Fernandez-Botran Laboratories
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About
The laboratories are equipped to conduct basic research in Immunology and Cell Biology. More specifically, the current projects involve research into inflammatory mediators and immune cell function in a variety of diseases and/or in response to immune modulators. The two laboratories are located on the second floor of the Medical Dental Research (MDR) building (226 and 227A) and are equipped for tissue culture, immunoassays and general bench space. Equipment includes laminar flow tissue culture hoods, refrigerated centrifuges, CO2 incubator, microscopes, freezers and general lab equipment. Additional equipment and lab facilities are located in the Department of Pathology common equipment room in the same floor.
Key Research Areas
- Inflammatory mediators (cytokines, hormones)
- Other biomarkers
- Immune cell function studies
- Immunomodulators
- Stress and salivary markers
Current Projects
- Demographics of Gastric Cancer in Guatemala. Differences in the prevalence of histologic subtypes and association with pathogenic strains of Helicobacter pylori. Project in collaboration with the School of Medicine of Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.
- Measurement of salivary inflammatory markers in psychological stress. Project in collaboration with Dr. Patrick Pössel of the College of Education and Human Development, University of Louisville.
Team
- Rafael Fernandez-Botran, Ph.D. (PI, Associate Professor)
Recent Publications
- Villagran de Tercero C, Hernandez E, Wellmann IA, Une C, Mendez-Chacon E, Perez-Perez G, Daniels M, Fernandez-Botran R. 2024. Differences in prevalence of gastric cancer histological subtypes between Ladino and Mayan populations in Guatemala. JCO Global Oncol, 2024 Aug;10:e2400008. doi: 10.1200/GO.24.00008.
- Biesecker E, Pössel P, Fernandez- Botran R. 2024. Discrimination, cognitive styles, and their associations with adolescents’ mental and physical health. Res. Nursing Health. 2024;47:172-181. doi: 10.1002/nur.22379.
- Dondanville AA, Pössel P, Fernandez-Botran GR. 2023. Relation Between the Negative Cognitive Triad, Perceived Everyday Discrimination, Depressive Symptoms, and TNF-⍺ in Adolescents. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. Dec;55(6):1712-1723. doi: 10.1007/s10578-023-01530-z.