Alen Vukovic

Lab of Dr. Edwin Chapman

• 3rd year graduate student and research assistant. Primary research project concerns the calcium sensor synaptotagmin-1 (syt1) to determine how it functionally detects calcium. Main project involves the generation of 10 mutant constructs for syt1 with a neutralizing mutation at each of the 10 calcium binding residues in its cytoplasmic domain. Functional analysis of the mutants is performed in hippocampal mouse neurons in rescue experiments using the glutamate sensor iGluSnFR. Additional mutants appearing in recent clinical cases are also examined to look for a causal connection.
• Second project examines the timecourse of syt1 incorporation into new synaptic vesicles as a means of examining vesicle biogenesis. Utilizing the RUSH (Retention Using Selective Hooks) system, modified syt1 can be sequestered with in the neuronal ER and then released at precise timepoints before conduction functional tests of calcium dependent exocytosis.

• Handle daily activities of the Pharmacy department, including clarifying orders from doctors, managing multiple pharmacy technicians, checking for potent drug-drug and drug-disease interactions, counseling patients, managing supply orders and providing vaccinations directly to patients as well as the associated counseling.
• Tasked in December 2020 with overseeing rollout of Covid 19 vaccine in New Jersey and Staten Island, NY, including establishment of clinic sites in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and local pharmacies. Duties include vaccine administration, storage maintenance for cold chain, supply orders, insurance and Medicare billing corrections, clinical support for host facilities and training of new immunizers.

• Handle daily activities of the Pharmacy department, including clarifying orders from doctors, managing multiple pharmacy technicians, checking for potent drug-drug and drug-disease interactions, counseling patients, managing supply orders etc. Operated as a floater for Area 58 of Walgreens which covered all of southern NJ on an on-call basis.

(Chemistry and Biochemistry Dept)

• Hands on chemical research under Dr. James Mckee for the development of possible therapeutic agents based on aminothiazole and benzoaminothiazole side group rearrangements via a new procedure, tested across a range of known and new compounds. Duties included organic chemistry bench work focused and use of NMR, Mass Spectrometry and IR methods.

(Pharmaceutical Sciences Dept)

• Hands on neuropharmacological research under Dr. Asha Suryanarayanan on neuroimmune function of the GABA type A receptor in response to interleukin-10 (IL-10) activity post alcohol exposure. Prepared genetically transformed Xenopus oocytes used for examination of the alcohol/IL-10 mechanism and performed electrophysiology assays of the oocytes central to the research. Further studies on the effects of alcohol induced IL-10 release in the brains of rats. Rat brain removal and surgery were performed.