Medical University
Resume:
Curriculum Vitae: Simon Kaja, Ph.D. Last updated: 07/17/2012
Simon Kaja, Ph.D. Immigration status:
**** * ******* **. ***. 412 Permanent Resident in the United States
Kansas City, MO 64155
Phone: +1-682-***-****
Email: abpijr@r.postjobfree.com
Current position:
Assistant Professor (non tenure-track), School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology
Research Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Science
Associate Director Preclinical Research; Vision Research Center.
Adjunct Doctoral Faculty, University of Missouri Kansas City, Schools of Medicine & Biological Sciences
Director of Microscopy Interim; UMKC School of Medicine, Vision Research Center
CEO and co-founder, K&P Scientific, LLC
Education:
2002-2006: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Neuroscience and Human Genetics;
Faculty of Medicine, University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
Awarded: February 2007
1998-2002: B.Sc. (Hons.) (Dunelm) with First Class Honours
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry with Industrial Placement,
School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, Durham, UK
Previous research positions:
10/2008 12/2008: Research Scientist
University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX
Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience
07/2008 - 10/2008: Scientist II, Neuroscience Consultant
Neurosearch A/S, Ballerup, Denmark; Department of Behavioral Pharmacology II
2006-2008: Senior Research Associate
Laboratory Professor Terrance P. Snutch
Michael Smith Laboratories, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2000-2001: Research Assistant
NovoNordisk A/S, S borg, Denmark; Department of Molecular Biology and Virology
Extramural funding as Principal Investigator (current and previous):
Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute Patton Trust Grant, 07/01/2011 06/30/2012
A novel canine model for early-onset recessive cerebellar ataxia
Fight for Sight Grant-in-Aid, 09/01/2010 08/30/2011
Lacrimal gland dysfunction: a first step towards pharmacotherapy of dry-eye disease
National Headache Foundation Research Grant 2010, 04/01/2009-03/31/2010
Novel mechanism underlying the visual impairments during migraine headaches.
ST-PDF-140(05-1)BM, 07/01/2006 06/30/2008
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Science Research
Functional characterization of low-voltage activated T-type calcium channels in cerebellar slices of wild-type
and P/Q-type calcium channel mutant mice.
Extramural funding as Co-Investigator (current and previous):
National Institute of Health, 1S10RR027093-01
CONFOCAL LASER SCANNING MICROSCOPE
Major User project: Determine the underlying functional and structural mechanisms of synaptic adaptation
contributing to synaptic dysfunction in migraine. (PI: Koulen)
Page 1 of 8
Curriculum Vitae: Simon Kaja, Ph.D.
Pending funding:
National Institute of Health, R01, funding decision pending
PIVOTAL ROLE OR PROTEASOMES IN INFLAMMATION AND TOLERANCE
Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Qureshi)
National Institute of Health, R21, funding decision pending
NOVEL NON-GENETIC MOUSE MODEL FOR SPECTRUM DISORDERS OF THE CNS
Role: Principal Investigator
National Institute of Health, R01, funding decision pending
NOVEL THERAPY APPROACHES FOR DRY-EYE DISEASE.
Role: Principal Investigator
Awards, Prizes and Grants:
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research postdoctoral trainee award (2006 -2008);
European Molecular Biology Organization postdoctoral fellowship (2006-2008);
RUBICON grant (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research);
Ph.D. scholar and undergraduate scholar of the German National Merit Foundation (2003 -2006);
British Neuroscience Association Undergraduate Award 2002/2003 for outstandin g
achievement in the field of Neuroscience;
Boulter Prize in Molecular Biology 2002, University of Durham.
Supervisory and teaching experience:
Supervisor and mentor of research scientists, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and medical students at
UMKC (currently: 1 graduate student (Ph.D.), 12 (pre-) medical students, 2 research assistants, 1 post-doc)
Supervisor of research assistants at NeuroSearch A/S and NovoNordisk A/S;
Teaching: Introductory Neurophysiology; Neuroprotection (part of Biotechnology course); Basic Research in
Ophthalmology (Medical School); Basic Research in Neuroscience (Medical School).
