Current Graduate Students

Integrative Physiology & Molecular Medicine (IPMM) students


Joy Adewumi
– 1st year PhD IPMM student Joy Adewumi
BSc (Biochemistry), Obafemi Awolowo University;MS (Biotechnology), University of Texas at Tyler
Supervisor: Rebekah Gundry
Research Interest: Cardiovascular Physiology

Emmanuel Adu-Agyekum – 1st year PhD IPMM student Emmanuel Adu-Agyekum
MBBS (Biology), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology
Supervisor: Yulong Li
Research Interest: Cardiovascular Physiology

Weilun Ai – 5th year PhD IPMM student Weilun Ai
BS (Medicine), Jianghan University; MSc (Cell Biology), Capital Medical University
Supervisor:  Saraswathi Viswanathan
Research Interest: Alcohol-associated liver disease and alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

  • Viswanathan Saraswathi, Narendra Kumar, Thiyagarajan Gopal, Saumya Bhatt, Weilun Ai, Carmen Ma, Geoffrey A Talmon , Cyrus Desouza. Lauric Acid versus Palmitic Acid: Effects on Adipose Tissue Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Obesity.  Biology (Basel). 2020 Oct 22; 9(11):346.  Abstract
  • Gopal T, Ai W, Casey CA, Donohue TM Jr, Saraswathi V. A review of the role of ethanol-induced adipose tissue dysfunction in alcohol-associated liver disease. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2021 Oct; 45(10):1927-1939. Abstract
  • Saraswathi V, Kumar N, Ai W, Gopal T, Bhatt S, Harris EN, Talmon GA, Desouza CV. Biomolecules. Myristic Acid Supplementation Aggravates High Fat Diet-Induced Adipose Inflammation and Systemic Insulin Resistance in Mice. 2022 May 24; 12(6):739. Abstract

Shaurav BhattaraiShaurav Bhattarai – 3rd year PhD IPMM student
BVetMed, Tribhuvan University; MS (Microbiology), South Dakota State University
Supervisor: Howard E. Gendelman
Research Interest: Neurodegenerative disease, neuroimmunology, and Alzheimer's disease.
Social Chair - IPMM Student Body Committee

  • Opeoluwa O Oyewole, Kyle Dunnavant, Shaurav Bhattarai, Yugesh Kharel, Kevin R Lynch, Webster L Santos, St Patrick Reid.  A Novel Sphingosine Kinase Inhibitor Suppresses Chikungunya Virus Infection. Viruses. 2022 May 24; 14(6):1123. Abstract

Kwadwo BoatengKwadwo Boateng – 2nd year PhD IPMM student
OD (Optometry), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology
Supervisor: Wallace B. Thoreson
Research Interest: Ocular pathophysiology and retinal neurodegeneration

Deepan Chatterjee - 3rd year PhD IPMM studentDeepan Chatterjee
BS/MS (Biotechnology), St. Xavier's College Kolkata
Supervisor: Robert E. Lewis
Research Interest: Understanding the potential roles of molecular scaffolds Kinase Suppressor of Ras 1 (KSR1) and KSR2 in Small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Academic Chair - IPMM Student Body Committee

Colman Freel - 1st year MD/PhD IPMM StudentColman Freel

Misha Gansvind - 1st year PhD IPMM Student
BA (Biological Sciences), UNL
Supervisor: Karen Gould 

Flobater GawargiFlobater Gawargi - 3rd year PhD IPMM Student
BS (Biology-concentration in Molecular Cell Physiology), Monmouth Univ
Supervisor: Paras Kumar Mishra 
Research Interest: Diabetic cardiomyopathy and RNA biology

  • Kambis TN, Tofilau HMN, Gawargi FI, Chandra S, Mishra PK. Regulating Polyamine Metabolism by miRNAs in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy. Curr Diab Rep. 2021 Dec 13; 21(12):52. Abstract
  • Yadav SK, Gawargi FI, Hasan MH, Tandon R, Upton JW, Mishra PK. Differential effects of CMV infection on the viability of cardiac cells. Cell Death Discov. 2023 Apr 3; 9(1):111. Abstract

