Faculty

Michael Blanton, Ph.D.

Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Biotechnology, University of California at Santa Cruz

Office: 5BC105 (GSBS suite)
Phone: (806)743-3496
Email:  michael.blanton@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests: 
Structural analysis of ligand gated channels
Click here to view Dr. Blanton's Faculty Page 

Chhanda Bose, Ph.D.

Research Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Zoology Gorakhpur University Gorakhpur, India

Office: 5C165
Phone: (806) 743-3903
Email: Chhanda.Bose@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests:
Neuroinflammation, DNA damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Cellular mechanisms, molecular mechanisms, cognitive aspects, and genetic factors involved in neuroinflammation in pathogenesis and progression of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and other neurodegenerative diseases. Early events in AD pathogenesis. The role of immunological biomarkers for early detection in AD.
Click here to view Dr. Bose's Faculty Page

Boris Decourt, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Pharmacology, University of Bordeaux

Office: 5C169
Phone: (806) 743-1012
Email: bdecourt@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests:
Neurobiologist specializing in biomarker development and in translational drug development approaches using inflammation modulators to study the molecular pathophysiological changes taking place at early stages of neurological disorders, with the ultimate goal of slowing down or curing the diseases via early intervention before severe neurodegeneration and dementia occur.
Click here to view Dr. Decourt's Faculty Page

Samudani Dhanasekara, M.D., MS, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University

Office: SW Campus, Suite E
Phone: (806) 743-7821
Email: samudani.dhanasekara@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests: My research interests include clinical epidemiology, data science, and translational research to investigate the biological, social, and environmental determinants of cognitive aging and brain health, with a particular emphasis on rural populations. I lead efforts to examine how structural, metabolic, and behavioral factors influence various disease outcomes. I apply advanced biostatistical methods and data-driven approaches to analyze complex, multidimensional datasets—including biospecimens, imaging, electronic health records, and social factors. My work bridges the fields of public health and neuroscience to identify actionable targets for prevention and intervention across the lifespan. I am also interested in leveraging machine learning and predictive modeling to enhance early detection and risk stratification of neurodegenerative disorders.

Petar Grozdanov, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria

Office: 4AB100
Phone: (806) 743-6809
Email: petar.grozdanov@ttuhsc.edu

Josee Guindon, DVM, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

DVM Veterinary, University of Montreal
Ph.D. Pharmacology, University of Montreal

Office: 5C167
Phone: (806)743-6745
Email:  josee.guindon@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests: 
Behavioral pharmacology, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology (RT-PCR, Western blot), animal pain models (inflammatory, neuropathic, surgical), modulation of pain pathways (exercise, etc.), kidney physiological pathways
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George Henderson, Ph.D.

Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University

Office: 5B148N
Phone: (806)743-3792
Email:  george.henderson@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests: 
Alcohol, environmental toxins, neurons, gila, apoptosis, oxidative stress
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Guangchen Ji, Ph.D.

Research Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Neurophysiology, Fudan University

Office: 5C199
Phone: (806)743-3881
Email:  guangchen.ji@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests:
 Electrophysiological single-cell recordings in different brain areas and various behavioral assays to correlate neuronal activity with pain-related behavior
Click here to view Dr. Ji's Faculty Page 

J. Josh Lawrence, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Neuroscience Training Program, The University of Wisconsin-Madison

Office: 5C200
Phone: (806)743-3887
Email:  john.lawrence@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests: 
Nutrigenomics, cellular and synaptic physiology of Alzheimer’s disease, role of excitation/inhibition balance in disease states, hippocampal learning and memory circuitry, GABAergic inhibition, cell type specificity of neuromodulation, antioxidant depletion over lifespan, neuroinflammation, effects of diet on healthy aging, computational neuroscience, bioinformatics
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Click here to view Dr. Lawrence's Lab Page

Aric Logsdon, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Pharmaceutical Sciences, West Virginia University
B.S. Neuroscience, Allegheny College

Office: 5C156A
Phone: (806)743-9615
Email:  aric.logsdon@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests:
Blood-brain Barrier Physiology, Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke, Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, Neuropharmacology and Brain-drug Delivery, Glycobiology and Glycomics
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Volker Neugebauer, M.D., Ph.D.

Grover E. Murray Professor, University Distinguished Professor, and Chair, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

M.D. University of Würzburg
Ph.D. Physiology, University of Würzburg

Office: 5C192A
Phone: (806)743-3880
Email:  volker.neugebauer@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests: 
Brain research – Neuroplasticity in health and disease (chronic pain, aging, Alzheimer’s’ Disease, and other neurological and psychiatric diseases)
Click here to view Dr. Neugebauer's Faculty Page 
Click here to view Dr. Neugebauer's Lab Page

Igor Ponomarev, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University

Office: 5C156
Phone: (806)743-1381
Email: igor.ponomarev@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests: 
Molecular mechanisms of cellular plasticity in models of Alcohol Use Disorder.  Neurogenomics.  Drug repurposing.
Click here to view Dr. Ponomarev's Faculty Page

Jonathan Singer, Ph.D.  

Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Nevada

Office: SW Campus, Suite E, E07
Phone: (806) 743-9401
Email: Jonsinge@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests:
My research is broadly focused on psychological health in aging and illness. More specifically, I examine the interconnection of the biopsychosocial processes within individuals with life limiting illnesses (e.g., cancer; dementia) and their family caregivers. This also included investigating the neurobiological underpinnings of pre-death grief, acute grief, and prolonged grief disorder. My research utilizes multiple methods (e.g., Ecological Momentary Assessment; fMRI) with advanced quantitative techniques (e.g., Multilevel Modeling; Growth Mixture Modeling) with the ultimate goal of our research program is to translate basic and applied research into scalable, technology-based interventions.
Click here to view Dr. Singer's website

Hongmin Wang, Ph.D. 

Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Ph.D. Zoology, University of Idaho

Office: 5C202
Phone: (806) 743-7089
Email: Hongmin.wang@ttuhsc.edu
Research Interests:
My research focuses on neuroprotection and repair of the damaged brain involved in Alzheimer’s disease and ischemic stroke. We are particularly interested in the role of proteostasis and some specific transcription factors in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Using both genetically modified mice and cell models, including the cultured stem cells, as well as multiple approaches, we aim at (1) investigating the pathogenic mechanisms of the diseases, (2) identifying the targets that can be “druggable” for the disorders, and (3) screening and validating the therapeutic agents that can be used for treating these diseases. 
Click here to view Dr. Hongmin Wang's faculty page.