Research

Steven Belinsky, PhD
Vice President for Research/Professor

Education

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.S. 1978 Zoology

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ph.D. 1984 Toxicology

Biography

Dr. Belinsky is Vice President for Research, Director of the Lung Cancer Program, and co-directs the Cellular and Molecular Oncology Program for the University of New Mexico’s NCI designated Cancer Center. He has worked in the field of tobacco carcinogenesis for >30 years and is an internationally recognized expert in lung cancer and translational studies for early detection of lung cancer. His laboratory was first to demonstrate that tobacco specific nitrosamines cause DNA adducts that accumulate in the lung and lead to mutation of the K-ras oncogene and that silencing of the p16 tumor suppressor gene occurs during development of lung cancer. His current work evaluates epigenetic mechanisms for lung cancer, specifically inactivation of genes and microRNAs through promoter hypermethylation and chromatin remodeling. His research is focused on identifying gene targets and pathways disrupted during the development of this disease. These findings are translated into population-based studies to develop intermediate biomarkers for predicting cancer risk, early detection, prognosis, and response to preventive interventions. His group is using animal models to evaluate novel prevention and therapeutic approaches administered by inhalation to reduce the mortality from lung cancer. Recent new studies are assessing cardiopulmonary health effects of alternative nicotine containing products using in vitro and rodent models. Dr. Belinsky has authored more than 200 publications.

Recent Publications

Leng, S., Thomas, C.L., Snider, A.M., Picchi, M.A., Chen, W., Willis, D., Carr, T.G., Lin, Y., Jacobson, M.R., and Belinsky, S.A. Radon exposure, IL-6 promoter variants, and risk for lung squamous cell carcinoma in former uranium miners. Environ. Hlth. Persp. 124:445-451, 2016.
Tellez, C., Juri, D.E., Do, K., Picchi, M. Spira, A., and Belinsky, S.A. Mir-196b is epigenetically silenced during the pre-malignant stage of lung cancer. Cancer Res. 76:4741-4751, 2016.
Leng, S., Wu, G., Klinge, D.M., Thomas, C.L., Casas, E., Picchi, M.A., Stidley, C.A., Lee, S.J., Aisner, S., Siegfried, J.M., Ramalingam, S., Khuri, F.R., and Karp, D.D., and Belinsky, S.A. Gene methylation biomarkers in sputum as a classifier for lung cancer risk. Oncotarget 8:63978-63985, 2017.
Leng, S., Diergaarde, B., Picchi, M.A., Wilson, D.O., Gilliland, F.D., Yuan, J-M., Siegfried, J.M., and Belinsky, S.A. Promoter hypermethylation of cancer genes in sputum predicts FEV1 decline and mortality in smokers. Am. J. of Resp. & Crit. Care Med. 198:187-196, 2018.
Tessema, M., Rossi, M.R., Yingling, C.M., Picchi, M.A., Ramalingam, S.S., and Belinsky, S.A. Common cancer driver mutations and their association with abnormally methylated genes in lung adenocarcinoma from never-smokers. Lung Cancer 123:99-106, 2018.
Filipczak, P.T., Leng, S., Tellez, C.S., Do, T., Grimes, M.J., Thomas, C.L., Walton-Filipczak, S., Picchi, M.A., and Belinsky, S.A. TET1 is a p53-suppressed oncogene in lung cancer that prevents cellular aging and a target for enhancing therapy-induced senescence. Cancer Res. 79:1758-1768, 2019.
Teneng, I., Picchi, M.A., Leng, S., Dagucon, C., Ramalingam, S., Tellez, C.S., and Belinsky, S.A. DNA-PKc deficiency drives pre-malignant transformation by reducing DNA repair capacity in concert with reprogramming the epigenome in human bronchial epithelial cells. DNA Repair 79:1-9, 2019.
Kuehl, P.J., Tellez, C.S., Grimes, M.J., March, T.H., Tessema, M., Revelli, D.A., Mallis, L.M., Dye, W.W., Sniegowski, T., Badenoch, A., Burke, M., Dubose, D., Vodak, D.T., Picchi, M.A., and Belinsky, S.A. 5-Azacytidine inhaled dry powder formulation profoundly improves pharmacokinetics and efficacy for lung cancer therapy through genome reprogramming. Br J Cancer 122:1194-1204, 2020.
Zhou, Y, Irshad, H., Dye, W.W., Wu, G., Tellez, C.S., and Belinsky, S.A. Voltage and e-liquid composition affect nicotine deposition with the oral cavity and carbonyl formation. Tobacco Control 30: 485-491, 2021.
Tellez, C.S., Picchi, M.A., Juri, D., Do, Kieu, Desai, D., Amin, S.G., Hutt, J.A., Filipczak, P.T., and Belinsky, S.A. Chromatin remodeling by the histone methyltransferase EZH2 drives lung pre-malignancy and is a target for prevention. Clin. Epigenetics 13:44, 2021.

Carmen Tellez, PhD
Senior Research Scientist

Education

University of New Mexico, B.S. 1995 Biology

University of Texas, Ph.D. 2003 Cancer Biology

Biography

Dr. Tellez is a Senior Research Scientist within the Lung Cancer Program, and a member of the Cellular and Molecular Oncology Program at the University of New Mexico’s NCI designated Cancer Center. She has worked in the field carcinogenesis and cancer biology for 25 years and she is recognized as an expert in lung cancer, cancer epigenetics and translational studies for lung cancer therapy. Her research activities include identification of key molecular changes that drive cell transformation and clonal outgrowth of preneoplastic lung epithelial cells that occur in chronic smokers and evaluating epigenetic therapies for reducing lung tumor burden and reprogramming of the epigenome. These findings are translated into population-based studies to develop biomarkers for cancer risk, early detection, prognosis, and response to preventive interventions. Dr. Tellez has extensive experience in molecular biology including cytotoxic and genotoxic assays, epigenetics, gene and microRNA regulation, cellular transformation models, therapeutic approaches for lung cancer therapy, and health effects of alternative inhaled consumer products using in vitro and in vivo models.

