Award Recipients

Distinguished Neurotoxicologist Award

Anumantha Kanthasamy

Toshio Narahashi Poster Award

Postdoctoral Fellow Recipients

First Place: Dr. David Leuthold, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Mentor: Dr. Tamara Tal

Second Place: Dr. Janine Cubello, University of Rochester
Mentor: Dr. Marissa Sobolewski-Terry

Third Place: Dr. Emily Pitzer, US Environmental Protection Agency
Mentor: Dr. David Herr

Graduate Student Recipients

First Place: Ashely Adamson, University of Alabama Birmingham
Mentor: Dr. Briana De Miranda

Second Place (Tie): Jeremy MacMahon, University of California Davis
Mentor: Dr. Pamela Lein

Second Place (Tie): Pedro Bernadino, University of California Davis
Mentor: Dr. Pamela Lein

Third Place (Tie): Yuan-Teng Chang, University of Georgia
Mentor: Dr. Anumantha Kanthasamy

Third Place (Tie): Neda Illieva, University of Alabama Birmingham
Mentor: Dr. Briana De Miranda

Travel Awards

MaryAnn Hawks, US Environmental Protection Agency
Title: Identity Crisis: Parvalbumin Expressing GABA Neurons Disappear Under Conditions of Iodine Deficiency of Iodine Deficiency and Perchlorate Exposure
Mentor: Mary Gilbert

Dipro Bose, University of California Irvine
Title: Germ-Free Mice Exhibit Attenuated Gut-Brain Axis Linked Neuroinflammation in Gulf Ware Illness Chemical Toxicity
Mentor: Saurabh Chatterjee

Nadia Herold, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research
Title: Multi-Behavioral Fingerprints in Larval Zebrafish Can Identify Neuroactive Environmental Chemicals and Underlying Mechanisms
Mentor: Tamara Tal

Catherine Rojas, Rutgers University
Title: Interaction of Maternal Diet and Perinatal Exposure to Flame Retardants on Offspring Metabolism and Gene Expression
Mentor: Troy Roepke

Distinguished Neurotoxicologist Award

Dr. William Boyes

Best Poster Postdoctoral Trainee Award

First Place: Savannah Rocha
Title: Juvenile Exposure to Manganese Sensitizes to Rotenone Induced Neuropathology and Is Not Ameliorated by Genetic Inhibition of IKK2/Nfkb Signaling in Microglia in a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Mentor: Ron Tjalkens

Second Place: Megan Bucher
Title: Environmental and Pharmacological Regulators of Vesicular Dopamine Dynamics
Mentor: Gary Miller

Third Place: Isha Mhatre-Winters
Title: APOE-Genotype and Sex Alters Effects of Organochlorine Pesticide DDT in Humanized APOE Mice
Mentor: Jason Richardson

Best Poster Graduate Student Award

First Place (Tie): Luke Liu
Title: Novel Discovery of the Choroid Plexus (CP)-Subventricular Zone (SVZ) Regulatory Axis: Evidence from Small-sized Extracellular Vesicles Released from the CP to Altered Adult Neurogenesis in SVZ and Implications in Manganese-induced Non-motor Syndromes
Mentor: Wei Zhang

First Place (Tie): Neda Ilieva
Title: Oxidative Damage from Parkinson’s Disease Associated Environmental Toxicants is Attenuated by LRRK2 Kinase Inhibition
Mentor: Briana De Miranda

Second Place: Kian Afsharian
Title: Oxidative DNA Damage Epigenetically Decreases Gene Expression in Brca1 KO Fetal Brains Exposed In Utero to Saline or Ethanol
Mentor: Peter Wells

Third Place: Peter Andrew
Title: Natural History of Acute and Subchronic Electrophysiologic Responses to Acute Intoxication with the Organophosphate Diisopropylfluorophosphate in Male and Female Rats
Mentor: Pam Lein

Distinguished Neurotoxicologist Award

Dr. Pamela Lein

Postdoc Best Abstract Award

First Place: Isha Mhatre-Winters
Mentor: Jason Richardson

Second Place: David Leuthold (Tamara Tal Accepting Award)
Mentor: Tamara Tal

Third Place: Paige Mundy
Mentor: Pam Lein

Postdoc Best Poster Award

First Place (Tie): Megan Culbreth
Mentor: Josh Harrill

First Place (Tie): Paige Mundy
Mentor: Pam Lein

Second Place (Tie): Anna Kreutz
Mentor: Barbara Wetmore

Second Place (Tie): David Leuthold
Mentor: Tamara Tal

Graduate Student Best Abstract Award

First Place: Ola Wasel
Mentor: Jennifer Freeman

Second Place: Neda Ilieva
Mentor: Briana De Miranda

Third Place: Yi-Hua Tsai
Mentor: Pam Lein

Graduate Student Best Poster Award

First Place: Ferass Sammoura
Mentor: Jason Richarson

Second Place: Arturo Barahona
Mentor: Jason Richardson

Third Place: Alyssa Merrill
Mentor: Marissa Sobolewski

Outstanding Virtual Presentation Awards Postdoctoral Trainee

First Place: David Pamies
Title: A Human derived Brain Model to Study Chemical Induced Myelin Disruption
Mentor: Marie-Gabrielle Zurich

Virtual Poster Competition Postdoctoral Trainee

First Place: Katherine O’Shaughnessy
Title: Bypassing the Brain Barriers: Identification of Serum microRNAs Reflective of Developmental Neurotoxicity
Mentor: Mary Gilbert

Second Place (Tie): Callie Goeke
Title: Neurotoxic Impact of Developmental Iron-Sulfur and Ambient Air Pollution Exposure in the Mouse Nucleus Accumbens
Mentor: Marissa Sobolewski

Second Place (Tie): David Pamies
Title: A Human derived Brain Model to Study Chemical Induced Myelin Disruption
Mentor: Marie-Gabrielle Zurich

Second Place (Tie): Tauqeerunnisa Syeda
Title: Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines Promote Protein Aggregation and Induce Alzheimer’s Disease Relevant Neurotoxicity
Mentor: Jason Cannon

