Physiology State of the Department 2020 0622 - Read-Only · 2020-06-26 · Research in the Department of Physiology encompasses diverse areas including Cardio‐pulmonary, Behavioral

Department of Physiology

2020 State of the Department

2

Contents3 Welcome

4 Who We Are

4 Faculty

7 Postdoctoral Fellows

9 Graduate Students

11 Administration

12 Courses

14 Research

15 Grants

16 Publications

18 Presentations

20 Professional Service

21 Outreach

23 Work Hard, Play Hard

3

WelcomeThe Department of Physiology at Louisiana State University Health SciencesCenter in New Orleans is committed to excellence in teaching, research andservice. Our mission is to improve understanding of physiological mechanisms,their regulation, and how their disruption contributes to disease conditions. Toresearch, advance understanding, and disseminate our findings to the scientificand lay community. To conduct ethically, technically, and wisely‐designedstudies using the best available technical tools. To train, mentor, develop, andpromote the future generation of biomedical researchers.

Physiology faculty are actively involved in educational programs in all sixschools of the Health Sciences Center, providing instruction to students in theSchools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Allied Health, Public Health, andGraduate Studies. The Department of Physiology offers the Ph.D. and M.S.degrees and participates in the M.D./Ph.D. program. The departmentparticipates in postgraduate education by providing core lectures and researchopportunities in numerous residency and fellowship programs and offerspostdoctoral research fellowship opportunities through the Biomedical AlcoholResearch Training Program funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuseand Alcoholism (NIAAA). Physiology Faculty members have received numerousteaching awards at the school, Health Sciences Center, and national levels andhave lectured extensively internationally. Several members of the Departmentare authors of well known and highly regarded textbooks.

Research in the Department of Physiology encompasses diverse areasincluding Cardio‐pulmonary, Behavioral Neuroscience (including pain, stress,PTSD, and TBI), Endocrinology andMetabolism, Microvascular, Alcohol & drugsof abuse, and HIV. Research is funded primarily by grants and contracts fromNational Institutes of Health, the Veterans Administration, and the AmericanHeart Association.

4

Who We Are

Patricia Molina, MD, PhDProfessor and Department Head Physiology

Research/Academic Interests:  • Impact of alcohol on SIV/HIV‐associated metabolic comorbidities 

and disease progression  • Neuropathological consequences of traumatic brain injury

• Endocrinology & Metabolism

Lucas Albrechet‐Souza, MSc, PhDInstructor of Physiology

Research/Academic Interests:  • Neurobiology of fear and anxiety  

• Changes in brain mechanisms induced by traumatic stress  • Neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol consumption and stress 

disorders

Elizabeth Avegno, PhDInstructor of Physiology

Research/Academic Interests:  • Effects of alcohol dependence on neural circuits  

• Characterization of reward/stress circuitry in the brain  • Effects of adolescent alcohol exposure on neural circuits

Maureen Basha, PhDAssociate Professor of Physiology 

Research/Academic Interests:  • Urogenital smooth muscle

• Genitourinary syndrome of menopause• Vulvodynia

• Team based learning in medical education

Faculty

Lauri Byerley, PhDAssociate Professor of Physiology 

Research/Academic Interests:  • Nutrition

• Gut microbiome, diet, and body composition• Lifestyle and wellness

5

Jason D. Gardner, PhDAssociate Professor of Physiology

Research Interests:• Mechanisms of adverse cardiac extracellular matrix remodeling and heart failure 

• Cardiac effects of inhaled nicotine, particulate matter, and cigarette smoke• Alcoholic cardiomyopathy

Jeff Gidday, PhDProfessor of Physiology

Research/Academic Interests:• Adaptive epigenetic responses to stress stimuli in the CNS

• Methylomic and proteomic changes underpinning injury‐resilient phenotypes in retina and brain 

• Intergenerational transfer of induced neuroprotective phenotypes

Nicholas W. Gilpin, PhDProfessor of Physiology

Research/Academic Interests:  • The neurobiological mediators of addiction to alcohol, nicotine & opiates 

• The effect of traumatic stress on brain and behavior  • The neurobiological intersection of addiction, traumatic stress, pain & traumatic 

brain injury

Lisa M. Harrison‐Bernard, PhD, FAHA, FASN, FAPSProfessor of Physiology

Research/Academic Interests:  •Renal microvasculature, Renin‐angiotensin system in type II diabetic renal disease

