CURRENT PROJECTS

1. THE EFFECTS OF GESTATIONAL CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION ON OFFSPRING BEHAVIOR
This project is interested in determining whether varying levels of caffeine consumption during pregnancy alters neurological function in the offspring. Specific tests are performed to study anxiety/emotionality, locomotion, and learning and memory. Anatomical and biological testing will be performed to isolate deficits.

2. THE EFFECTS OF GESTATIONAL CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION ON THE HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-ADRENAL AXIS IN THE OFFSPRING
This project is interested in determining whether varying levels of caffeine consumption during pregnancy alters the stress response in the offspring. Specific tests are performed to study function of the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands in the offspring experiencing stressful conditions. Further molecular and anatomical studies will be performed to further characterize impairments.

3. DELAYED NEUROLOGICAL AGING IN GROWTH HORMONE RECEPTOR KNOCKOUT (GH-R-KO) MICE.
This work is to follow-up my previous studies showing that GH-R-KO mice experience a delay in cognitive aging compared to normal siblings. The project includes behavioral and learning and memory studies followed by molecular and anatomical studies on specific brain tissues in an effort to identify potential genes/structures involved in this phenomenon.