Sharon Owino, PhD, MSCR 

Education

UNDERGRADUATE:
Georgia Institute of Technology
Degree: Bachelor of Science: Biomedical Engineering

GRADUATE:
Morehouse School of Medicine
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy: Biomedical Science, Master of Science: Clinical

Research Interests

My research investigates how G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling and genetic variation shape neural and glial function in health and disease. My laboratory currently focuses on two questions: what drives anxiety-related behaviors at the molecular level, and how ancestry-associated genetic variation modifies risk for Alzheimer's disease. This work spans molecular pharmacology, functional genomics, stem cell-based disease modeling, and population genetics.

Publications

Owino, S., Giddens, M. M., Jiang, J. G., Nguyen, T. T., Shiu, F. H., Lala, T., Gearing, M., McCrary, M. R., Gu, X., Wei, L., Yu, S. P., & Hall, R. A. (2021). GPR37 modulates progenitor cell dynamics in a mouse model of ischemic stroke. Experimental neurology, 342, 113719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113719

McCrary, M. R., Jiang, M. Q., Giddens, M. M., Zhang, J. Y., Owino, S., Wei, Z. Z., Zhong, W., Gu, X., Xin, H., Hall, R. A., Wei, L., & Yu, S. P. (2019). Protective effects of GPR37 via regulation of inflammation and multiple cell death pathways after ischemic stroke in mice. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 33(10), 10680–10691. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.201900070R

Giddens, M. M., Wong, J. C., Schroeder, J. P., Farrow, E. G., Smith, B. M., Owino, S., Soden, S. E., Meyer, R. C., Saunders, C., LePichon, J. B., Weinshenker, D., Escayg, A., & Hall, R. A. (2017). GPR37L1 modulates seizure susceptibility: Evidence from mouse studies and analyses of a human GPR37L1 variant. Neurobiology of disease, 106, 181–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2017.07.006

Owino, S., Sánchez-Bretaño, A., Tchio, C., Cecon, E., Karamitri, A., Dam, J., Jockers, R., Piccione, G., Noh, H. L., Kim, T., Kim, J. K., Baba, K., & Tosini, G. (2018). Nocturnal activation of melatonin receptor type 1 signaling modulates diurnal insulin sensitivity via regulation of PI3K activity. Journal of pineal research, 64(3), 10.1111/jpi.12462. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpi.12462

Owino, S., Buonfiglio, D. D. C., Tchio, C., & Tosini, G. (2019). Melatonin Signaling a Key Regulator of Glucose Homeostasis and Energy Metabolism. Frontiers in endocrinology, 10, 488. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00488


Additional publications: CLICK HERE to view additional publications.