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Current Research Projects
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We became interested in rotating wall vessels as a culture method
to induce re-expression of the receptors for common nephrotoxins in renal
cell cultures. The vessels have proven very efficacious for this particular
purpose.
This work expanded in several directions:
Our base in the Nephrology Section made it natural to be interested
in the problems of astronaut dehydration and rehydration and to model this
problem in the rotating wall vessel.
Our base in the Center for Bioenvironmental Research fuels special
emphasis on metallothionein, the heavy metal carrying protein, and a ligand
for renal glycoprotein receptors.
Our experience with health issues in marine mammals complements
the heavy metal data, as we examine the toxicity of exponential increases
in tissue cadmium in bowhead whales an endangered species traveling through
Alaska biannually.
We are continuing our initial studies of regulation of expression
of nephrotoxic receptors.
Studies are maturing on the expression of production of renal hormones
such as erythropoietin and the active form of vitamin D in the vessels.
We are investigating the genetic mechanisms by which gene and protein
expression are modulated in rotating wall vessels.
More Info on the Projects
Group I -
Environmental Astrobiology
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Group II -
Women's Health
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Check out our recent cell experiment on the Mir (returned to Earth in February 1998) and on STS-90: Neurolab.
How we fund this research
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