Course director: Elective #1895 - Research in Ophthalmology and Elective #2160 - Research in Neuroscience
Reviewer/consultant activity:
Consultant for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry (focus areas: neurological and neurodegenerative
disease and biomarker identification)
Ad-hoc peer reviewer for Brain Research, Neuroscience Letters, International Journal of Developmental
Neuroscience, Eye and Brain, Neuroscience, Histochemistry and Cell Biology;
Reviewer for Alzheimer s Association, Fight for Sight
Administrative duties:
Adjunct Doctoral Faculty, University of Missouri Kansas City;
Juror and reviewer for Sarah Morrison Student Research Award, UMKC School of Medicine;
Associate Director Preclinical Research, UMKC Vision Research Center;
Representative for Biosafety and Compliance, UMKC Vision Research Center Laboratories.
Peer-reviewed publications:
indicates corresponding author
* indicates shared contribution
1. Kaja S, Sumien N, Borden PK, Khullar N, Iqbal M, Collins JL, Forster MJ, Koulen P. Homer -1a immediate
early gene expression correlates with better cognitive performance in aging. AGE. in press.
DOI: 10.1007/s11357-012-9479-6.
2. W acher A, Kaja S . Aggregation of microglia in 2D with String Gradient Weighted Moving Finite Elements.
Mathematical Methods in The Applied Sciences. in press. MMA-2710.
3. Romero-Suarez S, Mo C, Touchberry C, Lara N, Baker K, Craig R, Brotto L, Andresen J, Wacker M, Kaja S,
Abreu E, Dillmann W, Mestril R, Brotto M, Nosek T. Hyperthermia: From Diagnostic and Treatments to New
Discoveries. Recent Patents on Biotechnology. in press. BIOT-EPUB-20121022-8
Page 2 of 8
Curriculum Vitae: Simon Kaja, Ph.D.
4. Kaja S, Hilgenberg JD, Clark JL, Shah AA, Wawwro D, Zimmermann S, Magnusson R, Koulen P. Detection
of novel biomarkers for ovarian cancer with an optical nanotechnology detection system enabling label-free
diagnostics. Journal of Biomedical Optics 2012, 17
5. Kaja S, Goad DL, Ali F, Abraham A, Rebenitsch RL, Teymoorian S, Krishna R, Koulen P. Evaluation of
tensile strength of tissue adhesives and sutures for c lear corneal incisions using porcine and bovine eyes,
with a novel standardized testing platform. Clin Ophthalmol 2012, 6:305-9.
6. Chhablani J, Kaja S, Shah VA. Smartphones in ophthalmology. Indian J Ophthalmol 2012, 60:127-31.
7. Kaja S, Mafe OA, Parikh RA, Kandula P, Reddy CA, Gregg EV, Xin H, Mitchell P, Grillo MA, Koulen P.
Distribution and function of polycystin-2 in mouse retinal ganglion cells. Neuroscience 2012, 202:99-107.
8. Burroughs SL, Duncan RS, Rayudu P, Kandula P, Payne AJ, Clark JL, Koulen P, Kaja S . Plate reader-
based assays for measuring cell viability, neuroprotection and calcium in primary neuronal cultures. J
Neurosci Meth. 2012; 203:141-5.
9. Kaja, S, Hilgenberg, J.D., Rybalchenko, V., Gregg, E.V., Medina-Ortiz, W., Koulen P. Polycystin-2
expression and function in adult mouse lacrimal acinar cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2011, 52:5605-11.
10. Kaja S, Hilgenberg JD, Everett E, Olitsky SE, Gossage J, Koulen P. Effects of dilution and prolonged storage
with preservative in a polyethylene container on Bevacizumab (Avastin ) for topical delivery as a nasal spray
in anti-hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and related therapies. Hum Antibodies 2011; 20:95 -101.
11. Burroughs SL, Kaja S, Koulen P. Quantification of deficits in spatial visual function of mouse models for
glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2011, 52:3654-9.
