The Vrailas-Mortimer lab has moved to Oregon State University
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Research Overview
My research focuses on how different factors such as aging and exposure to toxins (pesticides and heavy metals) contribute to neurological disorders and muscular dystrophies. A common feature of aging, exposure to toxins, and many diseases is increased levels of oxidative stress (oxygen radicals that are highly damaging to DNA, proteins, and other cellular structures). Therefore, my lab explores how stress response genes play a role in regulating aging and toxin exposure and how this contributes to a disease state. In order to address these questions, we use the genetic model organism Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly), which has been instrumental in our understanding of many neurological and muscle disorders.
Education, Training and Positions:
1997-2001 B.S. Magna Cum Laude,
Biology, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
2001-2002 Pre-IRTA Fellow, NIH, NCI
2002-2005 PhD, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Emory University
2005-2013 Post-doctoral Fellow, Aging and Physiology, Emory University
2013 Research Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology, Emory University
2013-2015 Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver
2015-2020 Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University
2020-present Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University
Contact Me
Dr. Alysia Vrailas-Mortimer
Email:admorti@ilstu.edu
Phone: 309-438-8574
For More Information:
Google Scholar
Research Gate
Academia.edu
Pubmed
Twitter: @AVM_Fly
Interested in graduate school?
Illinois State University Graduate Program