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Research Areas

Cancer, Drug Development, Cell Biology, and Biochemical Assays

Education

Ph.D. – University of Florida; Biochemistry
M.S. – Purdue University; Biology
B.A. – Indiana University; Chemistry

Publications

1. Blount GS, Seymour A, Williams D, Douglas D, Miller J, Sejoro S, Peace K, Kocerha RJ, Aiken KS. Structure-Activity Relationship Investigations Probing the Cytotoxicity of 9-Aminoacridines Derivatives with PC3 and A549. J Heterocycl Chem. 2024 Sep;61(9):1439-1445. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11548829.
   
2. McCall R, Miles M, Lascuna P, Burney B, Patel Z, Sidoran KJ, Sittaramane V, Kocerha J, Grossie DA, Sessler JL, Arumugam K, Arambula JF. Dual targeting of the cancer antioxidant network with 1,4-naphthoquinone fused Gold(i) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes. Chem Sci. 2017 Sep 1;8(9):5918-5929. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5859730.
   
3. Hollander JA, Im HI, Amelio AL, Kocerha J, Bali P, Lu Q, Willoughby D, Wahlestedt C, Conkright MD, Kenny PJ. Striatal microRNA controls cocaine intake through CREB signalling. Nature. 2010 Jul 8;466(7303):197-202. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2916751.
   
4. Kocerha J, Faghihi MA, Lopez-Toledano MA, Huang J, Ramsey AJ, Caron MG, Sales N, Willoughby D, Elmen J, Hansen HF, Orum H, Kauppinen S, Kenny PJ, Wahlestedt C. MicroRNA 219 modulates NMDA receptor-mediated neurobehavioral dysfunction.

Funding

Current Grants

1. NIH15 
   
2. CGI (GS internal grant)

Previous Grants

1. GS Faculty Resource Council seed grant (FRC)

Research Projects

Development and Characterization of LAT1 Drugs as Cancer Therapeutics

LAT1-drug potency will be evaluated in a panel of cancer cell lines; including breast, prostate, lung, and pancreatic cells.  Selectivity, potency, and intracellular localization of putative drug candidates will be assessed with  cell-based assays, real-time imaging, Confocal microscopy, and specific overexpression or silencing of target cancer related genes.

Blood Brain Permeability of LAT1 Drugs for Metastatic Cancer

This project will investigate the unique capacity to engage the LAT1 transporter in the BBB for drug delivery in metastatic cancer.  A common in vitro model for initial screening of BBB permeability is the Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA). Briefly, the PAMPA utilizes an artificial membrane, composed of a lipid formulation that mimics the brain, applied to a filter that separates donor and acceptor compartments; the donor is where the drug is placed and represents the bloodstream region outside of the BBB, while the acceptor represents the internal region of the BBB.

News

1. 
   
2. (Grice Connect)
   
3. (WTOC News)

Research Group

Undergraduate Students

• Emma Marshall
• Adelyn Harris 
• Harley Lott

Graduate Students

• Ray Osafo 
• Dylan Williams