Comparative Biomedical Sciences (Graduate Program)

Program Overview

The graduate program in the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences offers an interdisciplinary approach to conducting biomedical research as it applies to humans and animals. The goal of the program is to educate and prepare students for successful careers in academic, private industry, or government environments. Degrees granted include a PhD or MS degree in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences with focuses in cell and molecular biology, environmental health sciences, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, or toxicology. The school also has a DVM/PhD track for students accepted into the veterinary medicine program. 

Administration

Admission

Applications and supporting materials for all graduate study must be submitted through the online application site for the LSU Graduate School. Official transcripts, official test scores, and other materials that come from third-party sources must be mailed to: Graduate Student Services, 114 David Boyd Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. These paper documents are stored electronically and departments have access to all materials submitted by and/or on behalf of a student applying to graduate study.

Applications for admission are accepted and evaluated by the department at any time, but applicants are not evaluated for admission or financial assistance until completed application materials have been received, including test scores, official transcripts, and letters of recommendation. Application should be initiated at least six months prior to anticipated entry. Applicants must adhere to the application deadlines established by the Graduate School.

Students seeking admission must submit satisfactory credentials from previous study, acceptable GRE test scores, and three letters of recommendation. Minimum criteria for admission include ≥3.0 GPA out of 4.0 on the US system scale and a combined verbal and quantitative GRE score of ≥302 (1100 on the older exam version). International students whose native language is not English must also submit an acceptable TOEFL score (≥213 computer version or ≥79 Internet version or ≥550 paper version) or IELTS score (≥6.5), or PTE score of (≥59).

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is available to some students. Financial aid consists of research assistantship stipends or fellowships. The amount of the award depends on prior educational performance and awards are made on a competitive basis; financial aid is rarely awarded to MS students. Special fellowships and tuition exemption may also be available. A student should contact his/her home department for more information on available assistantship positions. To ensure consideration for financial aid, all application materials should be submitted in accordance with deadlines established by the LSU Graduate School and preferably six months prior to anticipated entry.

Research Facilities

Research facilities include laboratories, instrument rooms, walk-in cold rooms, and rooms for radiolabel materials use, animal treatment, cell culture, photography, and storage. The department operates the Inhalation Research Facility, the Analytical Systems Laboratory, the Aquatic Research Facility, the Equine Medication Surveillance Laboratory, and the SVM Microscopy Center. The School of Veterinary Medicine also houses the Gene Probes & Expressions Systems Laboratory, LSU Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Veterinary Computer Resources, Veterinary Medicine Library, Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, a Biomedical Communications Unit, and the facilities of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital & Clinics.

Graduate Faculty

(check current listings by department by clicking this link)

Recent Faculty Publications

The following is a representative sample of recent faculty publications:

Levy, M., Gaschen, L., Rademacher, N., Bragulla, H. H. (2014). Technique for ultrasound-guided intraarticular cervical articular process injection in the dog. Vet. Radiol. Ultrasound, 55, 1-6.

Schoenfuss, H. L., Bragulla, H. H., Schumacher, J., Henk, W. G., George, J. C., Hillmann, D. J. (2014). The anatomy of the larynx of the Bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus, and its sound-producing functions.. Anat. Rec., 297, 1316-1330.

Levy, M., Gaschen, L., Rademacher, N., Bragulla, H. H. (2014). Technique for ultrasound-guided intraarticular cervical articular process injection in the dog. Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound, 55(4), 435-440.

Sompong, W., Cheng, H. and Adisakwattana, S. (2015). Protective Effects of Ferulic Acid on High Glucose-Induced Protein Glycation, Lipid Peroxidation, and Membrane Ion Pum Activity in Human Erythrocytes.  PLoS One 10(6):e0129495.

Tran, D.N.T., Yao, S., Hsu, W.H., Gimble, J.M., Brunell, B.A., and Cheng, H. (2015).  Arginine vasopressin inhibits adipogenesis in human adipose-derived stem. Mol. Cell Endocrinol. 406: 1-9.                    

Chakkath, T., Lavergne, S.N., Fan, T.M., Bunick, D., Dirikolu, L. (2015). Alkylation and Carbamylation Effects of Lomustine and Its Major Metabolites and MGMT Expression in Canine Cells.  Vet. Sci. 2(2), 52-68; doi:10.3390/vetsci2020052

Pieper, J., Dirikolu, L., Campbell, K., Li, Z., Mitchell, M. (2016). “Evaluation of the Effect of Fluconazole on the Pharmacokinetics of Cyclosporin A in Healthy Dogs after a Single Dose and at Steady State”. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. doi: 10.1111/jvp.12352.

Collins, S.P., Labelle, A.L., Dirikolu, L., Li, Z., Mitchell, M.A., Hamor R.E. (2016). Tear film concentrations of doxycycline following oral administration in ophthalmologically normal dogs.  J Am Vet Med Assoc. 249(5):508-514.

