Kurt Amsler, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Biomedical Science
Associate Dean for Research

The focus of our research group is to define the cellular mechanism(s) underlying weakening of the nephron paracellular permeability barrier, the tight junction, during renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (renal I/R injury and to develop novel... Read more

Eduard I. Dedkov, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Science

The overall goal of my current research is to understand the mechanisms involved in growth and adaptation of cardiac coronary vessels in health and disease. My experimental approaches include the use of in vivo and in vitro models, in vivo measurements of systemic and cardiac hemodynamics,immunohistochemistry, fluorescence and laser-scanning confocal microscopy, and quantitative image analysis... Read more


Donna Dixon, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Science

My research interests are in the field of medical education, particularly the factors that influence medical school performance. In attempting to predict performance on the COMLEX examinations, I have investigated the relationship of preadmission academic varibles and individual course grades to COMLEX-USA scores. COMLEX–USA Level 1 performance predictive models used preadmission variables combined with the year 1 and year 2 course grades.... Read more


Isaac Kurtzer, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Science

From his dissertation to today, Dr. Kurtzer’s research has examined how we perform coordinated actions with our arms. His current efforts are directed into two major tracks. One addresses the ability to counter unexpected load perturbations, like steadying a jostling steering wheel. This work utilizes a programmable robot to precisely deliver loads to the arm and has revealed that fast muscular responses – 1/20th of a second following a perturbation – account for the arm’s complex link dynamics... Read more


Charles Pavia, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Microbiology
Department of Biomedical Science

Dr. Pavia, in collaboration with others, has become interested in evaluating whether shorter antibiotic-treatment regimens are just as effective as those currently recommended for patients afflicted with Lyme disease... Read more


Ronald Portanova, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair,
Department of Biomedical Science
Associate Dean,
Educational Development and Assessment

Dr. Portanova has published research articles dealing with his work on the biosynthesis and secretion of vasopressin, the regulation of ACTH secretion and the negative feedback effects of corticosteroids on the adenohypophysial-hypothalamic axis, and the physiologic actions of human Growth Hormone (hGH) in hGH-transgenic animals... Read more

Raddy Ramos, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Science

The brain is made up of billions of neurons that function together to organize complex behaviors such as sensation & perception, learning & memory, and voluntary movement. Not surprisingly, dysfunction of neurons and the connections they make with one another underlies devastating neurological disorders like epilepsy, schizophrenia, and Parkinson’s disease. Research in the laboratory of Dr. Ramos focuses on the anatomy and physiology of neurons in the adult and developing brain... Read more

Stepp Larry Robert Stepp, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Science

Research interest focus on the following areas: 1) Structure, function and regulation of Na+, K—ATPase, and 2) Role of folic acid in preventing formation of plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s disease... Read more

Zhang Youhua Zhang, MD, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Science

Dr. Zhang has expertise and broad interest in cardiac electrophysiology, arrhythmia and
heart failure research. He is currently investigating potential mechanisms causing atrial
remodeling and increased atrial fibrillation arrhythmogenesis in a rat myocardial infarction/heart failure model, and determining potential treatment options to improve outcome... Read more