Outstanding Virtual Presentation Awards Graduate Students

First Place: Hendrik Greve
Title: Ozone Exposure in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease: Evidence for a BiDirectional Lung-Brain Axis
Mentor: Michelle L. Block

Virtual Poster Competition Graduate Students

First Place: Tim Andersen
Title: Neurotoxicity of Inhaled Paraquat: A Translationally Relevant Route of Exposure
Mentor: Deborah Cory-Slechta

Second Place: Hendrik Greve
Title: Ozone Exposure in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease: Evidence for a Bi-Directional Lung-Brain Axis
Mentor: Michelle L. Block

Third Place: Emma Foster
Title: Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography to Assess Genetic Susceptibility to Gestational and Lactational Benzo[a]pyrene Exposure
Mentor: Christine Curran

Fourth Place: Hyunjin Kim
Title: A Differential Gene Expression Study of Two Siblings with Genetic Risk for Parkinson’s Disease
Mentor: Aaron Bowman

Distinguished Neurotoxicologist Award

Dr. Michael Aschner

Toshio Narahashi Trainee Conference Award

Shreesh R. Sammi, Purdue University
Title: Mitochondrial Mechanisms of Harmane-Induced Dopaminergic Neurotoxicity in C. elegans
Mentor: Jason R. Cannon

Asha Rizor, Florida A M University
Title: Mechanism of Mn-Induced YY1 Activation via Aurora B Kinase and Casein Kinase II in Astrocytes
Mentor: Eunsook Lee

Faith Anderson, Dartmouth College
Title: Mechanisms of Chlorpyrifos-Driven Programmed Cell Death in Neurons
Mentor: Matthew C. Havdra

John Kim, Vanderbilt University
Title: Highly Prescribed Antipsychotics Perturb Cholesterol Biosynthesis in hiPSC-Derived Human Cortical and Dopaminergic Neural Precursors
Mentor: Ned A. Porter

Toshio Narahashi Poster Competition

Postdoctoral Fellow Recipients

First Place: Souvarish Sarkar, Harvard University
Title: Multiplex analysis in a Drosophila gene-environment model identifies interactions among LRRK2, rotenone and α-synuclein
Mentor: Mel Feany

Second Place: Shreesh Sammi, Purdue University
Title: Mitochondrial mechanisms of harmane-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity in C. elegans
Mentor: Jason Cannon

Third Place: Edward Pajarillo, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Title: Deletion of astrocytic YY1 protects against Mn-induced dopaminergic toxicity in mice
Mentor: Eunsook Lee

Fourth Place: Anna Chelbowski, Western University of Health Sciences
Title: Role of Cycad Toxins in Parkinson-Dementia Complex (PDC) using Induced Pluripotent Cell (iPSC) from Guam patients
Mentor: Glen Kisby

Graduate Student Recipients

First Place: Kelley Patten, University of California, Davis
Title: Chronic Exposure to Real-Time Traffic-Related Air Pollution Exacerbates and Accelerates Alzheimer’s Disease Phenotypes in Wildtype and TgF344-AD Rats
Mentor: Pamela Lein

Second Place: Bianca Yaghoobi, University of California, Davis
Title: RyR-active polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) cause neurobehavioral deficits in larval zebrafish
Mentor: Pamela Lein

Third Place: Rachel Foguth, Purdue University
Title: Effects of Developmental Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances on Brain and Heart Innervation in Northern Leopard Frogs
Mentor: Jason Cannon

Fourth Place: Jonas Calsbeek, University of California, Davis
Title: The role of nicotinic receptors in seizure activity and death triggered by acute organophosphate intoxication in a mouse model
Mentor: Pamela Lein

Toshio Narahashi Trainee Conference Award

Morgan Thomas, Oberlin Collegebr> Title: Huntingtin and Cadmium Induce Striatal Neurotoxicity and Neurodegeneration via Altered Metal Transport and Protein Kinase C Dependent Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis Signaling Mechanisms
Mentor: Gunnar Kwakye

Hendrik Greve, Indiana University School of Medicine
Title: Diesel Exhaust Dysregulates Markers of Disease-Associated Microglia
Mentor: Michelle L. Block

Aseel Eid, Florida International University
Title: DDT Increases Neuroinflammation and Microglial Activation: Role of Microglial Sodium Channels
Mentor: Jason Richardson

Toshio Narahashi Poster Competition

Postdoctoral Fellow Recipients

From left to right: Carolyn Klocke, Pamela Lein, Briana De Miranda

First Place: Briana De Miranda, University of Pittsburgh
Title: Environmental mitochondrial toxicants elevate Parkinson’s Disease risk by LRRK2 activation
Mentor: Timothy Greenamyre

Second Place: Carolyn Klocke, University of California, Davis
Title: Sex-specific alteration of dendritic growth following developmental PCB exposure
Mentor: Pamela Lein

Third Place: Shreesh Sammi, Purdue University
Title: Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid is selectively toxic to dopaminergic neurons in C. elegans
Mentor: Jason Cannon

Graduate Student Recipients

From left to right: Anu Kanthasamy, Dharmin Rokad, Cherish Taylor, Eduardo Gonzalez, Pamela Lein

First Place: Dharmin Rokad, Iowa State University
Title: Manganese Exposure: Misfolded α-Synuclein, Impaired Endosomal Trafficking and Protein Degradation Machinery
Mentor: Anu Kanthasamy

Second Place: Eduardo González, University of California, Davis
Title: cute Intoxication of Juvenile Rats with the Organophosphate DFP Causes Sex-Specific Seizure Behavior and Neuropathology
Mentor: Pamela Lein

Third Place: Cherish Taylor, University of Texas, Austin
Title: Regulation of brain manganese homeostasis by the transporter SLC30A10
Mentor: Somshuvra Mukhopadhyay

Distinguished Neurotoxicologist Award

Dr. William Atchison

Toshio Narahashi Trainee Conference Award

From left to right: Katharine Horzmann, Sireesha Manne, and Carolyn Klocke

Katharine Horzmann, Purdue University
Title: Sex-Specific Behavioral, Transcriptomic, and Pathological Alterations in Adult Zebrafish Brain after Developmental Atrazine Exposure
Mentor: Jennifer Freeman

