AHC Duluth Research Seminar Series Schedule
Upcoming AHC Seminar
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.
May 28, 12:30-1:30 pm
Speaker: Doug Bremner, MD, web profile
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
Spring 2025
January 8, 12:15-1:15 pm
Speaker: Sharyl Samargia-Grivette, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, web profile
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, web profile
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, web profile
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, web profile
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, web profile
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, web profile
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, web profile
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, web profile
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, web profile
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
Zoom room Link
Fall 2024
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
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
Spring 2024
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
Fall 2023
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
Spring 2023
January 18, 3:30 pm
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
February 15, 3:30 pm
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
March 1, 3:30 pm
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
March 15, 3:30 pm
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
March 29, 3:30 pm
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
April 19, 3:30 pm
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
May 3, 3:30 pm
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
Zoom room link
May 17, 3:30 pm
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
Zoom room link
May 31, 3:30 pm
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
Location: Room 142, School of Medicine
Zoom room link
Fall 2022
September 14, 3:30 pm
Patricia Scott, PhD, web profile
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
Location: Room 142 School of Medicine
September 28, 3:30 pm
Katharine Lee, PhD, web profile
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
Location: Room 142 School of Medicine
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
Location: Room 142 School of Medicine
November 2, 3:30 pm
Olihe Okoro, PhD, MPH, web profile
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
Location: Room 142 School of Medicine
November 16, 3:30 pm
Brenna Greenfield, PhD, LP, web profile
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
Location: Room 142 School of Medicine
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
Location: Room 142 School of Medicine
Spring 2022
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
Location: Room 142 School of Medicine
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”
Location: Room 142 School of Medicine
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
Location: Room 142 School of Medicine
Fall 2021
September 15, 3:30 pm
Roy Sillitoe, PhD, web profile
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, web profile
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, web profile
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, web profile
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, web profile
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, 2021, 3:30 pm
Meredith Morris, PhD, web lab profile
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, web profile
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
Spring 2021
Kyunghee Koh, PhD, web profile
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
Paula Warrington, PhD, web profile
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
Damien Fair, PhD, web profile
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
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, web profile
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
Fall 2020
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, web profile (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, web profile
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, web profile
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, web profile
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, web profile
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
Spring 2020
*Please note that personal website links for seminar speakers are accurate up to the date of the corresponding seminar. If a website link is no longer active, you may need to perform an internet search to locate a researcher's current website.
Dr. Allison Ferro, web profile
Technology Portfolio Manager, Office of Technology Commercialization, University of Minnesota
Fall 2019
*Please note that personal website links for seminar speakers are accurate up to the date of the corresponding seminar. If a website link is no longer active, you may need to perform an internet search to locate a researcher's current website.
Russell Debose-Boyd, PhD, web profile
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
Spring 2019
Fall 2018
Seminar Title: Entrainment of Circadian Rhythms: Light vs. Fear
Host: Dr. Ruifeng (Ray) Cao, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School Duluth
Seminar Title: Beyond Vision: Tuning human physiology using visible light
Host: Dr. Ruifeng (Ray) Cao, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School Duluth
Public Health Institute
Spring 2018
Dr. Hill’s Website: http://soc.unl.edu/patricia-wonch-hill
Dr. McQuillan’s Website: http://soc.unl.edu/julia-mcquillan
Seminar Title: Structuring Institutions for Faculty Success
Hosts: Drs. Melissa Walls and Jean Regal
Texas Tech University Health Science Center
Website: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/medicine/immunology-molecular-biology/current/research-profiles/kevin-pruitt.aspx
Seminar Title: Exploring novel approaches to block intra-tumoral estrogen production
