Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Dr. Kent Vrana has more than 30 years of research experience in molecular neuropharmacology.
Notably, he has been actively involved in the neuroenzymology and molecular neurobiology since he was a graduate student in 1979. Over the years, his laboratory was the first to create a full-length cDNA clone for tyrosine hydroxylase and to characterize the role of catecholamine-derived quinones in neuronal toxicity. He is currently using next-generation sequencing technologies to explore the roles of naturally-occurring sequence variants in the progression and severity of Parkinson’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, he has a long history of studying the proteomics and transcriptomics of substance abuse (alcohol, cocaine and heroin).
Dr. Vrana’s laboratory was part of a team that established a new mechanism for generating embryonic stem cells. He has published widely on stem cell biology and has also patented a method for using nanoliposomal delivery of the bioactive lipid ceramide to maintain human induced pluripotent and embryonic stem cells in their undifferentiated state. More recently, he has been investigating the role of synthetic cannabinoids in colon cancer, glioblastoma and neuroblastoma.
From a technical standpoint, Dr. Vrana's laboratory has been instrumental in developing and disseminating tools for analyzing gene and protein expression, as well as characterizing normal and pathological processes.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Biochemistry, PhD, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
… → 1983
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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AI-based Mapping of Complex Cannabis Extracts in Pain Pathways
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
2/14/23 → 11/30/23
Project: Research project
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Multidisciplinary Training in the Biology of Alcohol Addiction
Samson, H. H. H., McCool, B. A., Friedman, D. P., Grant, K. A., Samson, H. H. & Vrana, K.
7/1/94 → 6/30/24
Project: Research project
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A diagnostic plasma protein panel for alcohol abuse
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
6/15/14 → 3/31/15
Project: Research project
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Functional Genomics of Cocaine Self-Administration
National Institute on Drug Abuse
9/30/00 → 12/31/03
Project: Research project
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D2 KNOCKDOWN AND ETHANOL SELF-ADMINISTRATION
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
6/1/95 → 5/31/97
Project: Research project
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CANNabinoid Drug Interaction Review (CANN-DIR™)
Kocis, P. T., Wadrose, S., Wakefield, R., Ahmed, A., Calle, R., Gajjar, R. & Vrana, K., Dec 20 2023, In: Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids. 6, 1, p. 1-7Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Scopus citations -
Cannabinoids as Potential Cancer Therapeutics: The Concentration Conundrum
Carkaci-Salli, N., Raup-Konsavage, W. M., Karelia, D., Sun, D., Jiang, C., Lu, J. & Vrana, K. E., 2023, (Accepted/In press) In: Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Library Screening and Preliminary Characterization of Synthetic Cannabinoids Against Prostate and Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines
Karelia, D., Corey, Z., Wang, H., Raup-Konsavage, W. M., Vrana, K. E., Lü, J. & Jiang, C., 2023, (Accepted/In press) In: Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Medical use of cannabidiol and impact on cancer cell viability
Raup-Konsavage, W. M. & Vrana, K. E., Jan 1 2023, Medicinal Usage of Cannabis and Cannabinoids. Elsevier, p. 335-347 13 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Neuronally enriched microvesicle RNAs are differentially expressed in the serums of Parkinson’s patients
Aguilar, M. A., Ebanks, S., Markus, H., Lewis, M. M., Midya, V., Vrana, K., Huang, X., Hall, M. A. & Imamura, Y., 2023, In: Frontiers in Neuroscience. 17, 1145923.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Prizes
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Distinguished Educator Award
Craig, Timothy (Recipient), Sinz, Elizabeth (Recipient) & Vrana, Kent (Recipient), 2009
Prize
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Scholarship in Education Award
Acharya, Vinita (Recipient), Foy, Andrew (Recipient), Vrana, Kent (Recipient), Huang, Xuemei (Recipient), Chetlen, Alison (Recipient), Dovat, Sinisa (Recipient), Behura, Chandrika (Recipient), Acharya, Jayant (Recipient) & Murray, Michael (Recipient), 2022
Prize