Position(s):
-Assistant Professor, Department of Biology
-Assistant Professor, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine
-Co-Director, Department of Biology Cell Imaging Center

Office: 230 Stratton Hall
Lab: 228 Stratton Hall

Phone: (215)  895-2526 (Office)
(215)  895-5877 (Lab)

Email: dm562@drexel.edu
Website: www.drexel.edu/biology/marenda_lab.html

B.S. – Loyola University Chicago
Ph.D. – Syracuse University
Post-Doc – Emory University School of Medicine  

Courses Taught

BIO214: Cell Biology

Our lab is interested in three broad but connected questions: 1) The development of the nervous system, particularly as it relates to retinal neurogenesis and hereditary mental retardation; 2) Identification and characterization of genes involved in Alzheimer’s Disease; 3) The regulation of the Ras/MAP Kinase signal transduction pathway in neuronal development, cell proliferation, and differentiation. 

Understanding how the nervous system and brain of higher animals function is one of the most fascinating and mysterious questions in biology. Understanding the complex organization of the neurons within the brain requires the proper understanding of which genes control the morphology and connectivity of these neurons, as well as understanding which behaviors and/or functions these neurons control in the organism.  To address these questions, we utilize the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism.  We exploit the powerful genetic and cell biological techniques Drosophila possess to model how genes involved in forms of mental retardation and neurodegeneration affect neuronal morphology and behavior.  We employ genetic and molecular biology techniques, histology, cell biology, behavior, and several types of microscopy (confocal, fluorescent, SEM) to address these questions.

Currently our lab has developed several novel Drosophila models for forms of human mental retardation and neurological disease.  We are utilizing these models to both investigate the causes of, as well as to develop means of intervention for these diseases.

To view some of Dr. Marenda's published work [...click here...]

Lab Staff

Ginnene DiStefano, PhD Student:

Characterization and Application of a novel Drosophila model of FRAXE hereditary mental retardation.

Siddhita Mhatre, PhD Student:

Characterization and application of a novel Drosophila model for Alzheimer's Disease.

David Melicharek, Lab Technician:

Characterization and Application of a novel Drosophila model of CHARGE syndrome.

Laura Ramirez, Undergraduate Student:

Characterization of disease models.

Sarah Michelson, Undergraduate Student:

Characterization of disease models.

Uma Bandu, Undergradaute Student:

Characterization of disease models.

Rhea Thompson, STAR Student:

Characterization of disease models.

Sukhdeep Singh, STAR Student:

Characterization of disease models.

Active Research Funding:

1. "Retina: Lilliputian and the control of retinal neurogenesis"

Source: NIH/NEI, R15EY018431
Role: PI
Starting: 8/31/2008
Ending: 3/31/2011

2. "Identification and Characterization of APP Processing Regulators"

Source: NIH/NINDS, R01NS057295
Role: Co-PI
Starting: 8/1/08
Ending: 7/31/13

3. "Characterization and application of a novel Drosophila model for CHARGE syndrome. "

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Public Health, Commonwaelth of PA
Role: PI
Starting: 01/01/09
Ending: 12/31/09