Host: Dr. Glenn Simmons
Dr. Colleen Manchester
University of Minnesota
Website: https://carlsonschool.umn.edu/faculty/colleen-manchester
Seminar Title: Faculty Success and the Work-Family Interface
Hosts: Dr. Jean Regal and Regional Campus Dean Paula Termuhlen
Dr. Roy Long
Medical College of Wisconsin--Central Wisconsin
Website: http://www.mcw.edu/Medical-School/Central-Wisconsin-Campus/Meet-Our-Team/Roy-Long-PhD.htm
Seminar Title: Innovative Undergraduate Medical Education in Central Wisconsin
Host: Regional Campus Dean Paula Termuhlen
Dr. Gunnar Boysen
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Website: https://uams-triprofiles.uams.edu/profiles/display/1802590
Seminar Title: Secrets We Can Learn from Lung Tumor Metastases That Challenge Current Paradigms in Cancer Biology
Host: Dr. Kendall Wallace
Meeting #: 742 331 735
Geisinger Health System
Hosts: Drs. Catherine McCarty and Jacob Brown
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Host: Dr. Matthew Slattery
Florida A&M University
Host: Sr. Associate Dean Mike Swanoski
Dr. Sunil Sharma
HonorHealth Research Institute & Professor of Medicine, City of Hope
Websites: https://www.honorhealth.com/physicians/sunil-sharma & https://www.tgen.org/faculty-profiles/sunil-sharma/
Seminar Title: Development of reversible inhibitors of Lysine Specific Demethylase-1 (LSD1) for treatment of cancer
Host: Dr. David Stenehjem
New York University
Host: Dr. Ruifeng (Ray) Cao
Dr. Christian Hansel
University of Chicago
Website: https://neurobiology.uchicago.edu/page/hansel
Seminar Title: Intrinsic plasticity and engram formation in neural circuits
Host: Dr. Yi-Mei (Amy) Yang
Dr. Michael Lee
Department of Neuroscience
Website: https://neurosci.umn.edu/bio/department-of-neuroscience/michael-lee
Seminar Title: Alpha-synuclein dependent synaptic deficits and neurodegeneration: Relevance to therapies for Parkinson's Disease
Host: Dr. Ray Cao
Dr. Ellen Fischer
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Website: http://psychiatry.uams.edu/research/division-of-health-services-research/division-of-health-services-research-faculty-and-staff/ellen-p-fischer-ph-d/
Seminar Title: Rurality, Attitudes and Veterans’ Use of VA Mental Health Services
Host: Dr. Sarah Beehler
Dr. Christopher Faulk
Website: http://faulklab.cfans.umn.edu/
Seminar Title: The epigenome over time: From ultraconserved elements to the evolution of lifespan in animals
Host: Dr. Kendra Nordgren
Meeting #: 740 743 437
Gathering for Health Team, including Dr. Melissa Walls
Seminar Title: Stress and Type 2 Diabetes in American Indian Communities
Fall 2017
Dr. Beshay Zordoky
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Animal Models of Juvenile Doxorubicin-induced Cardiotoxicity – the “Two-Hit” Approach
Host: Dr. Kendall Wallace
Dr. Richard Melvin
University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Seminar Title: A genetically determined metabolic tradeoff dissociates the macronutrient spaces of two closely related species
Host: Dr. George Trachte
Dr. Kristen Jacklin
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Advancing dementia research with Indigenous communities in Canada
Host: Dr. Neil Henderson
Dr. Tiffany Beckman web profile
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Neural Correlates of Food Reward in American Indian Women
Host: Regional Campus Dean Paula Termuhlen
Dr. Timothy Zacharewski
Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University
Seminar Title: Metabolic Reprogramming in the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR)-Mediated Progression of Hepatic Steatosis to Steatohepatitis with Fibrosis Elicited by 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)
Host: Dr. Kendall Wallace
*Thursday, October 19, 2017
Time: 6:00pm; hors d’oeuvres beginning at 5:00 pm
Location: Room 142 School of Medicine
Dr. Paul Iaizzo web profile
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: From the Visible Heart® Lab to Bear Dens and Back
This research was sponsored in part by a grant from the Whiteside Institute for Clinical Research, a collaboration of St. Luke's Hospital, Clinics and Foundation and the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth.
Host: Dr. George Trachte
October 25, 2017
Dr. Scott Lindner
Pennsylvania State University
Seminar Title: Dynamic Translational Repression Complexes and Transmission of the Malaria Parasite
Host: Dr. Sara Zimmer
Dr. Gavin Bart
Hennepin County Medicine Center
Seminar Title: Predicting addiction treatment outcome: Heading towards precision medicine for opioid use disorders
Host: Dr. Mark Schneiderhan
Cancelled (November 15, 2017)
Dr. George Augustine
Nanyang Technological University
Seminar Title: Identifying novel cerebellar circuits via optogenetics
Host: Dr. Yi-Mei (Amy) Yang
Dr. Mel Feany web profile
Harvard University
Seminar Title: Genetic analysis of neurodegeneration
Host: Dr. Pedro Fernandez-Funez
Dr. Kate O'Connor-Giles web profile
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Seminar Title: Communication in neural circuits: from genes to synapse formation and function
Host: Dr. Nam Chul Kim
Spring 2017
Dr. Subree Subramarian web profile
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Mechanisms of Malignant Transformation and Immune Privilege in Colon Cancer
Host: Dr. Patricia Scott
Dr. Rebekah Pratt web profile
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Addressing Health Disparities in the Somali Community: The Role of Community Partnerships and an Assets Based Approach
Host: Dr. Brenna Greenfield
Dr. Tiffany Beckman
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Neural Correlates of Food Reward in American Indian Women
Host: Dr. Paula Termuhlen
Dr. Donna Havens web profile
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Seminar Title: Use of Appreciative Inquiry to Promote Interprofessional Collaborative Practice
Host: Dr. Keri Hager
Dr. Jeff Miner
Washington University in St. Louis