Sireesha Manne, Iowa State University
Title: High-Throughput and Sensitive Quantification of α-Synuclein Protein Aggregation in Welder’s Serum: Relevance to Development of Circulating Biomarkers for Manganese Neurotoxicity
Mentor: Anu Kanthasamy

Carolyn Klocke, University of Rochester
Title: Pre-Natal Exposure to Fine and Ultrafine Particulate Matter Dysregulates Cerebellar Myelin and Metal Homeostasis in a Sex-Specific Manner
Mentor: DeborahCory-Slechta

Toshio Narahashi Poster Competition

Postdoctoral Fellow Recipients

From left to right: Jason Richardson, Damaris Albores-Garcia, Pam Lein, Annalise vonderEmbse, Katie O’Shaughnessy, Mary Gilbert

First Place: Katie O’Shaughnessy, ORISE/US EPA
Title: Thyroid Hormone Disruption in Fetal and Neonatal Brain: Bioindicators of Hormone Action
Mentor: Mary Gilbert

Second Place: Annalise vonderEmbse, UC Davis
Title: Altered Sympathetic Connectivity Is Correlated with Thermogenic Impairment Following Perinatal DDT Exposure
Mentors: Michele La Merrill & Pam Lein

Third Place: Damaris Albores-Garcia, Florida International University
Title: Developmental Pb Exposure Sensitizes Adolescent Rats to Cocaine: Role of the Dopaminergic System
Mentor: Tom Guilarte

Graduate Student Recipients

From left to right: Sunjay Sethi, Pam Lein, Sireesha Manne, Anu Kanthasamy, Kyle Saitta

First Place: Kyle Saitta, Rutgers University
Title: The Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Agonist 2-Chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG) Inceases BDNF and Myelin Proteins after Cuprizone-Induced Demyelination
Mentor: Cheryl Dreyfus

Second Place: Sireesha Manne, Iowa State University
Title: High-Throughput and Sensitive Quantification of α-Synuclein Protein Aggregation in Welder’s Serum: Relevance to Development of Circulating Biomarkers for Manganese Neurotoxicity
Mentor: Anu Kanthasamy

Third Place: Sunjay Sethi, UC Davisbr> Title: Influence of Genetic Background on Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Developmental Neurotoxicity
Mentor: Pam Lein

Distinguished Neurotoxicologist Award

Dr. Deborah Cory-Slechta

Toshi Narahashi Poster Competition

First Place: Monica Langley, Iowa State University
Mentor: Dr. Anumantha Kanthasamy

Second Place: Jennifer Panlilio, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Mentors: Drs. Alura and Hahn

Third Place: Diana You, Northeast Ohio Medical University
Mentors: Drs. Lauren Aleksunes and Jason Richardson

Postdoctoral

First Place: Kimberly Keil, University of California, Davis
Mentor: Dr. Pam Lein

Second Place: Katie O’Shaughnessy, US Environmental Protection Agency
Mentor: Mary Gilbert

Third Place: Suren Bandara, University of California, Davis
Mentor: Dr. Pam Lein

2017 Postdoctoral Poster Photo [Left to Right]: Dr. Suren Bandara, Dr. Pam Lein, Dr. Kimberly Keil, Dr. Katie O’Shaughnessy, and Dr. Mary Gilbert

Predoctoral

First Place: Monica Langley, Iowa State University
Mentor: Dr. Anumantha Kanthasamy

Second Place: Jennifer Panlilio, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Mentors: Drs. Alura and Hahn

Third Place: Diana You, Northeast Ohio Medical University
Mentors: Drs. Lauren Aleksunes and Jason Richardson

Travel Award Recipients

Pallavi Pilaka, Virginia Commonwealth University

Shelbie Burchfield, Northeast Ohio Medical University

Gelareh Alam, Northeast Ohio Medical University

2017 Travel Award Photo [Left to Right]: Dr. Jason Richardson, Gelareh Alam, Dhelbie Burchfield, Pallavi Pilaka, and Dr. Andrew Ottens

Toshi Narahashi Poster Competition

2016 Poster Award Photo [left to right]: Jasmine Brown, Marshall Edwards, Shivani Ghaisas, Dr. Will Boyes, Miles Bryan, Briana Miranda, Kim Keil

Postdoctoral

First Place: Briana Miranda, University of Pittsburgh
Mentors: Drs. Edward Burton and J. Timothy Greenamyre

Second Place: Marissa Sobolewski, University of Rochester
Mentor: Dr. Deborah Cory-Slechta

Third Place: Kim Keil, University of California, Davis
Mentor: Dr. Pam Lein

Predoctoral

First Place: Katriana Popichak, Colorado State University
Mentor: Dr. Ron Tjalkens

Second Place: Miles Bryan, Vanderbilt University
Mentor: Aaron Bowman

Third Place: Shivani Ghaisas, Iowa State University
Mentor: Dr. Anumantha Kanthasamy

Travel Award Recipients

Jasmine Brown, US Environmental Protection Agency

Marshall Edwards, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio

Dana Lauterstein, NYU School of Medicine

2017 Travel Award Photo [left to right]: Dr. Jason Richardson, Gelareh Alam, Dhelbie Burchfield, Pallavi Pilaka and Dr. Andrew Ottens

Toshi Narahashi Poster Competition

2015 Poster Award Photo [left to right]: Anumantha Kanthasamy, Dilshan Harischandra, Aseel Eid, Katrinana Popichak, Briana De Miranda, Marissa Sobolewski, and Aaron Bowman

Postdoctoral

First Place: Briana De Miranda, Colorado State University
Mentor: Dr. Ronald Tjalkens

Second Place: Marissa Sobolewski, University of Rochester School of Medicine
Mentor: Dr. Deborah Cory-Slechta

Third Place (Tie): David Pamies, Johns Hopkins
Mentor: Dr. Thomas Hartung

Third Place (Tie): Galen Miller, University of California, Davis
Mentor: Dr. Pamela Lein