12. Garg P, Duncan RS, Kaja S, Zabaneh A, Chapman KD, Koulen P. Lauroylethanolamide and linoleoyl-
ethanolamide improve functional outcome in a rodent model for stroke. Neurosci Letts 2011, 492:134-80
13. Kaja S, Duncan RS, Longoria S, Hilgenberg JD, Payne AJ, Desai NM, et al. Novel mechanism of increased
Ca(2+) release following oxidative stress in neuronal cells involves type 2 inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate
receptors. Neuroscience 2011, 175:281-91.
14. Kaja S, Van de Ven RC, Broos LA, Frants RR, Ferrari MD, Van den Maagdenberg AM, et al. Severe and
progressive neurotransmitter release aberrations in familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 Cacna1a S218L
knock-in mice. J Neurophysiol 2010; 104: 1445-55.
15. Duncan RS, Goad DL, Grillo MA, Kaja S, Payne AJ, Koulen P. Control of intracellular calcium signaling as a
neuroprotective strategy. Molecules 2010. 15: 1168-95.
16. A.M. van den Maagdenberg*, T. Pizzorusso*, S. Kaja*, N. Terpolilli*, M. Shapovalova, F.E. Hoebeek, C.F.
Barrett, L. Gheradini, R.C. van de Ven, B. Todorov, L.A. Broos, A. Tottene, Z. Gao, M. Fodor, C.I. De Zeeuw,
R.R. Frants, N. Plesnila, J.J. Plomp, D. Pietrobon, M.D. Ferrari. Cav2.1 S218L knock -in mice exhibit the
severe human S218L hemiplegic migraine syndrome associated with epilepsy, cerebral edema, and ataxia
and are uniquely vulnerable to cortical spreading depression. Ann Neurol. 2010; 67: 85-98.
17. P. Garg, R.S. Duncan, S. Kaja, P. Koulen. Intracellular Mechanisms of N-Acylethanolamine-Mediated
Neuroprotection in Stroke. Neuroscience 2010, 166:252-262.
18. J.J. Plomp, A.M. van den Maagdenberg, S. Kaja. The ataxic Cacna1a-mutant mouse rolling Nagoya: an
overview of neuromorphological and electrophysiological findings. Cerebellum 2009, 8:222-30.
19. S. Kaja, R.C. van den Ven, R.R. Frants, M.D. Ferrari, A.M. van den Maagdenberg, J.J. Plomp. Reduced ACh
release at neuromuscular synapses of heterozygous leaner Cav2.1 mutant mice. Synapse 2008; 62:337 -344.
20. S. Kaja, V. Hann, H.L. Payne, C.L. Thompson. Aberrant cerebellar granule cell-specific GABA-A receptor
expression in the epileptic and ataxic mouse mutant, Tottering. Neuroscience 2007; 148:115-125.
21. S. Kaja, R.C. van den Ven, J.G. van Dijk, J.J. Verschuuren, R.R. Frants, M.D. Ferrari, A.M. van den
Maagdenberg and J.J. Plomp. Severely impaired neuromuscular synaptic transmission causes muscle
weakness in the Cacna1a mutant mouse rolling Nagoya. Eur J Neurosci 2007; 25:2009-2020.
22. S. Kaja, B. Todorov, R.C. van de Ven, M.D. Ferrari, R.R. Frants, A.M. van den Maagdenberg and J.J. Plomp.
Redundancy of Cav2.1 channel accessory subunits in transmitter release at the m ouse neuromuscular
junction. Br Res 2007; 1143:92-101.
23. R.C. van de Ven, S. Kaja, J.J. Plomp, R.R. Frants, A.M. van den Maagdenberg, M.D. Ferrari. Genetic models
of migraine. Arch Neurol 2007; 64:643-646.
* *
24. S. Kaja, R.C. van de Ven, L.A. Broos, R.R. Frants, M.D. Ferrari, A.M. van den Maagdenberg and J.J. Plomp.
Characterization of acetylcholine release and the compensatory contribution of non -Cav2.1 channels at motor
nerve terminals of Leaner Cav2.1-mutant mice. Neuroscience 2007; 144:1278-1287.
