CURRENT MEMBERS
Rodger A. Liddle, M.D.
Principal Investigator
Professor of Medicine​
Education
B.S., University of Utah, 1972
M.D., Vanderbilt University, 1978
Internship (Medicine), University of California, San Francisco, 1979
Residency (Medicine), University of California, San Francisco, 1981
Fellowship (Gastroenterology), University of California, San Francisco, 1984
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Interests
Rodger is a gastroenterologist with research expertise in enteroendocrine cells and the pancreas. His laboratory has focused on diseases of the pancreas, an area in which he has made fundamental observations on the pathogenic mechanisms underlying early events in pancreatic acinar cell injury. His long-standing interests in enteroendocrine cell biology have led to the recent discovery of a novel neural circuit connecting enteroendocrine cells with nervous system – now known as the Gut Connectome.
In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and spending time with his family.
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Contact
919-681-6380
Sandip Madhusudan Swain, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Education
MSc. (Biotechnology), Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
Ph.D. (Biotechnology), Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), India
Postdoctoral Fellow, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine, Duke University
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Interests
Sandip has expertise in ion channel biology. He is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of mechanically activated ion channels in regulating pancreatic and intestinal pathophysiology.
In his free time, he likes cooking, fishing, and adventuring in new places.
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Contact
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Relevant Publications
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Swain SM, Romac JM, Vigna SR, and Liddle RA. "Piezo1-mediated stellate cell activation causes pressure-induced pancreatic fibrosis in mice." JCI insight. 2022; 7(8).
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Swain SM, and Liddle RA. "Piezo1 acts upstream of TRPV4 to induce pathological changes in endothelial cells due to shear stress." J Biol Chem. 2021; 296: 100171.
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Swain SM, Romac JM, Shahid RA, Pandol SJ, Liedtke W, Vigna SR, et al. "TRPV4 channel opening mediates pressure-induced pancreatitis initiated by Piezo1 activation." J. Clin. Investig. 2020; 130(5): 2527-41.
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Joelle Romac, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
Education
B.S., Universite de Strasbourg, France
M.Sc., Universite de Strasbourg, France
Ph.D., University of Chicago
Interests
Joelle is interested in molecular signaling following activation of the mechanoreceptor Piezo1. She is currently working on the role of Piezo1 in pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
In her free time, she likes playing tennis, cooking, and gardening. Also, she enjoys going to concerts and reading books.
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Contact
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Relevant Publications
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Romac, J. M., et al. "Piezo1 is a mechanically activated ion channel and mediates pressure-induced pancreatitis." Nat Commun. 2018; 9(1): 1715.
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Romac, J. M. and J. D. Keene. "Overexpression of the arginine-rich carboxy-terminal region of U1 snRNP 70K inhibits both splicing and nucleocytoplasmic transport of mRNA." Genes Dev. 1995; 9(11): 1400-1410.
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Senthilkumar Karuppagounder, Ph.D.
(Senthil Gounder)
Project and Research Scientist Laboratory Manager
Education
B.S. (Pharmacy), the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai, India
M. Tech. (Biomedical Engineering), Jadavpur University, Calcutta, India
Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical Science), Auburn University
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University SOM
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Interests
Senthil is interested in the gut-brain axis, alpha-synuclein pathology, microbiome, environmental toxins, trans-neuronal propagation, biomarker discovery, and drug discovery in the Parkinson’s Disease animal models.
In his free time, he enjoys running, hiking, biking and other sports, gardening, photography, and exploring different food cultures.
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Contact
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Relevant Publications
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Jared T Hinkle, Jaimin Patel, Nikhil Panicker, Senthilkumar S Karuppagounder, Devanik Biswas, Bonn Belingon, Rong Chen, Saurav Brahmachari, Olga Pletnikova, Juan C Troncoso, Valina L Dawson, Ted M Dawson. "STING mediates neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in nigrostriatal α-synucleinopathy." PNAS. 2022: 119(15).
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Sangjune Kim, Seung-Hwan Kwon, Tae-In Kam, Nikhil Panicker, Senthilkumar S Karuppagounder, Saebom Lee, Jun Hee Lee, Wonjoong, et. al. "Transneuronal Propagation of Pathologic α-Synuclein from the Gut to the Brain Models Parkinson's Disease." Neuron. 2019; 103(4):627-641.
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Seung Pil Yun, Tae-In Kam, Nikhil Panicker, Sang Min Kim, Yumin Oh, Jong-Sung Park, Seung-Hwan Kwon, Yong Joo Park, Senthilkumar S. Karuppagounder, Hyejin Park, et. al. "Block of A1 astrocyte conversion by microglia is neuroprotective in models of Parkinson’s disease." Nat Med. 2018; 24: 931-938.
