Positions
- Associate Professor, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine
- Contact Info
- 252-744-5555
Co-author Network
Map of Science
Co-investigator Network
Karen Ann Litwa
Affiliation
Publications
selected publications
presentations
-
presentation
- "Growing Mini Brains"
- 3-D Cerebral Organoids Model the Development of Autism Pathology, Research And Creative Achievement Week
- 8th Annual CHHE Symposium, 8th Annual CHHE Symposium
-
Evaluating Neuroprotective Effects of Sulforaphane in a VPA-Induced Autism Model
, American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting -
FRET Not, Shedding Light on Myosin Mechanical Forces
, Eastern Carolina Chapter Neuroscience Symposium -
From Genes to Synapses: N-Cadherin's Impact on Neural Networks
, Eastern Carolina Chapter Neuroscience Symposium -
The Optomization of the Combined Methodology of Golgi-Cox Staining and Immunofluorescence in Developing Mouse Brains
, Eastern Carolina Chapter Neuroscience Symposium -
Effects of NCAM on Synapse Development in Mouse Neuronse
, Eastern Carolina Chapter Neuroscience Symposium - Immune checkpoint inhibitors may affect 15dPMJ2 induction of CHOP10 expression in syngeneic murine melanoma., Carolina Collaborative (CCC) Conference
- Investigating Mechanisms of Synapse Formation in Developing Neural Circuits of a Human Brain Model, ECU Research and Creative Activities Week
- Adhesion-Mediated Synapse Formation in Developing Neural Networks, ECU Research and Creative Activities Week
- ENDOCANNABINOID REGULATION OF DEVELOPING NEURAL CIRCUITS, Carolina Cannabinoid Collaborative Meeting
- "Detoxifying a Toxic Environment: Investigating Sulforaphane-MediatedPrevention of Pollutant-InducedNeurodevelopmental Abnormalities", NCSU CHHE Behavior and Neuroscience Research Interest Group
- Mechanisms of Synaptic Plasticity and Protection in Developing Neural Circuits, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Seminar Series at Virginia Commonwealth University
- Synapses Under Construction: Cytoskeletal Regulation of Developing Neural Circuits, ECU Neuroscience Collaborative Meeting
- Human Brain Spheroids Reveal Neural Circuit Alterations in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Keystone Meeting on Organoids as Models of Development and Disease, and their Impact on Drug Discovery
- STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AND CREATIVITY SYMPOSIUM - Gaelle Desert and Daisy Perez presented their research on adhesion in synapse formation, SNURCS
- Actomyosin Regulation of Neurodevelopment in a Mini-Brain Model, Special Meeting between the ECU Neuroscience Collaborative Group and the Center for Human Health and the Environment
- Autism Research, ECU Autism Premier Passport Event
- Autism: From Stem Cells to Epigenetics, ECU Neuroscience Collaborative Meeting
- Building the Human Brain: Cytoskeletal Regulation of Neurodevelopment, James Madison University Department of Biology
- CB1R regulates Excitatory Synapse Area in a Cortical Spheroid Model of Fetal Neurodevelopment, Triangle Cytoskeleton Meeting
- Cannabidiol (CBD) Inhibits Neuroinflammation and Synaptic Loss Following Damage to Songbird Vocal Motor Cortex, East Carolina Society for Neuroscience Meeting 2022
- Characterizing Post Synaptic Signals in Autism-derived Cerebral Organoids using Micro-electrode Array, Research And Creative Achievement Week
- Cortical Brain Organoids Model the Development of Autism Pathology, 19th Annual Neuroscience Symposium of the Eastern Carolina Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience
- Cytoskeletal Regulation of Neurodevelopment in a Human iPSC-derived Autism Model, Cell Biology of Degeneration and Repair in the Nervous System Doorstep Meeting
- Cytoskeletal Regulation of Neurodevelopment in an hIPSC-derived Autism Model, IUBMB Focused Meeting on the Emerging Concepts of the Neuronal Cytoskeleton
- Cytoskeletal Regulation of Neurodevelopment in an hIPSC-derived Autism Model, Keystone Symposia iPSCs: A Decade of Progress and Beyond
- Cytoskeletal Regulation of Synapse Development in an hIPSC-derived Autism Model, Keystone Symposium on Windows on the Brain: Formation and Function of Synapses and Circuits and their Disruption in Disease
- Defining Synaptic Circuitry in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Research And Creative Achievement Week
