Lee Tran, Ph.D., M.A.T., M.B.A.
Location
San Francisco, CA
Education
B.A. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology – Baylor University, Waco, TX
M.A.T. Science Education – University of Texas, Dallas, TX
M.B.A. Project Management – Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Ph.D. Biomedical Studies – Baylor Institute for Biomedical Studies, Dallas, TX
Research Summary
My goal is to expand the knowledge and understanding of the biological interface between mental health and physical well-being. I study how endogenous triggers like allostatic load and metabolic syndrome activate genetic/epigenetic mechanisms during critical stages of development to program maladaptive behaviors and physiological dysfunction. My research includes work on anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as pain processing in disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, diabetes, and obesity. Using an integrative approach, I combine contemporary laboratory and clinical methodologies with cohort studies to investigate the underlying pathophysiology responsible for the cardinal neuropsychological phenotypes of these disorders and the associated functional sequelae.
Research Area
- Anxiety and Mood Disorders
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Persistent Bereavement Disorder (PCB)
- Suicidality
Clinical Focus
- Military and Veteran
- Refugees and Immigrants
- LGBT Mental Health
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Biofeedback Therapy
- Mentalization-Based Therapy
- Existentialism
- Addiction
Selected Publications
Tran, L, Hanavan, PD, Masters, HM, Campbell LE, De Filippis, EA, Lake, DF, Coletta, DK, Roust, LR, Mandarino, LJ, Carroll, CC, Katsanos, CS (2016). Plasma Non-esterified Fatty Acid Profile Typical of Obese Phenotype Induces Persistent Suppression of Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial ATP Synthase Beta Subunit Metabolism. PLOS One, 11(8): e0160057.
Tran, L, Schulkin, J & Greenwood-Van meerveld, B (2014). Importance of CRF Receptor-Mediated Mechanisms of the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis in the Processing of Anxiety and Pain. Neuropsychopharmacology. 39(11):2633-2645.
Tran, L, Schulkin, J, Ligon, CO, & Greenwood-Van Meerveld, B (2014). Epigenetic Modulation of Chronic Anxiety and Pain by Histone Deacetylation. Molecular Psychiatry. 20(10):1219-31.
Tran, L, & Greenwood-Van Meerveld, B (2013). Age-Associated Remodeling of the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier. Journal of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences. 68(9):1045-1056.
Bonnie Lasher, M.A.
Location
Salt Lake City, UT
Education
B.A. Psychology University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
M.S. Biological Psychology George Mason University, Washington, D.C.
M.A. Neuroscience Baylor University, Waco, TX
Research Summary
Research Areas
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders
- Co-dependence
Clinical Focus
- Electromagnetic Field Theory (EMFT)
- Holistic Medicine
Selected Publications
Ropireddy, D., Scorcioni, R., Lasher, B., Buzsáki, G., & Ascoli, G. A. (2011). Axonal morphometry of hippocampal pyramidal neurons semi-automatically reconstructed after in vivo labeling in different CA3 locations. Brain Structure and Function, 216(1), 1-15.
Tran, L., Lasher, B. K., Young, K. A., & Keele, N. B. (2013). Depletion of serotonin in the basolateral amygdala elevates glutamate receptors and facilitates fear-potentiated startle. Translational psychiatry, 3(9), e298.
Batki, S. L., Pennington, D. L., Lasher, B., Neylan, T. C., Metzler, T., Waldrop, A., … & Herbst, E. (2014). Topiramate treatment of alcohol use disorder in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled pilot trial. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 38(8), 2169-2177.
Heather Smith, M.D., Ph.D.
Location
Chicago, IL
Education
B.A. Neuroscience University of Texas, Austin, TX
M.D. Internal Medicine University of Texas Medical Branch, Austin, TX
Ph.D. Neuroscience University of Texas Medical Branch, Austin, TX
Research Summary
Research Areas
Clinical Focus
Selected Publications
Smith HL, Bourne JN, Cao G, Chirillo MA, Ostroff LE, Watson DJ, and Harris KM (2016) Mitochondrial support of persistent presynaptic vesicle mobilization with age-dependent synaptic growth after LTP. eLife, 5:e15275.