Recent Publications

C.S. Tellez, M. Grimes, M. Picchi, Y. Liu, T. March, M. Reed, A. Oganesian, P. Taverna, S.A. Belinsky. SGI-110 and entinostat therapy reduces lung tumor burden and reprograms the epigenome. Int J Cancer. 2014 Nov 1;135(9):2223-31.
M. Tessema, C. Yingling, A. Bernauer, K. Do, M. Picchi, X. Zhang, Y. Liu, C.S. Tellez, S.A. Belinsky. GATA2 is epigentically repressed in human and mouse lung tumors and is not requisite for survival of KRAS mutant lung cancer. J Thorac Oncol. 2014 Jun 9;(6):784-93.
S. Leng, G. Wu, L. Collins, C. Thomas, C.S. Tellez, A. Jaurequi, M. Picchi, X. Zhang, D. Juri, D. Desai, S. Amin, R. Crowell, C. Stidley, Y. Liu, J Swenberg, Y. Lin, M. Wathelet, F. FGilliland, S.A. Belinsky. Implications of chromosome 15q15.2 locus in regulating UBR1 and predisposing smokers to MGMT methylation in lung. Cancer Res. 2015 Aug 1;75(15):3108-17.
C.S. Tellez, D. Juri, K. Do, M. Picchi, T. Wang, G. Liu, A. Spira, S.A. Belinsky. MiR-196b is epigenetically silenced during the premalignant stage of lung carcinogenesis. Cancer Res. 2016 Aug 15;76(16):4741-51.
Singh SP, Chand HS, Langley RJ, Mishra N, Barrett T, Rudolph K, Tellez C, Filipczak PT, Belinsky S, Saeed AI, Sheybani A, Exil V, Agarwal H, Sidhaye VK, Sussan T, Biswal S, Sopori M. Gestational Exposure to Sidestream (Secondhand) Cigarette Smoke Promotes Transgenerational Epigenetic Transmission of Exacerbated Allergic Asthma and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia. J Immunol. 2017 May 15;198(10):3815-3822. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1700014. Epub 2017 Apr 5.
Teneng I, Picchi MA, Leng S, Dagucon CP, Ramalingam S, Tellez CS, Belinsky SA. DNA-PKc deficiency drives pre-malignant transformation by reducing DNA repair capacity in concert with reprogramming the epigenome in human bronchial epithelial cells. DNA Repair (Amst). 2019 Jul;79:1-9.
Filipczak PT, Leng S, Tellez CS, Do KC, Grimes MJ, Thomas CL, Walton-Filipczak SR, Picchi MA, Belinsky SA. p53-Suppressed Oncogene TET1 Prevents Cellular Aging in Lung Cancer. Cancer Res. 2019 Apr 15;79(8):1758-1768.
Tsoyi K, Osorio JC, Chu SG, Fernandez IE, De Frias SP, Sholl L, Cui Y, Tellez CS, Siegfried JM, Belinsky SA, Perrella MA, El-Chemaly S, Rosas IO. Lung Adenocarcinoma Syndecan-2 Potentiates Cell Invasiveness. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2019 Jun;60(6):659-666.
Kuehl, P.J., Tellez, C.S., Grimes, M.J., March, T.H., Tessema, M., Revelli, D.A., Mallis, L.M., Dye, W.W., Sniegowski, T., Badenoch, A., Burke, M., Dubose, D., Vodak, D.T., Picchi, M.A., and Belinsky, S.A. 5-Azacytidine inhaled dry powder formulation profoundly improves pharmacokinetics and efficacy for lung cancer therapy through genome reprogramming. Br J Cancer 122:1194-1204, 2020.
Zhou, Y, Irshad, H., Dye, W.W., Wu, G., Tellez, C.S., and Belinsky, S.A. Voltage and e-liquid composition affect nicotine deposition with the oral cavity and carbonyl formation. Tobacco Control Epub, 2020.

Guodong Wu, Ph.D.
Associate Research Scientist/Statistician

Education

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Ph.D. 2014 Biostatistics

Biography

Dr. Wu had more than 10 years of experiences in Statistics. His expertise lies in Bayesian analysis, Statistical Leaning, Computational Statistics, development and application of statistical methods as well as bioinformatics tools in a variety of biomedical fields, including toxicology, clinical trials, epigenetics and genetics.

Part of Publications:

Wu, G., Yi, N., Absher, D. & Zhi, D. (2011). Statistical quantification of methylation levels by next-generation sequencing. PLoS ONE 6(6), e21034. PMID: 21698242, PMCID:PMC3115964
Wu, G. & Zhi, D. (2013). Pathway-based approaches for sequencing-based genome-wide association studies. Genetic Epidemiology, Jul; 37(5), 478-94. doi: 10.1002/gepi.21728. PMID: 23650134 PMCID: PMC3856324.
Aslibekyan, S., Wiener, H.W., Wu, G., Zhi, D., Shrestha, S., de los Campos, G. & Vazquez, A.I. (2014). Estimating proportions of explained variance: a comparison of whole genome subsets. Genetic Analysis Workshop 18, BMC Proceedings 8(Suppl 1), S102. doi:10.1186/1753-6561-8-S1-S102. PMID: 25519356, PMCID: PMC4143698.
Dai, H., Wu, G., Wu, M., Zhi, D. (2016) An optimal bahadur-efficient method in detection of sparse signals with applications to pathway analysis in sequencing association studies. PLoS ONE, 11(7), e0152667. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0152667. PMID: 27380176, PMCID: PMC4933358.
Doyle, T.J., Patel, A.S., Hatabu, H., Nishino, M., Wu, G., Osorio, J.C., et al. & Rosas, I.O. (2015). Detection of rheumatoid arthritis-interstitial lung disease is enhanced by serum biomarkers. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Jun 15; 191(12), 1403-1412. PMID: 25822095, PMCID: PMC4476561.
Leng, S., Wu, G., Klinge, D.M., Thomas, C.L., Casas, E., Picchi, M.A., Stidley, C.A., Lee, S.J., Aisner, S., Siegfried, J.M., Ramalingam, S., Khuri, F.R., Karp, D.D. & Belinsky, S.A. (2017). Gene methylation biomarkers in sputum as a classifier for lung cancer risk. Oncotarget Epub.

