Research Education Core

Research Education Core

The Rutgers CounterACT Center has established a comprehensive, multidisciplinary Research Education Core directed at undergraduates, medical and graduate students, postdoctoral trainees and new and established investigators. The primary functions of the Research Education Core are to 1) increase the engagement of researchers in chemical threat-related research, 2) provide innovative educational activities for technicians, medical and graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, and established investigators, 3) enhance literacy and awareness of participants regarding the toxicology of chemical threats, and 4) disseminate teaching materials and assessment metrics. These functions are achieved through seminars, symposia, coursework, distance education programs, thesis projects, research fellowships, and directed laboratory modules.

The leadership team of the Education Core is comprised of 4 tenured faculty members spanning 3 institutions who have expertise in mentoring, training program management, toxicology education, distance learning, and development of curricula. The Education Core draws upon the resources, infrastructure, and expertise of faculty appointed across the four academic institutions and draws strength from additional institutional grants including T32, P30, and R25 grants from NIH/NIEHS.

We enhance training opportunities for our current trainee pool as well as expand the reach of our initiatives to high school students and the general public using a combination of live workshops, industry internships, and community engagement activities. Emphasis is also placed on standardized assessment of activities, dissemination of program outcomes, and tracking of participants in the Education Core.

Key Researchers:
Debra L. Laskin, Ph.D., Core Lead
Lauren M. Aleksunes, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Co-Lead
Diane E. Heck, Ph.D., Collaborator
Joshua P. Gray, Ph.D., Collaborator

An important aspect of our CounterACT Center is Education and Training.  We are now featuring online webcasts, in addition to traditional educational material such as seminars, symposia and short courses, and training sessions. Details about these events can be found on our news and events page. Our reference library, including many abstracts not available online, is searchable and can be found on the links page. Current courses and workshops are listed below. Also listed are undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows training on our CounterACT projects.

 

Webinars on sulfur mustard:

Countermeasures for sulfur mustard in the skin: Joshua Gray and Ned Heindel have created a 90-minute public lecture on “Pharmaceuticals and Anti-Vesicants: A Case Study in Drug Development.” This lecture, created in 2009, is available for on-line continuing education or as part of a course for graduate credit (Chm 477-D10, “Pharmacology for Chemists”), offered through the Lehigh University Distance Education Program. The lecture states the problem presented by sulfur mustard exposure either in combat or in terrorist situations and discusses modern approaches to interventional therapeutics. Approximately 40 individuals have taken this course for credit in the last 18 months. [Click here] – NOTE FROM MARK – this is a link to dermalcounter.ram which references a missing resource and throws an error
Future topics will discuss the eye and lung and provide historical insight into the use of chemical weapons.

 

Courses:

Biological and Chemical Weapons [Rutgers University Course ID 101 69 73363] – An examination of the probable weapons of biowarfare, including biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons, from several perspectives. Topics include their mechanism of action, biological impact, detection and recognition, epidemiology, and treatment. Critical thinking and risk assessment will be used in evaluating their potential dangers and effectiveness. Strategies for defense against attacks by such weapons will be investigated, and the bioethical challenges of anti-bioterror research will be discussed. This course was desgined by CounterACT’s Education and Training program, Joshua P. Gray, Ph.D., Director, and is now taught by Donald R. Gerecke, Ph.D. and Michael P. Shakarjian, Ph.D. Email for further information.

