Research

Biomedical Research Interests

Our lab studies aspects of molecular and cellular pharmacology related to multiple disease processes.  Our goals focus on investigating the mechanism by which inhibitors of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway impair cellular functions. Interestingly, a group of agents that are currently used to lower a person’s cholesterol, such as Zocor® and Lipitor®, can impair the survival and proliferation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.  Our aim is to better understand “how” at a cellular and molecular level these commonly prescribed agents may be therapeutically beneficial in the treatment of proliferative diseases (such as cancer) and infectious diseases.  Our current research projects include:

• Understanding the mechanisms by which HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors or statins impair cellular proliferation.
• Defining the potential antimicrobial effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors or statins. (in collaboration with Dr. Gray)

Medical Education Research

Undergraduate medical education is continually changing to meet the demands and needs of our future health care practitioners.  We are interested in developing and assessing methods of disseminating medical knowledge in order to identify the best practices for educating our future health care providers.  Currently our active medical education projects include:

• Assessment of common methods used to deliver undergraduate medical education materials. (in collaboration with Dr. Gray)
• Assessment of the effects of pre-matriculation materials on student performance in the medical curriculum. (in collaboration with Drs. Canby, Gray & Wilson)
• Comparison of student actual and perceived clinical performance during advanced cardiac life support simulations. (in collaboration with Dr. Gray)

• Teaching Normal Delivery Procedures with Simulation and its effect on perceived student confidence and delivery procedures during 3rd year. (in collaboration with Drs. Carney & Gray)

2012 research

Our lab studies aspects of cellular pharmacology related to proliferative diseases. Our goals focus on investigating the mechanism by which inhibitors of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway may be therapeutically beneficial in the treatment of diseases such as cancer. We are also interested in developing and assessing methods of disseminating medical knowledge in the undergraduate medical curriculum in order to identify the best practices for educating future health care providers.

2009 research

The lab is interested in the cellular pharmacology of the widely prescribed statin drugs, such as Lipitor and Zocor, on cellular proliferation and survival. Suppressing cellular proliferation and survival with these agents alone or in combination with other drugs may hold therapeutic potential when treating inflammation, infection or cancer.

Publications

Hamadmad S., Henry MK, and Hahl RJ. J Pharmacol Exp. Ther. 316 (1) 403-409 , 2006

Chakravarti P., Henry MK, and Quelle FQ. Int J Oncol. 26:509-514., 2005

Henry MK, Nimbalkar D, Hohl RJ, and Quelle FW. Exp Cell Res. 299: 257-266. , 2004

Nimbalkar D, Henry MK, and Quelle FW. Cancer Res. 63: 1034-1039. , 2003

Eapen AK, Henry MK, Quelle DE, and Quelle FW. Mol Cell Biol. 21: 6113-6121. , 2001

Henry MK, Lynch JT, and Quelle FW. Blood. 98:834-841. , 2001

Awards and honors

2007 - Dean's Award for Research in Education

Iowa Science Foundation Research Grant

2005 - Scientist Educator Award, Des Moines University

2002-2003 - National Institute of Health Training Grant, Programs in Hematology: Molecular and Cell Biology of Blood Cells