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My graduate studies have allowed me to gain valuable experiences and learn new techniques as I prepare myself for a career in scientific research. |
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After completing three lab rotations at UAB, I chose to enter the Molecular and Cellular Pathology program. I am confident that the research opportunities afforded me by UAB coupled with a dedication to hard work, I will be able to make a positive impact as an independent scientist.
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Hometown:
Lanett, AL
Undergraduate/Masters Institution:
Tuskegee University
General Research Interests:
Antipsychotic-drug induced weight gain
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I am currently working with an animal model to study the mechanisms of antipsychotic drug-induced weight gain. |
Our lab has reproducibly shown that these drugs cause weight gain in female C57BL/6J mice. Our lab hypothesizes that olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine induce weight gain by altering changes in food intake and energy expenditure. These changes may be attributed to differences in hypothalamic gene expression patterns. However, gene expression analysis does not provide a complete scope as it relates to the mechanisms involved. As a result, my research will analyze the effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs on protein expression in the hypothalamus.
Identification of a mechanistic model of how antipsychotic drugs affect eating, body weight, and body composition may provide important insights into the pathways that affect weight gain. My goal is to identify specific hypothalamic proteins involved in antipsychotic drug-induced weight gain and ultimately assess the protein modifications imposed by these drugs. |
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