Maryam Vasefi, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Biology

Office: 205-7 Hayes Biology Building
Phone: 409-880-7090
Email: svasefi@lamar.edu
Office: 205-7 Hayes Biology Building
 

Education:

  • 2014 Ph.D. in Pharmacy/Neuroscience, School of Pharmacy,
  • University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Courses Taught:

  • Genetics (BIOL 3470)
  • Pharmacology (BIOL 5301, 4301)
  • Medical Neuroscience (BIOL 5401, 4401)
  • Molecular Genetics (BIOL 5401, 4401)
  • Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 2401)
  • Microbiology (BIOL 2420)
  • Biology 1 & 2 (BIOL 1306, 1106, 1307, 1107) 

Research Interests, Groups and Former Groups

Research Interests:

  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Design
  • Signal Transduction
  • Molecular Genetics 

Research Group:

  • Jiyoon Jeon (Master Student-Biology)
  • Arizbeth Lopez Garcia (Undergraduate Student-Biology)
  • Skye Jones (Undergraduate Student-Biology)
  • Jacob Thompson (Undergraduate Student-Biology)
  • Sidharth Patel (Undergraduate Student-Biology)

Former Lab Members:

  • Claire Alexander (Master Student-Biology)
  • Anthony Osu (Master Student-Biology)
  • Sindi Casrillo (Undergraduate Student-Biology)
  • Morgan Martin (Undergraduate Student-Biology)
  • Kaylee Goodpeed (Undergraduate Student- Chemistry and Biochemistry)
  • Caroline LeBlanc (Undergraduate Student-Chemical Engineering)
  • Hannah Tompson (Undergraduate Student-Biology)
  • Paityn Warwick (Undergraduate Student-Biology)
  • Tran Trang (Undergraduate Student-Biology)
  • Stephanie Constance (undergraduate student – Biology)
  • Isaac Angeron (undergraduate student – Mechanical Engineering)
  • Shahin Zafari (master student – Electrical Engineering)
  • Bianca Rangel (undergraduate student – Biology)
  • Jorge Oseguera (undergraduate student – Biology)
  • Emily Maccall (undergraduate student – Biology)
  • Amanda Warner (undergraduate student – Biology)
  • Mackenzie Hudson (undergraduate student – Psychology)
  • Hamzah Abedelwahab (undergraduate student – Biology)
  • Roshney Ali (undergraduate student – Biology)
  • Shreya Vakil (TALH student)
  • Samantha Marchner (undergraduate student – Biology)
  • Klara Philling (undergraduate student – Biology)
  • Kelly Ann Meeuwsen (undergraduate student – Biology)
  • Ehsan Ghboolian-Zare (undergraduate student – Biology)
  • Geth Simmons (undergraduate student – Biology)
 
Accepting Master Students? YES

Accepting Undergraduate Students? YES

If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Vasefi.  


Publications

Gleb V. Tcheslavski, Maryam Vasefi, An“instantaneous” response of a human visual system to hue: an EEG-based study, 2022

Claire Alexander, Maryam Vasefi “Cannabidiol and Corticoraphe Circuit in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” IBRO Neuroscience Reports, 2021

Maryam Vasefi, Michael Beazely, “Neuroprotective Effects of Direct Activation and Transactivation of PDGFβ Receptors” Vessel Plus, 2020

Maryam Vasefi, Makenzie Hudson, Ehsan Ghaboolian-Zare, “Diet Associated with Inflammation and Alzheimer's Disease” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2019

Hui Liu, Golam Saffi, Maryam Vasefi, et al., Michael Beazley, “Amyloid-β inhibits PDGFβ receptor activation and prevents PDGF-BB-induced neuroprotection” Current Alzheimer Research, 2018

Gleb Tcheslavski, Maryam Vasefi, Fahrettin Fonen, “Response of a Human Visual System to Continuous Color Variation: an EEG-Based Approach” Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, 2018

Payam Niknejad, Srikar Venneti, et al., Maryam Vasefi, Mohammadreza Barzegaran, “An electrochemically assisted AC/DC microgrid configuration with wastewater treatment capability” Applied Surface Sciences, 2018

