The Duluth Academic Health Center (AHC) offers bi-weekly research seminars on Wednesdays from 12:15 to 1:15 PM, both via Zoom and in-person at the Medical School in SMED 142. The Medical School and College of Pharmacy at the Duluth campus support this program.

February 4, 2026, 12:15-1:15pm 
Speaker: Michele Statz, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Behavioral Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
Seminar Title: "A world  threatening feeling: grief, moral injury, and institutional loss in rural Minnesota courts"
Host: Cathy McCarty, PhD, MPH, HEC-C

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January 8, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Sharyl Samargia-Grivette, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Education and Human Service Professions, University of Minnesota Duluth
Seminar Title: "Rehabilitation Reimagined: Setting the Stage for the Future"
Host: Yu Liu, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

January 22, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Roger Ramirez Barrios, DVM, MSc, PhD, DACVM
Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Seminar Title: "Parasites and One Health: Using molecular tools to address intriguing stories"
Host: Sara Zimmer, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

February 5, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Mustafa al'Absi, PhD
Professor and Director, Duluth Global Health Research Institute
Seminar Title: "Unraveling stress response dysregulation in addiction, appetite control and relapse dynamics"
Host: Amy Yang, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

March 5, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Lisa Savage, PhD
Professor of Psychology, Binghamton University, New York
Seminar Title: "Long-term neurobiological consequences of adolescent alcohol binge-type alcohol exposure"
Host: Sabrina Scroggins, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

March 19, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Steven Graves, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Seminar Title: "Methamphetamine, neurodegeneration, and seeking behavior"
Host: Matt Slattery, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

April 2, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Tara LeGates, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland
Seminar Title: "Sex-specific mechanisms mediate excitatory synaptic plasticity and stress effects"
Host: Emilia Lefevre, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

April 16, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Alanna Watt, PhD
Professor and Chair of Biology, McGill University, Canada
Seminar Title: "Searching for resilience in a mouse model of ataxia"
Host: Amy Yang, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus
This seminar is via Zoom only.

April 30, 12:30-1:30 pm
Speaker: Monica Fabiani, PhD
Professor of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Seminar Title: "Taking the pulse of aging: The role of cerebrovascular risk factors in cognitive decline and dementia"
Host: Mustafa al'Absi, PhD, Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Behavioral Science, Duluth, MN; Director, Duluth Global Health Research Institute
This seminar is via Zoom only.

May 28, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Doug Bremner, MD
Professor of Psychiatry and Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine
Seminar Title: "Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Stress and Addictions"
Host: Mustafa al'Absi, PhD, Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Behavioral Science, Duluth, MN; Director, Duluth Global Health Research Institute
 

September 11, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Sabrina Scroggins, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus
Seminar Title: "Preeclampsia's Lasting Legacy: Shaping Immune Landscapes, Glial Architecture, and Sex Specific Outcomes in Offspring"
Host: Detlef Heck, PhD, Department Head and Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

September 25, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: A. Kelly Lane, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology Teaching and Learning, University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: "Genetic Essentialism in Undergraduate Biology; Narratives About Race and Gender"
Host: DEI committee (Sarah Lacher), PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

October 16, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Betty Exintaris, PhD (Associate Dean Learning and Teaching) & Nilushi Karunaratne, PhD, (Senior Lecturer); Visiting Scholars from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash
University, Australia
Seminar Title: "From Lab to Classroom: Bringing Insights from Basic Electrophysiology to Health"
Host: Kerry Fierke, EdD, Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Duluth

October 23, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Jenny L Sones, PhD, DVM, Associate Professor of Equine Reproduction, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University
Seminar Title: "Beyond the placenta: Preeclampsia & gut microbiome in BPH/5 mice"
Host: Jean Regal, PhD, Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

November 6, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Laura Palombi, PharmD, MPH, MAT, Professor, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Duluth campus
Seminar Title: "Stigma and Substance Use Disorder"
Host: Grant Anderson, PhD, Associate Professor and Department Head, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duluth campus

November 20, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Stuart McAfee, PhD, Faculty Scientist, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Seminar Title: "Circuits of Silence: Investigating the Neurobiology of Cerebellar Mutism"
Host: Detlef Heck, PhD, Department Head and Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

December 11, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Thomas Bastian, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, UMN Medical School, Twin Cities campus
Seminar Title: "Iron Deficiency and Neuron Development – Mitochondrial Energetics as a Potential Target for Intervention"
Host: Nam Chul Kim, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duluth campus

