2005 PharmD – Ohio Northern University   2010 PhD UNC-Chapel Hill  

RPh license  OH and NC (2005-Present), MI (2016-Present)

In the Alan lab we use the model organism C. elegans to model human disease. In collaboration with the Lee lab in the Pharm/Tox department, we are investigating the role of dietary lipids in neurodegenerative disorders. We have discovered that various lipid species have roles in models of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. In collaboration with the Olson lab in the department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences we are investigating the molecular mechanisms that are triggered after ingestion of cereal grains. We have discovered that ingesting wheat with different genetic backgrounds results in altered levels of ROS, changes in lifespan, and changes in healthspan in C. elegans.   The Alan lab is also interested in investing the role of and targeted small GTPases in cancer, including Cdc42 and Rac1. Along these lines, we have identified targets downstream and in parallel of activated Cdc42 that may be useful targets in cancer, such as melanoma. Dr. Alan is also active in educational research, and she is currently part of the MI-CARES team, which is working to educate medical students, residents, physicians, and other providers on the topic of addiction medicine.

CURRENT PROJECTS:

1. Uncovering the role of lipids in neurodegenerative disease (with Dr. Sing Lee)

2. Identifying and characterizing compounds in wheat varieties that alter health span and life span (with Dr. Eric Olson)

3. Identifying Rho GTPase pathway inhibitors using C. elegans as an in vivo test tube.

4. Developing and delivering an addiction medicine curriculum for professional students (with Dr. Cara Poland)

2018 CHM Green Apple Award

• Chair- Pharm/Tox DEI committee, CHM College Advisory Committee, Vice Chair-CHM Student Competence Committee, CHM Curriculum Committee
• NBOME National Faculty, Pardee Foundation Scientific Review Committee. Pearl Aldrich Foundation Scientific Review Committee, NSF GRFP Neurosciences Reviewer

Sarparast M, Dattmore D, Alan JK*, Lee KSS*. Cytochrome P450 Metabolism of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Neurodegeneration. 2020 Nov 10;12(11), 3523 Nutrients *co-corresponding author 

Poku R, Jones K, Van Baren M, Alan JK, Amissah F. Diclofenac enhances docosahexaenoic acid-induced apoptosis in vitro in lung cancer cells. 2020 Sep 20;12(9)2683 Cancer therapy                 

Alan JK^*, Robinson S, Magsig K, Demarco RS, and Lundquist EA. The atypical Rho GTPase CHW-1 works downstream of SAX-3/Robo to mediate axon guidance in Caenorhabditis elegans. 2018 May 31;8(6):1885-1895. G3. ^*corresponding author                                                                                   

Hoffsetter A, Griffin DG, Alan JK, and Olson EL. An ELISA Based Method for Quantifying Arabinoxylan in Wheat Flour. 2018 Jan(79);148-153. J Cereal Sci.

Alan JK^*, Struckhoff EC, and Lundquist EA. Multiple cytoskeletal pathways and PI3K signaling mediate CDC-42-induced neuronal protrusion in C. elegans. 2013 Oct 22;4(4). [Epub ahead of print] Small GTPases. ^*corresponding author