Adriana E. Kajon, Ph.D.
Professor

Education

University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, B.S. 1984 Biochemistry

University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ph.D. 1990 Virology

University of Umea, Sweden, Ph.D. 1995 Virology

Overview of Scientific activities and Research Interests

Dr. Kajon is a Senior Scientist and Professor in the Infectious Disease Program, Adjunct Faculty at the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, and a member of the Center for Infectious Disease and Immunity (CIDI), University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. Her laboratory at the LBRI North Campus conducts studies of the molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of human adenovirus acute respiratory infections in susceptible populations, including transplant recipients, children acquiring primary infections in their communities, and military recruits infected during basic training. Her research efforts utilize surveillance clinical sampling and state of the art molecular typing approaches to better understand the impact of genetic variability of human adenovirus genomes on viral fitness, transmissibility and virulence. Her research interests also include the characterization of function of non-structural adenovirus proteins and the development and use of small animal models for the study of adenovirus pathogenesis

Since joining the University of New Mexico as adjunct faculty in 2002, Dr. Kajon has mentored graduate students enrolled in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program and post-doctoral fellows. Her contributions to the field of Clinical Virology were recognized in 2019 by the Panamerican Society for Clinical Virology (PASCV) with the “Ed Nowakowski” Senior Memorial Award. Dr. Kajon has authored more than 90 publications.

Recent Publications

Kajon AE, Lamson DM, Bair CR, Lu X, Landry ML, Menegus M, Erdman DD, St George K. Adenovirus Type 4 Respiratory Infections among Civilian Adults, Northeastern United States, 2011-2015. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018; 24(2):201-209.
Fisher BT, Boge CLK, Petersen H, Seif AE, Bryan M, Hodinka RL, Cardenas AM, Purdy DR, Loudon B, Kajon AE. (2018). Outcomes of Human Adenovirus Infection and Disease in a Retrospective Cohort of Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2018; 8(4):317-324.
Kajon AE, Lamson DM, St George K. (2019). Emergence and re-emergence of respiratory adenoviruses in the United States. Curr Opin Virol. 2019; 34:63-69.
Gonzalez G, Bair CR, Lamson DM, Watanabe H, Panto L, Carr MJ, Kajon AE. Genomic characterization of human adenovirus type 4 strains isolated worldwide since 1953 identifies two separable phylogroups evolving at different rates from their most recent common ancestor. Virology 2019; 538:11-23.
Kajon AE, Li X, Gonzalez G, Core S, Hofmann-Sieber H, Leng S. Isolation and initial propagation of guinea pig adenovirus (GPAdV) in Cavia porcellus cell lines. F1000Res. 2019; 8:1597.
Hofmann-Sieber H, Gonzalez G, Spohn M, Dobner T, Kajon AE. Genomic and phylogenetic analysis of two guinea pig adenovirus strains recovered from archival lung tissue. Virus Res. 2020; 285:197965.
Hang J, Kajon AE, Graf PCF, Berry IM, Yang Y, Sanborn MA, Fung CK, Adhikari A, Balansay-Ames MS, Myers CA, Binn LN, Jarman RG, Kuschner RA, Collins ND. Human Adenovirus Type 55 Distribution, Regional Persistence, and Genetic Variability. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020; 26:1497-1505.
Lakshmi Narayan PK, Kajon AE. Human mastadenovirus-B (HAdV-B)-specific E3-CR1β and E3-CR1γ glycoproteins interact with each other and localize at the plasma membrane of non-polarized airway epithelial cells. Virology. 2020; 546:67-78.
Kajon AE, Lamson DM, Spiridakis E, Cardenas AM, Babady NE, Fisher BT, St George K. Isolation of a novel intertypic recombinant human mastadenovirus B2 from two unrelated bone marrow transplant recipients. New Microbes New Infect. 2020; 35:100677.
Otto WR, Behrens EM, Teachey DT, Lamson DM, BarrettDM, Bassiri H, LambertMP, Mount S, Petrosa WL, Romberg N, SullivanKL, Topjian AA, FisherBT, Kajon AE. Human Adenovirus 7-Associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis-Like Illness: Clinical and Virological Characteristics in a Cluster of Five Pediatric Cases. Clin. Inf. Dis. 2020. Accepted for publication.

Janet Benson, PhD Scientist Emeritus

Education

University of California, Berkeley, B.S. 1972 Chemistry

University of California, Davis, Ph.D. 1978 Comparative Pharmacology and Toxicology

Biography

Dr. Benson has been a toxicologist at Lovelace for 40 years and currently has Emeritus Status. She has investigated the toxicity, PK, or biodistribution of metals, solvents, polymers, natural products, select agents, vesicants and gene therapeutics. She has evaluated the efficacy of a variety of pharmaceuticals to prevent pulmonary, ocular and cutaneous diseases. She has managed over 10 complex, multiyear contracts or grants with the government (Department of Energy, National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [NIAID], National Institute of Environmental Health Science [NIEHS], and the current GTRP contract for NHLBI) as well as for industry consortia. She has extensive experience conducting studies under GLP Guidelines. As Co-PI of the Pharmacology/Toxicology Core for the NHLBI GTRP, she consults with investigators in developing their pre-IND packages for preclinical therapy development.

Dr. Benson holds a BS degree in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley and a PhD in Comparative Pharmacology and Toxicology from UC, Davis. She was a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology from 1981 - 2017. She has over 100 publications in the scientific literature, has served on scientific advisory Committees (National Academy of Sciences, the EPA IRIS review committee, and American Conference of Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Value Committee) and currently serves as a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the US Transuranium and Uranium Registries. She is an active member of the American Society for Gene and Cellular Therapy.

