SHORT BIO:

I began my postdoctoral training in March 2006 in the laboratory of Dr. Paul Cooke. My current research is an extension of my ongoing fascination with adipose biology that developed during graduate school. My current research areas involve the mechanism of estrogen and phytoestrogen signaling on adipose tissue and the role cell cycle proteins have on establishing adipocyte number in the whole animal.   

EDUCATION

1998    Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, Purdue University
2006    Doctorate of Philosophy, Molecular and Environmental Toxicology, University of Wisconsin

Dissertation: Inhibition of in vitro Adipogenesis in C3H10T1/2 Mouse Embryo Fibroblasts by 2,3,7,8-tetachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) Signaling

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Society of Toxicology
North American Association for the Study of Obesity

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Cooke PS, Holsberger DR, Cimafranca MA, Meling DD, Beals CM, Nakayama K, Nakayama KI, and Kiyokawa. (2007) Obesity. In press.

Hanlon PR, Cimafranca MA, Liu X, Cho YC, and Jefcoate CR. (2005) Microarray analysis of early Adipogenesis in C3H10T1/2 cells: cooperative inhibitory effects of growth factors and 2,3,7,8-tetracholorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 207(1):39-58.

Cimafranca MA, Hanlon PR, and Jefcoate CR. (2004) TCDD administration after the pro-adipogenic differentiation stimulus inhibits PPARgamma through a MEK-dependent process but less effectively suppresses adipogenesis. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 196(1):156-68.