2009 Researchers

	Samina Akbar, PhD Microbiology Laboratory-based Research We are interested in discerning the molecular evolution of multidrug resistance plasmids of Salmonella spp. in order to better understand the basis of genetic differences between these plasmids and the mechanism/s of their spread in nature. We are also examining the regulation of expression of Type III secretion genes in Salmonella Typhimurium and their role in bacterial virulence.
	Andrew Brittingham, PhD Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory-based Research My lab is interested in all aspects of the host-pathogen interaction. One project focuses on the regulation of cytokine production by macrophages in response to microbial challenge. A second focuses on the molecular and cell biology of parasitic protozoa, including their interaction with insect vectors, and nutrient acquisition from their environment.
	Patricia A. Buchanan, PhD, ATC, PT, GCFT Physical Therapy Behavioral Research My research encompasses injury prevention, rehabilitation and functional improvement from a life span developmental perspective. We use biomechanical and observational methods to evaluate motor behavior and interventions targeting improved movement and awareness. Studies include effects of Feldenkrais Method of somatic education and ACL injury-related gender differences between basketball players.
	Jodi L. Cahalan, PhD, MPH, MS, PA-C Dean, College of Health Sciences Behavioral/Population/Health Systems Research Americans are experiencing increasing levels of stress as they assume an ever-growing list of responsibilities at work, at home and in their personal lives. My research focuses on identifying life changes that will lead to less stress in their daily lives and promote a greater sense of well-being.
	Tafline Crawford, PhD Candidate Anatomy Laboratory-based Research My research focuses upon the comparative anatomy, biological variation and evolutionary history of human and non-human primates. My primary goal is reconstructing the functional adaptations and relationships of the early bipedal human, genus Australopithecus. I participate in paleontological fieldwork, most extensively at a three million-year-old site in South Africa.
	Terriann Crisp, PhD Physiology and Pharmacology Laboratory-based Research My research involves investigating the pathological involvement of oxidative stress in chronic pain disorders. The goal of these studies is to determine the potential therapeutic usefulness of antioxidants for treating patients with neuropathic and inflammatory pain disorders.
	Preeti Deshpande, PT, PhD Physical Therapy Laboratory-based and Patient-centered Research Control of movement is distributed at different levels in the nervous system. At the spinal level, interneurons control information received by motor neurons. We are doing electrophysiological studies investigating the influences on spinal interneurons. The goal is to use the spinal mechanisms to develop new therapeutic techniques to treat spasticity.
	Glenna Ewing, EdD Osteopathic Medicine Educational Research With novel and maturing educational enterprises being integrated into learning, the emphasis on educational research is increasing. Learning ontologies model academic behaviors in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains that are linked to outcome assessment. Using this model in the construct of learning, we are engaged in research on assessment of learning including classroom research and competency performance measurements.
	Edward P. Finnerty, PhD Physiology and Pharmacology Patient-centered Research My research includes neurophysiology of pain, clinical studies of stroke and other neurological disorders, and medical education.
	Simon Geletta, PhD Public Health Behavioral/Population/Health Systems Research My current research includes the evaluation, design and analysis of health education disease prevention (HPDP) programs. I currently have several implementations of such evaluations. One is called the "Iowa Healthy Link" program and is jointly funded by the Area Agency on Aging and the National Coalition on Aging. Other programs are on the horizon. I am also involved with a study that investigates the relationships between environmental factors that may be contributing to the concentration of water contaminants.
	Jeffrey Gray, PhD Microbiology Laboratory-based Research We are interested in the analysis of multiple drug resistant organisms including Salmonella, E-coli, MRSA and Enterococci. We explore host-pathogen interactions as they relate to strategies to exclude and control pathogens and reduce infections. We have collaborative efforts to examine pathogen prevalence and transmission between hosts and between animals and humans.
	Matthew Henry, PhD Physiology and Pharmacology Laboratory-based 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.
	Denise Hill, JD, MPA Health Care Administration Behavioral/Population/Health Systems Research Research Collaboration with Teri Stumbo, PT, MS Health care providers must understand medical-legal issues. This research explores how students learn by incorporating medical-legal issues (e.g., informed consent) into scenarios in the human simulation lab.
	Kenneth Hisley, PhD Anatomy Laboratory-based Research We are conducting investigations into the application of 3D computer graphics-based knowledge engineering methods to medical imaging and biomedical education. We are also conducting investigations into the applications of fMRI clinical brain mapping to stroke recovery and radiation treatment planning.
