Lab Description Central Neural Control of the Autonomic Nervous System: Using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques combined with calcium imaging, neuro-pharmacological, immunochemical, and molecular biological methods, we are conducting studies to determine the synaptic organization, modulation, and plasticity of neuronal networks involved in central neural control of the autonomic nervous system, including cardiovascular function. Goals of […]

Contact irutkai@tulane.edu

Lab Description Cortical circuits show a certain degree of plasticity during normal brain functions (e.g., sensory stimulation, memory storage and learning). This plasticity can be altered during development, e.g., autism, but also when the brain is perturbed/damaged (for example during sensory deprivation or stroke). Using state-of-the-art imaging techniques, i.e. two-photon laser microscopy in combination with […]

Prasad Katakam, MD, PhD, School of Medicine Projects Contact Not accepting students through Spring 2025 pkatakam@tulane.edu

Lab Description Studies the therapeutic potential of gene therapy in the treatment of AIDS, lysosomal storage diseases, and the use of hematopoietic stem cells. Topics include tissue-specific expression of therapeutic genes and immunomodulatory effects of gene expression. This intersection has clinical relevance for multiple diseases and therapeutic modalities including gene therapy strategies, transplantation, immunotherapy and […]

Project Descriptions Interleukin-17 in Prostate Cancer. A major focus of our research program is to understand the role of inflammation in cancer initiation, promotion, and progression. Our target molecule in inflammation is interleukin-17 (IL-17). IL-17 is a key cytokine in many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We are using in-vitro and in-vivo (transgenic and knockout mice) approaches […]

Lab Description Her first major discovery involved identification of novel mechanisms attenuating expression and damage caused by LINE-1 retrotransposons. She was a key contributor to the establishment of somatic expression of LINE-1 in many normal human tissues, a finding that has triggered a broad recognition of somatic LINE-1 damage and its relevance to human disease […]

Project Description The primary focus of Dr. Hill’s research is the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction cross- talk in breast cancer. Breast cancer is an endocrine-responsive neoplasm and as such is responsive to a variety of endocrine and growth factor stimuli. A complete understanding of the factors regulating the proliferation breast cancer, as well as […]

Lab Description Despite the recent development and FDA approval of new hormone therapy drugs for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, disease progression after hormone therapies remains the most critical challenge in the clinical management of prostate cancer. Emerging evidences indicate that prostate cancers can adapt to all current hormone therapies by signaling through constitutively-active androgen receptor […]

Project Description Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Dr. Abd Elmageed’s current research focuses on elucidating the role of signaling and tumor microenvironment on adipose-derived stem cells in prostate cancer (PCa). He is also investigating the differential expression profile of […]