Predoctoral

First Place: Dilshan Harischandra, Iowa State University
Mentor: Dr. Anumantha Kanthasamy

Second Place: Katriana Popichak, Colorado State University
Mentor: Dr. Ronald Tjalkens

Third Place: Aseel Eid, University of Rhode Island
Mentors: Drs. Nasser Zawia and William Renehan

Toshio Narahashi Neurotoxicology Fellowship Competition

Postdoctoral Poster Awards

First Place: Judit Marsillach, University of Washington
Title: High Resolution 7T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Brain Damage in a Rat Model of Acute Organophosphate Intoxication
Mentor: Clem Furlong

Second Place: Jessica Plavicki, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Title: Early Embryonic 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Exposure Disrupts Forebrain and Cerebral Vascular Development in Zebrafish
Mentor: Dick Peterson

Third Place: Pan Chen, Albert Einstein, College of Medicine
Title: The Role of a Novel Genetic Factor (SLC30A10) in Manganese-Induced Toxicity in C. elegans
Mentor: Miki Aschner

Predoctoral Student Poster Awards

First Place: Brad Hobson, University of California, Davis
Title: High Resolution 7T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Brain Damage in a Rat Model of Acute Organophosphate Intoxication
Mentor: Pamela Lein

Second Place: Marianna Stamou, University of California, Davis
Title: Ontogeny of Fcγ Receptors in the Developing Rat Brain
Mentor: Pamela Lein

Third Place (Tie): Dilshan Harischandra, Iowa State University
Title: The Environmental Neurotoxicant Manganese Promotes Prion-Like Cell-to-Cell Transmission of α-Synuclein via Exosomes in Cell Culture and Animal Models of Parkinson’s Disease
Mentor: Anumantha Kanthasamy

Third Place (Tie): Hao Chen, University of California, Davis
Title: BDE-47 and BDE-49 Selectively Disrupt Axonal Outgrowth in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons
Mentor: Pamela Lein

Postdoctoral Award

First Place: Karen Streifel, UC Davis
Title: Structurally-Distinct Dopaminergic Neurotoxicants Acutely Decrease ATP-Dependent Calcium Signaling in Astrocytes by Inhibiting TRPC3
Mentors: Ron Tjalkens/Pam Lein

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Aaron Lulla, UCLA
Title: The Dithiocarbamate Fungicide Ziram Results in Endogenous Synuclein Aggregation, Dopaminergic Cell Loss, and Reduced Locomotor Behavior in a Zebrafish Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Mentor: Jeff Bronstein

Second Place: Dilshan Harischandra, Iowa State
Title: Manganese Exposure Induces Release of α-Synuclein and Promotes Exosome Mediated Cell to Cell Transmission of Synuclein Aggregates in Neurotoxicity Models
Mentor: Anu Kanthasamy

Third Place: Kevin Kumar, Vanderbilt
Title: Optimization of Fluorescence Assay of Cellular Manganese Status for High-Throughput Screening
Mentor: Aaron Bowman

Poster Competition Awards

Postdoctoral Recipients

First Place: Huajun Jin, Iowa State University
Title: Increased expression of pro-apoptotic kinase PKCδ during manganese exposure: Implications for gene-environment Interactions in neurodegeneration.
Mentor: Anumantha Kanthasamy

Second Place: Kirstie Stansfield, Columbia University
Title: NMDA receptor-dependent BDNF-TrkB signaling and MeCP2 changes in developing hippocampal neurons by Pb2+: Implications for an environmental basis of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Mentor: Tomas Guilarte

Third Place: Lana Shaiba, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Title: Biphasic effects of lead on angiogenesis (AG): implications for developmental neurotoxicity.
Mentor: Hassan El-Fawal

Graduate Student Recipients

First Place: Kristen Ryan, University of Colorado–Denver
Title: Post-translational oxidative modification and inactivation of mitochondrial complex I in kainate neurotoxicity.
Mentor: Manisha Patel

Second Place: Sandra Losa, North Carolina State University
Title: Advancement of vaginal opening in the female rat following neonatal BPA exposure is associated with disruption of hypothalamic RFRP3 signaling pathways.
Mentor: Heather Patisaul

Third Place: Dilshan Harischandra, Iowa State University
Title: Human α-synuclein protects against manganese neurotoxic insult during the early stages of exposure in a dopaminergic cell model of Parkinson’s disease.
Mentor: Anumantha Kanthasamy

Poster Competition Awards

Postdoctoral Recipient

Judy Choi

Graduate Student Recipients

First Place: Hariharan Saminathan

Second Place: Sarah Latchney

Third Place: Delfina Romero

Poster Competition Awards

Postdoctoral Recipient

First Place: Raja Settivari, Indiana University School of Medicine
Co-author(s): J. LeVora, R. Nass.
Title: Pharmacogenetic and biochemical analysis of Parkinson’s disease-, manganism, and dopamine-neuron associated proteins in C. elegans: Effects on mitochondrial function and dopamine neuron vulnerability.
Mentor: R. Nass

Graduate Student Recipients

First Place: April Neal, Johns Hopkins University
Co-author(s): T. Guilarte.
Title: Lead disrupts developing hippocampal neuron synapses via NMDA receptor inhibition.
Mentor: Tomas Guilarte

Second Place: Judy Choi, Johns Hopkins University
Co-author(s): H. Katz, J. Bai, Q. Zheng, T.R. Guilarte
Title: Silica-based nanoparticle update and cellular response in primary microglia.
Mentor: Tomas Guilarte

Third Place: Arukumar Asaithambi,Iowa State
Co-author(s): R. Kanthasmy, V, Anantharam, Anumantha Kanthasamy
Title: FYN Kinase Dependent proteolytic activation of protein kinase c delta pholhorylates antiaapototic kinase PKD1 during oxidative insult in cell culture models of Parkinson’s disease.
Mentor: Anumantha Kanthasmy

Best Abstract Awards

(Listed in alphabetical order.)

Anand Giddabasappa, University of Houston
Co-author(s): Shrada Mukherjee, Weimin Xiao, Shawntay Chaney and Donald A. Fox
Title: Differential spatiotemperal regulation of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and homeodomain (HD) transcription factors during gestational lead exposure (GLE) selectively increases the number of late-born retinal neurons.