• Renal chymase & angiotensin converting enzyme• Renal Physiology

Michael G. Levitzky, PhDProfessor of Physiology

Research/Academic Interests:  •Pulmonary blood flow

• Pulmonary Physiology

Scott Edwards, PhDAssociate Professor of Physiology

Research/Academic Interests:  • Neurobiology of substance use disorders with a focus on stress 

signaling pathways• Physiological interactions between pain and addiction 

• Medications development for pain and addiction

6

Stefany D. Primeaux, PhDAssociate Professor of Physiology & Joint Diabetes, 

Metabolism & Endocrinology Program

Research/Academic Interests:•Susceptibility to obesity and metabolic disease 

•Metabolism, obesity, glucose regulation •Feeding‐related motivation  

•Sex differences in obesity‐related comorbidities

Xinping Yue, MD, PhDAssistant Professor of Physiology

Research/Academic Interests:  •Impact of chronic nicotine inhalation on the development of lung diseases 

and its associated mechanisms  • Role of heparin sulfate sulfatases in acute lung injury, inflammation and 

fibrosis  • Therapeutic strategies in lung injury repair

• Pulmonary Physiology

Robert W. Siggins, II, PhDAssistant Professor of Physiology

Research/Academic Interests:•Alcohol‐ and HIV‐induced cytotoxic T cell immunosenescence and exhaustion 

•Mitochondrial dysregulation in T cells  •Alcohol‐ and HIV‐associated precocious biological aging

• GI Physiology

Liz Simon, PhDAssociate Professor of Physiology

Research/Academic Interests:  • Epigenomic regulation of muscle stem cell differentiation  

• Alcohol induced mechanisms of impaired recovery following skeletal muscle disuse atrophy  

• Alcohol‐mediated mechanisms of metabolic dysregulation in SIV/HIV• Endocrine Physiology

Flavia Souza‐Smith, PhDAssistant Professor of Physiology

Research/Academic Interests:• Immunometabolic consequences of alcohol‐induced lymphatic leakage into 

perilymphatic adipose tissue  •Gonadal hormone loss and high fat diet effects on lymphatic leakage and the 

metabolic consequences• GI Physiology

Rajani Maiya, PhDAssistant Professor of Physiology

Research/Academic Interests:•Molecular mechanisms underlying motivated behaviors 

•Experience‐dependent gene expression •Genetic, molecular, pharmacological, and whole‐genome 

strategies in animal models of drug addiction

7

Postdoctoral Fellows

Elizabeth Delery, PhD

Degree: PhD, Tulane University School of MedicineAdvisor: Scott Edwards, PhD

Research: Glucocorticoid regulation of pain in the context of traumatic brain injury & alcohol use disorder

Elizabeth Fucich, PhD

Degree: PhD, UTHSC‐San AntonioAdvisor: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD

Research: Traumatic brain injury and alcohol use

Alejandra Jacotte Simancas, PhD

Degree: PhD, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, SpainAdvisors: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD and Nicholas Gilpin, PhD

Research: Traumatic brain injury and alcohol use

Danielle Levitt, PhD

Degree: PhD, University of North TexasAdvisors: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD and Liz Simon, PhD

Research: Alcohol‐induced skeletal muscle dysregulation in SIV/HIV: Mitochondrial‐mediated mechanisms

8

Patrick McTernan, PhD

Degree: PhD, University of GeorgiaAdvisor: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD

Research: Health effects of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and HIV

Christian Montanari, PhD

Degree: PhD, Sapienza University of Rome, ItalyAdvisor: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD

Research: Effects of chronic nicotine on alcohol intake in ratsElectronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS or e‐cigarettes); nicotine e‐vape 

delivery and self‐administration in rats

Amanda Pahng, PhD

Degree: PhD, Tulane UniversityAdvisor: Scott Edwards, PhD

Research: Investigating the role of mesoaccumbens dopamine in pain and prescription opioid addiction

Appointment: Research Health Scientist, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System 

Instructor‐Research (Gratis), LSUHSC New Orleans 

Marcus Weera, PhD

Degree: PhD, Purdue UniversityAdvisor: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD

Research: Neural mechanisms underlying substance use and co‐morbid disorders

Former Postdoctoral Fellow Appointment

9

Graduate Students

Krystal Belmonte, BS

Degree: BS, University of NevadaMentor: Jeffrey Gidday, PhD

Focus: Transgenerational epigenetics in neuroprotectionStatus: PhD Student

Jessica Cucinello‐Ragland, BA

Degree: BA, University of MississippiMentor: Scott Edwards, PhD

Focus: Regulation of chronic inflammatory pain by alcohol and endocannabinoids in the basolateral amygdala

Status: PhD Student

Brittany Foret, MS

Degree: MS, University of Louisiana at LafayetteMentor: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD

Focus: Contribution of unhealthy alcohol use in HIV‐SIV infection to molecular and behavioral phenotypes of neuropathic pain

Status: MD/PhD Student

Nicholas Fried, BS

Degree: BS, University of MaineMentor: Jason Gardner, PhD

Focus: Cardiac consequences of vaporized nicotine exposureStatus: MD/PhD Student

10

Laura Monteagudo Romero, MS

Degree: MS. University of MadridBS, University of Murcia

Mentor: Scott Edwards, PhDFocus: Interactions between alcohol consumption and opioids in pain 

related diseaseStatus: PhD Student

Jonquil Poret, MS

Degree: BS, Xavier University of LouisianaMS, LSUHSC New Orleans

Mentor: Patricia Molina, MD, PhDFocus: Alcohol‐induced metabolic dysfunction in adipose tissue of SIV‐

infected Rhesus macaquesStatus: PhD Student

Nathan Sharfman, MS

Degree: BS, Rhodes CollegeMS, Tulane University

Mentor: Nicholas Gilpin, PhDFocus: Neuroinflammatory role and cannabinoid role of descending 

pain pathways in alcohol use disorderStatus: MD/PhD Student

Taylor Templeton, BS

Degree: BS, University of California, Santa BarbaraMentor: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD

Focus: Investigating the role of central amygdala corticotropin releasing factor on stress‐induced cocaine self‐administration

Status: PhD Student

11

Zachary Stielper, PhD

Previous Degree: BS, Centenary College of LouisianaMentor: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD and Patricia Molina, MD, PhD

Focus: TBI and alcohol effects on amygdalar endocannabinoidsStatus:MD/PhD candidate and F30 NRSA Fellow

Department of Physiology AdministrationChloe Ball, Business Manager

Leslie Brennan, Assistant Business ManagerRebecca Gonzales, Editorial Administrative Support Specialist

Melissa Prestwood, Department Coordinator

Matthew Herrera, MS

Previous Degree: BS, Louisiana State UniversityMentor: Flavia Souza‐Smith, PhD

Focus: The mechanism of alcohol‐induced lymphatic vessel leakageStatus: Applicant to Medical School

Spring 2020 Graduates

12

Physiology CoursesPhysiology DENT 1115

Course Director: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD

General and Oral Physiology DHY 3202Course Director: Xinping Yue, PhD

Human Physiology HLSC 2410Course Directors: Maureen Basha, PhD

Lisa Harrison‐Bernard, PhD

Pathophysiology HLSC 3410Course Directors: Stefany Primeaux, PhD

Flavia Souza‐Smith, PhD

Biological Systems INTER 131/132Course Director: Scott Edwards, PhD

Experimental Design & Analysis INTER 143Course Director: Stefany Primeaux, PhD

Ethics in Biomedical Sciences INTER 220Course Director: Jeff Gidday, PhD

Disease and Therapy of the Reproductive and Endocrine System MCLIN 238Course Co‐Director: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD

Human Physiology PHYSIO 100Course Director: Jason Gardner, PhD

Endocrinology PHYSIO 216Course Director: Scott Edwards, PhD

Medical Spanish PHYSIO 220Course Director: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD

Scientific Writing for Graduate Students PHYSIO 250Course Director: Michael Levitzky, PhD

Special Topics in Physiology: Perspectives in Alcohol Research PHYSIO 289Course Director: Robert Siggins, PhD

Special Topics in Physiology: Biostatistics for Graduate Students PHYSIO 289

Course Director: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD

13

Teaching

2018‐2019 Academic Year TeachingTotal students taught: 873 

Avg. lecture hrs per faculty member: 23.8* 

*not including post‐doc & student teaching

14

Research

(Overview of past 10 years)

15

The Role of Mesoaccumbens Dopamine in Pain and Prescription Opioid Addiction. 