January 10, 3:30 pm 
Speaker: Abigail Johnson, PhD, RD, Assistant Professor, Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, UMN School of Public Health
Seminar Title: "Exploring Dietary Patterns and the Human Gut Microbiome"
Host: Detlef Heck, PhD, Department Head and Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

January 24, 3:30 pm
Speaker: Adam Bress, PharmD, MS, Associate Professor, Health University of Utah
Seminar Title: "Optimizing antihypertensive treatment in 2024 to prevent cardiovascular disease and dementia"
Host: David Stenehjem, PharmD, BCOP, Associate Department Head and Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Duluth campus

February 7, 3:30 pm
Speaker: Casey Dorr, PhD, Investigator Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute’s Department of Nephrology Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota Department of Medicine, Renal and Hypertension Division, Co-director CTSI Pathways to Research Program (PReP) and Advanced Pathways to Research Program (A-PReP). 
Seminar Title: "Pharmacogenomics and Spatialomics in Kidney Transplantation"
Hosts: Sabrina Scroggins, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences, and Benjamin Clarke, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

February 28, 3:30 pm
Speaker: David Stenehjem, PharmD, BCOP, Associate Department Head and Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Duluth campus
Seminar Title: "Clinical Development of the TBL1 inhibitor, Tegavivint, for desmoid tumors and hepatocellular carcinoma"
Host: Grant Anderson, PhD, Department Head and Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Duluth campus

March 13, 3:30 pm
Speaker: Taihung (Peter) Duong, PhD, Professor of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine
Seminar Title: "The Rural Medical Education Program at the Indiana University School of Medicine - Terre Haute"
Host: Peter Nalin, MD, Department Head and Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, UMN of Medical School, Duluth Campus

March 27, 3:30 pm
Speaker: Anna L Peters, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, OH
Seminar Title: "Defining the T cell transcriptional landscape in pediatric liver transplant rejection at single-cell resolution"
Hosts: Sabrina Scroggins, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

April 10, 3:30 pm
Speaker: Sarah Lacher, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus
Seminar Title: "Dissecting Woodsmoke-Induced Stress Responses in Lung Macrophages and Epithelial Cells"
Hosts: Detlef Heck, PhD, Department Head and Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

April 24, 3:30 pm
Speaker: Jacques Wadiche, PhD, Professor, Department of Neurobiology, Heerskink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Seminar Title: "Local and diffuse actions of glutamate"
Hosts: Yi-Mei (Amy) Yang, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus  

May 8, 3:30 pm
Speaker: Teresa M Dunn, PhD, Professor and Chair, School of Medicine, Biochemistry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 
Seminar Title: "Sphingolipid Synthesis Gone Awry; Structural Insights into Neurological Diseases Resulting from Variants in SPT"
Hosts: Pedro Fernandez-Funez, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus  

May 22, 3:30 pm
Speaker: Janelle Taylor, PhD, Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Canada
Seminar Title: "Borderlands of Aging, Dementia, Care and Ethnography"
Host: Michele Statz, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

September 13, 3:30 pm
Speaker: Harald Junge, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Neuroscience, UMN Medical School, Twin Cities campus
Seminar Title: "The Norrin/Frizzled4 signaling pathway controls the blood-retina barrier and is a target for therapeutic intervention"
Host: Lester Drewes, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

October 11, 3:30 pm
Speaker: Ronald Drew Etheridge, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Cellular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia
Seminar Title: "The Neglected Biology of Trypanosoma cruzi: New Tools and Techniques for an Enigmatic Parasite" 
Host: Sara Zimmer, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus

October 25, 3:30 pm
Speaker: Jordan Lewis, PhD, MSW, Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health | Memory Keepers - Duluth Discovery Team
Seminar Title: "Generativity and its role in addressing health disparities among Indigenous communities and Elders"
Host: Peter Nalin, MD, Department Head and Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, UMN of Medical School, Duluth campus

December 13, 3:30 pm
Speaker: Jeongsik Yong, PhD, Associate Professor, UMN Biochemistry Molecular Biology and Biophysics
Seminar Title: "To continue or not to continue: Intron polyadenylation in cancer"
Host: Nam Chul Kim, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy

January 18, 3:30 pm  
Speaker: Kyoko Yoshida, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities  
Seminar Title: "The mechanics behind the miracle of life: Soft tissue growth and remodeling biomechanics during pregnancy"  
Host: Jean Regal, PhD, Professor Pharmacology and Department Head, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus  

February 15, 3:30 pm  
Speaker: Ezequiel Marron Fernandez de Velasco, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities  
Seminar Title: "GIRK channel contribution to mood and substance use disorders"  
Host: Matt Slattery, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus  

March 1, 3:30 pm  
Speaker: Laura Schulz, PhD, Director of the Institute for Women’s Health and Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Missouri  
Seminar Title:  "Understanding the Role of the Placenta in Major Disorders of Pregnancy"  
Host: Sabrina Scroggins, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus  

March 15, 3:30 pm  
Speaker: Jeffrey Hunger, PhD, Assistant Professor of Social Psychology, Miami University  
Seminar Title: "Weight Stigma in Healthcare: Prevalence, Impact, and Intervention"  
Host: Brenna Doheny, PhD, Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Family Medicine and BioBehavioral Health, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus  

March 29, 3:30 pm  
Speaker: Ryan Hunter, PhD, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities  
Seminar Title: "When Good Bugs Go Wild: Contributions of Commensal Microbiota to Chronic Airway Disease"  
Host: Patricia Scott, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus  

April 19, 3:30 pm  
Speaker: Detlef Heck, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus  
Seminar Title: "Rhythms of the body, rhythms of the brain: in search of principles of mind body interaction"  
Host: Yi-Mei (Amy) Yang, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus  

May 3, 3:30 pm  
Speaker: Mark Dunnenberger, PharmD, Director of Pharmacogenomics, NorthShore University Health System  
Seminar Title: "Bringing Pharmacogenomics to the Frontlines of Care"  
Host: Jacob Brown, PharmD, MS, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy  

May 17, 3:30 pm  
Speaker: Melissa Walls, PhD, Associate Professor of American Health at Johns Hopkins University and Director of the Great Lakes Hub of the JHU Center for American Indian Health  
Seminar Title: "Partnerships for promoting Indigenous well-being and health leadership"  
Host: Matt Slattery, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth campus  

May 31, 3:30 pm  
Speaker: William Coetzee, DSc, Professor of Pathology, New York University  
Seminar Title: "Regulation of ATP-sensitive Potassium Channels by Lipid Post-Translational Modifications:  
Host: Amanda Klein, MS, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy  

September 14, 3:30 pm
Patricia Scott, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus
Seminar Title: "The tumor suppressor gene CFTR and colorectal cancer".
Host: Jean Regal, PhD, Professor Pharmacology and Department Head, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

September 28, 3:30 pm
Katharine Lee, PhD, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Tulane University
Seminar Title: "It’s not about fertility: researching menstrual experiences after COVID vaccination" 
Host: Allie Zachwieja, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

October 12, 3:30 pm
Je-Hyun Yoon, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina
Seminar Title: "Long noncoding RNA in glucose metabolism and breast cancer"
Host: Nam Chul Kim, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy

November 2, 3:30 pm
Olihe Okoro, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Seminar Title: "Social Determinants of Care: Making the Case for Structural Experiential Education"
Host: Grant Anderson, PhD, Department Head and Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy

November 16, 3:30 pm
Brenna Greenfield, PhD, LP, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine & Biobehavioral Health, UMN of Medical School, Duluth Campus 
Amy Redcloud, Mental Health Clinical Treatment Director for Red Lake Nation
Seminar Title: "Anji'bide: Research as a transformative tool to improve community well-being"
Host: Peter Nalin, MD, Department Head and Professor, UMN of Medical School, Duluth Campus

December 7, 3:30 pm
Laurie K Read, PhD, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Buffalo, State University of New York
Seminar Title: "RNA binding proteins in control: Multifaceted gene regulation by Trypanosoma brucei DRBD18" 
Host: Sara Zimmer, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

January 19, 3:30 pm
Katherine Lingras, PhD, LP, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus
Seminar Title: "Sustaining a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee within an Academic Health Center Department: A Two-Year Follow-Up"
Host: BMS DEI Committee

March 30, 3:30 pm
Hyun Kyoung Lee, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine
Seminar Title: "Roles for Glia in Brain Function and Injury Response"
Host: Matthew Slattery, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

