Anna Marie Corkill
About Me
Hello, I'm Anna Marie (Buchanan) Corkill. I’m an energetic researcher with a diverse background in neuroscience, analytical chemistry, and biomedical research. My journey in the world of science has largely been driven by my curious mind, the joy I find working with others, and a passion for approaching complex problems in novel ways.
With a foundation in analytical chemistry, I have honed a quantitative and analytical skillset, which I firmly lean on in approaching, directing, and navigating problems. My passion for collaboration ultimately led me to pursue a PhD in Integrated Biomedical Science, where I concentrated in Neuroscience. My journey as a graduate student was an invaluable opportunity to not only dive into the field of neuroscience, but develop soft-skills working with others, leading teams of researchers, and managing research projects end-to-end.
Throughout my career, I have had the good fortune of working with incredibly talented peers, collaborating with brilliant minds, and managing projects from conception to publication. Ultimately, what I consider to be my greatest asset as a researcher is a function of these opportunities: an ability to align disparate groups on a broader goal, an open-mindedness to approach research problems in unique ways, and a passion for enabling others while contributing to a team greater than the sum of its parts.
Thank you for visiting my site - please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or reach out through the Contact Me section of the site.
Previous Work
Serotonin as a Biomarker of Toxin-Induced Parkinsonism
Anna Marie Buchanan, Sergio Mena, Iman Choukari, Aditya Vasa, Jesseca N. Crawford, Jim Fadel, Nick Maxwell, Lawrence Reagan, Allie Cruikshank, Janet Best, H. Fred Nijhout, Michael Reed, Parastoo Hashemi.
Keywords: FSCV; CFM; Depression; Parkinson's Disease; Dopamine; Serotonin.
Experimental Methods for Investigating Uptake 2 Processes In Vivo
Buchanan, A.M., Parke, B., and Hashemi, P.
Keywords: Electrochemistry; In vivo; Methods; Neurochemistry; Uptake 2.
DAT and TH expression marks human Parkinson’s disease in peripheral immune cells
Adithya Gopinath, Phillip Mackie, Basil Hashimi, Anna Marie Buchanan, Aidan R. Smith, Rachel Bouchard, Gerry Shaw, Martin Badov, Leila Saadatpour, Aryn Gittis, Adolfo Ramirez-Zamora, Michael S. Okun, Wolfgang J. Streit, Parastoo Hashemi & Habibeh Khoshbouei
Keywords: Diagnostic Markers; Neuroimmunology; Parkinson's Disease.
Mathematical Models of Serotonin, Histamine, and Depression
Janet Best, Anna Marie Buchanan, Herman Frederik Nijhout, Parastoo Hashemi and Michael C. Reed
Keywords: Serotonin; Histamine; Depression; Mathmatical Model
A tale of two transmitters: serotonin and histamine as in vivo biomarkers of chronic stress in mice
Melinda Hersey, Melissa Reneaux, Shane N Berger, Sergio Mena, Anna Marie Buchanan, Yangguang Ou, Navid Tavakoli, Lawrence P Reagan, Claudia Clopath, Parastoo Hashemi
Keywords: Biomarkers; Depression; Histamine; Inflammation; Serotonin; Stress.
Frontiers in electrochemical sensors for neurotransmitter detection: towards measuring neurotransmitters as chemical diagnostics for brain disorders
Yangguang Ou, Anna Marie Buchanan, Colby E. Witt, and Parastoo Hashemi*
Keywords: Voltammetry; Biosensors; Neurotransmission; Serotonin; Glutamate.
Bile acids modulate reinstatement of cocaine conditioned place preference and accumbal dopamine dynamics without compromising appetitive learning.
Daniele Zanella, Nicholas K Smith, J Andrew Hardaway, Anna Marie Buchanan, Clarence H Mullins, Aurelio Galli, Angela M Carter
Keywords: CNS Stimulants; Dopamine; Bile Acids and Salts; Conditioning; Pharmacology.
