TRAINING IN PHARMACOLOGY, TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 2008 ASPET SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY at the UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
The Department of Pharmacology & Cell Biophysics, College of Medicine is pleased to offer this research project as part of the 2008 summer ASPET SURF Training Program offered by the Department  of Pharmacology & Cell Biophysics.  Students interested in this project are advised to contact Professor Belcher to discover more about the project, learn what your responsibilities will be during the ten-week research training program.
2008 ASPET SURF Project #:  08 - 001 Faculty Supervisor/Mentor: Scott Belcher, Ph.D. Associate Professor Pharmacology & Cell Biophysics College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati Email:  belchesm@uc.edu
Project Title: Mechanisms of Estrogen Action in Developing Neurons and in Models of                           Brain Cancer
Research Program Description: The Belcher laboratory’s research is focused on understanding fundamental molecular mechanisms that regulate development and survival of neurons and glia in the mammalian nervous system. One of our major research efforts is aimed at fully understanding the role played by the endogenous steroid hormone estrogen during development and aging of the central nervous system (CNS). We are employing neuroanatomical, molecular biological, as well as genomic and proteomic approaches to elucidate the signaling pathways that are modulated by endogenous and environmental estrogens in different brain regions. Recent results from our laboratory have shown that estrogen and certain environmental estrogens can regulate both mitogenesis and viability of developing non-endocrine neurons through novel mechanisms that are mediate through a membrane associated estrogen receptor.
ASPET SURF Project Description: Under the guidance of Dr. Belcher and with assistance from senior level laboratory researchers, the ASPTE SURF summer undergraduate fellow’s research project will focus on elucidation of mechanisms of estrogen action in developing neurons and in models of brain cancer. As a component of ongoing studies, the ASPET SURF student will engage in molecular and physiological studies of estrogenic actions on the growth and development of normal and malignant neuronal precursor cells and investigate the potential clinical efficacy of anti-estrogen signaling drugs for treatment of pediatric brain tumors.