	Greg Kolbinger, MPAS Simulation Lab Behavioral/Population/Health Systems Research Our research is designed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the roles of simulated patients in undergraduate medical education. The limited availability and the variability in learning in real patient experiences and safety issues make simulation training more important as a bridge from the academic years to the clinical years.
	Bryan Larsen, PhD Dean, University Research and Biomedical Graduate Studies Laboratory-based Research The interplay of host genetic polymorphisms and the qualitative and quantitative indigenous female genital microbial flora may be related to the risk of premature birth. Interactions are being investigated through genetic and bacterial techniques that include amplification-refractory PCR and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism, respectively, in an international cohort of pregnant women from five continents.
	Roy Lidtke, DPM Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine Section of Rheumatology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago Patient-centered Research My main focus of research is on lower extremity biomechanics and how altered biomechanics relates to pathology such as arthritis and diabetes. Some of the ongoing projects have lead to new shoe and insert designs, biomaterials and surgical procedures.
	James Mahoney, DPM Podiatry Patient-centered Research Painful diabetic neuropathy in the feet is a significant problem that is unresponsive to most treatments. We are investigating the effect of a novel use of an anesthetic agent in cream form to see if topical treatment can be successful in diminishing foot pain in diabetics.
	Kathy L. Mercuris, PT, DHS Physical Therapy Patient-centered Research Balance and falls are a problem for both the well elderly and individuals with central nervous system lesions (stroke, head injury). Our research focuses on how gait and balance can be measured in the clinic and the impact poor balance has upon the quality of life.
	Shane McClinton, DPT, CSCS Physical Therapy Patient-centered Research Integration of evidence into patient management is a crucial and evolving component to clinical practice. My research is focused on analyzing dynamic and static characteristics of individuals with musculoskeletal disorders in addition to the outcomes of manual and exercise interventions.
	J. Jeffrey Means, MDiv, PhD Behavioral Medicine Behavioral/Population/Health Systems Research Quality of care through end-of-life varies greatly across health care settings. Funded by Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, this collaborative study utilizes the experiences of direct care workers, supervisors/administrators, family members and spiritual care providers to evaluate existing practices and policies and pilot educational resources designed to improve continuity of care through end-of-life.
	Stacey Meardon, PT, ATC, CSCS, PhD Candidate Physical Therapy Laboratory Research and Patient-centered Research My research studies the cumulative effect that physical activity patterns, preferred movement patterns and health history have on overuse injury in active populations and long-term bone and joint health. Other research interests include neuromuscular strategies of movement that contribute to injury and factors determining response to footwear changes.
	Julia A. Moffitt, PhD Physiology and Pharmacology Laboratory-based Research Investigation of neural control and autonomic regulation of cardiovascular function. Ongoing projects include studying the effects of vagus nerve stimulation on control of cardiovascular function and behavior in addition to investigating the effects of chronic exercise training and deconditioning on central nervous system control of cardiovascular function and hedonic behaviors.
	April D. Newton, PT, MA Physical Therapy Patient-centered Research Animal assisted therapy is being utilized in pediatric physical therapy services. Along with ChildServe, Johnston, Iowa, we are collaborating our efforts to investigate the efficacy of animal-assisted therapeutic interventions. Clinical education is my other area of research interest to identify types of educational experiences for students, certified clinical instructors, and effective evaluation tools.
	Marie Nguyen, PhD Microbiology Laboratory-based Research Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) can cause disease as minor as a cold sore or as devastating as encephalitis. A common defense mechanism against viral invasion is the elimination of infected cells through apoptotic cell death. My laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms mediating HSV-1-dependent apoptosis in tumor and non-tumor cells.
	R. "Fritz" Nordengren, MPH Health Care Administration Behavioral/Population/Health System Research My research is in learning preferences and the needs and differences of solitary learners and social learners. It begins with Myers Briggs Type Indicator® preferences and expands to explore how to best assist health care students as they switch from social learning environments in their cohorts to individual learning environments while on rotations.
	Maria A. Patestas, PhD Anatomy Education/Behavioral/Population/Health Systems Research My interests concern the research and synthesis of experimental neuroanatomy lectures designed to optimize student understanding and allow more rigorous evaluation. In collaboration with technologists, I merge new ideas in didactic presentation with multimedia design and visualization techniques to achieve new and improved lecture prototypes.