Seminar Title: Laminin and Type IV Collagens: Matrix Proteins Critical for Kidney Function
Host: Dr. Yao Yao
Dr. Subree Subramanian web profile
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Mechanisms of Malignant Transformation and Immune Privilege in Colon Cancer
Host: Dr. Patricia Scott
Dr. Christopher Pennell web profile
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Immunotherapy of B Cell Malignancies with CAR T Cells: Minimizing On Target/Off Tumor Toxicities
Host: Dr. Benjamin Clarke
University of New England
Seminar Title: The role of the amygdala in the ontogeny of negative affect in the rat
Host: Dr. Janet Fitzakerley
Dr. Dennis Drayna web profile
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Seminar Title: Using genetics to understand the causes of stuttering
Host: Dr. Janet Fitzakerley
Dr. Wylie Burke
University of Washington
Seminar Title: Working Together on Pharmacogenetics: Report on a Tribal-University Partnership
Dr. Ege Kavalali
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Seminar Title: Mechanisms of Quantal Neurotransmission in Central Synapses
Host: Dr. Yi-Mei (Amy) Yang
Dr. Catherine Jordan web profile
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Engagement to Scholarship: A Journey from Academia to Community and Back Again
Host: Dr. Laura Palombi
Dr. Erik Herzog
Washington University in St. Louis
Seminar Title: Clock stars: Roles for astrocytes in scheduling our day
Host: Dr. Ruifeng Cao
Fall 2016
University of Minnesota Medical School
Seminar Title: The MDT on Health Equity at the UMN Medical School, Duluth campus: The Quest to Impact Dementia and Diabetes
Host: Regional Campus Dean Paula Termuhlen
September 28, 2016
Dr. Jenifer Coburn
Medical College of Wisconsin
Seminar Title: Multifunctional Adhesins of Borrelia burgdorferi
Host: Dr. Benjamin Clarke
October 5, 2016
Dr. Christine Sorkness
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Seminar Title: Research Updates in Asthma Management
Host: Dr. Paul Ranelli
October 19, 2016
Dr. Emilyn Alejandro web profile
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Developmental programming of beta cell dysfunction in offspring induced by placental insufficiency
Host: Dr. Jean Regal
Whiteside Institute for Clinical Research Lecture
*Thursday, October 20, 2016
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Room 142 School of Medicine
Dr. Evanthia Galanis web profile
Seminar Title: Oncolytic Viruses as a Novel Approach for Cancer Treatment
This research was sponsored in part by a grant from the Whiteside Institute for Clinical Research, a collaboration of St. Luke's Hospital, Clinics and Foundation and the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth.
Host: Dr. George Trachte
November 2, 2016
Dr. Laurie Parker web profile
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Measuring kinase activity with chemical biology
Host: Dr. Lester Drewes
November 16, 2016
Dr. Sara Van Driest
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Seminar Title: The Electronic Medical Record as a Tool for Precision Medicine Research and Implementation
Host: Dr. Jacob Brown
Cancelled (December 7, 2016)
Dr. Barbara Burleigh web profile
Harvard School of Public Health
Seminar Title: Plugging in: The metabolic interface in Trypanosoma cruzi infection
Host: Dr. Sara Zimmer
Spring 2016
*Please note that personal website links for seminar speakers are accurate up to the date of the corresponding seminar. If a website link is no longer active, you may need to perform an internet search to locate a researcher's current website.
January 13, 2016
Dr. Kenneth Beckman
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: The University of Minnesota Genomics Center: Technologies & Services
Host: Dr. Matthew Slattery
January 27, 2016
Dr. Nate Mohatt
Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC)
Seminar Title: Suicide Prevention Among Rural Veterans: A Community Based Approach
Host: Dr. Sarah Beehler
Dr. Carl Atkinson
Medical University of South Carolina
Seminar Title: TBA
Host: Dr. Jean Regal
Dr. Elizabeth Ferucci
Alaska Native Medical Center
Seminar Title: Rheumatoid Arthritis in Indigenous North American Populations: High Burden of Disease
Host: Dr. Mary Owen
March 23, 2016
Dr. Jill Siegfried
Chair, Department of Pharmacology
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: Estrogen Receptor Beta in Lung Cancer
Host: Dr. Paula Termuhlen and Dr. Jean Regal
March 30, 2016
Dr. John Zhang
Loma Linda University
Seminar Title: New translational stroke research directions
Host: Dr. Yao Yao
April 13, 2016
Dr. Do-Hyung Kim web profile
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: How mTORC1 regulates proteostasis
Host: Dr. Andrew Skildum
April 27, 2016
Dr. Todd Lowe lab profile
University of California Santa Cruz
Seminar Title: Unraveling the Complex Roles for 500+ Human tRNA Genes and their Ubiquitous Small RNA Fragments
Host: Dr. Kevin Diebel
May 11, 2016
Dr. Melanie Graham web profile
University of Minnesota
Seminar Title: The Role of Enrichment, Handling, and Husbandry in Animal Model Validity and Research Quality: Enhancing Welfare and Scientific Outcomes Using Refinement
Host: Dr. Amanda Klein
Fall 2015
Seminar Recordings
2019-2025 AHC Research Seminar Recordings
*Recordings are available to University of Minnesota employees only, using their x500 login credentials.
Committee Chair
Yi-Mei Amy Yang, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, Duluth campus
Committee Members
Lester Drewes, PhD, Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, Duluth campus
Brenna Doheny, PhD, Postdoctoral Associate, Office of Research Support, Medical School, Duluth Campus
Nam Chul Kim, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Duluth campus
Sabrina Scroggins, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, Duluth campus
Administrative Contact
Marianne Morton, Medical School, Duluth campus
Please contact Marianne Morton at [email protected] for additional information.