April 13, 3:30 pm
Laura Palombi, PharmD, MPH, MAT, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy - Duluth
Seminar Title: “Relentless stigma: What we've learned from years of community-engaged substance use research in Minnesota”
Host: Grant Anderson, PhD, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy - Duluth

May 11, 3:30 pm
Joshua Shulman, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology, Neuroscience, and Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine
Seminar Title: "The Brain Transcriptome in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease" 
Host: Pedro Fernandez-Funez, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

September 15, 3:30 pm
Roy Sillitoe, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology & Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine
Seminar Title: "Genetic Dissection of Cerebellar Function by Generating Mice with Disease-like Phenotypes"
Host: Yi-Mei (Amy) Yang, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

October 6, 3:30 pm
Harsh Jain, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics , University of Minnesota Duluth 
Seminar Title: "Understanding Prostate Cancer Patients' Response to Live Cell Vaccination with a Mechanistic, Predictive Computational Framework"
Host: Matthew Slattery, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

October 20, 3:30 pm
Heather Bradshaw, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Indiana University
Seminar Title: "Regulation of endocannabinoids and related bioactive lipids by THC and CBD: effects of sex, enzymes, and development"
Host: Jean Regal, PhD, Department Head of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

October 27, 2021, 3:30 pm
Sabrina Scroggins, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Seminar title: "Dendritic Cells: A Novel Approach in the Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension"
Host: Jean Regal, PhD, Department Head of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

November 3, 3:30 pm
Charles Allen, PhD, Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences and Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University
Seminar Title: "Physiological Mechanisms of GABAergic Neurotransmission in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus"
Host: Ruifeng Cao, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

November 17, 3:30 pm
Meredith Morris, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University
Seminar title: "High-resolution approaches to define organelle heterogeneity using trypanosomes as a model system"
Host: Sara Zimmer, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

December 15, 3:30 pm
J. Marc Simard, MD, PhD, Dr. Bizhan Aarabi Professor in Neurotrauma, Department of Neurosurgery
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Seminar Title: "SUR1-TRPM4 – Emerging Player in CNS injury"
Host: Amanda Klein, MS, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Duluth

January 27, 3:30pm
Marija Cvetanovic, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: "Fellowship of the brain"
Host: Lester Drewes, PhD, Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus
 
February 10, 3:30 pm
Kyunghee Koh, PhD, Associate Professor, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Neuroscience
Seminar Title: "Molecular and neural mechanisms of sleep and circadian regulation in Drosophila"
Host: Ruifeng (Ray) Cao, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus 
 
February 24, 3:30 pm
Paula Warrington, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences
Seminar Title: “Neurovascular Abnormalities in Preeclampsia: Preclinical Investigations towards the Mechanisms.”
Host: Jean Regal, PhD, Professor & Head, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus
 
March 24, 3:30 pm
Damien Fair, PhD, Professor , Department of Pediatrics, UMN Medical School
Seminar Title: "Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience in the Era of Big Data: Approaches to mapping individual connectomes"
Host: Dr. Yi-Mei (Amy) Yang, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus
 

April 7, 3:30 pm
Kristin Wiisanen, PharmD, FAPhA, FCCP, University of Florida, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacotherapy & Translational Research
Seminar Title: "Implementing Clinical Pharmacogenomics at UF Health: Ten Years of Progress"
Host: Keri Hager, PharmD, BCACP, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Co-Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs

April 21, 3:30 pm
Udai Pandey, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health
Department of Human Genetics
Seminar Title: "Identifying hidden GEMs using genetic approaches"
Host: Pedro Fernandez-Funez, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

May 5, 3:30 pm
Dana Dolinoy, PhD, Professor, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Seminar Title: "Environmental Epigenetics and the Use of piRNA for Precision Environmental Health Research"
Host: Sarah Lacher, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

September 9, 3:30pm
Glenn E. Simmons, Jr., PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
Title: HMGB1 and regulation of the immune response in lung cancer
Host: Matthew Slattery, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences

September 23, 3:30pm
Jordan P. Lewis, PhD, MSW (Unangax, Native Village of Naknek)
Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team - Health Equity
Professor, Department of Family Medicine & Biobehavioral Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus
Title: Generativity and its role in addressing health disparities among Alaska Native Elders
Host: Peter Nalin, MD, Department Head and Professor, UMN of Medical School, Duluth campus

October 7, 3:30pm
Olihe Okoro, PhD, MPH, MPharm
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Duluth
Title: COVID-19 Racial Disparities: Views and Voices of the Northland Black Community
Host: Grant Anderson, PhD, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences 