Annmarie Ramkissoon, University of Toronto
Co-author(s): Peter G. Wells
Title: Acute methamphetamine (METH)-initiated oxidative stress and neurotoxicity are not modulated by nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)

ES Rufer, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Co-author(s): TD Tran, SM Smith.
Title: Moderate maternal iron inadequacy worsens neurobehavioral outcomes of developmental ethanol exposure.

Christopher D. Toscano, National Institutes of Health
Co-author(s): Sara Palumbo, Afonso C. Silva, Francesca Bosetti
Title: Cuprizone Induced-Demyelination Alters the Expression of Genes Involved in Arachidonic Acid Metabolism in the Mouse Brain

Sanjeeva J. Wijeyesakere, University of Michigan
Co-author(s): Jeanne A. Stuckey, and Rudy J. Richardson.
Title: Structural insight into inhibition/aging of neuropathy target esterase (NTE) from X0ray crystal studies of its catalytic domain homologue, Patatin-17 (PAT17).

Distinguished Neurotoxicologist Award

Dr. Joan Cranmer

Postdoctoral Award

First Place: S.E. Owens, Vanderbilt University
Co-author(s): ML Summar, KK Ryckman, JL Haines and M Aschner
Title: Genetic Variants in Four Metal-Regulatory Genes in Autism.

Second Place: R.I. Erickson, SRI
Co-author(s): EB Defensor, DR Middaugh, R Garcia, JC Mirsalis and KL Steinmetz
Title: Low-Dose Exposure of Neonatal Rats to the Antimalarial, β-Arteether (βAE), Results in Brainstem Pathology Without Obvious Behavioral Changes.

Third Place: S.A. Benkovic, CDC-NIOSH
Co-author(s): JP O’Callaghan and DB Miller
Title: Corticosterone Pretreatment Attenuates Neurodegeneration and Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Following Excitotoxic Damage from Kainic Acid.

Graduate Student Awards

First Place: A. Ramkissoon, University of Toronto
Co-author(s): PG Wells
Title: Human Prostaglandin H Synthase (hPHS)-1 and hPHS-2-Dependent Protein and DNA Oxidation Caused by Dopamine, Its Precursor and Metabolites.

Second Place: A. Giddabasappa, University of Houston
Co-author(s): W Xiao, B Xu, S Mukherjee, S Chaney, R Hamilton, A Swaroop and DA Fox
Title: The Sequential Upregulation of Cell Cycle Genes and MASH1 Increases the Proliferation and Differentiation of Late-Born Retinal Progenitor Cells (RPC) in Gestationally Lead-Exposed (GLE) Mice.

Third Place: H.B. Leavesley, Purdue University
Co-author(s): L Li, K Prabhakaran, L Zhang, X Zhang, JL Borowitz and GE Isom
Title: Nitrite-Mediated Antagonism of Cyanide Inhibition of Cytochrome C Oxidase.

Best Abstract Awards

Grand Prize Recipient: Anand Giddabasappa, University of Houston
Co-author(s): ML Summar, KK Ryckman, JL Haines and M Aschner
Title: Genetic variants in four metal-regulatory genes in autism.

Other Award Recipients:
Anand Giddabasappa, University of Houston
Co-author(s): W Xiao, B Xu, S Mukherjee, S Chaney, R Hamilton, A Swaroop and DA Fox
Title: The sequential upregulation of cell cycle genes and MASH1 increases the proliferation and differentiation of late-born retinal progenitor cells (RPC) in gestationally leadexposed (GLE) mice.

Leigh Leasure, University of Houston
Co-author(s): A Giddabasappa, S Chaney, JE Johnson, K Pothakos, YS Lau and DA Fox
Title: Low-level human equivalent gestational lead exposure produced gender-specific motor and coordination abnormalities and late-onset obesity in year-old mice.

Donna Lee, Buck Institute
Co-author(s): R Subramanian and JK Andersen
Title: Prolyl hydroxylase inhibition protects against MPP+ toxicity in vitro.

Tonya N. Taylor, Emory University
Co-author(s): WM Caudle, MZ Wang, JR Schank, HA Mitchell, D Weinshenker and GW Miller
Title: Contribution of locus coeruleus degeneration to the Parkinsonian symptoms in VMAT2-deficient mice.

Postdoctoral Award

Postdoctoral fellow: Only a first place was awarded, due to the few submissions.

First Place: Dr. Stanley A. Benkovic, CDC, NIOSH, Morgantown, WV
Co-author(s): K. Sriram, J.P. O’Callaghan and D.B. Miller.
Title: Exercise provides neuroprotection against kainic acid toxicity through induction of the chemokine MCP-1 in the hippocampus of C57BL/6J mice.

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Mr. Ming-Kai Chen, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Co-author(s):H. Kuwabara, R.J. Adams, J.R. Brasic, J.L. McGlothan, M. Alexander, A. Kumar, D.F. Wong and T.R. Guilarte.
Title: Dopaminergic and glial cell markers in a chronic MPTP non-human primate model of Parkinson’s Disease.

Second Place: Anand Giddabasappa, University of Houston, Houston, TX
Co-author(s): W. Xiao, J.E. Johnson, R. Hamilton, S. Chaney, A. Swaroop and D.A Fox.
Title: Gestational lead exposure (GLE) increases cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the developing mouse retina.

Third Place: Ms. April P. Neal, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Co-author(s): T.R. Guilarte.
Title: Effects of lead exposure on synaptic targeting of NMDA receptor subunits and signaling pathways in rat hippocampal neurons.

Abstract Awards

Mingi-Kai Chen, Johns Hopkins University
Co-author(s): H Kuwabara, RJ Adams, JR Brašic, JL McGlothan, M Alexander, A Kumar, DF Wong and TR Guilarte.
Title: Dopaminergic and glial cell markers in a chronic MPTP non-human primate model of Parkinson’s disease.

