BMS 301 - Introduction to Research
BMS 391 - Laboratory in Human Physiology
BMS 310 - Pathophysiology
BMS 311 - Pharmacology
BMS 508 - Advanced Physiology
NUR 620 - Clinical Pharmacology

Postdoctoral, LSU Eye Center
Postdoctoral, Moran Eye Center
Ph.D., University of Texas, Houston Medical Center
M.S., Rice University

My research at GVSU has largely been an extension of my previous work at Pharmacia/Upjohn/Pfizer. We have been exploring the possible therapeutic benefits of nicotine-like compounds in the treatment of visual diseases, specifically glaucoma. Acetylcholine (ACh) can activate several subtypes of nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChR) and we have been interested in the alpha7 subtype. Our previous studies have shown that selective activation of the alpha7 nAChR can provide protection to the cells that are normally the targets of death during glaucoma. Most recently, we have shown that activation of the alpha7 nAChR on other cells can lead to the generation of new cells that could replace those lost to disease. We have been examining this mechanism with a multi-step cell culture approach. After obtaining pig eyes from a local slaughterhouse we culture retinal pigment epithelium (RPE, cell layer behind the retina). Then, after stimulating (or not) the RPE with the compound we transfer RPE to a different culture dish of cells from the pig retina. Finally, after a defined time, we count if the stimulated RPE can induce more cells vs. non-simulated RPE. We are currently staining with selective markers (e.g. Ki67 for proliferation) to characteristic the generation of new retinal cells.