Recent Publications

Chulay J.D. Ye, G.J., Thomas, D.L., Knop, D.R. Benson, J.M., Hutt, J.A., Wang, G, Humphries, M., Flotte, T.R. Preclinical Evaluation of a Recombinant Adeno-associated virus Vector Expressing Human alpha-1 antitrypsin Made Using a recombiantint Herpes Simplex Virus Production Method. Hum Gene Ther. 22(2) 155-165, 2011.
Chiuchiolo, M.J., Kaminsky, S.M., Sondhi, D., Hackett, N.R., Rosenberg, J.B. Frenk, e.Z. Hwant, Y. Vand de Graff, B.G., Hutt, J.A., Wang, G., Benson, J. and Crystal R.G. Intrapleaural Administration of an AAAVrh.10 vector Coding for Human α1-antitrypsin for the Treatment of α1-antitrypsi Deficiency. Human Gene Ther Clin Dev, 24(4): 161-173, 2013.
McDonald, C.L., Benson, J., Cornetta, K., Diggins, M., Johnston, J.C., Sepelak, S., Wang, G., Wright, J.F., Skarlatos, S.I. Advancing Translational Research Through the NHLBI Gene Therapy Resource Program (GTRP). Human Gene Ther Clin Dev 24(1): 5 – 10, 2013.
Wang, G., Young, S.P, Bali, D., Hutt, J., Songtao, L., Benson, J., and Koeberl, D. Assessment of the Toxicity and Biodistribution of Recombinanat AAV8vector-mediated Immunomodulatory Gene Therapy in Mice with Pompe Disease. Molecular Therap – Methods and Clinical Development 2014 1, 14018;doi:1038/mtm.2014.18.
Corti, M., Cleaver, B., Conlon, T.J., Faris, K.J., Wang, G., Benson, J., Tarantal, A.F., Fuller, D., Herzog, R.W. and Byrne, B.J. Evaluation of Re-administration of a Recombinant Adeno-Associated Vector Expressing Acid Alpha-Glucosidase (rAAV9-DES-hGAA) in Pompe Disease: Preclinical to Clinical Planning. Human Gene Ther Clin Dev 26 (3) 185-193 doi:10.1089/humc.2015.068

Wang, G., Evans, C.H., Benson, J.M., Hutt, J.A. Seagrave, J-C. Wilder, J.A., Grieger, J.C., Samulski, R.J., and Terse, P.S. Safety and Biodistribution Assessment of sc-rAAV2.5IL-1Ra Administered via Intra-Articular Injection in a Mono-Iodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritis Rat Model. Molecular Therapy — Methods & Clinical Development 2016 Jan 13;3:15052. doi: 10.1038/mtm.2015.52. eCollection 2016.

Guggino, W.B., Benson, J., Seagrave, J-C, Yan, Z., Engelhardt, J., Gao, G., Conlon, T.J., and Ceotaru, L. A Preclinical Study in Rhesus Macaques for Cystic Fibrosis to Assess Gene Transfer and Transduction by AAV1 and AAV5 with a Dual-Luciverase Reporter System. Human Gene Ther Clin Dev 23(8), 145-157. 2017.

Gruntman, A.M., Gernoux, G., Tang, Q., Ye, G-J., Knop, D.R. Wang, G., Benson, J., Coleman, K.E., Keeler, A.M., Mueller, C., Chicoine, L.G., Chulay, J.D., and Flotte, T.R. Bridging from Intramuscular to Limb Perfusion Delivery of rAAV: Optimization in a Non-Human Primate Study. Methods & Clinical Development 2019 Jun 13:233-242

Mathewos Tessema, PhD
Associate Professor

Education

Addis Ababa University, D.V.M., 1998 Veterinary Medicine

Utrecht University. MSc., 2001 Veterinary Pathology

Hannover Medical School, Ph.D., 2004 Molecular Medicine

Biography

Dr. Tessema is an Associate Professor at the Lung Cancer Program, an adjunct Assistant Professor at the Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico (UNM), and a full member of the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center. He has been working in the field of cancer epigenetics for nearly 20 years starting from his Ph.D. training days in Hannover, Germany. Dr. Tessema’s research primarily focuses on the identification and characterization of epigenetic and genetic changes, evaluate their role in carcinogenesis, potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and as targets for lung cancer therapy. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. In the US, it kills over 147,000 patients in the year 2019 alone, which is more than the number of lives lost due to colon, prostate, and breast cancers combined. The treatment options, quality of life, and prognosis of lung cancer is much better when it is detected early. Unfortunately, early stage lung cancer is asymptomatic and is often diagnosed at an advanced stage where the 5-years survival rate is well below 15%. Therefore, my research goal is to identify molecular biomarkers that could help to detect the emergence of lung cancer at the earliest possible time. I am also interested in the discovery of biomarkers that indicate the sensitivity of tumors to specific targeted- or immune-therapy for more effective personalized treatment options. In this regard, my current NCI funded project investigates the role of ISG15 expression in sensitizing lung tumors to the topoisomerase-1 inhibitor topotecan. This project also aims to improve the efficacy of this FDA approved anticancer agent against lung cancer through the development of a dry powder formulation and inhalation delivery. Our exciting findings recently demonstrated that 2‒5-fold lower doses of inhaled topotecan resulted in superior suppression tumor growth within the lungs and at distant sites compared to the current standard intravenous (IV) infusion of the drug. Overall, my studies utilize various cutting-edge gene-specific and genome-wide in vitro assays including CRISPR-Cas9 knockout systems, RNA-seq, transcriptome and epigenome arrays and animal models. A selected few recent publications exemplifying my research are shown below.

