TRAINING IN PHARMACOLOGY, TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 2008 ASPET SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY at the UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
The Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy 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 Skau to discover more about the project, learn what your responsibilities will be during the ten-week research training program.
2008 ASPET SURF Project #:  08 - 014 Faculty Supervisor/Mentor: Kenneth A. Skau, Ph.D. Professor Pharmaceutical Sciences College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati Email:  skauka@uc.edu
Project Title: Cholinesterases in Drug Metabolism and Anticholinesterase Drugs                         for Disease Therapy
Research Program Description: Skau’s research centers on the biochemical and pharmacological aspects of the cholinesterases. A major focus has been on the distribution of molecular forms of these enzymes primarily in excitable tissues including neurons, and skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscles. In addition, Skau’s laboratory is studying alternative functional roles of this class of enzymes. There are indications that cholinesterases may be involved in cell adhesion and perhaps other non-hydrolytic functions. The laboratory is also exploring the potential xenobiotic role of cholinesterases in metabolism of certain drugs. Recent work in Skau’s lab has focused on cholinesterases in Caco-2 cells; evidence to date suggests that acetylcholinesterase in Caco-2 cells is a GPI-anchored protein located in lipid rafts on the apical side of these polarized, epithelial derived cells. In addition, the laboratory has conducted extensive study on cholinesterase changes associated with muscular dystrophy, diabetic neuropathies and diabetic cardiomyopathy. The laboratory investigates the mechanism by which drugs that inhibit the cholinesterases are useful in certain diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease act.
ASPET SURF Project Description:  No ASPET SURF research project will be available for this topic in summer 2007.  Topics for 2008 and 2009 will be described in advance of recruitment for those years.  Dr. Skau will be available to co-mentor ASPET SURF student’s in 2007 who are conducting research in another faculty member’s laboratory.