Clinical Faculty
Clinical Faculty
Profiles
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Academic Appointments
- Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, 1999-2004
- Associate Professor, Institute of Molecular Medicine & Genetics; Neurology, Georgia Health Sciences University, 2004-2008
- Weiss Research Professor, Institute of Molecular Medicine & Genetics; Neurology, Georgia Health Sciences University
Research Interests
- Cell adhesion and migration are involved in the development and function of almost every organ. Neurons migrate and extend axons and dendrites to build the nerve network in the brain. Osteoclasts attach to the bone matrix to absorb and remodel bones. Cancer cells migrate to cause tumor metastasis. These processes require cell adhesion and migration and involve cytoskeleton reorganization. Cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) activates various signaling pathways and ultimately leads to actin cytoskeleton reorganization. We are interested in the molecular mechanisms of how actin cytoskeleton is regulated by the ECM by using a combination of biochemical ( in vitro), cell biological (in culture), and genetic mutant animal (in vivo, including rodents, chicken, and zebrafish animals) studies.
Recognition
- National Research Service Award (NIH, USA), 1995-1998
- Outside Young Basic Science Faculty Award (MCG), 2007
Grant Awards
- NIAMS, NIH (R01), 2002-2012
- NINDS, NIH (R01), 2008-2013
- Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2007-2010
- Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2007-2008
- AHA, Southeastern, GIA, 2007-2009
Training
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology, University of Virginia Medical College of Georgia, Charlottesville, VA, 199
- PhD., Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 1994
- M.S., Neuropharmacology; University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona, 1989
- Diploma of Medicine (M.D.), The Third Military Medical University, Chongqin, China, 1984
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