* *
25. B. Todorov, R.C van de Ven, S. Kaja, L.A. Broos, J.J. Plomp, M.D. Ferrari, R.R. Frants and A.M. van den
Maagdenberg. Conditional Inactivation of the Cacna1a Gene in Transgenic Mice. Genesis 2006; 44:589 -594.
Page 3 of 8
Curriculum Vitae: Simon Kaja, Ph.D.
26. S. Kaja, R.C.G. van de Ven, M.D. Ferrari, R.R. Frants, A.M.J.M. van den Maagdenberg and J.J. Plomp.
Compensatory contribution of Cav2.3 channels to acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction of
Tottering mice. J Neurophysiol 2006; 95:2698-2704.
27. S. Kaja, R.C.G. van de Ven, L.A.M. Broos, H. Veldman, J. G. van Dijk, J.J.G.M. Verschuuren, R.R. Frants,
M.D. Ferrari, A.M.J.M. van den Maagdenberg and J.J. Plomp. Gene dosage-dependent transmitter release
changes at neuromuscular synapses of Cacna1a R192Q knockin mice are non-progressive and do not lead
to morphological changes or muscle weakness. Neuroscience 2005; 135:81-95.
* *
28. A.M.J.M. van den Maagdenberg, D. Pietrobon, T. Pizzorusso, S. Kaja, L.A.M. Broos, T. Cesetti, R.C.G. van
de Ven, J. van der Kaa, A. Tottene, J.J. Plomp, R.R. Frants, M.D. Ferrari. A Cacna1a knockin migraine
mouse model with increased susceptibility to cortical spreading depression. Neuron 2004; 41: 701-710.
29. S. Kaja, S. Yang, J. Wei, K. Fujitani, R. Lui, A.-M. Brun-Zinkernagel, J.W. Simpkins, K. Inokuchi, P. Koulen.
Estrogen protects the inner retina from apoptosis and ischemia -induced loss of Vesl-1L/Homer 1c
immunoreactive synaptic connections. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003; 44: 3155-3162.
Books and book chapters:
1. S. Kaja, A.J. Payne, S.L. Burroughs, P. Koulen. Homer. Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules, Choi, Sangdun
(Ed.), 1st Edition, 2013. ISBN 978-1-4419-0460-7.
2. S. Kaja. Synaptic effects of mutations in neuronal CaV2.1 calcium channels. 2007
Doctoral thesis; ISBN 9-78097819050-7.
3. S. Kaja. Recent progress in migraine research. BNA Bulletin 2007, 56:20-22.
Invited Lectures
th
1. 13 February 2012
Invited Seminar, Department of Zoology, Institute of Professor Stefan Herlitze, Ruhr University Bochum,
Bochum, Germany;
Neuroprotective strategies targeting calcium signaling: new hope for neurodegenerative diseases?
st
2. 21 July 2011
Seminar Series, Shock/Trauma Research Center, University of Missouri- Kansas City, School of Medicine,
Kansas City, MO (Host: Dr. Charles Van Way III)
qPCR: a user s perspective
th
3. 9 December 2010
Departmental Seminar, Institute of Physiology, University of Bern, Switzerland (Host: Dr. Nina Ullrich)
Novel neuroprotective strategies for neurodegenerative disease: targeting intracellular calcium signaling
th
4. 6 February 2010
Invited Lecture, Perkin Elmer Germany and Hamburg Screening Port, Hamburg, Germany (Host: Dr. Martin
Daffertshofer)
Novel neuroprotective strategies for neurodegenerative disease: using high -resolution and high-throughput
imaging for targeting intracellular calcium signaling
th
5. 6 November 2010
Opening lecture, European Molecular Biology Organization US Fellows Meeting 2010, San Diego, CA
Neuroprotection in Alzheimer s disease
th
6. 26 August 2010
Departmental Seminar, School of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
(Host: Dean Lawrence Dreyfus)
Calcium signaling in neurological and neurodegenerative disease: novel avenues for neuroprotection
th
7. 12 February 2010
Departmental Seminar, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, UK (Host: Dr.
P.L. Chazot)
2+
Ca signaling in neurodegenerative disease: novel avenues for neuroprotection
th
8. 8 May 2009
McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Host: Dr. D. Steindler)
Special Seminar: Migraine, epilepsy, cerebellar ataxia and trauma: one pathophysiological mechanism?