Department of Veterans Affairs. NURA‐002‐19S. PI: Dr. Amanda Pahng

Chronic Binge Alcohol in SIV Infection: Impact of Adipose Tissue Stiffness on Metabolic 

Dysfunction. NIH/NIAAA F31AA028459‐01. PI: Jonquil Poret, Sponsor: Dr. Patricia Molina

Intergenerational Resilience to Vascular cognitive Impairment By Epigenetic Responses To

Repetitive Hypoxic Conditioning. 2020 American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship.

20PRE35120147. PI: Krystal Belmonte, Sponsor: Dr. Jeff Gidday

LSUHSC‐NO Comprehensive Alcohol‐HIV/AIDS Research Center (CARC), NIH/NIAAA P60

AA009803.PI: Dr. Patricia Molina

International Drug Abuse Research Society (IDARS) travel support grant. R13AA028237 01.

PI: Dr. NickGilpin

Neuroendocrine Mechanisms of Stress and Alcohol Use Disorder APS symposium

sponsorship award. PI: Drs. Scott Edwards and Patricia Molina

Inspiring Diversity to Explore the Brain in the 21st Century: The NINDS/LSUHSC‐ NO,

Undergraduate Diversity in Neuroscience Research Experiences. NINDS R25NS114309‐01.

PI: Drs. Allison Augustus‐Wallace, Scott Edwards, Patricia Molina, Ham Farris, and Fern

Tsien

Alcohol‐Induced Skeletal Muscle Dysregulation in SIV/HIV: Mitochondrial‐Mediated

Mechanisms. NIH/NIAAA F32AA027982‐01A1. PI: Dr. Danielle Levitt, Sponsor: Dr. Liz

Simon, Co‐Sponsor: Dr. Patricia Molina

Alcohol & Metabolic Comorbidities in PLWHA; Evidence‐Driven Interventions. NIH/NIAAA

UH3AA026198‐03. PI: Dr. Patricia Molina

Biomedical Alcohol Research Training Program. NIH/NIAAA T32AA007577. PI: Dr. Patricia

Molina

New Grants

(Fall 2019‐Spring 2020)

16

PublicationsAvegno, EM, Middleton, JW, & Gilpin, NW. (in press) Synaptic GABAergic transmission in thecentral amygdala (CeA) of rats depends on slice preparation and recording conditions.Physiological Reports.

Bivona, BJ, Takai, S, Seth, DM, Satou, R, & Harrison‐Bernard, LM. Chymase inhibition retardsalbuminuria in type 2 diabetes. Physiol Rep. 7(24):e14302, 2019. PMID: 31872559.

Edwards, S, Vendruscolo, LF, Gilpin, NW, Wojnar, M, & Witkiewitz, K. Alcohol and pain: atranslational review of preclinical and clinical findings to inform future treatment strategies.Alcoholism:Clinical & Experimental Research, 2019.

Ferguson TF, Rosen E, Carr R, Brashear M, Simon L, Theall KP, Ronis MJ, Welsh DA, &MolinaPE. Associations of liver disease with alcohol use among people living with HIV and the role ofHepatitis C: The New Orleans Alcohol Use in HIV Study. Alcohol Alcohol. Dec 8. pii: agz089,2019. PMC Journal (in press).

Fucich EA, Stielper ZF, Cancienne HL, Edwards S, Gilpin NW, Molina PE, & Middleton JW.(2020). Endocannabinoid degradation inhibitors ameliorate neuronal and synaptic alterationsfollowing traumatic brain injury. J Neurophysiol. 123(2):707‐17. PMCID: PMC7052644.

Gaudet DA, El‐Desoky D, Poret JM, Braymer HD, & Primeaux SD. Expression of neuralmarkers of gustatory signaling are differentially altered by continuous and intermittentfeeding patterns. Physiol Behav. 212:112719, 2019. PMID: 31634524.

Levitt, DE, Adler, KA, & Simon, L. HEMA 3 staining: A simple alternative for the assessmentof myoblast differentiation. Current Protocols in Stem Cell Biology, 51: e101, 2019. PMID:31756292.