Rasha Attia Barakat Ghorab - 1st year PhD IPMM StudentRasha Barakat Ghorab
MS (Veterinary Medicine), Damanhour University

Megan Goeckel - 1st year PhD IPMM Student
BS (Microbiology & Medical Biochemistry), Kanas State University; MA (Biology), Washington University in St Louis
Supervisor: Lynda Harris

  • Goeckel ME, Lee J, Levitas A, Colijn S, Mun G, Burton Z, Chintalapati B, Yin Y, Abello J, Stratman A. CXCR3-CXCL11 signaling restricts angiogenesis and promotes pericyte recruitment. bioRxiv. 2023 Sep 17:2023.09.16.557842. Abstract
  • Schrock MN, Yan Y, Goeckel ME, Basgall EM, Lewis IC, Leonard KG, Halloran M, Finnigan GC. Characterization of Bud3 domains sufficient for bud neck targeting in S. cerevisiae. Access Microbiol. 2022 Mar 24;4(3):000341. eCollection 2022. Abstract
  • Goeckel ME, Basgall EM, Lewis IC, Goetting SC, Yan Y, Halloran M, Finnigan GC. Modulating CRISPR gene drive activity through nucleocytoplasmic localization of Cas9 in S. cerevisiae. Fungal Biol Biotechnol. 2019 Feb 4;6:2. eCollection 2019. Abstract
Taija Hahka - 5th year PhD IPMM StudentTaija Hahka
BS/MS (Biology), Michigan Technological University
Supervisor: Ann Anderson-Berry
Research Interest: Omega-3 fatty acids derived specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) in mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction in human hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Bioengineered artificial tissue stiffness in vitro modeling to mimic in vivo human placental stiffness.
  • Chapp AD, Behnke JE, Driscoll KM, Hahka T, LaLonde Z, Shan Z, Chen QH.  Elevated L-lactate Promotes Major Cellular Pathologies Associated with Neurodegenerative Diseases. Neurosci Bull. 2021 Mar; 37(3):380-384. Abstract
  • Slotkowski R, Van Ormer M, Akbar A, Paetz O, Hahka T, Thompson M, Freeman A, Hergenrader A, Sweeney S, Korade Z, Genaro-Mattos T, Hanson C, Anderson-Berry A, Thoene M. Nutrients.  Retinol and Pro-Vitamin A Carotenoid Nutritional Status during Pregnancy Is Associated with Newborn Hearing Screen Results. Nutrients. 2023 Feb 4; 15(4):800. PMID: 36839158. Abstract
  • Akbar A, Duvall S, VanOrmer M, Slotkowski R, Hahka T, Genaro-Mattos T, Korade Z, Hanson C, Anderson Berry A, Thoene M. Nutrients.  Plasma Retinol Concentrations and Dietary Intakes of Mother-Infant Sets in Singleton versus Twin Pregnancy. 2023 May 30; 15(11):2553. PMID: 37299515.  Abstract
Rana Kadry - 3rd year PhD IPMM StudentRana Kadry
BPHARM, Zagazig University; BCCCP & MS (Pharmacy), University of Georgia
Supervisor: Howard E. Gendelman
Research Interest
: Cell signaling, Proteomics, Pulmonary diseases and clinical therapeutics

Kajal Kamra - 5th year PhD IPMM StudentKamra Kajal
BS (Zoology), University of Delhi; MS (Physiology & Neuroscience), Wright State University
Supervisor: Hanjun Wang
Research Interest: Physiology and neural mechanisms that regulate breathe abnormality in acute lung injury condition.
Chair - IPMM Student Body Committee