Dongren Yang, Oregon Health and Science University
Co-author(s): Dziennis S, Alkayed NJ, Hurn PD, Lein PJ.
Title: Developmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls reduces infarct size in the adult rat following ischemic stroke

Distinguished Neurotoxicologist Award

Dr. Herbert Needleman

Postdoctoral Awards

First Place: Dr. Kristy Thompson, Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Title: Olfactory transport of manganese to the brain is enhanced by anemia and involves divalent metal transporter-1.
Mentor: Marianne Wessling-Resnick

Second Place: Dr. Genarro Giordano, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Title: Low concentration of domoic acid (DA) induces mitochondrially mediated apoptosis in mouse cerebellar granule cells.
Mentor: Lucio Costa

Third Place: Dr. Christopher Toscano, Brain Physiology and Metabolism Section, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD
Title: Mice deficient in cyclooxygenase-2 are more susceptible than wild types to kainic acid Excitotoxicity
Mentor: Fransesca Bosetti

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Mr. Neal Burton, Environmental Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Title: In vivo attenuation of the Parkinsonian phenotype by induction of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway
Mentor: Tomas Guilarte

Second Place: Ms. Sanjeeva Wijeyesakere, Toxicology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Title: Modeling the patatin domain of neuropathy target esterase
Mentor: Rudy Richardson

Third Place: Ms. Linnzi Wright, Division of Neurotoxicology, NCTR and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
Title: Evaluation of changes in hippocampal gene expression associated with the behavioral toxicity caused by chronic developmental ketamine or remacemide treatment in rats
Mentor: Merle Paule

Top Ten Abstracts in Neurotoxicology

Top Abstract: Pam Lein and colleagues on chlorpyrifos and axon outgrowth.

Other Abstracts (in alphabetical order):
Amanda Ashley and colleagues on the PARK7 KO mouse.
Stan Benkovic and colleagues on forced exercise and kainate.
Neal Burton and colleagues on Nrf2 and Parkinson’s Disease.
Tomas Guilarte and colleagues on neuroimaging in monkeys.
Guy Perkins and colleagues on Bcl-xl and photoreceptors.
Brian Powers and colleagues on developmental PCBs and auditory impairment.
Khristy Thompson and colleagues on olfactory transport of manganese.
Marcelo Wolansky and colleagues on pyrethroid mixtures.
Nasser Zawia and colleagues on lead and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Postdoctoral Award Recipients [from left to right]: Jason Richardson (3rd place), Cheng Wang (3rd place), Anne Dreiem (2nd place), Krishnan Sriram (1st place)

Postdoctoral Awards

First Place: Dr. Krishnan Sriram, CDC-NIOSH, Morgantown, WV
Title: Identification of signaling pathways activating reactive gliosis in multiple models of brain injury: A genomic, proteomic and protein phosphorylation analysis
Mentor: James O’Callaghan

Second Place: Dr. Anne Dreiem, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY
Title: Effects of methylmercury on mitochondrial function and reactive oxygen species formation in striatal synaptosomes from rat
Mentor: Richard Seegal

Third Place (Tie): Dr. Jason Richardson, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Dept Environmental and Occupational Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Title: Developmental pyrethroid exposure alters dopaminergic neurochemistry resulting in hyperactivity and enhanced toxicity of MPTP
Mentor: Gary Miller

Third Place (Tie): Dr. Cheng Wang, National Center for Toxicological Research, Division of Neurotoxicology, Jefferson, AR
Title: Blockade of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors by ketamine produces loss of monkey frontal cortical neurons in culture
Mentor: Bill Slikker

Predoctoral Award Recipients [from left to right]: Lisa Domico (1st place), Donna Lee (2cd place); Joyce Riehl (3rd place)

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Ms. Lisa Domico, Joint Program in Toxicology, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ
Title: Neurotoxic effects of mancozeb and maneb in vivo and in vitro
Mentor: Keith Cooper

Second Place: Ms. Donna Lee, EHSC Dept Environmental Medicine, Rochester, NY
Title: HO-1 induction contributes to PCB-induced oxidative stress in dopaminergic cells
Mentor: Lisa Opanashuk

Third Place: Ms. Joyce Riehl, Molecular Biosciences, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Title: 2,2'-Dibromodiphenyl ether binds and induces calcium release through the ryanodine receptor in an FKBP12-dependent manner
Mentor: Isaac Pessah

Postdoctoral Awards

First Place: Dr. Jonathan T. Kern, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Title: Neuroprotection by Ginkgo biloba extract EGB761
Advisor: J. A. Johnson

Second Place: Dr. Yael de Abreu-Villaca, Duke University
Title: Prenatal nicotine exposure alters the response to nicotine administration in adolescence
Advisor: T. A. Slotkin

Third Place: Dr. Jang Li, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Title: Similar apoptotic ultrastructural damage but different cell death pathways induced by rotenone and camptothecin in human neural stem cells
Advisor: J. A. Johnson

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Mr. Henrik Viberg, Uppsala University, Sweden
Title: Comparative developmental neurotoxicity of PBDE 99 in two different mouse strains and rat
Mentor: P. Erriksson

Second Place: Mr. Saleh A. Bakheet, University of Rhode Island
Title: The influence of lead on the expression of OCT-2 and the regulation of its target genes
Mentor: Nasser Zawia

Third Place: Ms. Wendy Haines, University of North Carolina
Title: Pharmacokinetic differences may explain the age-related sensitivity of deltamethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, in rats
Mentor: Stephanie Padilla

Distinguished Neurotoxicologist Award

Dr. Bernard Weiss

Postdoctoral Awards

First Place: Dr. M. Riyaz Basha Mahammad, University of Rhode Island
Title: Heavy metals and PCBs promote beta-amyloid aggregation and its cyotoxicity in PC-12 cells
Advisor: Nassar Zawia

Second Place: Dr. Mark G. Opler, Columbia University
Title: Prenatal lead (Pb) exposure and schizophrenia: Preliminary findings
Advisor: E. S. Susser

Third Place: Dr. Dan Qiao, Duke University
Title: Fetal chlorpyrifos exposure: Adverse effects on brain cell development and cholinergic Biomarkers
Advisor: Ted Slotkin