Levitt, DE, Yeh, AY, Prendergast, MJ, Budnar, Jr., RG, Adler, KA, Cook, G, Molina, PE, &Simon, L. (2020). Chronic alcohol dysregulates skeletal muscle myogenic gene expressionafter hind limb immobilization in female rats. Biomolecules. 10(3): E441. DOI:10.3390/biom10030441. PMID: 32178412.

(Fall 2019‐Spring 2020)

17

Maffei VJ, Ferguson TF, Brashear MM, Mercante DE, Theall KP, Siggins RW, Taylor CM,Molina P, & Welsh DA. (2020). Lifetime alcohol use among persons living with HIV isassociated with frailty. AIDS. Feb 1;34(2):245‐254. PMCID: PMC6960033.

Montanari C, Kelley LK, Kerr TM, Cole M, & Gilpin NW. Nicotine e‐cigarette vapor inhalationeffects on nicotine & cotinine plasma levels and somatic withdrawal signs in adult male Wistarrats. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 10.1007/s00213‐019‐05400‐2, 2019. [ahead of print].doi:10.1007/s00213‐019‐05400‐2.

Samuelson DR, Gu M, Shellito JE, Molina PE, Taylor CM, Luo M, & Welsh DA. Intestinalmicrobial products from alcohol‐fed mice contribute to intestinal permeability and peripheralimmune activation.Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 2019.

Souza‐Smith FM, Simon L, Siggins R, & Molina PE. Alcohol‐induced mesenteric lymphaticpermeability: Link to immunometabolic modulation of perilymphatic adipose tissue. Int J MolSci, 20(17):E4097, 2019Aug 22. PMID: 31443389.

Oakes, JM, Xu, Jiaxi, Morris, TM, Fried, ND, Pearson, CS, Lobell, TD, Gilpin, NW,Lazartigues, E, Gardner, JD, & Yue, X. Effects of chronic nicotine inhalation on systemic andpulmonary blood pressure and right ventricular remodeling in mice. Hypertension. Mar 16[ahead‐of‐print]. PMID: 32172623.

Watt J, Schuon J, Davis J, Ferguson TF, Welsh DA, Molina PE, & Ronis MJJ. Reduced serumosteocalcin in high‐risk alcohol using people living with HIV (PLWH) does not correlate withsystemic oxidative stress or inflammation: Data from the New Orleans Alcohol Use in HIV(NOAH) study.Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 2019.

Weera MM, Schreiber AL, Avegno EM, & Gilpin NW (2020). The role of central amygdalacorticotropin releasing factor in predator odor stress‐induced avoidance behavior andescalated alcohol drinking in rats.Neuropharmacology. 166:107979. PMID: 32028150.

Publications

(Fall 2019‐Spring 2020)

18

Dr. Patricia Molina was the invited keynote speaker at the Annual Federal Women’s HistoryHeritage Month Observance. Her keynote address was titled “Alcohol Interaction with HIVComorbidities”. New Orleans VA Medical Center, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health CareSystem, US Department of Veterans Affairs. NewOrleans, LA. March 25, 2020. Additionally,she presented a talk titled “Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence: DiscoveringNeuropathological Mechanisms of Comorbid Conditions” at the 2nd Annual BIO on theBayou (BotB): An Academic Research Expo hosted by LSU Health, Tulane University, andthe New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC), New Orleans, LA. December 10, 2019. Shewas also a panelist for the discussion titled “Pathways to Leadership” at the Association ofAmerican Medical Colleges (AAMC) Mid‐Career Women Faculty Leadership DevelopmentSeminar in New Orleans on December 10, 2019. Earlier in the fall, she gave a talk titled“Alcohol‐SIV/HIV‐ART interactions & risk for comorbidities” in Session IX: HIV‐Infectionsand drug abuse at the 7th International Drug Abuse Research Society: Recent Advances inDrugAddiction held in Casablanca, Morocco (September 2‐6, 2019).

Dr. Marcus Weera gave a talk titled "Central Amygdala Signaling in Post‐Stress AvoidanceBehavior and Escalated Alcohol Drinking" at the Gordon Research Seminar on Alcohol andthe Nervous System, March 2020, in Galveston, TX. He also presented a poster titled"Central amygdala signaling in stress‐induced escalation of alcohol drinking and avoidancebehavior in rats" atGordon ResearchConference onAmygdala Function (August 2019).