- Determining Pre- and Post-Synaptic Contributions to Autism Pathology Using Microfluidic Devices to Create Defined Neural Circuits, 19th Annual Neuroscience Symposium of the Eastern Carolina Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience
- ECCSFN Student Presentations, ECCSFN Symposium
- Evaluating the Use of Turbidimetry for Determining Fibrin Fiber Diameter, 2022 Hemostasis Gordon Research Conference
- Focal Adhesion Characterization During Neuronal Differentiation of hIPSC-Derived Neurons, Triangle Cytoskeleton Meeting
- Focal Adhesion Characterization of Developing Human Neurons, Research And Creative Achievement Week
- HA Regulation of Synapse Development, Triangle Cytoskeleton Meeting
- Human Brain Spheroids Model Genetic and Environmental Effects on the Developing Brain, UNC Chapel Hill Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies
- Hyaluronan and Hyaluronan Synthase Expression in Cortical Brain Development, 19th Annual Neuroscience Symposium of the Eastern Carolina Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience
- Hyaluronan and Hyaluronan Synthase Expression in Cortical Brain Development, Research And Creative Achievement Week
- International Society for Neuroschemistry Meeting 2023- Portugal, ISN-ESN 2023
- Investigating the Regulatory Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Cortical Brain Development, Triangle Cytoskeleton Meeting
- Investigating the Role of Hyaluronan in Cortical Brain Development, Research And Creative Achievement Week
- Invited Speaker forComplementary and Integrative Interventions to Mitigate the Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Workshop
- Invited presentation for Advancing the Biomedical Science ofResilience: A Discussion of Measures and Metricsworkshop
- Mini-Brains on the Mind: Modeling the Molecular Mechanisms of Autism, STEM at Starlight Research Exchange and Mixer for 2016 and 2017 startup recipients
- Peering into the Patient Brain: Modeling Molecular Mechanisms of Autism with Brain Organoids, Drexel University Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy
- Peering into the Patient Brain: Neurodevelopment in a 3-D Autism Model, 18th Annual Neuroscience Symposium of the Eastern Carolina Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience
- Peering into the Patient Brain: Neurodevelopment in a 3-D Autism Model, Department of Biology, East Carolina University
- Pharmacological Regulation of Neural Circuit Formation in hIPSC-Derived Neurons and 'Mini-Brains', Research And Creative Achievement Week
- Pharmacological Regulation of Neural Circuit Formation in hIPSC-derived Neurons and 'Mini-brains', Research And Creative Achievement Week
- Poster presentation at NSF Career Workshop
- Presentations at American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting
- Rapid Fire presentation at ECDOI Research Retreat, ECDOI Research Retreat
- Research Opportunities in Biomedical Sciences, Brody RISE
- Research Opportunities in Biomedical Sciences, BMES Research Info Session
- Stem-cell derived mini-brains: A potential model of brain metabolism, ECDOI Metabolism Joint Lab Meeting
- Student RCAW presentations
- Synapses Under Construction: Cellular and Extracellular Determinants of Developing Neural Circuits, Triangle Society for Neuroscience
- Synaptic Circuitry in a 3-D Mini-Brain Model of Autism, 19th Annual Neuroscience Symposium of the Eastern Carolina Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience
- Synaptic Circuitry in a 3-D Mini-Brain Model of Autism, Research And Creative Achievement Week
- The Effect of Endocannabinoid Signaling on Autism Patholgy in a 3-D Cerebral Organoid Model, Research And Creative Achievement Week
- Timecourse of Synapse Development in Human IPSC-derived Neurons, Triangle Cytoskeleton Meeting
Research
principal investigator on
- CAREER: Uncovering Mechanisms of Filopodia-Based Synaptogenesis awarded by NSF - Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) 2022 - 2027
- STEM@Starlight - FY2026 awarded by NCBC - North Carolina Biotechnology Center 2025 - 2026
- Can CBD break the vicious cycle of chronic inflammation in Alzheimer?s Disease? awarded by Wooten Family Initiative for Brain Health Research 2025 - 2026
- The Neuroprotective Effects of Sulforaphane in VPA-Induced Models of Autism awarded by DHHS - National Institutes of Health (NIH) 2022 - 2024
- Detoxifying a Toxic Environment: Investigating Sulforaphane-Mediated Prevention of Pollutant-Induced Neurodevelopmental Abnormalities awarded by North Carolina State University (NCSU) 2021