October 21, 2020
Michele Statz, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine & Biobehavioral Health, University of MN, Medical School, Duluth Campus
Title: Why Rural Legal Deserts Matter (to Medicine)
Host: Peter Nalin, MD, Professor & Head, Department of Family Medicine & Biobehavioral Health, University of MN, Medical School, Duluth Campus

November 4, 2020
Mark J. Thomas, PhD
Professor of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Director, Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, Center for Neural Circuits in Addiction
MnDRIVE Optogenetics Core 
Seminar Title: Frontostriatal circuits in decision making and addiction
Host: Dr. Yi-Mei (Amy) Yang, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus

December 2, 3:30pm
Haining Yang, MD, PhD
Professor, Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center
Title: BAP1 Cancer Syndrome and Mesothelioma, a good model to study Gene X Environment interaction in causing cancer
Host: Glenn E. Simmons Jr., PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences 

 

January 22, 2020
Vivian Bellofatto, PhD 
Professor & Chair, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers, New Jersey, Medical School
Seminar Title: A different way of doing business: RNA control of gene expression
Host: Dr. Sara Zimmer, Associate Professor, University of MN Medical School Duluth
 
February 26, 2020
Tim White, MS
Business Development and Intellectual Property Manager, NRRI, University of Minnesota Duluth

Dr. Allison Ferro 
Technology Portfolio Manager, Office of Technology Commercialization, University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Introduction to Technology Commercialization and Intellectual Property at the U
 
March 4, 2020
Sandra Momper, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Social Work, University of Michigan 
Host: Dr. Brenna Greenfield, Assistant Professor, University of MN Medical School Duluth
Seminar Title: Community Based Participatory Research Projects with an Urban American Indian Community to Support Minobinmaadziwin: A Good Life
 
Cancelled (March 25, 2020)
Jacques Wadiche, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama School of Medicine 
Host: Dr. Amy Yang, Assistant Professor, University of MN Medical School Duluth
Seminar Title: Circuits without synapses
 
Cancelled (April 01, 2020)
Mark Dunnenberger, PhD
Director of Pharmacogenomics, NorthShore University Health System Center for Molecular Medicine
Host: Dr. Jacob Brown, Assistant Professor, University of MN College of Pharmacy, Duluth
Seminar Title: TBA

September 18, 2019
Douglas Bell, PhD
Senior Investigator, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Seminar Title: Tobacco smoke effects on the human immune cell epigenome and single-cell transcriptome
Host: Dr. Sarah Lacher, Assistant Professor, University of MN Medical School Duluth
 
September 25, 2019
Danny Welch, PhD
Professor, The Kansas University Medical Center
Seminar Title: Mitochondrial Polymorphisms as contributors to metastasis and other complex diseases
Host: Dr. Carl McGary, Assistant Professor, University of MN Medical School Duluth
 
October 9, 2019
Russell Debose-Boyd, PhD
Professor, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Seminar Title: Feedback regulation of HMG CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis and molecular target of statins
Host: Dr. Glen Simmons, Assistant Professor, University of MN Medical School Duluth
 
October 23, 2019
Yi-Mei (Amy) Yang, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota, Medical School Duluth
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Seminar Title: The cerebellar circuitry and social behavior
 
November 6, 2019
Sarah Brown 
Senior Reporter, The Chronicle of Higher Education
Seminar Title: Gender Inequity in Higher Ed: What Academic Institutions Are Doing About It
Hosts: Dr. Jean Regal, Professor, & Dr. Michele Statz, Assistant Professor, University of MN Medical School Duluth
 
November 13, 2019
Colleen McClung, PhD
Professor, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Seminar Title: Circadian genes, rhythms and the biology of psychiatric disorders
Host: Dr. Ruifeng Cao, Assistant Professor, University of MN Medical School Duluth
 
November 20, 2019
Stella Goulopoulou, PhD 
Assistant Professor, University of North Texas Health Science Center
Seminar Title: Circulating mitochondrial DNA and maternal cardiovascular function in pregnancy
Host: Dr. Jean Regal, Professor, University of MN Medical School Duluth
 
December 11, 2019
Lucas Hill, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Division of Health Outcomes & Pharmacy Practice
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
Seminar Title: Operation Naloxone: Interactive Harm Reduction Education for Health Professions Students
Host: Dr. Keri Hager, Associate Professor, University of MN College of Pharmacy Duluth

