The areas of research listed below reflect projects of interest to individual, or groups of individual, faculty members.
Subsequent studies applying the techniques learned during the funding period continue.
Continued collaborative research with Dr. Kyle Ramsey, Chair, Department of Microbiology, Midwestern University on the biological evaluation of potential immunorestoratives. For example, a series of protease inhibitors based on the P1 arginine have been found by us to inhibit migration of cancer cells through extracellular matrix, and thus these compounds may be of significance in treating cancers in the future. However, their more important and immediate value is understanding the mechanism by which tumors invade surrounding tissues, and ultimately metastasize to distant sites where they cause organ failure, and death. Another series of protease inhibitors is directed at the Caspase system. These enzymes are involved in processing the Interleukins, which can either produce cell death, or stimulate growth of cells.