Kleinedler, J.J., Yurdagul, Jr., A., McInnis, M.C., Khandelwal, A.R., Spence, A.L., Orr, A.W., and Dugas, T.R.  2014.  Resveratrol promotes endothelial cell wound healing under laminar shear stress through an estrogen receptor α dependent pathway.  Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Phys.  306(6):H797-806.                    

Nair, A., Ebenezer, P., Saini, Y., Francis, J. (2015). Angiotensin II-induced hypertensive renal inflammation is mediated through HMGB1-TLR4 signaling in rat tubulo-epithelial cells. Experimental Cell Research.

Nair, A. R., Masson, G. S., Ebenezer, P. J., Del Piero, F., Francis, J. (2014). Role of TLR4 in Lipopolysaccharide-induced Acute Kidney Injury:  Protection by Blueberry. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 71C, 16-25.

Nair, A. R., Masson, G. S., Ebenezer, P. J., Del Piero, F., Francis, J. (2014). Role of TLR4 in Lipopolysaccharide induced acute kidney injury:  protection by blueberry. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 71C, 16-25.                       

Lee CC (2015), Exploring functions for the non-lemniscal auditory thalamus. Frontiers in Neural Circuits 9:69:1-8.

Lee CC, Yanagawa Y, Imaizumi K (2015) Commissural functional topography of the inferior colliculus assessed in vitro. Hearing Research 328:94-101.

Lee CC, Yanagawa Y, Imaizumi K (2015) Nicotinic modulation of functional thalamocortical topography. Neuroreport 26:688-694 (Cover Image)                    

Li, S. (2015). Transcription coupled nucleotide excision repair in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae: The ambiguous role of Rad26. DNA Repair. Epub ahead of print. http://ac.els-cdn.com/S1568786415001810/1-s2.0S1568786415001810-main.pdf?_tid=bd31bf82-987c-11e5-a544-00000aacb35e&acdnat=1449009902_ad440ab14768806bbd45c8a1b443895511e5-a544-0e5-a544-00000aacb35e&acdnat=1449009902_ad440ab14768806bd45c8a1b4438955

Li, M., Ko, T. and Li, S (2015). High-resolution digital mapping of N-methylpurines in human cells reveals modulation of their induction and repair by nearest-neighbor nucleotides. J. Biol. Chem. 290, 23148-23161.http://www.jbc.org/content/290/38/23148.full.pdf+html

Li, W., Selvam, K., Ko, T. and Li, S. (2014). Transcription bypass of DNA lesions enhances cell survival but attenuates transcription coupled DNA repair. Nucleic Acids Res. 42, 13242-13253.http://nar.oxfordjournals.org/content/42/21/13242.full.df+html

Sakr, H.I., Coleman,D.T., Cardelli, J.A., Mathis, J.M. (2015)Characterization of an oncolytic adenovirus vector constructed to target the cMet receptor. Oncolytic Virotherapy 4, 119-132.

Jackson, K.L., Dayton, R.D., Fisher-Perkins, J.M., Didier, P.J., Kate C Baker, K.C., Weimer, M., Gutierrez, A., Cain, C.D., Mathis, J.M., Gitcho, M.A., Bunnell, B.A., Klein, R.L.. (2015). Initial gene vector dosing for studying symptomatology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in non-human primates. Journal of Medical Primatology 44 (2), 66-75.

Liu, L., Rogers, B.E., Aladyshkina, N., Cheng, B., Lokitz, S.J., David T Curiel, D.T., Mathis, J.M. (2014). Construction and Radiolabeling of Adenovirus Variants that Incorporate Human Metallothionein into Protein IX for Analysis of Biodistribution. Molecular Imaging 13, 1-12.

Uhl, E.W., Osborn, M.L. (2016). The Pathomechanics of Degenerative Joint Disease: A One Health Comparative Case Study Approach. AAVMC /APTR One Health Case Studies, http://www.aavmc.org/one-health/case-studies.aspx

Osborn, M.L., Homberger, D.G. (2015). The Human Shoulder Suspension Apparatus: A Causal Explanation for Bilateral Asymmetry and a Fresh Look at the Evolution of Human Bipedality. The Anatomical Record, 298 (9): 1572-1588. doi: 10.1002/ar.23178                          

Noel, A., Xiao, R., Perveen, Z., Zaman, H.M., Rouse, R.L., Paulsen, D.B., Penn, A.L. (2016). Incomplete lung recovery following sub-acute inhalation of combustion-derived ultrafine particles in mice. Particle and Fibre Toxicology, 13: 10.