January 09, 2019
Debra DeLaet, PhD
Professor, Department of Political Science, Drake University
Seminar Title: Physician, Heal Thyself: Physicians as Human Rights Advocates
Host: Dr. Michele Statz, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine & BioBehavioral Health, Medical School Duluth

January 23, 2019
Kyle Downey, PhD 
Associate Director, West Managed Care, Genentech U.S. Medical Affairs
Seminar Title: Value Frameworks for Pharmaceuticals
Host: Dr. Timothy Stratton, Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Duluth

Rescheduled to February 06, 2019
Mustafa al'Absi, PhD
Professor, Department of Family Medicine & Biobehavioral Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
Seminar Title: Stress Response Dysregulation at the Nexus of Addiction, Appetite regulation, and Relapse

February 13, 2019
Anja Bielinsky, PhD
Professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: The Good and Bad of Genome Instability 
Hosts: Regional Campus Dean Dr. Paula Termuhlen, Dr. Lester Drewes & Dr. Jean Regal, Professors, Medical School Duluth 
 
February 27, 2019
Val Watts, PhD
Associate Dean for Research, College of Pharmacy, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University
Seminar Title: GPCR-mediated sensitization of adenylyl cyclase signaling: novel pathways and molecular probe development 
Host: Dr. Amanda Klein, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice & Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Duluth
 
March 6, 2019 
Zoua Vang, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology McGill University
Seminar Title: The role of hospital bureaucracy and racial stereotypes in patient-provider interactions: Evidence from Indigenous childbirth evacuees in Quebec
Host: Dr. Mary Owen, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine and BioBehavioral Health, Medical School Duluth
 
March 13, 2019 
Tamera Schneider, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychology, Wright State University
Seminar Title: Moving Beyond Implicit Bias in STEMM
Host: Dr. Jean Regal, Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School Duluth
 
March 20, 2019
Mustafa al'Absi
Professor, Department of Family Medicine & Biobehavioral Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
Seminar Title: Stress Response Dysregulation at the Nexus of Addiction, Appetite regulation, and Relapse
 
March 27, 2019
Blake Riggs, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, San Francisco State University
Seminar Title: Organelle dynamics during mitosis: a pathway for generation of cellular diversity
Host: Dr. Glen Simmons, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School Duluth
 
April 3, 2019
Nam Chul Kim, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Duluth
Seminar Title: Mitochondrial pathogenesis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia
 
April 17, 2019
Pascal Kaeser, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurobiology , Harvard Medical School
Seminar Title: Mechanisms for fast dopamine signaling
Host: Dr. Yi-Mei (Amy) Yang, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School Duluth
 
Canceled April 24, 2019
Prakash Kara, PhD
Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Optical and Brain Science Medical Discovery Team (MDT) , University of Minnesota Medical School
Seminar Title: TBA
Host: Dr. Amanda Klein, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice & Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Duluth
 
May 1, 2019
Lynden Crowshoe, PhD, Indigenous Health Program
Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine , University of Calgary
Seminar Title: Truth, Reconciliation and Critical Indigenous Health Education
Hosts: Drs. Kristen Jacklin & Wayne Warry, Professors, Department of Family Medicine & Biobehavioral Health, Medical School Duluth
 
May 8, 2019
Rhonda Jones-Webb, PhD
Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Reducing Violent Encounters Between Police and Young Black Men: The Role of Public Health
Host: Regional Campus Dean Dr. Paula Termuhlen, & Dr. Cathy McCarty, Professors, Medical School Duluth
 
May 15, 2019
Ira Blader, PhD
Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Buffalo
Seminar Title: Toxoplasma Infections of the Brain: Getting the Most Out of Your PHDs
Host: Dr. Sara Zimmer, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School Duluth

2019-2025 AHC Research Seminar Recordings

*Recordings are available to University of Minnesota employees only, using their x500 login credentials.

Yi-Mei Amy Yang, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, Duluth campus

Yi-Mei Amy Yang, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, Duluth campus (Chair)

Nam Chul Kim, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Duluth campus

Genelle Lamont, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health, Medical School, Duluth campus

Sabrina Scroggins, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, Duluth campus

Marianne Morton, Medical School, Duluth campus

Please contact Marianne Morton at [email protected] for additional information.