Division of anatomy

Student - Colleen Moran

Colleen Moran is a PhD student in the anatomy department at Loma Linda University.
After completing a bachelor of science in athletic training at California Lutheran University, I went on to receive a master of science in physical therapy at University of California at San Francisco. I worked as a physical therapist in Santa Barbara before entering the PhD program at Loma Linda University.

My first year of course work included Neuroscience, Gross Anatomy, Human Embryology, Cell Tissue and Organ Biology. During the summer term, I took the Laboratory in Gene Transfer and Gene Expression. I performed techniques including Polymerase Chain Reaction, Northern Blotting, Western Blotting, and utilized different approaches for cellular transformation and transfection. This year, I am taking Biochemistry, Molecular Biology of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes, Cellular Structural Elements, Signal Transduction/Regulation, Research, and Integrative Biology Seminar.

During the summer term, I wrote a grant proposal for my research project: "The Effects of Neurotrophic Factors on Osteoblast Proliferation and Differentiation." Possible clinical applications of this research may include osteoporosis, bone growth, and fracture healing,

In my 'spare time,' I am training for a marathon with the Leukemia Society Team in Training.
My future plans include a combination of clinical physical therapy, teaching, and research.