Beilei Lei
Research Analyst -II
Education
M.D., Hunan Medical University, China
M.S., Hunan Medical University, China
Ph.D., Peking University, China
Postdoctoral fellow, Duke University
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Interests
Beilei’s research focuses on Enteroendocrine Cells and the Gut connectome. Her goal is to understand the role of enteroendocrine cells in the origin and pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease.
In her free time, she enjoys walking, hiking, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Contact
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Relevant Publications
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Lei B, Wang C, Snow K, Graton ME, Tighe RM, Fager AM, Hoffman MR, Giangrande PH, Miller FJ Jr. Inhalation of an RNA aptamer that selectively binds extracellular histones protects from acute lung injury. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2023;31:662-673.
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Lei B, James ML, Liu J, Zhou G, Venkatraman TN, Lascola CD, Acheson SK, Dubois LG, Laskowitz DT, Wang H. Neuroprotective pentapeptide CN-105 improves functional and histological outcomes in a murine model of intracerebral hemorrhage. Sci Rep. 2016;6:34834.
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Lei B, Wang H, Jeong S, Hsieh JT, Majeed M, Dawson H, Sheng H, Warner DS, James ML. Progesterone Improves Neurobehavioral Outcome in Models of Intracerebral Hemorrhage. Neuroendocrinology. 2016;103(6):665-77.
Nidula Mullapilly
Post Doctoral Fellow
Education
Integrated MSc (Life Sciences), Central University of Tamil Nadu, India
Ph.D. (Biomolecular Medicine), University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Interests
Nidula’s research interests include cell culture and in vitro models of pancreatic cancer. Her goal is to understand the mechanisms of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
In her free time, Nidula enjoys reading, artwork, and travel.
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Contact
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Relevant Publications
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Pacchiana R, Mullappilly N, Pinto A, Bova S, Forciniti S, Cullia G, Dalla Pozza E, Bottani E, Decimo I, Dando I, Bruno S, Conti P, Donadelli M. 3-Bromo-Isoxazoline Derivatives Inhibit GAPDH Enzyme in PDAC Cells Triggering Autophagy and Apoptotic Cell Death, Cancers 2022. 14:3153, 1-19.
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Torrens-Mas M, Cordani M, Mullappilly N, Pacchiana R, Riganti C, Palmieri M, Pons DG, Roca P, Oliver J, Donadelli M. Mutant p53 induces SIRT3/MnSOD axis to moderate ROS production in melanoma cells. Arch Biochem Biophys 2020. 679:108219, 1-8.
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Masetto F, Chegaev K, Gazzano E, Mullappilly N, Rolando B, Arpicco S, Fruttero R, Riganti C, Donadelli M. MRP5 nitration by NO-releasing gemcitabine encapsulated in liposomes confers sensitivity in chemoresistant pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Biochim. Biophys. Acta - Mol Cell Res, 2020. 1867:118824, 1-14.
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Katherine Chavez
Research Analyst
Education
B.S., Zamorano University, Honduras
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Interests
Katherine is working on Parkinson's disease and is specifically tracing the transfer of the misfolded protein alpha-synuclein from enteroendocrine cells to brain neurons. Her goal is to understand the behavior of misfolded alpha-synuclein to prevent it from spreading and causing disease.
In her free time, she loves traveling and learning about new places, cultures, people, languages, and most importantly food.
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Contact
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Relevant Publications
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Nikolai Rakhilin, Aliesha Garrett, Chi-Yong Eom, Katherine Ramos Chavez, et. al. "An intravital window to image the colon in real-time." Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):5647.
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Vanita Patel
Research Technician-II
Education
Education
B.S., Nova Southeastern University
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Interests
Vanita is interested in learning about Parkinson’s disease specifically understanding the effect of alpha-synuclein in the gut and how that can spread to the brain.
In her free time, she enjoy painting, traveling, trying new foods.
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Contact
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Dawn Chesnut
Grants and Contracts Administrator (GCA)
Education
B.A., Campbell University
CRA (Certified Research Administrator), Research Administrators Certification Council
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Interests
Dawn assists the Gastroenterology (GI) faculty with grant research applications to federal and foundation sponsors. Once awarded, she helps the GI faculty with financial review of the project and annual fiscal and progress reports.
In her free time, Dawn likes quilting, crocheting and reading.
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Contact
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