Inquiry Statement Methamphetamine or METH is a highly addictive psychostimulant that has neurodegenerative effects on the human brain (Krasnova & Cadet 2009)(Krasnova and Cadet, 2009). METH abuse in Hawaii is one of the highest in the nation (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Oct/12/ln/ln02a.html). METH is also commonly used by HIV-infected individuals(Cadet & Krasnova 2007). Drug use in the presence of HIV-infection increases the severity of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND)(Aksenov et al. 2001). The combination of HIV and METH exposures can cause greater neurological impairments than each agent alone(Rippeth et al. 2004). Like many other drugs of abuse, METH increase sdopamine (DA) neurotransmission in the ventral
…show more content…
2006). My faculty mentor, Dr. Andres, has recently published findings demonstrating that methamphetamine (METH) acutely decreases Ca2+ currents (or Ca2+ movements into the cell); however, chronically, METH elevates L-type channel expression(Andres et al. 2015). Similarly, the Tat protein also is known to affect Ca2+ movements into the cell(Haughey et al. 2001). However, there is a poor understanding about the mechanism by which METH and HIV-Tat affect Ca2+ entry into neurons or cells. My research project will ask these questions 1) do METH and Tat affect Ca2+ entry via the L-type Ca2+ channel or the N-type Ca2+ channel or both? and 2) what are the long-term effects of HIV-Tat protein exposure on calcium expression in neurons and what are the combined effects of Tat and METH exposures on calcium channel expression …show more content…
I interned under Dr. Pallav Pokhrel in the Cancer Prevention and Control Program where I performed a systematic literature review of published, peer-reviewed tobacco use research involving the effects of social media on tobacco use, cessation, and marketing. This experience gave me a glimpse into research and motivated me to pursue other research experiences to gain additional research training. In November 2014, as part of the MARC program (Maximizing Access to Research Careers Program) of the Pacific Biosciences Research Center University of Hawaii at Manoa I selected to intern under Dr. Marilou A. Andres where I was exposed to drug addiction and HIV research. In her laboratory, I learned ratiometric imaging and molecular biology techniques. I worked with differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, performing realtime PCR to determine calcium channel expression following METH treatments. I also became very proficient with the Fura-2 imaging technique, measuring calcium levels in the presence of calcium blockers. My knowledge and experience with both experimental approaches will be helpful in my achieveing the proposed research work in this UROP application. I also gained additional training during the Summer of 2015 in a Summer Research Fellowship Program at the University of Connecticut. I worked under Dr. Min Tang-Schomer. My project focused on
2006). My faculty mentor, Dr. Andres, has recently published findings demonstrating that methamphetamine (METH) acutely decreases Ca2+ currents (or Ca2+ movements into the cell); however, chronically, METH elevates L-type channel expression(Andres et al. 2015). Similarly, the Tat protein also is known to affect Ca2+ movements into the cell(Haughey et al. 2001). However, there is a poor understanding about the mechanism by which METH and HIV-Tat affect Ca2+ entry into neurons or cells. My research project will ask these questions 1) do METH and Tat affect Ca2+ entry via the L-type Ca2+ channel or the N-type Ca2+ channel or both? and 2) what are the long-term effects of HIV-Tat protein exposure on calcium expression in neurons and what are the combined effects of Tat and METH exposures on calcium channel expression …show more content…
I interned under Dr. Pallav Pokhrel in the Cancer Prevention and Control Program where I performed a systematic literature review of published, peer-reviewed tobacco use research involving the effects of social media on tobacco use, cessation, and marketing. This experience gave me a glimpse into research and motivated me to pursue other research experiences to gain additional research training. In November 2014, as part of the MARC program (Maximizing Access to Research Careers Program) of the Pacific Biosciences Research Center University of Hawaii at Manoa I selected to intern under Dr. Marilou A. Andres where I was exposed to drug addiction and HIV research. In her laboratory, I learned ratiometric imaging and molecular biology techniques. I worked with differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, performing realtime PCR to determine calcium channel expression following METH treatments. I also became very proficient with the Fura-2 imaging technique, measuring calcium levels in the presence of calcium blockers. My knowledge and experience with both experimental approaches will be helpful in my achieveing the proposed research work in this UROP application. I also gained additional training during the Summer of 2015 in a Summer Research Fellowship Program at the University of Connecticut. I worked under Dr. Min Tang-Schomer. My project focused on