Dr. Christian Montanari presented a poster at the Alcohol and the Nervous System Gordon Research Seminar (GRS; February 29‐March 1, 2020) and Gordon Research Conference (GRC; March 1‐6, 2020), Galveston, TX, titled “Chronic Nicotine Increases Alcohol Consumption in Adult Male Wistar Rats.” This presentation won the Post‐Doctoral Fellow Poster Award (see picture in “Recognition” section). He also presented a talk at Speaker at the Society on Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) 26th Annual Meeting; March 11‐14, 2020, New Orleans, LA, titled “Nicotine E‐Cigarette Vapor Inhalation Effects on Nicotine & Cotinine Plasma Levels and Somatic Withdrawal Signs In Adult Male Wistar Rats.”

Dr. Lucas Albrechet‐Souza presented a poster titled “Sex differences in traumatic stress reactivity in rats with a history of alcohol drinking” at the Gordon Research Conference: Alcohol and the Nervous System in Galveston, TX (March 2020). He also gave a talk titled “Sexually dimorphic behavioral and endocannabinoid responses to predator odor stress” in the Neuroscience Datablitz at the National Hispanic Science Network (NHSN) Conference and chaired a panel titled “Co‐occurring Alcohol Use Disorder and Post‐Traumatic Stress: Vulnerability and Therapeutic Strategies” (October 2019). Earlier in the fall, he presented a poster titled “Predator odor stress alters reactivity to acoustic stimuli and endocannabinoid levels in the amygdala of female rats” at the annual meeting of the International Cannabinoid Research Society in Bethesda‐MD (July 2019) and at the Gordon Research Conference on Amygdala Function in Emotion, Cognition and Disease in Easton‐MA (August 2019).

Presentations

(Fall 2019‐Spring 2020)

19

Zach Stielper presented a poster titled “TBI Alters Basolateral Amygdala Endocannabinoids in Alcohol Naïve and Alcohol Drinking Female Rats” at the Gordon Research Conference: Alcohol and the Nervous System in Galveston, TX (March 2020) and a poster titled “Traumatic Brain Injury and Alcohol Alter Basolateral Amygdala Endocannabinoids in Female Rats” at the annual meeting of the International Cannabinoid Research Society in Bethesda, MD (July 2019). 

Dr. Elizabeth Fucichwas selected to give a basic science oral presentation entitled "Preclinical evidence that prior stress exposure modulates outcomes from traumatic brain injury" at the 2020 North American Brain Injury Society meeting in New Orleans in February, 2020. She also presented a poster titled “Predator odor exposure exacerbates traumatic brain injury outcomes in rats” at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting in Chicago (October 2019). She also presented a poster titled “Predator odor exposure modulates traumatic brain injury outcomes in rats” at the Greater New Orleans Society for Neuroscience Annual Retreat in New Orleans (November 2019).

Dr. Danielle Levitt presented a talk titled “Chronic alcohol and ovariectomy reduceexpression of mitochondrial‐related genes in skeletal muscle of SIV‐infected female rhesusmacaques” as part of the Young Investigators’ Panel at the NHSN conference (October2019). She also presented a talk titled “Alcohol‐mediated skeletal muscle mitochondrialdysfunction: Insights from non‐human primates” at the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center ofExcellence Semiannual Scientific Retreat at LSUHSC (December 2019). Earlier in the fall, shepresented a poster titled “Chronic alcohol and ovariectomy reduce expression ofmitochondrial‐related genes in skeletal muscle of SIV‐infected female rhesus macaques” atthe National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 5th Annual Mitochondrial Biology SymposiumonMitochondrial Networks andMitochondrial Energetics, Bethesda, MD (September 2019).

Taylor Templeton presented a poster at Society for Neuroscience in Chicago (October 2019)titled “Effects of central amygdala (CeA) corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) neuronactivation & dorsal raphe (DRN) toCeA circuit activation on anxiety and aversion.”

Dr. ElizabethAvegno gave a talk at Society for Neuroscience meeting (October 2019).

Dr. Scott Edwards presented a talk titled "Why Alcohol Use is so Common in Chronic PainPatients: A Basic Science Perspective" at the American Society of Regional Anesthesia andPain Medicine (ASRA) Meeting in November.

Dr. Liz Simon gave an invited seminar at Tulane School of Medicine (department ofPharmacology) on “Epigenomic mechanisms of alcohol‐mediated impaired musclefunction” on September 27, 2019.