For a Compresensive List of my Previous Work, Please See my CV or Visit my Orcid Page (ID 000-003-4933-5170)
Poster Presentations
2018
Buchanan, A.M.; Hashemi P. “In Vivo Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry Analysis of
Serotonergic Dysfunction in a Model of Parkinson’s Disease,” Monitoring Molecules in
Neuroscience, Oxford, UK
2018
Buchanan, A.M.; Hashemi, P. “In Vivo Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry Analysis of
Serotonin in a Neurodegenerative Disease Model,” Pittsburgh Conference and Expo,
Orlando, FL
2018
Buchanan, A.M.; Hashemi, P. “In Vivo Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry Analysis of
Serotonin in a Neurodegenerative Disease Model,” Discover USC, University of South
Carolina, SC
2019
Buchanan, A.M.; Hashemi P. “In Vivo Voltammetric Analysis of Copper (II),” Discover
USC, University of South Carolina, SC
Oral Presentations
2021
Buchanan, A.M.; Hashemi P. “Monoaminergic Dynamics in a Toxin-induced Model of
Parkinson's Disease in Mice” Pittsburgh Conference and Expo, New Orleans, LA
(virtual)
2020
Buchanan, A.M.; Hashemi P. “In Vivo Fast-scan Cyclic Voltammetry Analysis of
Serotonin in a Neurodegeneration Model” Pittsburgh Conference and Expo, Chicago, IL
2019
Buchanan, A.M.; Hashemi P. “Voltammetric Detection of Copper In Vivo,” Pittsburgh
Conference and Expo, Philadelphia, PA
Contact Me
Please feel welcome to connect with me on LinkedIn or reach out on any of these platforms.
CVExperimental Methods for Investigating Uptake 2 Processes In Vivo
Abstract: Neuromodulators are critical regulators of the brain's signaling processes, and thus they are popular pharmacological targets for psychoactive therapies. It is clear that monoamine uptake mechanisms are complicated and subject to multiple uptake mechanisms. Uptake 1 describes uptake of the monoamine via its designated transporter (SERT for serotonin, NET for norepinephrine, and DAT for dopamine), whereas Uptake 2 details multiple transporter types on neurons and glia taking up different types of modulators, not necessarily specific to the monoamine. While Uptake 1 processes have been well-studied over the past few decades, Uptake 2 mechanisms have remained more difficult to study because of the limitations in methods that have the sensitivity and spatiotemporal resolution to look at the subtleties in uptake profiles. In this chapter we review the different experimental approaches that have yielded important information about Uptake 2 mechanisms in vivo. The techniques (scintillation microspectrophotometry, microdialysis, chronoamperometry, and voltammetry) are described in detail, and pivotal studies associated with each method are highlighted. It is clear from these reviewed works that Uptake 2 processes are critical to consider to advance our understanding of the brain and develop effective neuropsychiatric therapies.
Full Paper Can be Found Here.
Mathematical Models of Serotonin, Histamine, and Depression
Abstract: The coauthors have been working together for ten years on serotonin, dopamine, and histamine and their connection to neuropsychiatric illnesses. Hashemi has pioneered many new experimental techniques for measuring serotonin and histamine in real time in the extracellular space in the brain. Best, Reed, and Nijhout have been making mathematical models of brain metabolism to help them interpret Hashemi’s data. Hashemi demonstrated that brain histamine inhibits serotonin release, giving a direct mechanism by which inflammation can cause a decrease in brain serotonin and therefore depression. Many new biological phenomena have come out of their joint research including 1) there are two different reuptake mechanisms for serotonin; 2) the effect of the serotonin autoreceptors is not instantaneous and is long-lasting even when the extracellular concentrations have returned to normal; 3) that mathematical models of serotonin metabolism and histamine metabolism can explain Hashemi’s experimental data; 4) that variation in serotonin autoreceptors may be one of the causes of serotonin-linked mood disorders. Here we review our work in recent years for biological audiences, medical audiences, and researchers who work on mathematical modeling of biological problems. We discuss the experimental techniques, the creation and investigation of mathematical models, and the consequences for neuropsychiatric diseases.
Full Paper Can be Found Here.
Frontiers in electrochemical sensors for neurotransmitter detection: towards measuring neurotransmitters as chemical diagnostics for brain disorders
Abstract: It is extremely challenging to chemically diagnose disorders of the brain. There is hence great interest in designing and optimizing tools for direct detection of chemical biomarkers implicated in neurological disorders to improve diagnosis and treatment. Tools that are capable of monitoring brain chemicals, neurotransmitters in particular, need to be biocompatible, perform with high spatiotemporal resolution, and ensure high selectivity and sensitivity. Recent advances in electrochemical methods are addressing these criteria; the resulting devices demonstrate great promise for in vivo neurotransmitter detection. None of these devices are currently used for diagnostic purposes, however these cutting-edge technologies are promising more sensitive, selective, faster, and less invasive measurements. Via this review we highlight significant technical advances and in vivo studies, performed in the last 5 years, that we believe will facilitate the development of diagnostic tools for brain disorders.