Selected Recent Publications

Tessema M, Kling DM, Yingling CM, Do K, Van Neste L, Belinsky S. Re-expression of CXCL14, a common target for epigenetic silencing in lung cancer, induces tumor necrosis. Oncogene. 2010; 29(37): 5159-70.
Tessema M, Yingling CM, Grimes MJ, Thomas CL, Liu Y, Leng S, Joste N, and Belinsky SA. Differential Epigenetic Regulation of TOX Subfamily High Mobility Group Box Genes in Lung and Breast Cancers. PLoS One. 2012; 7(4): e34850.
Tessema M, Yingling CM, Thomas CL, Klinge DM, Bernauer AM, Liu Y, Dacic S, Siegfried JM, Dahlberg SE, Schiller JH, and Belinsky SA. SULF2 Methylation is Prognostic for Lung Cancer Survival and Increases Sensitivity to Topoisomerase-I inhibitors via Induction of ISG15. Oncogene. 2012; 31(37): 4107–16.
Tessema M, Yingling CM, Liu Y, Tellez CS, and Belinsky SA. Genome-wide Unmasking of Epigenetically Silenced Genes in Lung Adenocarcinoma from Smokers and Never Smokers. Carcinogenesis. 2014; 35(6): 1248-57.
Tessema M, Yingling CM, Snider AM, Do K, Juri DE, Picchi MA, Zhang X, Liu Y, Leng S, Tellez CS, and Belinsky SA. GATA2 is epigenetically repressed in human and mouse lung tumors and is not requisite for survival of KRAS mutant lung cancer. J Thorac Oncol. 2014; 9(6): 784-93.
Tessema M, Yingling CM, Picchi MA, Wu G, Liu Y, Weissfeld JL, Siegfried JM, Tesfaigzi Y, and Belinsky SA. Epigenetic Repression of CCDC37 and MAP1B Links Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease to Lung Cancer. J Thorac Oncol. 2015; 10(8): 1181–8.
Tessema M, Yingling CM, Picchi MA, Wu G, Ryba T, Lin Y, Bungum AO, Edell ES, Spira A, and Belinsky SA. ANK1 Methylation Regulates Expression of MicroRNA-486-5p and Discriminates Lung tumors by Histology and Smoking Status. Cancer Letters. 2017; 410:191-200.
Kuehl PJ, Grimes MJ, Dubose D, Burke M, Revelli DA, Gigliotti AP, Belinsky SA, and Tessema M. Inhalation Delivery of Topotecan is Superior to Intravenous Exposure for Suppressing Lung Cancer in a Preclinical Model. Drug Deliv. 2018; 25:1, 1127-36.
Tessema M, Rossi MR, Picchi MA, Yingling CM, Lin Y, Ramalingam SS, and Belinsky SA. Common Cancer-Driver Mutations and their Association with Abnormally Methylated Genes in Lung Adenocarcinoma from Never-Smokers. Lung Cancer 2018; 123:99-106.
Tessema M, Tassew DD, Yingling CM, Do K, Picchi MA, Wu G, Petersen H, Randell S, Lin Y, Belinsky SA, and Tesfaigzi Y. Identification of Novel Epigenetic Abnormalities as Sputum Biomarkers for Lung Cancer Risk among Smokers and COPD Patients. Lung Cancer, 2020; 146:189-96.

Dan Covey, PhD
Assistant Professor

DCovey@lovelacebiomedical.org
http://www.coveylab.org/

Education

Illinois State University, B.S. 2007 Psychology

Illinois State University, PhD 2013 Biology

Biography

Dr. Covey is an Assistant Professor at LBRI and specializes in the neurobiology of motivated behaviors. His work uses neural circuit monitoring and manipulation techniques in behaving rodents to identify fundamental neural mechanisms of learning and motivation, and its dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disease. He completed his graduate studies at Illinois State University where he identified novel mechanisms by which the highly addictive and widely prescribed psychostimulant, amphetamine, elevates dopamine neurotransmission in the live animal. During his postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Dr Covey discovered that endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling at the cannabinoid type 1 receptor is required for the addictive psychostimulants amphetamine and cocaine to increase dopamine neurotransmission. Work in a neurodegenerative Huntington’s disease mouse model demonstrates that compromised dopaminergic encoding of reward coincides with the age-related development of an apathetic phenotype and pharmacologically elevating eCB signaling rescues dopaminergic and motivational deficits. During his postdoctoral career, Dr. Covey was funded by an F32 NRSA award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to study the cellular mechanisms by which eCBs control dopamine neuron function and positive reinforcement. This work combines site- and cell-type specific mutagenesis, optogenetics, and dopamine voltammetry, and has found that eCB synthesis by dopamine neurons determines how accumbal dopamine release encodes rewards versus cues and cue-motivated reward seeking. Dr Covey is currently funded by an R00 award from NIDA that aims to identify neural circuit-specific mechanisms that control dopamine neuron function and motivated behaviors.

Select Publications (29 publications; 12 first author; 849 citations; h-index = 17)

Covey DP, Cheer JF. Accumbal dopamine release tracks the expectation of dopamine neuron-mediated reinforcement. Cell Reports. 2019. 27(2): 481-490.
Radke AK, Kocharian A, Covey DP, Lovinger DM, Cheer JF, Mateo Y, Holmes A. Causal and coincident contributions of striatal dopamine to cognitive flexibility. Eur J Neurosci. In Press.
Yohn SE, Foster, DJ, Covey DP, Moehle MS, Galbraith J, Garcia-Barrantes PM, Joffe ME, Cho HP, Blobaum AL, Cheer JF, Lindsley CW, Conn PJ. Activation of the mGlu1 metabotropic glutamate receptor has antipsychotic-like effects and is required for efficacy of M4 muscarinic receptor allosteric modulators. Mol Psychiatry. 2018.
Covey DP, Dantrassy H, Yohn SE, Castro A, PJ Conn, Cheer JF. Inhibition of endocannabinoid degradation rectifies motivational and dopaminergic deficits in the Q175 mouse model of Huntington’s disease. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018. 43: 2056-2063.
Mateo Y, Johnson KA, Covey DP, Atwood BK, Wang H, Zhang S, Cachope R, Bellocchio L, Guzman M, Morales M, Cheer JF, Lovinger DM. Endocannabinoids on cortical terminals orchestrate local control of dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Neuron. 2017. 96: 1112-1126.
Covey DP, Bunner KD, Schuweiler DR, Cheer JF, Garris PA. Amphetamine elevates nucleus accumbens dopamine via an action potential-dependent mechanism that is modulated by endocannabinoids. Eur J Neurosci. 2016: 1661-1673.
Covey DP, Dantrassy H, Zlebnik N, Gildish I and Cheer JF. Compromised dopaminergic encoding of reward accompanying suppressed willingness to overcome high effort costs is a prominent prodromal characteristic of the Q175 mouse model of Huntington's disease. J Neurosci. 2016: 4993-5002.
Covey DP, Mateo Y, Sulzer D, Cheer JF, Lovinger DM. Endocannabinoid modulation of dopamine neurotransmission. Neuropharmacology. 2016. 124: 52-61.
Covey DP, Roitman MF, Garris PA. Illicit dopamine transients: reconciling actions of abused drugs. Trends Neurosci. 2014;37:200-210.
Covey DP, Juliano SA, Garris PA. Amphetamine elicits opposing actions on readily releasable and reserve pools for dopamine. PLoS One. 2013;8:e60763.