Michael Munther, et al., Maryam Vasefi, Keivan Davami, “Microfabricated biomimetic placoid scale-Inspired surface for antifouling application” 2018

Khaled Abd-Elraham, Alison Hamilton, Maryam Vasefi, Stephen Ferguson, “Autophagy is increased following either pharmacological or genetic silencing of mGluR5 signaling in Alzheimer's disease mouse models” Molecular Brain, 2018

Alison Hamilton, Maryam Vasefi, Cheryl Vander Tuin, Stephan Ferguson, “Chronic pharmacological mGluR5 inhibition ameliorates cognitive impairment and pathogenesis in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model” Cell Receptor, 2016

Wesseem Osman, Tarek Mohamed, Victor Munsing Sit, Maryam S. Vasefi, Michael Beazely, Praveen P.N. Rao, “Structure-activity relationship studies of benzyl-, phenethyl-, and pyridyl-substituted tetrahydroacridin-9-amines as multitargeting agents to treat Alzheimer’s disease” Chemical Biology & Drug Design, 2016

Atefeh S. Zara, Maryam S. Vasefi, Tiemin Huang, John G. Mielke “Capillary isoelectric focusing with whole column UV detection (CIEF-UV-WCID) to characterize human salivary α-amylase”, Clinical Biochemistry, 2015

Ryan M. Bradley · Emily B. Mardian · Phillip M. Marvyn · Maryam S. Vasefi · Michael A. “Beazely · John G. Mielke · Robin E. Duncan. Data on acylglycerophosphate acyltransferase 4 (AGPAT4) during murine embryogenesis and in embryo-derived cultured primary neurons and glia” Data in brief, 2015

Jeff Kruk, Maryam S. Vasefi, Nyasha Gondora, Nawaz Ahmed, Jhon J. Heikkila1, and Michael A. Beazely. “Fluoxetine-induced transactivation of the platelet-derived growth factor type β via serotonin receptors reveals a heterologous desensitization mechanism” Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, 2015

Ansula Samarajeewa, Lollita Goldman, Maryam S. Vasefi, Nawas Ahmed, Nyasha Gondora, Chandni Khanderia, John Mielke, Michael Beazely “5-HT7 receptors activation promotes an increase in TrkB receptor expression and phosphorylation” Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 2014

Jeff Kruk, Maryam S. Vasefi, J. J. Heikkila1, and M. A. Beazely. “Reactive Oxygen Species Are Required for 5-HT-Induced Transactivation of Neuronal Platelet-Derived Growth Factor and TrkB Receptors but Not for ERK1/2 Activation” PlosOne, 2013

Vasefi M.S., Yang K, Li J, Kruk JS, Heikkila JJ, Jackson MF, Macdonald JF, Beazely MA “Acute 5-HT7 receptor activation increases NMDA-evoked currents and differentially alters NMDA receptor subunit phosphorylation and trafficking in hippocampal neurons” Molecular Brain, 2013

Maryam S. Vasefi, Jeff Kruk, John J. Heikkila1, and Michael A. Beazely, “5-HT7 receptor-mediated neuroprotection against NMDA–induced excitotoxicity is PDGFß receptor-dependent” Journal of Neurochemistry, 2013

Jeff Kruk, Maryam S. Vasefi, Liu Hu, J. Heikkila, Michael A. Beazely, “5-HT1A receptors transactivate the platelet-derived growth factor receptor type beta in neuronal cells”, Journal of Cell Signaling, 2013

Tarek Mohamed; Jacky Yeung; Maryam S Vasefi; Michael A, Beazely; Praveen Rao, Development and Evaluation of Multifunctional Agents for Potential Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: Application to a Pyrimidine-2,4-Diamine Template, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2012

Maryam S. Vasefi, Jeff Kruk, Liu Hu, Michael A. Beazely, John J. Heikkila, “Activation of 5-HT7 receptors increases neuronal platelet-derived growth factor ß receptor expression “, Neuroscience letter, 2012