- The Environmental Toxicant Fluoxetine Drives Autism Synaptic Pathology awarded by Brody Brothers Foundation 2018
co-principal investigator on
- Protecting Neural Circuitry Underlying Memory-Dependent Learned Behavior awarded by DOD - Department of the Army (ARMY) 2023 - 2026
- Carolina Cannabinoid Collaborative Meeting 2022 awarded by NCBC - North Carolina Biotechnology Center 2022
- Altered endocannabinoid signaling in a minibrain model of autism awarded by ECU REDE 2016 - 2017
investigator on
- Mitochondrial bioenergetics and colorectal cancer awarded by DHHS - National Institutes of Health (NIH) 2024 - 2025
- Rodent Metabolic Phenotyping System awarded by DHHS - National Institutes of Health (NIH) 2023 - 2024
Service
professional service activities
- FO3A Review Panel Review Fellowships onNeurodevelopment, Oxidative Stress and Synaptic Plasticity 2024
- 8th Annual CHHE Symposium Session Chair for 8th Annual CHHE Symposium on Perinatal Environmental Exposures and Later Life Disease: Biological Targets and Mechanisms 2023
- Capturing the Art of Science Organized fifth annual Laser TAG "Capturing the Art of Science Event" image competition for ECU's Research and Creative Activities Week and organized display of images and celebration at the Scullery restaurant to share the beauty of scientific discovery with the community. 2023
- Neuroscience Symposium Organize 24th Annual Neuroscience Symposium 2022 - 2023
- Neurological Foundation Grant Review for Australian Funding Agency, Neurological Foundation 2022
- President for Eastern Carolina Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience 2020 - 2022
- Carolina Cannabinoid Collaborative (CCC) Conference Organizing Committee for Regional Cannabinoid Research Conference (rescheduled from 2020 for Fall 2022) 2019 - 2022
- Southeast Society for Developmental Biology Meeting Invited Speaker 2021
- Adjunct Professor in Biology To participate in course-based undergraduate research experiences. 2021
- Adjunct Professor in Psychology To participate in undergraduate research mentoring 2021
- Center for Human Health and the Environment Full Member of NCSU CHHE 2021
- President-Elect for Eastern Carolina Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience 2018 - 2020
- Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience Peer-review review article 2020
- NSF Excellence in Research Solicitation Ad hoc expert reviewer for NSF submission. 2020
- Swiss 3R Competence Centre Grant reviewer for Swiss 3R Competence Centre Funding Agency 2020
- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Peer-Review research article 2020
- Journal of Neurochemistry Peer Review research article 2019 - 2020
- Italy's Fondazione Telethon Grant reviewer for Fondazione Telethon 2020
- New Frontier's in Research Grant reviewer for Canada's New Frontiers in Research funding agency 2020
- Member The Harriet and John Wooten Laboratory for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research 2016 - 2020
- Cellular Signaling Peer Review 2019
- Israel Science Foundation (ISF) Grant reviewer for Israel Science Foundation (ISF) 2019
- ASCB Poster Abstract Reviewer Reviewed Abstracts for Poster Presentations in Cell Biology of the Neuron at 2019 ASCB Meeting 2019
- Poland's National Science Centre Grant reviewer for Poland's National Science Centre 2018
- Secretary for Eastern Carolina Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience 2016 - 2018
-
International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting
Chaired and Organized Special Interest Group (SIG) for International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Annual Meeting: “Peering into the Patient Brain: Autism Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Research”.
; 2017 - Molecular Brain 2017
- Cell Reports 2017
- International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology 2017
- ASCB Ambassador to East Carolina University Share ASCB news and upcoming meetings with ECU community. 2016 - 2017
- Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry 2016
- Small GTPases 2016
- Molecular Neurobiology 2016
- Judge at American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting Judge for ASCB Minority Affairs Committee (MAC) and Education Committee Poster Session 2016
- Member Brody Women Faculty Committee/Tri-C 2016
- Steering Committee LASER Technologies Application Group 2016