Melanie Peffer

  • Alumni

Dissertation Research

Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones and upon binding to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) can regulate multiple processes including fetal development, metabolism, immune function, and stress response. Women at risk for pre-term birth are often prescribed glucocorticoids to promote lung maturation in the fetus. However, these increased levels of glucocorticoids in pregnant women whether from exogenous treatment or stressed state can predispose the fetus to development of neurological diseases later in life. Our lab is interested in studying how the glucocorticoid receptor interacts with other members of the nuclear hormone receptor family, Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor I and II to determine mechanisms for dex induced deficits in neural development.

Dissertation Mentor

Dr. Don DeFranco

Where are you now

A postdoctoral associate at Georgia State University with Dr. Maggie Renken

Education & Training

  • B.S. in Molecular Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA, 2009