Full Paper Can be Found Here.
A tale of two transmitters: serotonin and histamine as in vivo biomarkers of chronic stress in mice
Abstract: Stress-induced mental illnesses (mediated by neuroinfammation) pose one of the world’s most urgent public health challenges. A reliable in vivo chemical biomarker of stress would signifcantly improve the clinical communities’ diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to illnesses, such as depression.
Full Paper Can be Found Here.
Bile acids modulate reinstatement of cocaine conditioned place preference and accumbal dopamine dynamics without compromising appetitive learning.
Abstract: Psychostimulants target the dopamine transporter (DAT) to elicit their psychomotor actions. Bile acids (BAs) can also bind to DAT and reduce behavioral responses to cocaine, suggesting a potential therapeutic application of BAs in psychostimulant use disorder. Here, we investigate the potential of BAs to decrease drug-primed reinstatement when administered during an abstinence phase. To do this, after successful development of cocaine-associated contextual place preference (cocaine CPP), cocaine administration was terminated, and animals treated with vehicle or obeticholic acid (OCA). When preference for the cocaine-associated context was extinguished, mice were challenged with a single priming dose of cocaine, and reinstatement of cocaine-associated contextual preference was measured. Animals treated with OCA demonstrate a signifcantly lower reinstatement for cocaine CPP. OCA also impairs the ability of cocaine to reduce the clearance rate of electrically stimulated dopamine release and diminishes the area under the curve (AUC) observed with amperometry. Furthermore, the AUC of the amperometric signal positively correlates with the reinstatement index. Using operant feeding devices, we demonstrate that OCA has no efect on contextual learning or motivation for natural rewards. These data highlight OCA as a potential therapeutic for cocaine use disorder.
Full Paper Can be Found Here.
DAT and TH expression marks human Parkinson’s disease in peripheral immune cells
Abstract: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is marked by a loss of dopamine neurons, decreased dopamine transporter (DAT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression. However, this validation approach cannot be used for diagnostic, drug effectiveness or investigational purposes in human patients because midbrain tissue is accessible postmortem. PD pathology affects both the central nervous and peripheral immune systems. Therefore, we immunophenotyped blood samples of PD patients for the presence of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and discovered that DAT+/TH+ monocytic MDSCs, but not granulocytic MDSCs are increased, suggesting a targeted immune response to PD. Because in peripheral immune cells DAT activity underlies an immune suppressive mechanism, we investigated whether expression levels of DAT and TH in the peripheral immune cells marks PD. We found drug naïve PD patients exhibit differential DAT+/TH+ expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) compared to aged/sex matched healthy subjects. While total PBMCs are not different between the groups, the percentage of DAT+/TH+ PBMCs was significantly higher in drug naïve PD patients compared to healthy controls irrespective of age, gender, disease duration, disease severity or treatment type. Importantly, treatment for PD negatively modulates DAT+/TH+ expressing PBMCs. Neither total nor the percentage of DAT+/TH+ PBMCs were altered in the Alzheimer’s disease cohort. The mechanistic underpinning of this discovery in human PD was revealed when these findings were recapitulated in animal models of PD. The reverse translational experimental strategy revealed that alterations in dopaminergic markers in peripheral immune cells are due to the disease associated changes in the CNS. Our study demonstrates that the dopaminergic machinery on peripheral immune cells displays an association with human PD, with exciting implications in facilitating diagnosis and investigation of human PD pathophysiology.
Full Paper Can be Found Here.
Serotonin as a Biomarker of Toxin-Induced Parkinsonism
Abstract: Loss of dopaminergic neurons underlies the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However stereotypical PD symptoms only manifest after approximately 80% of dopamine neurons have died making dopamine-related motor phenotypes unreliable markers of the earlier stages of the disease. There are other non-motor symptoms, such as depression, that may present decades before motor symptoms.
This publication has been accepted and is currently under final edits.
Tennis
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Basketball
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Soccer
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Piano
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Painting
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Skiing
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