NEWS and ACHIEVEMENTS
Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience
![Man wearing a lab coat standing in a laboratory with shelves in the background]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1775681869/lsuhscshreveportedu/iam1n1qc9bmrbtchcvgq/Yen-LinChennews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1775681869/lsuhscshreveportedu/iam1n1qc9bmrbtchcvgq/Yen-LinChennews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1775681869/lsuhscshreveportedu/iam1n1qc9bmrbtchcvgq/Yen-LinChennews.png","width":520}])
At LSU Health Shreveport, Yen-Lin Chen, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, aims to better understand why obesity develops. Knowledge of how the body’s blood and lymphatic vessels may contribute to obesity could inform future strategies to address this chronic condition.
![Young woman and man, smiling, stand next to a colorful painting in a building]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1775165207/lsuhscshreveportedu/r5tu63fjmjmqk8j1nqu6/VestandWoodnews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1775165207/lsuhscshreveportedu/r5tu63fjmjmqk8j1nqu6/VestandWoodnews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1775165207/lsuhscshreveportedu/r5tu63fjmjmqk8j1nqu6/VestandWoodnews.png","width":520}])
“In Search of the Infinite” is layered with meaning for LSUHS School of Graduate Studies alumni Frances Vest, PhD and Bo Wood, PhD as they celebrate one year of marriage after recently defending their dissertations.
![Man with light complexion, short black hair, smiling, wearing a lab coat over blue shirt and tie]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1769206855/lsuhscshreveportedu/hdk2ipehcs1cxohmsqz3/JiliangZhounewslab.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1769206855/lsuhscshreveportedu/hdk2ipehcs1cxohmsqz3/JiliangZhounewslab.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1769206855/lsuhscshreveportedu/hdk2ipehcs1cxohmsqz3/JiliangZhounewslab.png","width":520}])
Invisible at birth yet essential for life, smooth muscle cells control digestion, urination, childbirth and blood flow. Research at LSU Health Shreveport reveals how genetic missteps in these cells can dictate a child’s future, and how science may one day change that outcome.
![Young girl with dark complexion and long black hair, wearing a lab coat beside a research poster display, listening while a male scientist speaks to her]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1766088268/lsuhscshreveportedu/v6qvkrjpap0qczdunk9g/Biostartnews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1766088268/lsuhscshreveportedu/v6qvkrjpap0qczdunk9g/Biostartnews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1766088268/lsuhscshreveportedu/v6qvkrjpap0qczdunk9g/Biostartnews.png","width":520}])
After nearly four months of early-morning bus rides and learning concepts not typically encountered in the high school classroom, BioStart students presented their findings on human conditions that often need intense medical interventions for survival.
![Kevin Murnane is a man with short red hair, beard, moustache, wearing a lab coat over a white shirt and tie]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1755291509/lsuhscshreveportedu/ks17b9uu9an6jljl89mo/KevinMurnanenews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1755291509/lsuhscshreveportedu/ks17b9uu9an6jljl89mo/KevinMurnanenews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1755291509/lsuhscshreveportedu/ks17b9uu9an6jljl89mo/KevinMurnanenews.png","width":520}])
Kevin Murnane, PHD, was awarded a new two-year UG3 grant from the NIH through Virogenomics BioDevelopment, Inc. for his project "IND-enabling studies and phase I clinical trials to advance CD74-target, DRhQ, as a treatment for stimulant use disorder."
![Alicia Thomas has a dark complexion, long braided hair in a bun, smiling, wearing a lab coat and pearls]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1738791047/lsuhscshreveportedu/rxuxin6rj7zwueefiyor/AliciaThomasnews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1738791047/lsuhscshreveportedu/rxuxin6rj7zwueefiyor/AliciaThomasnews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1738791047/lsuhscshreveportedu/rxuxin6rj7zwueefiyor/AliciaThomasnews.png","width":520}])
The February 2025 School of Graduate Studies Student of the Month is Alicia Thomas in the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience.
![methamphetamine, courtesy of Getty Images]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1611588764/lsuhscshreveportedu/a2rxgyyoypxi3d38oidx/meth.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1611588764/lsuhscshreveportedu/a2rxgyyoypxi3d38oidx/meth.jpg","width":500}])
Red River Radio - LSUHS Dr. Shawn McNeil, Dr. Kevin Murnane and PhD candidate Frances Vest talk about addiction to methamphetamines, its prevalence, and a new clinical trial at LSUHS with psilocybin as a possible treatment.
![Xiaohong Lu, PhD photo in an office with desk and computer screens]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1722521736/lsuhscshreveportedu/r4smwifdgflahdbeo0xr/XiaohongLunews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1722521736/lsuhscshreveportedu/r4smwifdgflahdbeo0xr/XiaohongLunews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1722521736/lsuhscshreveportedu/r4smwifdgflahdbeo0xr/XiaohongLunews.png","width":520}])
Xiaohong Lu, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, awarded a one-year $506,052 R56 grant from the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
![woman in a white coat]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1717776760/lsuhscshreveportedu/bzac4foazowmskvmwftb/NoelJacquetnews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1717776760/lsuhscshreveportedu/bzac4foazowmskvmwftb/NoelJacquetnews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1717776760/lsuhscshreveportedu/bzac4foazowmskvmwftb/NoelJacquetnews.png","width":520}])
The June 2024 School of Graduate Studies Student of the Month is Noel Jacquet in the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, & Neuroscience.
![group of people standing and holding certificates]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1717447179/lsuhscshreveportedu/pkyqdurjbkqc44hjhtls/GradResearchDay24winnersnews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1717447179/lsuhscshreveportedu/pkyqdurjbkqc44hjhtls/GradResearchDay24winnersnews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1717447179/lsuhscshreveportedu/pkyqdurjbkqc44hjhtls/GradResearchDay24winnersnews.png","width":520}])
The Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience was well represented at Graduate Research Day this year. Graduate Students, Clifton Haacker and Adesewa Akande were award recipients and alumnus, Madison ElSaadi, PhD was the featured speaker.