Andrew R, Mayer, PhD
Adjunct Associate Professor

Dr. Mayer’s research primarily focuses on using multimodal neuroimaging and other biomarkers to systematically examine the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury in Veterans, civilian adults, children, and preclinical models. His lab was one of the first to serially assess the natural course of recovery following mild traumatic brain injury from the sub-acute to chronic phase for biomarkers of diffusion, cerebral vascular reactivity and functional connectivity (March 2016 issue of The Economist). He has also examined the impact of repetitive head injuries in mixed martial artists and collegiate athletes. Dr. Mayer currently has two large grants from the National Institutes of Health to examine how concussion affects youth up to one year post-injury. More recently, Dr. Mayer has teamed up with several other investigators to examine how neuromodulation may reverse some of the neurobehavioral and pathophysiological deficits following head injury in Veterans through funding from the Department of Defense.

Dr. Mayer has a longstanding interest in understanding the attentional architecture of the brain across a number of other neuropsychiatric conditions (psychotic spectrum disorders and substance abuse), especially for the processing of multisensory information. He also works on the development and application of cutting-edge neuroimaging techniques, such as multi-modal data fusion techniques and advanced modeling of the hemodynamic response function. As director of the 3T Core, Dr. Mayer works with other investigators to ensure that MRN’s state-of-the-art resources are available to support cutting edge research here in New Mexico.

For more information on Dr. Mayer, please refer to his Curriculum Vitae.

Recent Publications

Jon M. Houck, PhD
Research Assistant, Associate Professor

Education

PhD, Psychology, University of New Mexico, 2011

Postdoctoral Fellow, Mind Research Network, 2011-2013

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of New Mexico, 2011-2013

Biography

Dr. Houck focuses on translational neuroscience, in particular the neurobiological mechanisms of behavior change. Much of his research has applied of neuroimaging and psychotherapy process research to the study of behavior change, including the use of magnetoencephalography (MEG) to test the neural substrates of motivational interviewing (MI) in substance use disorder. In addition, he is testing neuromodulation as a means of enhancing treatment for alcohol use disorder.

Recent Publications

Steven Baker, PhD
Assistant Professor, Infectious Disease Program

Education & Training

SUNY Buffalo, B.S. (2007), Biochemical Pharmacology, Minor: Medicinal Chemistry

University of Rochester, Ph.D. (2015), Laboratory of Luis Martínez-Sobrido; influenza virology & vaccines

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Postdoc (2021), Laboratory of Andy Mehle; influenza virus-host interactions

Biography

Dr. Baker started his lab at Lovelace Biomed in 2021. He has studied influenza viruses for over a decade and has built and transferred knowledge towards understanding the immediate (innate immune), intermediate (adaptive immune protection), and long-term (co-evolution and adaptation) host outcomes from viral infection. In graduate school, he authored research that was the first to demonstrate that viral RNA packaging signals constrain influenza virus inter-species reassortment. This work has implications on how currently circulating influenza type A and B strains can separately persist in the human population. His scope shifted during his postdoc, where his research focused on how differences in host species impacts viral adaptation. This led to his findings that host-specific differential alternative RNA splicing of ANP32A shapes virus evolution, and that certain host genes can function as a poison pill: an alternative splice product of MECR unlocks cryptic antiviral function from an essential metabolic enzyme. These studies help define how zoonotic viruses overcome host barriers to infection, which sheds light on predicting future pandemics. His group at LBRI will continue to explore species-specific host alternative RNA splicing during influenza viral infection. Dr. Baker has experience in mice and ferret models of influenza viral infection, vaccine design and adjuvant testing, and antiviral compound screening. His work has been recognized by the Vincent du Vigneaud and Melville A. Hare awards (University of Rochester), the Centers for Excellence in Influenza Research and Surveillance (CEIRS), the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESWI), and Faculty Opinions (formerly F1000 prime). He is a former Roche Postdoctoral Fellow, had appointments on two NIH T32 training grants, and has independent funding awards from XSEDE (National Science Foundation) and Pacific Biosciences.

Lab Website

www.thebakerlab.com

Select Publications

Baker SF, Meistermann H, Tzouros M, Baker A, Golling S, Siebourg Polster J, Ledwith MP, Gitter A, Augustin A, Javanbakht H, Mehle A. (2020). Alternative splicing liberates a cryptic cytoplasmic isoform of mitochondrial MECR that antagonizes influenza virus. bioRxiv.
Baker SF, Ledwith MP, Mehle A. (2018). Differential Splicing of ANP32A in Birds Alters Its Ability to Stimulate RNA Synthesis by Restricted Influenza Polymerase. Cell Reports.
Jiang T, Nogales A, Baker SF, Martinez-Sobrido L, Turner DH. (2016). Mutations Designed by Ensemble Defect to Misfold Conserved RNA Structures of Influenza A Segments 7 and 8 Affect Splicing and Attenuate Viral Replication in Cell Culture. PLOS One.
Cox A*, Baker SF*, Nogales A, Martínez-Sobrido L, Dewhurst S. (2015). Development of a mouse-adapted, live-attenuated influenza virus that permits in vivo analysis of enhancements to the safety of live attenuated influenza virus vaccine. J. Virol.
Nogales A*, Baker SF*, Martínez-Sobrido L. (2015). Replication-competent influenza A viruses expressing a red fluorescent protein. Virology.
Baker SF, Nogales A, Finch C, Tuffy K, Domm W, Perez DR, Topham DJ, Martínez-Sobrido L. (2014). Influenza A and B intertypic reassortment through compatible viral packaging signals. J. Virol.
Baker SF, Guo H, Albrecht RA, García-Sastre A, Topham DJ, Martínez-Sobrido L. (2013). Protection against lethal influenza with a viral mimic. J. Virol.

