711, Molecular Biology, and CELL 444/644, Advanced Molecular Biology. 
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Meena Vijayaraghavan
Professor of Practice, Ph.D., University of Madras (India), 1994. Dr. Vijayaraghavan teaches CELL 101, General Biology, and CELL 205, Genetics. Research interests are in the areas of environmental carcinogenesis, cancer studies, and pediatric nephrology. She has teaching and research experience in India, Japan, and the US. She is interested in incorporating service learning in her biology courses.
 
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Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
2000 Percival Stern Hall
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 865-5546
fax 504-865-6785

E-mail:  cmb@tulane.edu
Web:  cell.tulane.edu


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This page was last updated on November 12, 2007.
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