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Curriculum Vitae: Simon Kaja, Ph.D.
th
9. 11 March 2009
Eye Foundation of Kansas City, UMKC School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Kansas City, MO
(Host: Dr. N. Sabates)
Vision Research Seminar: Novel Insights into Familial Hemiplegic Migraine: Involvement of the Visual
System
th
10. 7 October 2008
Scientific Seminar, Memory Disorders Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital,
Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark (Host: Dr. J rgen E. Nielsen)
Novel therapeutic approaches for cerebellar ataxias.
rd
11. 3 October 2008
Scientific Seminar, Glostrup Research Institute, Glostrup Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark
(Host: Dr. Inger Jansen Olesen)
Migraine: Insights from transgenic mouse models.
nd
12. 22 June 2008
Expert Seminar, Neuromed Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., Canada
The role of Cav3.1 and GABA-A receptors in cerebellar ataxia.
th
13. 8 April 2008
The Chris Thompson Memorial Symposium and Neuroscience North East,
School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, Durham, UK
Migraine: Insights from two novel transgenic mouse models.
nd
14. 22 January 2008
Departmental Seminar, Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health
Science Center, Fort Worth, TX (Host: Dr. M. Singh)
"Migraine: Insights from a novel transgenic mouse model."
rd
15. 23 November 2007
Departmental Seminar, School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
(Host: Prof. Steve Edwards)
Migraine: Insights from two transgenic mouse models.
th
16. 11 May 2007
Departmental Seminar, Department of Pharmacology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (Host: Prof.
Dr. J. Striessnig)
"Calcium Channel Dysfunction in Mouse Models for Epilepsy and Migraine."
th
17. 9 May 2007
Departmental Seminar, Institute for Surgical Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich,
Germany (Host: Prof. Dr. N. Plesnila)
"Cacna1a S218L Knock-In Mice: A Model for Migraine, Trauma and Ataxia."
th
18. 7 May 2007
Departmental Seminar, Institute for Physiology II/Neurophysiology, University of Jena, Jena, Germany (Host:
PD Dr. F. Richter) - "The Role of Calcium Channel Dysfunction in Migraine."
th
19. 4 May 2007
Expert Seminar, Neuromed Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., Canada
2+
Migraine: Insights from a novel mouse model with the S218L mutation in the P/Q-type Ca channel.
th
20. 10 October 2006
Colloquium, Michael Smith Laboratories, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
"Muscle Weakness Contributes to the Phenotype of Rolling Nagoya Mutant Mice."
rd
21. 3 October 2006
Departmental Seminar, Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health
Science Center, Fort Worth, TX (Host: Professor P. Koulen)
"Synaptic effects of mutations in neuronal Cav2.1 calcium channels."
nd
22. 22 March 2006
Departmental Seminar, Department of Neuropathology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen -Nuremberg,
Erlangen, Germany (Host: Prof. Dr. I. Bl mcke)
Synaptic effects of neurological disease-associated mutations in Cav2.1 calcium channels.
th
23. 11 October 2005
Departmental Seminar, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany (Host:
Prof. Dr. T. Jentsch) - "Characterization of neuromuscular synaptic transmission in the novel Cacna1a knock-
in mouse model for familial hemiplegic migraine."
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Curriculum Vitae: Simon Kaja, Ph.D.
th
24. 16 May 2005
Laboratory Seminar, Professor Terrance Snutch, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, Canada
2+
"Recent advances in the study of Ca channel mutant mice."
th
25. 20 July 2004
Departmental Seminar Molecular and Cell Biology Series, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom
(Host: Dr. C.L. Thompson)
"P/Q-Type Calcium Channels in Health and Disease."
Selected conference contributions (last 3 years):
P. Koulen, S. Kaja, N. Sumien, P.K. Borden, N. Khullar, M.J. Forster. A decrease in Homer-1a immediate early
gene expression predicts cognitive decline in aging. Program No. 835.09. 2012 Neuroscience Meeting Planner.
New Orleans, LA: Society for Neuroscience, 2012. Online.