Jessica Cucinello‐Ragland gave a poster presentation at Society for Neuroscienceconference in Chicago (October 2019) titled “Differential effects of opioid versus alcoholdependence on pain avoidance behavior and regional endocannabinoid system deficiency”

20

Professional ServiceDr. Patricia Molina served as organizer for the Association of Chairs of Departments ofPhysiology (ACDP) Annual Leadership Retreat in Antigua, Guatemala, December 5‐8,2019.

Dr. Lisa Harrison‐Bernard was appointed to serve a three‐year term on the AmericanPhysiological Society Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She was also invited to serveas the Chairperson of theAmerican HeartAssociationCardioRenal Study Section.

Dr. Michael Levitzky went to the National Board of Medical Examiners to serve on theStep 1 Interdisciplinary ReviewCommitteeOctober 2‐4.

Drs. Stefany Primeaux, Danielle Levitt, and Elizabeth Delery judged the Juniordivision for theGreater NewOrleans Science and Engineering Fair.

Dr. Danielle Levitt served as a grant reviewer for the National Strength andConditioning Association Foundation. She was also appointed to a 3‐year term as thetrainee representative for the Physiology Educators Committee.

Dr. Elizabeth Avegno chaired the 2020 Alcohol and the Nervous System GordonResearch Seminar inGalveston,TX (March 2020).

Dr. Elizabeth Fucich is serving as Co‐Chair for the Professional & EducationalDevelopment and Outreach Committee of the Association for Women in ScienceSouthern Louisiana Chapter. She also volunteered as a Workshop Leader for the Girls inSTEM atTulane event atTulane University.

Drs. Elizabeth Delery (co‐chair & organizer), Danielle Levitt (co‐chair & organizer),Elizabeth Fucich, Min Gu, Chelsea Kasten, and Marcus Weera served as the selectioncommittee for the Spring 2020ADACE Postdoctoral FellowSeminar Series.

Drs. Marcus Weera (chair), Elizabeth Delery, Elizabeth Fucich, and Chelsea Kastenare serving as the selection committee for the Fall 2020 ADACE Postdoctoral FellowSeminar Series.

(Fall 2019‐Spring 2020)

21

Community Outreach

Drs. Lucas Albrechet‐Souza,Danielle Levitt and ElizabethDelery Walk to Fight Suicidesponsored by The AmericanFoundation for SuicidePrevention

Members of the Physiology Department spent aday building a home with Habitat for Humanity.Pictured: Diego Vargas, Dr. Danielle Levitt, ShanaLittleton, Alice Yeh, Taylor Templeton, Dr. LauriByerly, Dr. Liz Simon, Dr. Stefany Primeaux alongwith the site team members and futurehomeowner, Mr. Henry.

Physiology Department contributed to the Holiday Project of the Southern Louisiana Chapter of AWIS.  Gifts were donated to local families.

Dr. Amanda Pahng and MuhammadFarooq distribute materials aboutthe Alcohol and Drug Abuse Centerof Excellence (ADACE) to dentalstudents, faculty and staff at the PALResource Fair.

22

Grad Students, Krystal Belmonte, Katie Adler and JonquilPoret worked with students at St. Peter Claver School forScienceYouth Initiative Program.

Grad Students, Jessica Cucinello‐Ragland, Taylor Templetonand Jarod Harmon helped Keep New Orleans City ParkClean.

23

Work Hard/Play Hard

The Wellbeing Committee held weekly lunch time crafting during Mardi Gras

Happy Valentine’s Day!From, Grad Student Jessica Cucinello‐Ragland

Dr. Lisa Harrison‐Bernard celebrated her daughter’s wedding.

Congratulations Grad Student, Jonquil Poret and her new husband Alton Decuir!

Dr. Lucas Albrechet‐Souza enjoyed his holiday in Antigua, Guatemala

24

Dr. Elizabeth Avegno welcomed her new son, Deckard, in 2019 and he 

attended his first scientific conference.

Congratulations Grad Student, Jessica Cucinello‐Ragland and her new 

husband, Justin Ragland!

Postdoc, Dr. Christian Montanari, enjoyed his holiday with family and friends in Italy

Graduate Students partied all night at the annual Physiology Holiday Party!