 

Training:

Training of undergraduates, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in the laboratories of the Rutgers University CounterACT Research Center of Excellence:

Undergraduate students:

Lijo John (4th year Rutgers Pharmacy Student, 2010 summer trainee):

Project: ADAM 17/TACE inhibitors for Nitrogen Mustard Exposure of Organ Cultured Rabbit Corneas (mentor Dr. Marion Gordon, Scientific Research Project 2: “Transmembraneous collagens and matrix metalloproteinases as targets for countermeasures for vesicants in the cornea”)

Meredith Harman (2nd year student, Lehigh University, Biochemistry, 2009-present):

Project: Development of Microanalytical Methods for Inhibitors of Acetylchlolinesterase. Mentor: Dr. Ned Heindel, “Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core”

Alex Chan (Rutgers University, undergraduate, 2008 summer trainee):

Characterization of collagen XVII antibodies against rabbit hemidesmosomes. Mentor: Dr. Marion Gordon, Scientific Project 2, “Transmembraneous collagens and matrix metalloproteinases as targets for countermeasures for vesicants in the cornea”

Kim LeMoon (Rutgers University, undergraduate, 2008 fall semester rotation):

Histology techniques for the analysis of rabbit eyes. Mentor: Dr. Marion Gordon, Scientific Project 2, “Transmembraneous collagens and matrix metalloproteinases as targets for countermeasures for vesicants in the cornea”

Noelle Leger (Rutgers University School of Pharmacy, 4th year student, 2008-2009):

Project: “Cytokine markers in damaged skin” (mentor: Dr. Donald R. Gerecke, Scientific Project 1, “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury).”

Dae Yeol Lee (Rutgers University School of Pharmacy, 4th year student, 2008-2009):

Project: “Quantitation of cytokine mRNAs in a mouse wound model” (mentor: Dr. Donald R. Gerecke, Scientific Project 1, “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury).”

Melanie Soriano (Rutgers University School of Pharmacy, 4th year Honor Student, 2007-2010):

Honors Thesis Project: “Cytokines, Chemokines, and Mediators of Vesicant Skin Injury” (mentor: Dr. Donald R. Gerecke, Scientific Project 1, “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury).”

Angelic Sambat (Rutgers University School of Pharmacy, 4th year student, 2007-2008):

Project: “Novel Therapeutic Countermeasures against Sulfur Mustard Exposed Skin” (mentor: Dr. Donald R. Gerecke, Scientific Project 1, “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury).”

Patrick Zito (Rutgers University School of Pharmacy, 4th year student, 2006-2007):

Project: Analysis of microarrays from sulfur mustard treated mouse skin (mentor: Dr. Marion Gordon, Scientific Project 2, “Transmembraneous collagens and matrix metalloproteinases as targets for countermeasures for vesicants in the cornea”

Dimple Vyas (5th year student, Rutgers University School of Pharmacy, 2006-2007):

Project: QPCR of MMPs in SM injured skin (mentor: Dr. Donald R. Gerecke, Scientific Project 1, “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury.”

Nisha Patel (5th year student, Rutgers University School of Pharmacy, 2006-2007):

Project: QPCR of Selected SM-induced genes (mentor: Dr. Donald R. Gerecke, Scientific Project 1, “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury.”

Hira Khan (5th year student, Rutgers University School of Pharmacy, 2006-2007):

Project: Microarray Analysis of SM Damaged Skin (mentor: Dr. Donald R. Gerecke, Scientific Project 1, “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury.”

Rehana Khan (5th year student, Rutgers University School of Pharmacy, 2006-2007):

Project: Analysis of Laminin regulation in SM Damaged Skin (mentor: Dr. Donald R. Gerecke, Scientific Project 1, “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury.”

Viktoriya Gomilko (3rd year student, Rutgers University, Chemistry, 2006-2007):

Project: Analysis of Laminin regulation in SM Damaged Skin (mentor: Dr. Michael Shakarjian, Scientific Project 1, “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury.”

Tanveere Hassam (1st year student, Rutgers University, Biological Sciences, 2006-2007):

Project: Analysis of Laminin regulation in SM Damaged Skin mentor: Dr. Michael Shakarjian, Scientific Project 1, “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury.”

