Department of Biomedical Sciences

University of Missouri

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Cummings Receives Grant To Study Relationship Between Serotonin and Hypoxia To Help Reduce SIDS

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health recently awarded Kevin Cummings, PhD, a four year, $1.5 million grant to help reveal how serotonin deficiency increases the risk of a baby dying from hypoxia while sleeping.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) remains a leading cause of infant death between 1 month and 1 year of age.  SIDS victims die following apnea (no breathing), a failure to wake up from sleep, and the inability to restore heart rate and blood pressure when hypoxia (low oxygen) becomes severe.

Most SIDS victims have defects in the brainstem serotonin receptors (5-HT).  This funding will help better define the mechanisms by which 5-HT loss prolongs active sleep, the relationship between the loss of 5-HT receptor and increased apnea, and how caffeine may accelerate cardiovascular recovery following severe hypoxia.

The insight gained by this research is necessary for developing new pharmacological, prophylactic strategies aimed at reducing SIDS within at-risk populations.

Graduate Studies in Biomedical Sciences

At the Department of Biomedical Sciences, investigators are engaged in research across a variety of fields, including cancer, neurodegenerative disease, exercise, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory and reproductive physiology.

With world-class and award-winning researchers, our graduate program has a great deal to offer.

Find out more.

Faculty Spotlight

Xiangwei (Shaun) Du, PhD

News

  • Expertise, Collegiality Earn Tommy Thompson Dean’s Impact Award
  • SEC Emerging Scholars Program Helps Guide Career Options for Biomedical Sciences Fellow
  • Prenatal Opioid Exposure May Trigger Neurological, Behavioral Changes Later in Life
  • Research With Heart
  • Retired Associate Dean Ronald L. Terjung Passes Away

Contact

Department of Biomedical Sciences
University of Missouri-Columbia
E102 Veterinary Medical Building
1520 Rollins Street
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-882-7011
Fax: 573-884-6890

 

Administrative Contacts

Dr. Douglas Bowles
Department Chair

BowlesD@missouri.edu
573-882-7193

Dr. Kevin Cummings
Director of Graduate Studies
cummingske@missouri.edu
573-882-0283

Thomas Thompson
Business Manager

ThompsonT@missouri.edu
573-882-4503

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