David O. Freier, Ph.D.

David O. Freier, Ph.D. Assistant Professor School of Sciences Lynchburg College

Experience/Background

I have been on the faculty here since 2003. Prior to my appointment at Lynchburg, I had visiting assitant professorships at Mount Holyoke College, the University of Richmond, and Allegheny College. Prior to beginning my teaching career I did a post-doctoral fellowship with Dr. Charles Clevenger at the University of Pennsylvania on molecular signal transduction pathways associated with Vav1 in prolactin signaling and breast cancer, and a post doctoral fellowship at the Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation on in vitro characterization of IL-1 signaling in EL-4 thymoma cells as a model system, under the direction of Dr. Kristin Linner.  My doctoral research investigated neuroimmunomodulatory mechanisms of morphine induced immunosuppression in the female B6C3F1 mouse.

 

Degrees and Certifications

• B.S. in Biology
  1988
  University of Richmond

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology & Toxicology
  1993
  Medical College of Virginia /Virginia Commonwealth University

 

Professional Interests/Research

My research interests include immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology studies of the mechanisms of opiate induced immunosuppresion, and current areas of investigation include immunomodulation by Echinacea purpurea in mouse and tissue culture models, immunomodulatory properties of melatonin, and caffeine, the development of model systems for studying oral biofilms from feline and canine samples, and molecular characterization and sequencing of aquatic bacteria.

 

 

Information on Courses Taught

 

The courses that I teach are:

• Organisms, Ecology, and Evolution

• Cells: Genetic and Molecular Perspectives

• Immunology

• Microbiology

• Honors Colloquia - Biology Through Biography

• Introduction to Women's Studies (beginning Spring 2007)

The course work also includes student and instructor-based research (BIOL 240, BIOL 440, BIOM421).

 

Personal Info/Interests

I am married and my wife (Dr. Judith Muir) currently teaches Pharmacy. Judi's area of specialty is physiology and the involvment of glial cells in neurotrauma.  We are both avid baseball fans, and can be regularly seen at Hillcats games, and other minor league venues throughout Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.  When not involved in science or baseball we spend time bicycling, or with our two cats.

 

You may contact me at (434) 544-8083 or E-mail: freier@lynchburg.edu