News and Updates
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Michael Blanton has been chosen to receive the "Unsung Hero" award for his immense contributions to our students, faculty, and staff. Congratulations, Dr. Blanton!
It is with great pleasure to congratulate Dr. Volker Neugebauer on being this year's Douglas M. Stocco Scholarship/Research Award Recipient. Congratulations Dr. Neugebauer!
Congratulations to Dr. Igor Ponomarev on being awarded tenure by the Board of Regents! We greatly appreciate his hard work and commitment to the department and institution.
Congratulations to Ph.D. Students Brent Kisby (Mentor, Dr. Ponomarev) and Praneetha Panthagani (Mentor, Dr. Susan Bergeson), on being chosen for a travel award to the Behavior, Biology and Chemistry meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
Congratulations to Brent Kisby, Ph.D. Student in the Translational Neuroscience and Pharmacology Graduate Concentration, the recipient of Reid L. Norman & Cynthia Jumper Excellence in TNP Scholarship.
CTNT's 8th Annual Symposium | April 17th
The Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics (CTNT) and Garrison Institute on Aging (GIA) will hold their 8th Annual Symposium on Wednesday, April 17th.
To register for this event and/or submit a poster abstract, please click here.
For additional information on this year's symposium, visit CTNT's Annual Symposium page by clicking here
We would like to give a warm welcome to the new members of the department. We are excited to have them on our team and look forward to helping them achieve their goals.
- Heather Russell
- Elizabeth Adeniji
The Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience would like to welcome the following faculty:
- Chhanda Bose, Ph.D.
- Boris Decourt, Ph.D., University of Bordeaux
- Hongmin Wang, Ph.D., University of Idaho
We look forward to working alongside them and know their expertise will be a great addition to our team!
We'd like to welcome the following students to the Translational Neuroscience and Pharmacology Concentration:
- Philip Antwi-Adjei (Spring 2023), Philip will be joining Dr. Igor Ponomarev's lab.
- Zachary Hurtado (Spring 2023), Zachary will be joining Dr. Volker Neugebauer's lab.
- Caezaan Keshvani, (Fall 2022), Caezaan has joined Dr. Patrick Reynold's lab.
- Neha Sawant, (Spring 2023), Neha will be joining Dr. P. Hemachandra Reddy's lab.
- Tenley Lehman, (Summer 2023), Tenley will be joining Dr. Patrick Reynold's lab.
Current Grants
NIDA-1R01DA044999-01A1
September 2018 - July 2023
“Mechanisms of cannabinoid tolerance”
R01NS109255
"Pronociceptive and antinociceptive opioid mechanisms in the central nucleus of the
amygdala"
NIH R01 AG071859-01A1
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2026
"Transcriptional Dysfunction in Dentate Gyrus Cell Types: Roles of Retinoic Acid Responsive
Genes in Protection Against Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis"
PI Josh Lawrence, Co-I Igor Ponomarev, expected to receive $1,872,220
NIH R01 AG073826-01A1
August 1, 2022 - April 30, 2027
"The hippocampal dentate gyrus in aging and Alzheimer's disease: boosting transcription
of retinoic acid-sensitive genes through HDAC inhibition and vitamin A supplementation"
PI Josh Lawrence, expected to receive $3,158,615.