  • Kamra K, Karpuk N, Zucker IH, Schultz HD, Wang HJ. The superior cervical ganglion is involved in chronic chemoreflex sensitization during recovery from acute lung injury. Front Physiol. 2023 Feb 8; 14:1101408. Abstract
  • Kamra K, Karpuk N, Adam R, Zucker IH, Schultz HD, Wang HJ. Time-dependent alteration in the chemoreflex post-acute lung injury. Front Physiol. 2022 Oct 20; 13:1009607. Abstract
Anna Kosmach - 1st year MD/PhD IPMM StudentAnna Kosmach
BS (Biochemistry & Mathematics), University of Wisconsin-Madison
Supervisor: Pooneh Bagher
Research Interest: Vascular physiology and disease, calcium imaging.
  • Sveeggen TM, Kosmach A, Bagher P. What Is Next for Connexin and Pannexin?  J Vasc Res. 2023 Aug 16:1-4. PMID: 37586339. Abstract
Mane Polite Roneldine Mesidor - 4th year PhD IPMM StudentMane Mesidor
BS (Biochemistry), Oklahoma Baptist University
Supervisor: Rebekah L. Gundry
Research Interest: Role of cell surface proteins in heart failure progression
  • Wojtkiewicz M, Linda Berg Luecke L, Castro C, Burkovetskaya M, Mesidor  R, Gundry RL.  Bottom-up proteomic analysis of human adult cardiac tissue and isolated cardiomyocytes. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2021 Aug 24; 162:20-31. PMID: 34437879.  Abstract

Corrine Monaco - 5th year PhD IPMM StudentCorrine Monaco
BS (Zoology), State University of New York at Oswego
Supervisor: John S. Davis
Research Interest: Microenvironment of the ovarian corpus luteum and its changes during cyclic regression.
  • Van Hook MJ, Monaco C, Bierlein ER, Smith JC. Neuronal and Synaptic Plasticity in the Visual Thalamus in Mouse Models of Glaucoma. Front Cell Neurosci. 2020; 14:626056.  Abstract
  • Przygrodzka E, Monaco CF, Plewes MR, Li G, Wood JR, Cupp AS, Davis JS. Protein Kinase A and 5' AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathways Exert Opposite Effects on Induction of Autophagy in Luteal Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Nov 8; 9:723563. Abstract
  • Plewes MR, Przygrodzka E, Monaco CF, Snider AP, Keane JA, Burns PD, Wood JR, Cupp AS, Davis JS. Prostaglandin F2α regulates mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy in the bovine corpus luteum. Life Sci Alliance. 2023 May 15; 6(7):e202301968. Abstract

Adedayo Ogunware - 1st year PhD IPMM StudentAdedayo Ogunware
BS (Biochemistry) Lago State University; MS (Biology) University of Texas-San Antonio
Research Interest
: Development, Inflammation, and Degeneration of the Nervous System.

Delia Omar - 3rd year PhD IPMM StudentDelia Omar
BS (Pharmacy); MS (Clinical Pharmacy) University of Jordan
Supervisor: Micah Schott
Research Interest
: Regenerative Medicine Applications in Cardiovascular Diseases, Stem Cell Therapy

Afia Saabea Owusu Konadu - 1st year PhD IPMM Student
BS (Biology) & BMBS (Medicine), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Supervisor: Yulong Li

Dalton StallerDalton Staller - 3rd year PhD IPMM Student
BS (Biology), Midland University
Supervisor: Ram Mahato
Research Interest: Alcohol-associated and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Kumar V, Sethi B, Staller DW, Xin X, Ma J, Dong Y, Talmon GA, Mahato RI. Anti-miR-96 and Hh pathway inhibitor MDB5 synergistically ameliorate alcohol-associated liver injury in mice. Biomaterials. 2023 Apr; 295:122049. Abstract
  • Mahato R, Kumar V, Sethi B, Staller D.  Gemcitabine elaidate and ONC201 combination therapy inhibits pancreatic cancer in a KRAS mutated syngeneic mouse model. Res Sq. 2023 Jul 11:rs.3.rs-3108907. PMID: 37503215. Abstract