Current Members
Sue Lunte
Director of the Adams Institute
Ralph N. Adams Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
slunte@ku.edu
785-864-3811
Graduate Students
Galina Bulgakova
2015 Specialist Degree in Analytical Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
gabulgakova@ku.edu
Hometown: Obninsk, Russia
Research interests: - Galina’s work is the continuation of the existing project in the group focusing on the development of a portable online microchip electrophoresis system for monitoring neuroactive amines in brain microdialysate of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Presence of glutamate and aspartate in the extracellular space of the brain has been linked to patient outcome, and along with other amino acid neurotransmitters these compounds have been proposed as biomarkers of patient condition. The methods currently used in clinical practice cannot provide data with the necessary high time resolution as they require high sample volumes; therefore, developing an integrated microfluidic method capable of sampling, derivatizing, separating, and quantifying multiple target analytes is key to introducing successful treatment strategies for patients with severe TBI.
Interests outside lab: Volunteer work with Lawrence Humane Society, piano and a bit of ukulele, non-science reading.
Shamal M. Gunawardhana
2012 M.S. in Analytical Chemistry, New Mexico State University, NM
2008 B.S. in Chemistry, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
shamal@ku.edu
Hometown: Kurunegala, Sri Lanka
Research interests: Shamal’s research focuses on the development of microchip electrophoresis based separation methodologies to monitor biomarkers of cerebral ischemia and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Adenosine and ATP are two important markers of energy homeostasis in the brain during ischemia and TBI and are present endogenously in low nanomolar range. To monitor these and other nucleotides present in the brain, Shamal is developing a method using microchip electrophoresis with electrochemical detection. Additionally Shamal is working towards lowering the limit of detection and enhancing the sensitivity and selectivity of the method. This method will be used to monitor markers of energy homeostasis during ischemia and TBI in the brain.
Interests outside lab: Shamal is a big fan of cricket and he enjoys playing cricket in his leisure times.
Emily Kurfman
Current Trainee, NIH Graduate Training Program in the Dynamic Aspects of Chemical Biology
2017 B.S. in Chemistry, Furman University, SC
ekurfman@ku.edu
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Research interests: Emily's research currently focuses on developing methods for analysis of dynorphin peptides. Dynorphin A (Dyn A) is an opioid peptide that binds the kappa opioid receptor and has been shown to be involved in both peripheral pain and drug addiction. The peptide is metabolized to smaller peptide fragments that have lesser-known and different activities. Therefore, better methods for determining Dyn A and its metabolites in vivo will help in our understanding of the neurochemistry of drug addiction and withdrawal, which are major societal problems. Emily is currently focusing on developing a capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method to separate and detect these peptides. She will then develop a microchip electrophoresis-miniaturized mass spectrometry system combined with on-line microdialysis sampling to monitor dynorphin transport and metabolism in rat models. This will provide a better understanding of the role of dynorphin peptides and dynorphin analogs in drug addiction and pain.
Interests outside lab: Emily enjoys reading books, listening to and playing music, and exploring in her free time.
Kelci Schilly
2017-2018 Trainee, NIH Graduate Training Program in the Dynamic Aspects of Chemical Biology
2015 B.S. in Chemistry and Classics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
kmschilly@ku.edu
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Research interests: The goal of Kelci's research is to develop microfluidic methods to monitor nitrosative stress and protein nitration in biological samples as they may pertain to the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Through this project, she began by detecting small molecule reactive nitrogen species in cell lysate using microchip electrophoresis with electrochemical detection. Now, she is working towards the development of a device that would enable the quantification and identification of nitrated peptides in the blood of Alzheimer's disease patients. These methods will enable us to gain a better understanding of the role that proinflammatory species play in neurodegeneration.
Interests outside lab: Running, knitting, reading Latin, and watching Carolina basketball!
Indika Warnakula
2018 M.S. in Chemistry, Sam Houston State University, TX
2016 M.Sc. in Analytical Chemistry, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
2013 B.Sc. in Physical Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
ikw021@ku.edu
Hometown: Gampaha, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Research interests: Indika's research activities include bipolar electrode-based chemiluminescence detection for microchip and electrogenerated chemiluminescence in analytical chemistry.
Interests outside lab: Indika really loves to travel, watch movies and read books. He has a higher personal interest about learning about history, so he reads/watches a lot of materials about history.
Dhanushka Weerasekara
M.Sc. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
B.Sc. in Biological Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
d703w320@ku.edu
Hometown: Marawila, Sri Lanka
Research interests: Oxidative and nitrosative stress caused by the overproduction of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species have been linked to several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease. Nitric oxide, superoxide and peroxynitrite are three of the major reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RNOS), which are generated by microglial cells in the brain that could react with nearby neurons to cause neuronal damage or death. Dhanushka's project focuses on the development of a microchip electrophoresis with laser induced fluorescence detection based method to monitor cellular nitrosative and oxidative stress by detecting and quantifying nitric oxide, superoxide and peroxynitrite in brain-like cellular environments.
Interests outside lab: Drawing/painting, photography and playing cricket
Manjula Wijesinghe
2012 M.S. in Analytical Chemistry, New Mexico State University, NM
2005 B.Sc. Special in Chemistry, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
m281w556@ku.edu
Hometown: Kandy, Sri Lanka
Research interests: Manjula is researching bipolar electrochemistry in order to develop a novel detector with enhanced detection limits to couple with microchip electrophoresis. His research interests include the separation and detection methodologies for microchip electrophoresis as well as understanding the influence of separation voltage on electrochemical detection through modeling with Comsol Multiphysics.
Interests outside lab: Reading weather forecasts and exploring various ancient astrological methods
Undergraduate Students
Anton Barybin
Chemistry (B.S.) major
Member of KU Chemistry's ChemScholars Program
abarybin@ku.edu
Hometown: Lawrence, KS
Research interests: Developing microchip electrophoresis based separation sensors to monitor neurochemicals in animal brains
Interests outside lab: Practicing Taekwondo (and other martial arts), playing saxophone, cycling, reading
Garet Melton
Chemistry major with Biological emphasis
Summer 2018 Undergraduate Research Award recipient
gmelton@ku.edu
Hometown: North Little Rock, AR
Research interests: Developing a Boronate Affinity Monolith Microchip
Interests outside lab: Fitness, sports, yoga, and cooking (it's basically more chemistry)
Alexis Paige
Chemistry (B.S.) major
lexiepaige@ku.edu
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Research interests: Separating and detecting nitrated and non-nitrated species using dual electrode microchip electrophoresis for electrochemical detection
Interests outside lab: Watching reality TV, shopping, and spinning!
Staff
Sara Thomas
dhtrainr@ku.edu
Associate Researcher
Cady Bush
cbush@ku.edu
Program Manager
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