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Mr. Jong-Min Lee, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Title: Identification of NRF2-dependent ARE-driven genes conferring protection against oxidative stress in primary cortical astrocytes and neurons: Cell type specific NRF2-dependent ARE-driven expression
Mentor: Jeff Johnson

Second Place: Mr. Timothy J. Kropp, University of Michigan
Title: Mass spectral evidence that mipafox-inhibited neuropathy target esterase (NTE) does not undergo Dealkylation
Mentor: Rudy Richardson

Third Place: MR. Jeff C. Bemis, University of Albany
Title: PCB-induced inhibition of monoamine trasporters predicts rat synaptosomal tissue and media dopamine and DOPAC concentrations
Mentor: Rich Seegal

Distinguished Neurotoxicologist Award

Dr. Peter Spencer

Postdoctoral Awards

First Place: Dr. Miriam B. Virgolini
Title: Assessing the role of the dorsal subiculum/nucleus accumbens pathway in Pb-induced changes in fixed interval (FI) performance
Advisor: Dr. D.A. Cory-Slechta

Second Place: Dr. Jeffrey S. Gillette
Title: Modulation of murine striatal dopamine transporter expression by the pyrethroid insecticide permethrin
Advisor: Jeff Bloomquist

Third Place: Dr. Riyaz B. Mahammad
Title: PCB-induced changes in the DNA-binding of several transcription factors in the developing cerebellum
Advisor: Nasser Zawia

Predoctoral Award

First Place: Chris D. Toscano
Title: Environmental enrichment reverses cognitive deficits induced by lead
Advisor: Tom Guilarte

Second Place: Ming K. Chen
Title: Increased expression of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors in the mouse brain following cuprizone-induced demyelination
Advisor: Tom Guilarte

Third Place: Dan T. Wilson
Title: Effects of methylmercury exposure on expression of EPHS and ephrins in embryonal carcinoma cells
Advisor: Ken Reuhl

Distinguished Neurotoxicologist Award

Dr. Toshio Narahashi

Postdoctoral Awards

First Place: Nickolay M. Filipov
Title: In Vitro Exposure to Manganese Potentiates Lps-induced Proinflammatory Cytokine Production by Murine Microglia
Advisor: Rich F. Seegal

Second Place: Riyaz Mahammad, University of Rhode Island
Title: Zinc Supplementation Protects Against Lead Induced Alterations of Sp1-DNA Binding in the Rat Cerebellum
Advisor: Nasser Zawia

Third Place: Jon Popke, National Center for Toxicological Research
Title: Effects of Kainic Acid on Operant Behavior and Hippocampal Neurodegeneration in Rats
Advisor: Merle G. Paule

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Winnie Jeng, University of Toronto
Title: Prostaglandin H Synthase (PHS) catalyzed Bioactivation of 3, 4_methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and Related Analogs to Free Radical Intermediates That Oxidize DNA
Advisor: Peter Wells

Second Place: Mona Thiruchelvam, University of Rochester Medical Center
Title: Age-Related and Irreversible Nigrostriatal Dopamine (Da) System Neurotoxicity of Combined Exposure To Paraquat (PQ) and Maneb (MB) ?
Advisor: Deborah Cory-Slechta

Third Place: Christopher D. Toscano, The Johns Hopkins University
Title: Phosphorylation and Expression of the CyclicAMP Response Element Binding Protein (CREB) Are Decreased in Lead-exposed Rats?
Advisor: Tomas Guilarte

Postdoctoral Awards

First Place: Jan Oberdoerster, University of Washington
Title: The effect of phenylalanine and its metabolites on astrocyte proliferation: A potential mechanism for phenylketonuria?
Advisor: Lucio Costa

Second Place: Michelle Nihei, Johns Hopkins University
Title: PKC-gamma but not Ca²⁺-dependent PKC activity is reduced in the hippocampus of rats chronically exposed to Pb²⁺
Advisor: Tomas Guilarte

Third Place (Tie): Jon Ingelfield, US EPA, Neurotoxicology Division
Title: Disturbances in Ca2+ signaling following Aroclor 1254 involve intra- and extra-cellular Ca2+ pools in a temporally distinct sequence
Advisor: Tim Shafer

Third Place (Tie): Xilong Zhao, Northwestern University
Title: The insecticide PDX-MP062 and its metabolite DCJW block sodium channels in mammalian neurons
Advisor: Toshio Narahashi

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Jonathan Doorn, University of Michigan
Title: Identification of the acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) adduct after inhibition with (1S, 3S)-isomalathion using matrix–assisted laser desorption/ionization–mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS)
Advisor: Rudy Richardson

Second Place: Angela Howard, Johns Hopkins University
Title: Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors are transiently increased after methamphetamine administration
Advisor: Tomas Guilarte

Third Place: Deepa Rao, University of Oklahoma
Title: Free radical involvement in the potentiation of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) by carbon monoxide (CO) development
Advisor: Larry Fechter

Postdoctoral Awards

First Place: Michelle Nihei, Johns Hopkins University
Title: Spatial learning and LTP correlate with changes in hippocampal NMDar1 mRNA and protein in adult rats exposed to Pb2+ during development
Advisor: Tomas Guilarte

Second Place: Xilong Zhao, Northwestern University
Title: Effects of the insecticide DPX-MPO62 on neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine and GABA receptors in mammalian neurons
Advisor: Toshio Narahashi

Third Place: Kaisa Heiskanen, Case Western Reserve University
Title: Mitochondrial depolarization precedes bax translocation to mitochondria
Advisor: A-L Nieminen

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Jeffrey Moehlenkamp, University of Kansas Medical Center
Title: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors activate the antioxidant/electrophile Responsive element in neuroblastoma cells
Advisor: Jeff Johnson

Second Place: Jennifer Trauth, Duke University
Title: Does vulnerable period for developmental neurotoxicity of nicotine extend into adolescence
Advisor: Theodore Slotkin

Third Place: Janean Hanson, University of Kansas Medical Center
Title: PI3-kinase is a critical activator of the antioxidant/electrophile responsive element
Advisor: Jeff Johnson

1998 Poster Awards [From Left to Right]: Dr. Thomas R. Guilarte, Anthony C. Kuhlmann Ti any L. Crumpton, Dr. Nasser H. Zawia, Dr. Deborah Cory-Slechta, Dr. Becky J. Brockel, Alvin R. Little and Dr. William Slikker (Coordinator of Student Awards).