Rachel Cooper, DVM, MS
Clinical Veterinarian

Education

Kenyon College, BA 2013 Biology, Neuroscience

Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, DVM 2017 Veterinary Medicine

Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, MS 2017 Laboratory Animal Medicine

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Postdoctoral Fellowship 2020

Biography

Dr. Cooper is the attending veterinarian at LBRI, where she collaborates with investigators to develop animal models and techniques; provides direct surgical and procedural support for research programs; and leads the veterinary care program for all maintained species. During a postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins, her research focused primarily on the clinical care and management of nonhuman primates and other animal models; most recently, she completed a longitudinal study of the gut microbiota of common marmosets, with implications for management of research colonies from diverse origins. Dr. Cooper holds a New Mexico state veterinary license and USDA Category II Veterinary Accreditation, and is an diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine.

Recent Publications

Under review: Cooper RE, Mangus L, Lynch J, Schonvisky K, Wright J, McLimans C, Wong HT, Chen See JR, Lamendella R, Mankowski J. 2020. Variation in the Gut Microbiota of Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus): Differences with Colony of Origin and Integration.
Cooper RE, Hutchinson EK, Izzi JM. 2019. Evaluation of the guaiac fecal occult blood test for detection of gastrointestinal bleeding in the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). Journal of Medical Primatology. DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12446.
Sakowski E, Uritskiy G, Cooper RE, et al. 2019. Current state and future opportunities for prediction in microbiome research: Report from the Mid-Atlantic Microbiome Meet-up, Baltimore, MD, January 9th, 2019. mSystems. DOI: 10.1128/mSystems.00392-194:e00392-19.
Hicks-Nelson A, Beamer G, Gurel K, Cooper R, Nephew BC. 2017. Transgenerational social stress alters immune-behavior associations and the response to vaccination. Brain Sciences. 7(7):89.
Niazi MKK, Dhulekar N, Schmidt D, Major S, Cooper R, Abeijon C, Gatti D, Kramnik I, Yener B, Gurcan M, and Beamer G. 2015. Lung necrosis and neutrophils reflect common pathways of susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in genetically diverse, immune competent mice. Disease Models & Mechanisms. DOI:10.1242.

Shuguang Leng, MBBS PhD
Lovelace Fellow/Assistant Professor

Education

Shandong Medical University, China, MBBS 1999

Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, China , PhD 2004 Toxicology

Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, USA, Postdoctoral fellow 2008 Molecular Epidemiology

Biography

Dr. Leng is an epidemiologist with extensive expertise in applying “systems epidemiology” approach in the understanding of etiology and mechanisms for human diseases. On several Government funded grants, he has played an integral role in the conceptualization, design, implementation, and interpretation of the molecular and genetic epidemiological studies conducted in former uranium miners, smokers, workers exposed to diesel exhaust and carbon black aerosol, and lung cancer patients. He has demonstrated strong ability to work with multiple collaborators with different scientific backgrounds and to handle multiple data types generated from large-scale longitudinal cohorts. His training in medicine, toxicology, and molecular biology also has strengthened his capacity to bring the research from bedside to bench side to further investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the association observed at the population level. His current research focuses on the understanding of ethnic disparity of cancers and host-environment interaction for lung aging.

Recent Publications

1. Leng S, Diergaarde B, Picchi MA, Wilson DO, Gilliland FD, Yuan JM, Siegfried JM, Belinsky SA. Gene Promoter Hypermethylation Detected in Sputum Predicts FEV1 Decline and All-Cause Mortality in Smokers. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018 Jul 15;198(2):187-196.

2. Cheng W, Liu Y, Tang J, Duan H, Wei X, Zhang X, Yu S, Campen MJ, Han W, Rothman N, Belinsky SA, Lan Q, Zheng Y, Leng S. Carbon content in airway macrophages and genomic instability in Chinese carbon black packers. Arch Toxicol. 2020 Mar;94(3):761-771.

3. Leng S, Thomas CL, Snider AM, Picchi MA, Chen W, Willis DG, Carr TG, Krzeminski J, Desai D, Shantu A, Lin Y, Jacobson MR, Belinsky SA. Radon Exposure, IL-6 Promoter Variants, and Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Former Uranium Miners. Environ Health Perspect. 2016 Apr;124(4):445-51.

4. Leng S, Liu Y, Weissfeld JL, Thomas CL, Han Y, Picchi MA, Edlund CK, Willink RP, Gaither Davis AL, Do KC, Nukui T, Zhang X, Burki EA, Van Den Berg D, Romkes M, Gauderman WJ, Crowell RE, Tesfaigzi Y, Stidley CA, Amos CI, Siegfried JM, Gilliland FD, Belinsky SA. 15q12 variants, sputum gene promoter hypermethylation, and lung cancer risk: a GWAS in smokers. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2015 Feb 23;107(5):djv035.

5. Leng S, Liu Y, Thomas CL, Gauderman WJ, Picchi MA, Bruse SE, Zhang X, Flores KG, Van Den Berg D, Stidley CA, Gilliland FD, Belinsky SA. Native American ancestry affects the risk for gene methylation in the lungs of Hispanic smokers from New Mexico. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Nov 1;188(9):1110-6.

John Farmer, PhD
Director of Immunology & Large Molecule Bioanalytical Chemistry

John Farmer, Ph.D., is the director of immunology and large molecule bioanalytical chemistry (Imm & LM BioA) at Lovelace Biomedical, serving since 2021. The Imm & LMBioA laboratories are responsible for assay development, validation, and sample analysis supporting regulated safety assessment and non-regulated exploratory or discovery in vivo and in vitro studies. Dr. Farmer obtained his doctorate in Cellular and Molecular Physiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham studying the role of lymphocyte derived growth hormone (LDGH) in primary human T and B lymphocytes and Ramos and Jurkat B & T lymphocyte cell lines. Industry training and experience in the conduct of regulated studies in excess of ten years obtained at three different CROs includes ligand binding, cell based, and flow cytometric assay development and validation of PK/TK/ADA methods quantifying immunological responses to multiple classes of biotherapeutics including peptides, proteins, cytokines, vaccines, anti-body drug conjugates, and gene vectors. Additional experience includes direction of immunotoxicology studies assessing innate, cellular, and humoral immune responses in multiple immune competent models including murine, hamster, canine, and multiple species of NHP including Rhesus, cynomolgus, and African green monkeys. Analytical services offered are of three categories; molecular, immunology, and infectious disease (BSL2/3). Molecular services include vector biodistribution, transgene expression, and viral quantification by qPCR, qRT-PCR, and ddPCR. Immunology services include development, validation, and sample analysis using ECL, ELISA, and Flow cytometry techniques supporting PK, TK, ADA, biomarker, and immunotoxicity assessment. In vitro infectious disease services include limited scope bacteriology, e.g., culture, morphology, and growth kinetics. In vitro virological assessment includes TCID50, microneutralization, plague, PRNT, viral titration, viral stock preparation, HA, HAI assays and supporting cell culture.”