S. Kaja, S.L. Burroughs, P.K. Borden, Y. Naumchuk, P. Koulen. Homer-1 expression in the glaucomatous
neural retina. Program No. 163.23. 2012 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. New Orleans, LA: Society for
Neuroscience, 2012. Online.
S. Kaja, P. Koulen. Antioxidants Restore Lacrimal Gland Function Through A Calcium -Mediated Mechanism In
Experimental Models Of Dry-eye Disease. ARVO Meeting Abstracts March 26, 2012 53:2346.
P. Koulen, K.D. Chapman, S. Kaja, S.L. Burroughs. Structural and Functional Protection of the Retina by N-
Acylethanolamines in Glaucoma. ARVO Meeting Abstracts March 26, 2012 53:1135.
S. Kaja. Smartphone-Applications May Improve Workflow in Ophthalmology. World Ophthalmology Congress,
Abu Dhabi, UAE, Feb 16-20, 20012. Slide presentation, invited symposium speaker.
S. Kaja, P. Koulen. Calcium Channels in the Lacrimal Gland - Implications for Dry-Eye Disease. World
Ophthalmology Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Feb 16-20, 20012. Slide presentation, invited symposium speaker.
S. Kaja, J.D. Hilgenberg, P. Koulen. Polycystin-2 In Mouse Lacrimal Gland Acinar Cells. ARVO Meeting
Abstracts April 22, 2011 52:3716.
S. Kaja, P.Garg, P. Koulen. Novel mouse model for sporadic Alzheimer's Disease. Program No. 352.22. 2011
Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2011.
P. Koulen, R.S. Ducan, S. Kaja. Functional and structural protection of retinal ganglion cells by N -
acylethanolamines in diabetic retinopathy. Program No. 366.13. 2011 Neuroscience Meeting Planner .
W ashington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2011.
P. Koulen, O.A. Mafe, R.S.Duncan, S. Kaja. Functional and Structural Protection by N-Acylethanolamines in
Diabetic Retinopathy. ARVO Meeting Abstracts April 22, 2011 52:3937
S. Kaja, R.S. Duncan, P. Garg, S.L. Burroughs, P. Koulen. Neuroprotection by N-linoleoylethanolamine in vitro
and in vivo. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting 2010, San Diego, CA, Nov 16 -21, 2010. Poster
presentation.
Payne, S. Kaja, S.-Y. Hwang, P. Koulen. Presenilin potentiates ryanodine receptor-mediated calcium release
from intracellular stores. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting 2010, San Diego, CA, Nov 16 -21, 2010.
Slide presentation.
R.S. Duncan, S. Kaja, J.D. Hilgenberg, J. Clark, P. Koulen. N-acylethanolamines activate transcription factors
involved in neuroprotective signaling. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting 2010, San Diego, CA, Nov 16 -
21, 2010. Poster presentation.
A.J. Payne, S. Kaja, and P. Koulen. Control of Ryanodine Receptor Mediated Calcium Signaling by Presenilins
in Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells. ARVO Meeting Abstracts April 11, 2010 51:1876. Poster presentation.
S. Kaja, D. L. Goad, E. V. Gregg, M. D. Ferrari, A. M. J. M. Van den Maagdenberg, T. P. Snutch, and P. Koulen.
Reduced Presynaptic Signaling in Retinal Neurons of a Transgenic Mouse Model for Familial Hemiplegic
Migraine. ARVO Meeting Abstracts April 11, 2010 51:5796. Slide presentation.
S. Kaja, R.S. Duncan, E.V. Gregg, D.L. Goad, P. Koulen. Type 2 inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors
mediate oxidative stress-induced increases of intracellular Ca2+ release. Society for Neuroscience Annual
Meeting 2009, Chicago, IL, Oct 16-21, 2009. Poster presentation.
P. Koulen, R.S. Duncan, S. Kaja, D.L. Goad. Potentiation of intracellular calcium release by gonadal steroid
hormones in the central nervous system. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting 2009, Chicago, IL, Oct 16 -
21, 2009. Slide presentation.