Postdoctoral Award

First Place: Dr. Becky J. Brockel, University of Rochester School of Medicine
Title: The Effects of Postweaning Lead Exposure on a Sustained Attention Task glucocorticoids
Advisor: Deborah Cory-Slechta

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Alvin R. Little, NYU Medical Center
Title: The calcium-dependent receptor of (X-Iatrotoxin (CIRL), is transcriptionally regulated by glucocorticoids
Advisor: A. G. Petrenko

Second Place: Mr. Anthony Kuhlmann, Johns Hopkins University
Title: Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors in the mouse brain: Dose and time-dependent expression in MPTP neurotoxicity
Advisor: Tomas Guilarte

Third Place: Tiffany L. Crumpton, Meharry Medical College
Title: Lead exposure in pheochromocytoma (PC 1 2) cells stimulates differentiation at lower doses and inhibits at higher doses
Advisor: Nasser H. Zawia

Postdoctoral Award

First Place: Gary W. Miller, Emory University
Title: Heptaclor increases dopamine transporter protein expression: Possible mechanism of increased risk of Parkinson’s disease by pesticides
Advisor: A. Levey

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Spencer R. Mortensen, Neurotoxicology Division, US EPA
Title: Tissue acetylcholionesterase sensitivity to chlorpyrifos-oxon: What do tissue IC50 values represent?
Advisor: Stephanie Padilla

Second Place: Anthony Kuhlmann, Johns Hopkins University
Title: Peripheral benzodiazepine receptor levels are increased in rat brain following MPTP administration
Advisor: Tom Guilarte

Third Place: Ms. Lihua He, University of Houston
Title: The retinal expression pattern and activity of cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) are altered during apoptotic rod and bipolar cell death in developmentally lead exposed rats
Advisor: Don Fox

Postdoctoral Award

First Place: David A. Jett, The Johns Hopkins University
Title: Lead (Pb) Impairs Spatial Learning in the Morris Water Maze: Studies Using Chronic Developmental Exposure and Acute Hippocampal Injections
Advisor: Tom Guilarte

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Paritosh M. Dey, The State University of New Jersey–Rutgers
Title: Calcium- and Zinc-Dependent Proteases Participate in Hippocampal Plasticity Following Trimethyltin Administration
Advisor: Ken Reuhle

Second Place: Anthony C. Kuhlma, The Johns Hopkins University
Title: Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptors are Sensitive Indicators of Domoic Acid Induced Neurotoxicity
Advisor: Tom Guilarte

Third Place: Ykun Yuan, Michigan State University
Title: Action of Methylmercury (MeHg) on GABA-A Receptors is Responsible for its Early Apparent Stimulation of Hippocampal CA1 Synaptic Transmission
Advisor: Bill Atchison

Postdoctoral Award

First Place: Thomas Montine, Duke University Medical Center
Title: Inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity by dialkyldithiocarbamaters in PCJ2 cells and broblasts that express TH
Advisor: Doyle Graham

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Domenico Vitarella, Albany Medical College
Title: Methylmercury (MeHg)-induced metaiothionein (Ml') expression in neonatal rat primary astrocyte cultures
Advisor: Miki Aschner

Second Place: Paula O. Fitzer, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Title: Toluene-induced length changes in isolated outer hair cells
Advisor: Larry Fechter

Third Place: Michael A. Eng, Duke University Medical Center
Title: Neurotoxicity of methylated 3, 3‘-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) analogues
Advisor: Doyle Graham

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Yukun Yuan, Michigan State University
Title: Methylmercury (MeHg) Depolarizes Hippocampal Neurons and Blocks Excitability in Hippocampal Slices
Advisor: Name

Second Place: Michael F. Denny, Michigan State University
Title: Elevations in the Free Intrasynaptosomal Concentration of Endogenous Methylmercury
Advisor: Bill Atchison

Third Place: Domenico Vitarella, Albany Medical College
Title: Methylmercury (MeHg)-induced release of 3H-D-Asparate in Neonatal rate Primary Astrocyte Cultures is Na+ independent
Advisor: Miki Aschner

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: Lisa Shemancik, University of Rochester
Title: Induction of Proteins by Cultured Astroglial Cells Exposed to Lead
Advisor: J. Finkelstein

Second Place: Kathryn Kovacs, University of Washington
Title: Interaction of Ethanol with Acetylcholine Stimulated Phosphoinositide Metabolism and Calcium Mobilization in Rat Primary Cortical Neurons
Advisor: Lucio Costa

Third Place: David Walker, University North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Title: Triadimefon: Neurotoxicity Due to Inhibition of the Dopamine Transporter
Advisor: Richard Mailman

Predoctoral Awards

First Place: M. Yan, Northwestern University
Title: Enhancement of GABA-mediated response by lanthanum
Advisor: Toshio Narahashi

Second Place: Amy C. Norstrandt, Virginia Tech
Title: Modification of mipafox-induced inhibition and aging of NTE in neuroblastoma cells
Advisor: M. Ehrich

Third Place: D. Srivastava, University of Texas
Title: Lead directly inhibits isolated rod photoreceptor cGMP phosphodiesterase (cGMP-PDE): Magnesium interactions
Advisor: Don Fox

Student Awards

President Herb Lowndes presented the student awards for work presented at the current meeting of SOT. The first prize recipient was Mary Beth Center from Duke University for her paper entitled “Evidence that pyrrole formation is a pathogenetic step in gamma-diketone neuropathy.” The second place winner was P. Levesque for the paper entitled “Interactions of mitochondrial inhibitions and methylmercury (MeHg) on spontaneous release of acetylcholine (ACh).” The third place winner was Kevin Crofton from the University of North Carolina (and Environmental Protection Agency) for his paper entitled “Pyrethroid insecticides and radioligand displacement from the GABA receptor chloride ionophore complex.”