VCOM View Vol 9-1

RESEARCH

Current Faculty Grants VCOM/VMCVM Center for One Health Research Below are some of the funded projects currently underway at the Center. For more information on the Center, see the article on page 6 of this issue. TERESA HRUBEC, DVM, PHD Balancing the maternal microbiota-perinatal neuroimmune axis: Implications for neurodevelopmental disorders JENNIFER BERGLIND, PHD NLR Modulation of the Gut Microbiome during Celiac Disease PER GUNNAR BROLINSON, DO In Vivo Eccentric Loading Therapy to Treat Achilles Tendinopathy PAWEL MICHALAK, PHD Integrative genomics of small noncoding RNAs in host-associated bacteria CHRIS REILLY, PHD Early Growth Response Protein 2 (EGR2)-mediated Epigenetic regulatory network in lupus RENEE PRATER, DVM, PHD/ TERESA JOHNSON, MS, PHD Developing a Lamb Model for the Study of Human and Bovine RSV Disease JAMES PALMIERI, PHD Improved Diagnosis of Acute and Chronic Lyme Disease in Humans and Dogs BLAISE COSTA, MPHARM, PHD The role of tri-heteromeric (GluN1/2/3) NMDA receptors in stroke and its mitigation

Opioid Metabolism in Chronic Pain

VCOM-Auburn Pharmacology Discipline Chair Courtney Gamston, ScM, PharmD, BCPS, will soon undertake a study involving genetically- linked opioid metabolism in patients with chronic pain with the long term goal of improving and personalizing how opioid medications are prescribed. Pre-Diabetes Screening Gamston is also working on several projects involving early identification of pre-diabetes in order to intervene to decrease the development of type 2 diabetes. Additionally, Gamston and others are currently looking at patient-specific characteristics that are associated with a successful diabetes prevention intervention. This research is being conducted with the hope of developing a cost-effective screening model for large, self- insured employers. Working with Gamston on this study will be Annie Kirby, PhD, RD, VCOM-Auburn Assistant Professor for Preventive Medicine and Public Health and Cellular Biology and Physiology. ■

winter 2018 | VCOM V iew M agazine 39