	Shannon Petersen, PT, DScPT, OCS, COMT Physical Therapy Patient-centered Research Spinal dysfunction can be a cause or contributing factor to pain in the upper extremity. We have investigated a manual test of neural tissue in the upper extremity. Using this test, in addition to other functional outcomes, we are investigating the effect of spinal manipulation and neural tissue mobilization on subjects with upper extremity diagnoses.
	Alisdair Philp, PhD Biochemistry and Nutrition Laboratory-based Research I investigate the neural circuits in the retina and hypothalamus involved in vision (image forming and non-image forming). Characterization of these systems will deepen our understanding of function, describe pathology of disease and aid in the development and evaluation of treatments such as gene/cell replacement therapies.
	Rachel Reimer, PhD Public Health Behavioral/Population/Health Systems Research My research examines how race and ethnicity are associated with perceptions of cancer risk - for example, how racial status of current smokers is associated with knowledge and beliefs about cigarettes and lung cancer. In addition, I examine attitudes, beliefs and knowledge of sexual risk and HPV among the Latina population.
	Wendy Ringgenberg, PhD Director, Master of Public Health Program Behavioral/Population/Health Systems Research I am interested in the anthropological approach to health care delivery, such as how culture promotes or inhibits health. I have participated in program evaluations of health programs in the elderly, African, prison and Jewish populations. I have designed and delivered cultural competency curriculum for health care workers. My current interests include the cultural appropriateness of health care interventions to change risky behaviors of marginalized individuals.
	Martin Schmidt, PhD Biochemistry Laboratory-based Research My research focuses on the influence of antifungal drugs on pathogenic yeast, especially Candida albicans - modes of action, synergistic effects and induction of resistance.
	Timothy Steele, PhD Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory-based Research Our laboratory investigates the activation requirements and signal transduction pathways of human natural killer cells using a leukemic natural killer cell line. We will explore how these immune system cells kill cancer cells and discover better therapies for the treatment of natural killer cell leukemias, which have a poor prognosis.
	David Strom, PhD Physiology and Pharmacology Laboratory-based Research Central nervous system (CNS) metastasis of breast cancer is a growing problem. We have developed an animal model of human CNS breast cancer metastasis. Using this model, we are identifying treatments that block metastasis to the CNS and modifying existing therapies to better treat these metastases once they occur.
	Teri Stumbo, PT, MS Director, Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Behavioral/Population/Health Systems Research Research Collaboration with Denise Hill, JD, MPA Education of students in the medical professions continues to change with the advancement of technology. We are currently investigating the use of computer-based tutorials/modules to teach students and clinical preceptors evidence-based practice skills. Future projects include evaluation of professional ethical and legal knowledge and application using human simulation laboratories.
	Vassilios Vardaxis, PhD Physical Therapy Laboratory-based and Patient-centered Research (Lab-based research - DMU foot model; patient-based research - total knee replacement project) Our research interest is focused on the biomechanics of the human body and its relation to the onset of pathology as related to movement and load. Specifically, we study differences in gait and balance resulting from change or intervention (e.g., age, rehabilitation protocol, surgery), aiming to understand the relationships between the performance of activities of daily living, body structure, external forces and muscle function and pathology.
	Wayne A. Wilson, PhD Biochemistry and Nutrition Laboratory-based Research Glycogen is a key player in blood glucose homeostasis. We use the model organism baker's yeast to define mechanisms responsible for the control of glycogen accumulation. The enzymes of glycogen metabolism are well conserved between yeast and mammals, implying that our findings will have relevance to human physiology.
	Robert Yoho, DPM Dean, College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Patient-centered Research Assessment of bone quality in diabetic patients with and without Charcot neuroarthropathy. We have identified decreased levels of vitamin D in diabetic patients with a more pronounced deficiency in patients with diabetic Charcot foot disease. Bone density evaluation (PIXI scan) confirms decreased bone mass in the feet of diabetics.
	Ann York, PhD Health Care Administration Behavioral/Population/Health Systems Research Evidence-based practice (EBP) has become an essential component of health care delivery today. We are studying effective and efficient ways to deliver EBP educational content online to both students and clinical preceptors and are looking at the impact this education may have on patient care.

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2009 Researchers