Tyrosine hydroxylase and Tryptophan hydroxylase are aromatic amino acid enzymes involved in the synthesis of catecholamine neurotransmitters and serotonin. They share similar catalytic mechanisms and structures but differ in their regulatory properties. Pathological dysregulation of these enzymes may have implications for understanding and potentially developing novel treatments for a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions including mood disorders thought disorders such as schizophrenia, in addition to disorders of attention and eating. The differentiation of embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells into serotonergic neuronal cells provides a window to study the regulatory characteristics of these enzyme systems. Through the study of naturally occurring single nucleotide polymorphisms, insight gained into their structural/functional properties and may result in improved drug screening methodology ultimately with clinical applications of a variety of mental health disorders.

Neuroblastoma and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are deadly primary central nervous system malignancies. Multiple studies and clinical trials attest to the chemoresistance of GBM stem cells. Brain tumor stem cell lines demonstrate the ability to faithfully reproduce the phenotypes of human disease including the ability to propagate and generate new tumors. GBM stem cell lines serve as an appropriate model for the identification of antigenic and molecular markers that may target the tumor-initiating cell. The development or isolation from natural sources of agents that selectively target and tumor initiation and propagation are hoped to provide means to eliminate tumor establishment, growth and recurrence.

Plants with established or reputed medicinal properties, including cannabinoids, have recently come into the limelight with the relaxation of federal research parameters. In conjunction with surgical colleagues and chemists, Dr. Nurgul Salli's lab has begun an investigation of applications of these naturally occurring agents in several clinical conditions. Cannabinoids are currently being studied as agents of potential usefulness in malignancies and inflammatory bowel disease.