Dr. Emala's main area of research interest is in the understanding of interactions between signal transduction pathways in airway nerves and smooth muscle and how these interactions contribute to diseases such as asthma. Interaction of anesthetic agents with muscarinic and GABA receptors on airway nerves and smooth muscle is a particular focus of these studies. A broader understanding of the non-neuronal expression and function of GABA_A receptors in smooth muscle is a central focus.  The laboratory uses whole animal airway physiology studies, isolated contractile studies of airway and vascular smooth muscle and biochemical and molecular biological techniques in elucidating the expression and function of signaling molecules.

Dr. Flood's lab is interest in the molecular pharmacology and physiology of anesthetic action in analgesia, amnesia cardiovascular regulation and side effects. The lab is working on projects including anesthetic action on neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in vitro and in vivo. A second interest is to role of cholinergic mechanisms in labor pain.

Dr. Heath’s principal area of research interest is in the physiology of substance P and its receptor, the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R). Substance P and the NK1 receptor are believed to participate in the processing of pain information (nociceptive information) in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. His research has provided evidence that substance P and the NK1 receptor may also be important for the development of the spinal cord and the establishment of pathways that are involved in pain signaling. Dr. Heath employs a wide range of techniques to study the activities of substance P, including electrophysiology, fura-2 calcium imaging, immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, electron microscopy, and gene targeting.

The main area of Dr. Lee's research focuses on the protective roles of ischemic preconditioning and adenosine receptor modulation against renal ischemic reperfusion injury. In addition, modulation of renal protection with inhalational anesthetic and local anesthetics are being studied. He uses multiple molecular and biochemical approaches as well as in vivo techniques to better understand both the injurious and protective signaling pathways involved in the injury. His current research aims at elucidating the multiple cytoprotective biochemical and signaling pathways in human renal cells against anoxic and oxidant insult. In addition, precarious balances toward necrotic and apoptotic cell deaths are being investigated.