Stephanie Papastephanou (4th year student, Lehigh University, 2007-2009, graduated)

Project: “HPLC studies on the hydrolysis of bifunctional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents” (mentor: Dr. Ned Heindel “Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core”)
Graduate students:

Iris Po (Rutgers Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology, 2008-present):

Project: Comparison of UV and Nitrogen Mustard Vesicant Action on Organ Cultured Rabbit Corneas (mentor Dr. Marion Gordon, Scientific Research Project 2: “Transmembraneous collagens and matrix metalloproteinases as targets for countermeasures for vesicants in the cornea”)

Lakshmi Raman (Rutgers Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology, 2009-present):

Project: Sulfur Mustard induced Autophagy in the Rabbit Cornea (mentor Dr. Marion Gordon, Scientific Research Projects 2: “Transmembraneous collagens and matrix metalloproteinases as targets for countermeasures for vesicants in the cornea”)

Maria Trebaris (Rutgers, 2008-present):

Project: Percutaneous absorption of bi-functional drug formulations (mentor: Dr. Diane E. Heck, Pharmacology and Drug Development Core and Jeffrey D. Laskin, PI)

Miranda Lalloo, MPH (Rutgers, 2009-present):

Project: Effects of protease inhibitors on MMP isoforms in vesicant injury (mentor: Dr. Diane E. Heck, Pharmacology and Drug Development Core)

Cynthia Fianu Velgus (Lehigh University technical support/part time student, 2006-present):

Project: HPLC Studies on Candidate Drug Lipophilicities and Vanilloid Syntheses Mentors: Drs. Ned D. Heindel and Diane Heck Scientific Research Project: Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core.

Jaya Saxena (Lehigh University technical support/part time student, 2010 – present):

Project: Cholinergic Assays on Highly Lipophilic Materials Mentors: Drs. Ned D. Heindel and Diane Heck Scientific Research Project: Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core

Jonathan Rado (Lehigh University, first year Graduate Student, 2009-present):

Project: Synthesis of Hydroxamate Fatty Amides for FAAH Inhibition and Sulfur Mustard Interventional Therapy) Mentors: Drs. Ned D. Heindel, Diane Heck, and Jeffrey Laskin Scientific Research Project: Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core

Sherri Young (Lehigh University, Graduate Student 2007-present, PhD candidate):

Project: Studies on Candidate Therapeutics containing inhibitors of AChE and NSAIDs Mentors: Drs. Ned D. Heindel and Diane Heck Scientific Research Project: Medicinal Chemistry

Ronald Udasin (Rutgers Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology, 2009-present):

Project: Identification of oxidative stress enzymes as targets for vesicant-induced toxicity (Project: Role of antioxidants in protecting the lung against vesicant toxicity (mentors: Drs. Jeffrey Laskin and Debra Laskin, Scientific Research Project 3, “Lung inflammatory models for the development of countermeasures against sulfur mustard”)

Timothy Halton (Lehigh University, Graduate Student 2008-2010, graduated with M.S.):

Project: Cholinergic Assays on Highly Lipophilic Materials Mentors: Drs. Ned D. Heindel and Diane Heck Scientific Research Project: Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core

Erik Aponte (Lehigh University, Graduate Student, 2008-2010, graduated with M.S.):

Project: Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Vanilloid Carbamates Mentors: Drs. Ned D. Heindel and Diane Heck Scientific Research Project: Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core

Andrea DeSantis (Rutgers Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology, 2007-present):

Project: Mechanism of action of sulfur mustard injury in the rabbit corneal organ culture model (mentors, Drs. Donald Gerecke and Marion Gordon, Scientific Research Projects 1 & 2: “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury” and “Transmembraneous collagens and matrix metalloproteinases as targets for countermeasures for vesicants in the cornea”)

Yuwen Huang (Rutgers Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology, 2007-present):

Project: Methods to assess corneal and skin injury in response to vesicating agents (mentors, Drs. Donald Gerecke and Marion Gordon, Scientific Research Projects 1 & 2: “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury” and “Transmembraneous collagens and matrix metalloproteinases as targets for countermeasures for vesicants in the cornea”)