S. Kaja, D.L. Goad, E.S. Nixon, P. Koulen. Estrogen controls intracellu lar calcium signaling in the retina. Society
for Neuroscience Annual Meeting 2009, Chicago, IL, Oct 16-21, 2009. Slide presentation.
Page 6 of 8
Curriculum Vitae: Simon Kaja, Ph.D.
S. Kaja, E. Nixon, P. Koulen. Estrogen signaling in retinal neurons. Annual Meeting of the Association for
Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2009, Fort Lauderdale, FL, May 3-7, 2009. Poster presentation.
Trainees (former and previous, since 2009):
# indicates successful completion of Research Elective Basic Research
indicates successful completion of LS499 (research elective credit for Biological Sciences)
* indicates winner of Sarah Morrison student research award
$ co-author of research publication(s) from the Kaja lab
& author of research abstract(s) from the Kaja lab
Graduate students (current)
Michael A. Grillo Ph.D. candidate Biological Sciences, UMKC School of Medicine $ &
Ophthalmology residents
Dr. Mouhammed AbuAttieh project: Biomarker discovery in Diabetic Retinopathy
Dr. Hashim Haji project: Identification of SNPs in retinal vein occlusion
Dr. Luke Rebenitsch project: Tissue adhesives in ophthalmology $ &
Medical students (previous)
Aarika Meenes (class of 2010; now resident, department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN)
Neeti Desai (class of 2011; now resident, department of Ophthalmology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI) # * $
Ashley Abraham (class of 2012; matched into residency, department of Ophthalmology, UMKC, Kansas City,
MO) # $ -- Vice-Chancellor Honor s Medal Recipient for Leadership Spring 2012
Parvathi Rayudu (class of 2012; matched into residency, department of Ophthalmology, UMSL, St. Louis, MO) $
Fatima Ali (class of 2012; matched into residency, department of Ophthalmology, UMKC, Kansas City, MO) * $
Maaz Iqbal (class of 2012; matched into residency; department of Radiology, University of Kansas Wichita,
W ichita, KS) #
Undergraduate students (previous)
Grant M. Fischer (class of 2012 Rockhurst University; admitted to MD/PhD program at UT Houston, Houston,.
TX) for credit Research Rotation in collaboration with Rockhurst University (3 credit hours, 4 semesters)
Undergraduate students (current)
Audrey McCalley (class of 2015, BS Biology, UMKC School of Biological Sciences)
Christian Lamb (class of 2015, BS Biology, BA Psychology, Rockhurst University)
Medical students (current)
Alexander Zabaneh (class of 2013) # $
ChanakyaRam Reddy (class of 2013) # *
Sanjeev Keshary (class of 2013)
An D. Pham (class of 2014) #
Ruby Parikh (class of 2014) * $ #
Prasanthi Kandula (class of 2014) # * $
Anna Shah (class of 2014) # $
Yuliya Naumchuk (class of 2014) # &
Trina Ghosh (class of 2015)
Krupa Patel (class of 2015)
Erin Sieck (class of 2015)
Imran Puthawala (class of 2015)
Nitasha Khullar (class of 2016) & $
Volunteers (current)
Ishani Shah (Blue Valley High)
Taylor Jones (Oak Grove High)
Amy Shah (Stevenson High)
Page 7 of 8
Curriculum Vitae: Simon Kaja, Ph.D.
Collaborators
Local
Dr N Qureshi, Professor, Shock Trauma Research Center, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Dr P Koulen, Professor, Vision Research Center, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Dr A Smith, Professor, Biological Sciences, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Dr M Brotto, Professor, Nursing, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
National
Dr F Siebzehnrubl, Asst Professor, McKnight Brain Research Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Dr A Straiker, Assoc Scientist, Dept of Psychological and Brain Sciences Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Dr G Johnson, Professor, College of Veterinary Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
International
Dr R Felix, Professor, University of Mexico City, Mexico City, Mexico
Dr F Richter, Professor, Dept. of Physiology, University of Jena, Jena, Germany
Dr A Wacher, Research Associate, Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, Bilbao, Spain
Dr S Michel, Assoc Professor, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
Dr S Herlitze, Professor, Institute of Zoology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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