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The O'Donnell lab studies interactions between neurotropic viruses, infected neurons, and infiltrating immune cells in the  brain.  Specifically, we addresses how the adaptive immune response impacts on neurodevelopment during neonatal CNS infections.  Our group utilizes a unique mouse model of central nervous system infection (NSE-CD46+ mice) to induce inflammation in the brain through a neuron-restricted viral infection.  Current projects in the lab involve studying how  inflammatory cytokines alter cell fate decisions and survival of neural precursor cells in the brain and how the adaptive immune response leads to neuronal loss in the neonatal CNS.

O'Donnell Lab Website: 

O'Donnell Lab Website: 

Grants/Contracts

NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15): "Neural stem/progenitor cell fate: pathology and protection during CNS infections" (1R15NS087606-01A1, 2014-2017)
Faculty Development Fund (2014)
Samuel and Emma Winters Foundation Award (2012)
Hunkele Dreaded Disease Award (2010-2012)
NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship in Viral Immunology (F32-NS06251901; 2008-2010)

Publications – 2006 to present

Ganesan P, Chandwani MN, Creisher PS, Bohn L, O'Donnell LA. 2018. The neonatal anti-viral response fails to control measles virus spread in neurons despite interferon-gamma expression and a Th1-like cytokine profile.

Covvey JR, Guarascio AJ, O'Donnell LA, Tidgewell KJ. 2017. Development and Implementation of a Global Health Elective with a Drug Discovery Game for Pharmacy Students. Pharmacy. 5(3).

O'Donnell LA, Guarascio AJ. 2017. The intersection of antimicrobial stewardship and microbiology: educating the next generation of health care professionals. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 364(1).

Fantetti, KN, Gray, EL, Ganesan, P, Kulkarni, A, O'Donnell, LA. 2016. Interferon gamma protects neonatal neural stem/progenitor cells during measles virus infection of the brain. Journal of Neuroinflammation. 13(1):107.

O'Donnell LA, Meng WS, Andrick BJ, Borello AM. 2016. A Bioinformatics Practicum to Develop Student Understanding of Immunological Rejection of Protein Drugs. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 80(9):147.

Kulkarni A, Scully TJ, O'Donnell LA. 2016. The antiviral cytokine interferon-gamma restricts neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation through activation of STAT1 and modulation of retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation. Journal of Neuroscience Research. doi:10.1002/jnr.23987

Kulkarni A, Ganesan P, O'Donnell LA. 2016. Interferon Gamma: Influence on Neural Stem Cell Function in Neurodegenerative and Neuroinflammatory Disease. Clinical Medicine Insights: Pathology. 9(Suppl 1):9-19.

O'Donnell, LA, Perry, MW, & Doup, DR. 2015. The Emerging Microbe Project: Developing clinical care plans based on pathogen identification and clinical case studies. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 6(2):217-22.

Vasu, D, O'Donnell, LA, & Wildfong, P. 2015. Influence of dosage form, formulation and delivery device on olfactory deposition and clearance: Enhancement of nose-to-CNS uptake. Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation. 10(3): 200-210. Chosen for cover image.

Leak, RK, O'Donnell, LA, & Surratt, CK. 2015. Using active learning to teach pharmacology graduate students how to write an NIH grant proposal. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 79(9): Article 138.

O'Donnell, LA, Hennkins, KM, Kulkarni, A, Matullo, CM, Balachandran, S, Pattisapu, AK, Rall, GF. 2015. Interferon Gamma Induces Protective Non-Canonical Signaling Pathways in Primary Neurons. Journal of Neurochemistry. 135(2): 309-322.

Guarascio, AJ, Faust, AC, Sheperd, L, & O'Donnell, LA. 2015. Ebola Virus Disease: Roles and Considerations for Pharmacists. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 49(2):247-9.

Andrick BJ, Schwab AI, Cauley B, O'Donnell LA, Meng WS. 2015. Predicting Hemagglutinin MHC-II Ligand Analogues in Anti-TNFα Biologics: Implications for Immunogenicity of Pharmaceutical Proteins. PLoS One. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0135451.

O'Donnell, LA. Sherris Medical Microbiology as a Resource for Doctor of Pharmacy Students. 2012. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 3(1): 102-103.

O'Donnell LA, Conway S, Rose RW, Nicolas E, Slifker M, Balachandran S, Rall GF. 2012. STAT1-Independent Control of a Neurotropic Measles Virus Challenge in Primary Neurons and Infected Mice. Journal of Immunology. 188(4):1915-23.

O'Donnell, LA, and Rall, GF. 2010. Blue Moon Neurovirology: The Merits of Studying Rare CNS Diseases of Viral Origin. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology. 5(3):443-55.

O'Donnell, LA, Agrawal, A, Sabnekar, P, Dichter, MA, Lynch, DR, Kolson DL. 2007. Apelin, an endogenous neuronal peptide, protects hippocampal neurons against excitotoxic injury. Journal of Neurochemistry. 102(6):1905-17

Wan, Q, Douglas, SD, Wang, X, Kolson, DL, O'Donnell, LA, Ho, WZ. 2006. Morphine Up-regulates Functional Expression of Neurokinin-1 Receptor in Neurons. Journal of Neuroscience Research. 84(7): 1588-1596

O'Donnell, LA, Agrawal, A, Jordan-Sciutto, KL, Dichter, MA, Lynch, DR, Kolson, DL. 2006. HIV-induced neurotoxicity: Roles for activation of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor subtypes 2A and 2B and the calcium activated protease calpain by a cerebrospinal fluid-derived HIV-1 strain. Journal of Neuroscience; 26(3): 981-90.

O'Donnell, LA, Clemmer, JA, Czymmek, K, Schmidt, CJ. 2002. Marek's disease virus VP22: subcellular localization and characterization of carboxyl terminal deletion Mutations. Virology; 292(2): 235-40

Current Courses:

PHBM 433: Infectious Disease I
PHBM 434: Infectious Disease II
PHBA 423: Perspectives in Global Health
GPSC 572: Methods of Evaluation of Drug Action and Toxicity
GPSC 695: Written and Oral Scientific Communication

Previous Courses:

Duquesne  University (2010-current)
PHBM 358: Clinical Microbiology
PHBM 356: Human Physiology and Pathology
PHBM 423: GI/Rheumatology

University of Pennsylvania (2008-2010)
Lecturer: Biology of Neurodevelopment (BIBB 350)
Guest Lecturer: Neurobiology of Disease - Pathophysiology of Neuroinflammation and Infection in the CNS (INSC 587)

Philadelphia University (2005-2007)
Lecturer: General Chemistry (L321)
Lab Instructor: General Chemistry, Chemistry I and II