Faculty

Michael Blanton, Ph.D.

Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Biotechnology, University of California at Santa Cruz

Office: 5BC105 (GSBS suite)
Phone: (806)743-3496
Email:  michael.blanton@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests: 
Structural analysis of ligand gated channels
Click here to view Dr. Blanton's Faculty Page 

Chhanda Bose, Ph.D.

Research Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Office: 5C165
Phone: (806) 743-3903
Email: Chhanda.Bose@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests:
Neuroinflammation, DNA damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Cellular mechanisms, molecular mechanisms, cognitive aspects, and genetic factors involved in neuroinflammation in pathogenesis and progression of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and other neurodegenerative diseases. Early events in AD pathogenesis. The role of immunological biomarkers for early detection in AD.
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Boris Decourt, Ph.D. 

Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
Ph.D. Pharmacology, University of Bordeaux

Office: 5C169
Phone: (806) 743-1012
Email: bdecourt@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests:
Neurobiologist specializing in biomarker development and in translational drug development approaches using inflammation modulators to study the molecular pathophysiological changes taking place at early stages of neurological disorders, with the ultimate goal of slowing down or curing the diseases via early intervention before severe neurodegeneration and dementia occur.
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Josee Guindon, DVM, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

DVM Veterinary, University of Montreal
Ph.D. Pharmacology, University of Montreal

Office: 5C167
Phone: (806)743-6745
Email:  josee.guindon@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests:
Behavioral pharmacology, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology (RT-PCR, Western blot), animal pain models (inflammatory, neuropathic, surgical), modulation of pain pathways (exercise, etc.), kidney physiological pathways
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George Henderson, Ph.D.

Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University

Office: 5B148N
Phone: (806)743-3792
Email:  george.henderson@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests: 
Alcohol, environmental toxins, neurons, gila, apoptosis, oxidative stress
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Guangchen Ji, Ph.D.

Research Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Neurophysiology, Fudan University

Office: 5C199
Phone: (806)743-3881
Email:  guangchen.ji@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests:
 Electrophysiological single-cell recordings in different brain areas and various behavioral assays to correlate neuronal activity with pain-related behavior
Click here to view Dr. Ji's Faculty Page 

J. Josh Lawrence, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Neuroscience Training Program, The University of Wisconsin-Madison

Office: 5C200
Phone: (806)743-3887
Email:  john.lawrence@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests: 
Nutrigenomics, cellular and synaptic physiology of Alzheimer’s disease, role of excitation/inhibition balance in disease states, hippocampal learning and memory circuitry, GABAergic inhibition, cell type specificity of neuromodulation, antioxidant depletion over lifespan, neuroinflammation, effects of diet on healthy aging, computational neuroscience, bioinformatics
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Click here to view Dr. Lawrence's Lab Page

Volker Neugebauer, M.D., Ph.D.

University Distinguished Professor and Chair, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

M.D. University of Würzburg
Ph.D. Physiology, University of Würzburg

Office: 5C192A
Phone: (806)743-3880
Email:  volker.neugebauer@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests: 
Brain research – Neuroplasticity in health and disease (chronic pain, aging, Alzheimer’s’ Disease, and other neurological and psychiatric diseases)
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Click here to view Dr. Neugebauer's Lab Page

Igor Ponomarev, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
Ph.D. Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University

Office: 5C156
Phone: (806)743-1381
Email: igor.ponomarev@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests: 
Molecular mechanisms of cellular plasticity in models of Alcohol Use Disorder.  Neurogenomics.  Drug repurposing.
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Hongmin Wang, Ph.D. 

Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
Ph.D. Zoology, University of Idaho

Office: 5C202
Phone: (806) 743-7089
Email: Hongmin.wang@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests:
My research focuses on neuroprotection and repair of the damaged brain involved in Alzheimer’s disease and ischemic stroke. We are particularly interested in the role of proteostasis and some specific transcription factors in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Using both genetically modified mice and cell models, including the cultured stem cells, as well as multiple approaches, we aim at (1) investigating the pathogenic mechanisms of the diseases, (2) identifying the targets that can be “druggable” for the disorders, and (3) screening and validating the therapeutic agents that can be used for treating these diseases. 

Vadim Yakhnitsa, M.D/Ph.D.

Research Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
M.D. Medical University, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
Ph.D. Institute Physiology Kiev, Ukraine 

Office: 5C197
Phone: (806) 743.3882
Email: vadim.yakhnitsa@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests: 
Brain research. System, cellular, and synaptic mechanisms, that contribute to development of functional pain syndromes. Functional pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and migraine are more prevalent in women. Our research interests is to better understand the neurobiological mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in functional pain syndromes.