Danielle Adney, DVM, PhD
Clinical Veterinarian

Education and Training

Colorado State University, DVM & PhD

Biography

Dr. Adney is a clinical veterinarian whose research focuses on animal model development for emerging and re-emerging pathogens. She received her PhD and DVM from Colorado State University, where she worked in one of the few large animal biosafety level 3 (BSL3) laboratories in the world. Her doctoral dissertation research investigated the role of dromedary camels in the transmission cycle of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Her study was the first to demonstrate active infection and viral shedding of MERS-CoV in dromedary camels which are now known as the putative source of zoonotic transmission of the virus to humans. Dr. Adney has experience working with unique laboratory model animals in high containment laboratories including horses, small ruminants, elk, bats, alligators, feral swine, cottontail rabbits, and several avian species.

Dr. Adney completed her postdoctoral training under Dr. Vincent J. Munster in the Virus Ecology Section at the National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories campus in Hamilton, Montana. During this time, Dr. Adney contributed to the rapid development of animal models to study SARS-CoV-2 in the early stages of the pandemic, including assisting with Operation Warp Speed to test vaccine candidates during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was later involved with characterizing pathogenicity and vaccine efficacy with rapidly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in nonhuman primates and hamsters. Dr. Adney developed one of the first severe disease animal models of SARS-CoV-2 using mink, which is a promising candidate model to test SARS-CoV-2 countermeasures and study severe COVID-19 in the laboratory. Dr. Adney is one of few researchers trained to work in a biosafety level 4 (BSL4) laboratory with high-consequence pathogens such as Nipah virus, Lassa virus, and Marburg virus.

Dr. Adney is also a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity and works to elevate women and underrepresented minorities in science. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative (WVLDI) and speaks nationally about leadership, inclusion, and career development.

Selected Publications - *indicates co-first

1. Munster VJ, Flagg M, Singh M, Yinda CK, Williamson BN, Feldmann F, Pérez- Pérez L, Schulz J, Brumbaugh B, Holbrook MG, Adney DR, Okumura A, Hanley PW, Smith BJ, Lovaglio J, Anzick SL, Martens C, van Doremalen N, Saturday G, de Wit E. Subtle differences in pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 in rhesus macaques. Sci Adv. 2021 Oct 22;7(43):eabj3627.

2. Fischer RJ*, vanDoremalen N*, Adney DR*, Yinda CK, Port JR, Holbrook MG, Schulz JE, Williamson BN, Thomas T, Barbian K, Anzick SL, Ricklefs S, Smith BJ, Long D, Martens C, Saturday G, de Wit E, Gilbert SC, Lambe T, Munster VJ. ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) protects hamsters against SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 and B.1.1.7 disease. Nat Commun. 2021 Oct 7;12(1):5868.

3. Port JR*, Adney DR*, Schwarz B, Schulz JE, Sturdevant DE, Smith BJ, Avanzato VA, Holbrook MG, Purushotham JN, Stromberg KA, Leighton I, Bosio CM, Shaia C, Munster VJ. Western diet increases COVID-19 disease severity in the Syrian hamster. bioRxiv. 2021 Jun 17:2021.06.17.448814.

4. Adney DR, Clancy CS, Bowen RA, Munster VJ. Camelid Inoculation with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus: Experimental Models of Reservoir Host Infection. Viruses. 2020 Nov 30;12(12):1370.

5. Adney DR, Letko M, Rahan IK, Scott D, van Doremalen N, Bowen RA, Munster VJ. Bactrian camels shed large quantities of Middle East Respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) after experimental infection. Emerg Microb Infect 2019; 8:717-723.

6. Adney DR, Wang L, van Doremalen N, Shi W, Zhang Y, Kong WP, Miller MR, Bushmaker T, Scott D, de Wit E, Modjarrad K, Petrovsky N, Graham BS, Bowen RA, Munster VJ. Efficacy of an Adjuvanted Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Spike Protein Vaccine in Dromedary Camels and Alpacas. Viruses. 2019 Mar 2: 11(3). Pii: E212. Doi: 10.3390/v11030212.

7. Adney DR, Brown VR, Porter SM, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Hartwig, AE, Bowen RA. Inoculation of Goats, Sheep, and Horses with MERS-CoV Does Not Result in Productive Viral Shedding. Viruses. 2016, 8;230.

8. Adney DR, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Hartwig A, Bowen RA. Infection, Replication, and Transmission of Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus in Alpacas. Emerg Infect Dis. 2016;22(6):1031-1037.

9. Munster VJ, Adney DR, van Doremalen N, Brown VR, Miazgowicz KL, Milne-Price S, Bushmaker T, Rosenke R, Scott D, Hawkinsons A, de Wit E, Schountz T, Bowen RA. Replication and shedding of MERS-CoV in Jamaican fruit bats (Artibeus jamaicensis). Sci Rep. 2016 Feb 22;6:21878.

10. Adney DR, van Doremalen N, Brown VR, Bushmaker T, Scott D, de Wit E, Bowen RA, Munster VJ. Replication and shedding of MERS-CoV in upper respiratory tract of inoculated dromedary camels. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Dec;20(12):1999-2005.

Our Research Team

Steven Belinsky, PhD

Carmen Tellez, PhD

Guodong Wu, PhD

Adriana E. Kajon, PhD

Janet Benson, PhD

Mathewos Tessema, PhD

Dan Covey, PhD

Andrew R. Mayer, PhD

Jon M. Houck, PhD

Steven Baker, PhD

Rachel Cooper, DVM, MS, DACLAM

Shuguang Leng, MBBS PhD

John Farmer, PhD

Danielle Adney, DVM, PhD

Daniela Schwotzer

Conor A. Ruzycki, PhD

The Mind Research Network

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