Ruijin Zheng (Rutgers Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology, 2006-present):

Project: Role of oxidative stress in vesicant-induced toxicity (Project: Role of antioxidants in protecting the lung against vesicant toxicity (mentors: Drs. Jeffrey Laskin and Debra Laskin, Scientific Research Project 3, “Lung inflammatory models for the development of countermeasures against sulfur mustard”)

Karma Fussell (Rutgers Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology, 2006-present):

Project: Studies on the mechanism of cytotoxicity of vesicants in the skin and lung (mentors: (mentors: Drs. Jeffrey Laskin, Donald Gerecke and Debra Laskin, Scientific Research Projects 1 & 3, “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury” and “Lung inflammatory models for the development of countermeasures against sulfur mustard”)

Sreepriya Anumolu (Rutgers University Pharmaceutical Sciences doctoral program, 2006-2010, graduated):

Project: Formulation development of a formulation for a spray-on hydrogel for sulfur mustard injuries. Permeation and release characteristics of doxycycline in hydrogel formulations (mentor, Dr. Patrick Sinko, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core).
Postdoctoral fellows:

Shike Li, M.D. (2009-present):

Project: Formulation and development of hydrogels for sulfur mustard injuries. Mentors: Dr. Patrick Sinko, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core and Scientific Research).

Dominique Roche, Ph.D. (2006-2008):

Project: Design, synthesis and charaterization of candidate sulfur mustard countermeasures acting via the TRPV1 receptor Mentors, Drs. Ned D. Heindel and Jeffrey Laskin, and Debra Laskin, Scientific Research Project 3, “Lung inflammatory models for the development of countermeasures against sulfur mustard” and also “Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core”)

C. Jeffrey Lacey, Ph.D. (2007-present):

Project: Design, Synthesis and Screening of Vanilloid Platforms as Interventional Pharmaceuticals for Sulfur Mustard Exposure Mentors: Ned D. Heindel , Jeffrey Laskin, and Diane Heck Project: Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core

Abhilash N. Pillai, PhD. (2008-2010):

Project: Hydroxamates and MMP9 Inhibitors Mentors: Ned D. Heindel, Diane Heck, and Marion Gordon Project: Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core

Raghavandra Navath, Ph.D. (2006-present):

Project: Formulation and development of spray on Hydrogel for sulfur mustard injuries releasing phenytoin (mentor, Dr. Patrick Sinko, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core)

Anupa Menjoge, Ph.D. (2006-present):

Project: Development of spray-on hydrogel dressing. Optimization of matrix polymer and the cross-linker (mentor, Dr. Patrick Sinko, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core)

Manjeet Deshmukh, Ph.D. (2006-present):

Project: Formulation and development of hydrogels/Gel particles for sulfur mustard-injured skin, eye, and lung. Mentors: Drs. Patrick Sinko and Debra Laskin, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core and Scientific Research Project 3: “Lung inflammatory models for the development of countermeasures against sulfur mustard.”

Yi-Hua Jan, Ph.D. (2007-present):

Project: Role of antioxidants in protecting the lung against vesicant toxicity (mentors: Drs. Jeffrey Laskin and Debra Laskin, Scientific Research Project 3, “Lung inflammatory models for the development of countermeasures against sulfur mustard”)

Adrienne Black, Ph.D. (2007-2008):

Project: Role of eicosanoid metabolism in the mechanism of action of vesicants in the skin (mentors: Drs. Jeffrey Laskin and Donald Gerecke, Scientific Research Project 2, “Laminins, matrix metalloproteinases and protection against vesicant-induced skin injury”)

Yun Wang, Ph.D. (2007-present):

Project: Mechanism of action of sulfur mustard countermeasures acting via the TRPV1 receptor (mentor, Drs. Jeffrey Laskin, Debra Laskin and Ned Heindel, Scientific Research Project 3, “Lung inflammatory models for the development of countermeasures against sulfur mustard” and “Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Core”)