Garrison Family Foundation
"Examining Effects of Respite and Individual Clinical Interventions on Biopsychosocial
Outcomes in Informal Caregivers of Dementia Patients"
NIH/NINDS R01 NS129552
September 20, 2022 - July 31, 2027
“Brain Circuits of Migraine Pain”
PI (Contact), Frank Porreca (University of Arizona), MPI, Edita Navratilova (University
of Arizona), MPI, Volker Neugebauer, expected to receive $3,118,625 (TTUHSC subcontract
$1,235,720)
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) research grant
September 1, 2022 - August 31,2023
“Implementing Individual Mental Health Treatment and Respite for Hispanic Informal
Caregivers of Individuals with Dementia”
PI, Jonathan Singer, TTU, MPI, Volker Neugebauer, expected to receive $14,000
Garrison Family Foundation
January 15, 2021 - November 30, 2026
“Increasing Mental Health Services for Low Income and Minority Informal Caregivers
of Dementia Patients: A GIA and TTU Collaboration”
PI, Volker Neugebauer, expected to receive $75,000
NIH/NINDS R01 NS038261
December 15, 2021 - November 30, 2026
"Amygdala Pain Mechanisms"
PI, Volker Neugebauer, MPI, Igor Ponomarev, expected to receive $2,757,940
NIH/NINDS R01 NS120395
Impact Score: 10, Percentile: 1.0
August 1, 2021 - July 31, 2026
"A prolactin-mediated neuroendocrine link between stress-induced latent sensitization
and female-selective pain"
PI (Contact), Frank Porreca (University of Arizona), MPI, Edita Navratilova (University
of Arizona), MPI, Volker Neugebauer, expected to receive $2,297,350 (TTUHSC subcontract
$921,815)
USDA/NIFA 2021-67017-34026
January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2023
"Ginger root extract for neuropathic path"
PI (Contact), Chwan-Li (Leslie) Shen, MPI, Volker Neugebauer, expected to receive
$500,000
NIH/NINDS R01 NS118731
August 1, 2020 - July 31, 2025
"Trans-Synaptic Signaling Complex in Amygdala Pain Mechanisms"
PI (Contact), Shashank David (Creighton University), MPI, Volker Neugebauer, expected
to receive $2,674,615 (TTUHSC Subcontract $ 733,450)
NIH/NINDS R01 NS109255
August 15, 2019 - June 30, 2024
"Pronociceptive and Antinociceptive Opioid Mechanisms in the Central Nucleus of the
Amygdala"
PI (Contact), Edita Navratilova (University of Arizona), PI, Guangchen Ji, Co-I, Volker
Neugebauer, expected to receive $2,544,148 (TTUHSC subcontract $1,253,415)
NIH/NIAAA R01 AA027096
July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2023
“The Neuroimmune Model of Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Transition to Alcohol Use
Disorder"
PI, Igor Ponomarev, Co-I, Volker Neugebauer, expected to receive $2,868,750 (original
start date, 09/10/2018; transferred to TTUHSC on 07/01/19)
NIH/NINDS R01 NS106902
April 1, 2019 - March 31, 2023
“Stress-Induced Descending Facilitation from Amygdala Kappa Opioid Receptors in Functional
Pain”
PI (Contact), Frank Porreca (University of Arizona), MPI, Volker Neugebauer, expected
to receive $ 2,740,180 (TTUHSC subcontract $ 1,295,245)
1R01-HL172709-01
December 01, 2023 - November 30, 2027
"Role of HIV gp120 and Nef in Transcriptome Dysregulation and Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling"
Almodovar, S (PI), Ponomarev, I (Co-PI)
NIH/NIAAA R03 AA028370
May 1, 2020 - March 31, 2022
"Effects of chronic alcohol consumption on the synaptic translatome"
NIH/NIAAA R01 AA027096
September 10, 2018 - June 30, 2023
"The neuroimmune model of excessive alcohol consumption: Transition to Alcohol Use
Disorder"
PI, Igor Ponomarev, Co-I, Volker Neugebauer, expected to receive $2,868,750 (original
start date, 09/10/2018; transferred to TTUHSC on 07/01/19)
NIH/NINDS R01 NS038261
December 15, 2021- December 14, 2026
"Amygdala Pain Mechanisms"
PI, Volker Neugebauer, MPI, Igor Ponomarev, expected to receive $2,757,940
NIH/NIA R01 AG071859-01A1
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2026
"Transcriptional Dysfunction in Dentate Gyrus Cell Types: Roles of Retinoic Acid Responsive
Genes in Protection Against Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis"
PI Josh Lawrence, Co-I Igor Ponomarev, expected to receive $1,872,220
Foundation for Prader-Willi Research
April 15, 2022 – April 14 2023
"MAGEL2 role in adaptive stress response: New insights into MAGEL2 function and pathogenesis
of PWS"
MPI Igor Ponomarev, 10% effort, $30,000 (Direct Cost).
Got Questions?
We're here to help. Contact us if you have questions.
Lisa Moran
Administrative Assistant
(806) 743 - 1280
l.moran@ttuhsc.edu