Xiao, R., Noel, A., Perveen, Z., Penn, A.L. (2016). In utero exposure to second-hand-smoke (SHS) activates pro-asthmatic and oncogenic miRNAs in adult mice. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, 57: 190-199. Editor’s Choice-Paper of the Month                              

Saini*, Y., Wilkinson, K., Terrell, K., Burns, K.A., Livraghi-Butrico, A., Doerschuck, C.M., O’Neal, W.K., Boucher, R.C. (2016). Neonatal pulmonary macrophage depletion coupled to defective mucus clearance alters pulmonary immune responses. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, 54, 210-221. (*Corresponding Author)

Hwang, H., Lynn, S.G, Vengellur, A, Saini, Y., Grier, E.A., Fergusan-Miller, S.M., LaPres, J.J. (2015). Hypoxia Inducible Factors (HIFs) modulate mitochondrial oxygen consumption and transcriptional regulation of nuclear encoded electron transport chain genes. Biochemistry, 54, 3739-3748.

Strain, G.M., Rosado Martinez*, A.J., McGee*, K.A., McMillan, C.L. (2016). Distortion product otoacoustic emissions in geriatric dogs. The Veterinary Journal 216:101-106.Strain, G.M. (2015). The genetics of deafness in domestic animals. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2:29 (20pp).

Virdi, A. S., Irish, J., Sena, K., Liu, M., Ke, H. Z., McNulty, M. A., Sumner, D. R. (2015). Sclerostin antibody treatment improves implant fixation in a model of severe osteoporosis.. The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume, 97(2), 133-40.                              

Xin, F., Xiao, R., Perveen, Z., Thibodeaux, L., Overton, E., Kleinow, K., Penn, A. L. Developmental and transcriptome consequences to zebrafish embryos following direct exposure to deepwater horizon crude oil emulsions.. No.

Xiao, R., Perveen, Z., Rouse, R. L., LeDonne, V., Paulsen, D., Ambalavanan, N., Penn, A. L. In utero    exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) aggravates adult responses to ovalbumin in adult mice.. AmerJ Respir Cell Mol Biol., 49, 1102-09.                     

Yogesh Saini*, Kristen Wilkinson, Kristy Terrell, Kimberlie A Burns, Alessandra Livraghi-Butrico, Claire M Doerschuck, Wanda K O’Neal, Richard C Boucher. Neonatal pulmonary macrophage depletion coupled to defective mucus clearance alters pulmonary immune responses. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology 2015 Jun 18.  [Epub ahead of print] (*Corresponding Author)

Hyejin Hwang, Scott G Lynn, Ajith Vengellur, Yogesh Saini, EA Grier, SM Fergusan-Miller, John J LaPres. Hypoxia Inducible Factors (HIFs) modulate mitochondrial oxygen consumption and transcriptional regulation of nuclear encoded electron transport chain genes. Biochemistry. 2015 Jun 1. [Epub ahead of print]             

Strain, G.M. (2015). The genetics of deafness in domestic animals. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2:29 (20pp).

Strain, G.M., Andrews, F., Lacombe, V.A. (2015). Electrodiagnostic evaluation of the nervous system. In: Furr, M., Reed, S. eds., Equine Neurology. 2nd ed. Wiley: Hoboken, NJ, 157-183.

Odenheimer Ariel, Yao S, Kearney MT, Joudrey SD, Al-Bagdadi, FK. (2015) Morphometric and ultrastructure studies of primordial follicles, and expression of estrogen-dependent genes in the ovaries of domestic cats. J Microsc Ultrastruct. Http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmau. 2015.10.003

Rezai-Rad, M., Bova, J.F., Orooji, M., Pepping, J., Qureshi, A., Del Piero, F., Hayes, D., Yao, S. (2015). Evaluation of bone regeneration potential of dental follicle stem cells for treatment of craniofacial defects. Cytotherapy. 17

(11):1572-81. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4592822.

Rezai-Rad, M., Liu, D., He, H., Brooks, H., Wise, G.E., Yao, S. (2015). The role of dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) in regulation of osteogenic differentiation of rat dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs). Archives of Oral Biology 60: 546-556. 

Rad, M., Liu, D., He, H., Brook, H., Wise, G. E., Yao, S. (2014). The role of dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) in regulation of osteogenic differentiation of rat dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs). Archives of Oral Biology, 60(4), 546-556.

Yao, S., He, H., Gutierrez, D. L., Rad, M., Liu, D., Li, C., Wise, G. E. (2014). Expression of bone morphogenetic protein 6 in dental follicle stem cells and its effect on osteogenic differentiation. Cells Tissues and Organs, 198(6), 438-447. http://www.karger.com/Journal/Home/224197

Hill, R.A., Xu, W., Yoshimura, M. (2016) Role of adenylyl cyclase isoform in ethanol’s effect on cAMP regulated gene expression in NIH 3T3 cells. Biochem. Biophys. Rep. 8, 162-167. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405580816301583

Programs

• Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences-Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Ph.D.

• Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences-Comparative Biomedical Sciences, M.S.