Research
Research Areas in the Biomedical Sciences Department
Learn about our current research areas:
- Neuroscience
- Hearing and Hearing Loss
- Cancer Biology
- Molecular Structure and Function of Peptides
- Undergraduate Research
Neuroscience
Neuroanatomy, Neurobiology, Neurophysiology
- David He: Auditory neurobiology and neurophysiology
- Peter Steyger: Auditory neurobiology and neurophysiology
- Garrett Soukup: Role of MicroRNAs in neurosensory systems

Hearing and Hearing Loss
- David He: Cochlear sensory hair cells, outer hair cell motility, age-related hearing loss
- Ken Kramer: Role of cilia linkages to extracellular structures in inner ear function
- Garrett Soukup: MicroRNAs in development and maintenance of sensory hair cells and neurons
- Peter Steyger: Mechanisms of aminoglycoside antibiotics-induced hearing loss
- Litao Tao: Epigenetic regulation of gene transcription in the cochlea
- Marisa Zallocchi: Understanding the relationship between integrins and Usher proteins during inner ear development

Cancer Biology
- Laura Hansen: Prevention and treatment of skin cancer
- Brian North: Molecular mechanisms of cancer, aging and age-related diseases
- Jun Xia: Endogenous and environmental DNA damage and mutagenesis, cancer genomics, and lung cancer risk gene function
Molecular Structure and Function of Peptides
- Sandor Lovas: Peptide chemistry, structural bioinformatics and proteomics, biophysical chemistry
- David Smith: Calcitonin-gene related peptide

Undergraduate Research
Faculty members in the Department of Biomedical Science routinely work with undergraduate students in their laboratories. Undergraduate students may work on a volunteer basis, for Directed Independent Research credit (BMS 497), or to fulfill Honors Program or Department of Chemistry research requirements (HRS 497 or CHM 297/498) with appropriate program approval.
Lauren Barbush, undergraduate mentee of Dr. Marisa Zallocchi, placed 3rd at the Big East Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium on March 12, 2022 in Madison Square Garden for her project titled, “Investigating the Therapeutic Potential of Piperlongumine Derivatives for Noise-induced Hearing Loss.”
Contact Us
Biomedical Sciences – MS & PhD Programs
Garrett Soukup
PhD Professor of Biomedical Sciences
garrettsoukup@creighton.edu
402.280.5754
Senior Program Coordinator
Sabina Coffiel
SabinaCoffiel@creighton.edu
402.280.3356