The University of Iowa Biosciences Program

Biosciences Program Faculty performing Sensory Biology research

The University of Iowa has a large contingent of faculty with highly complementary expertise in the fields of genetic, molecular, cellular and systems neurobiology.

A subset of faculty comprise The University of Iowa Pain Research Program that provides a highly collaborative environment for trainees interested in studies of the genetic, cellular, molecular, pharmacological, physiological and anatomical bases of acute and chronic pain. The highly structured, yet diverse program of didactic coursework includes monthly seminars, weekly journal clubs and biweekly work-in-progress meetings coupled with a period of 3 years of research training in a highly interactive environment.

Name	Rank	Department/ Program	Research Description
Abbas, Paul, PhD	Professor	Communication Sciences & Disorders/Otolaryngology Neuroscience Speech & Hearing Science	Auditory physiology with emphasis on electrical stimulation of the ear
Anderson, Michael G., PhD	Assistant Professor	Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Genetics Neuroscience	Understanding fundamental physiological properties of the eye and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying a variety of complex eye diseases
Banfi, Botond, MD/PhD	Assistant Professor	Anatomy & Cell Biology	Role of superoxide producing NADPH oxidases in immunology and endocrinology
Benson, Christopher, MD	Associate Professor	Internal Medicine Neuroscience	Study of molecular mechanisms of sensory transduction
Braun, Terry, PhD	Associate Professor	Biomedical Engineering Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Genetics	Genetics; bioinformatics and computational genetics; macular degeneration.
Brennan, Timothy, MD/PhD	Professor	Anesthesia Pharmacology Neuroscience	Pain signaling pathways, Mechanisms for hypersensitivity or exaggerated response phenomena after injury
Chapleau, Mark, PhD	Professor	Internal Medicine Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Neuroscience	Neural mechanisms of cardiovascular regulation. Baroreflex function in health and disease
Eberl, Daniel, PhD	Associate Professor	Biology Otolaryngology Genetics Neuroscience	Molecular and cellular mechanisms of hearing in Drosophila
Fritzsch, Bernd, PhD	Professor (Chair)	Biology Otolaryngology	The molecular basis of ear neurosensory development with the aim to improve longevity of sensory neurons and ultimately restore hearing.
Green, Steven, PhD	Professor	Biology Otolaryngology Molecular & Cellular Biology Neuroscience	Intracellular signaling: signal transduction for neurotrophic stimuli
Hammond, Donna, PhD	Professor	Anesthesia Pharmacology (Interim Head) MSTP Neuroscience	Central Nervous System Mechanisms Mediating Pain and Analgesia
Johnson, Alan Kim, PhD	Professor	Psychology Pharmacology Integrative Physiology Neuroscience	Neural Control of Body Fluid Balance and Cardiovascular Homeostasis
Johnson, Wayne, PhD	Professor	Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Genetics Neuroscience	Molecular mechanisms of sensory signal transduction
McCarter, Linda, PhD	Professor	Microbiology	Surface sensing, signal transduction, biofilm formation, and regulation of gene expression and differentiation in bacteria
Proudfit, Herbert, PhD	Professor	Pharmacology Neuroscience Medical Scientist Training Program	Neural Circuits that Control Pain
Russo, Andrew, PhD	Professor	Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Genetics Molecular & Cellular Biology Neuroscience	Control of neuronal gene expression
Sluka, Kathleen, PhD	Professor	Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science Neuroscience	Neurobiology of pain and pain inhibition
Titze, Ingo, PhD	Professor	Communication Sciences & Disorders Speech & Hearing Science	Acoustics and biomechanisms of speech
Tomblin, J. Bruce, PhD	Professor	Communication Sciences & Disorders Speech & Hearing Science	Developmental language impairment
Turner, Christopher, PhD	Professor	Communication Sciences & Disorders Otolaryngology Neuroscience Speech & Hearing Science	Speech perception by normal and hearing-impaired listeners
Usachev, Yuriy, PhD	Associate Professor	Pharmacology	Ca2+ signaling and plasticity of primary nociceptors
Wall, Michael, MD	Professor	Neurology Ophthalmology Neuroscience	Vision motion perception in health aging and disease
Welsh, Michael, MD	Professor	Internal Medicine Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Genetics Molecular & Cellular Biology Neuroscience	Biology of cystic fibrosis; structure and fuction of ion channels; pathogenesis of lung disease