Daniel T. Franc

Year Entered: 2003

Degrees Received: 
B.A., Global Studies in International Health, University of Iowa, 1997

Honors Received:
NIH Predoctoral Training Grant in Neuro-Computational Methods, 2006-2007

Thesis Advisor: Kelvin Lim, M.D., Neuroscience Graduate Program

Thesis Research: The development of magnetic resonance imaging approaches to investigatestructural aspects of white matter allows for research into diseases inwhich disruption of regional connectivity is thought to play a role, as in schizophrenia. My current work is in developing and using MRI protocols and analysis methods to look at white matter integrity in a number of psychiatric populations and to relate these findings to neuropsychological testing that additionally reflect brain connectivity. Future work will include the investigation of white matter integrity in animal models of psychiatric disease using additional modalities. 

Publications:

Kodl CT, Franc DT, Rao JP, Anderson FS, Thomas W, Mueller BA, Lim KO, Seaquist ER. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) identifies deficits in white matter microstructure in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus that correlate with reduced neurocognitive function. Diabetes. 2008 [Epub ahead of print]

Lim KO, Wozniak JR, Mueller BA, Franc DT, Specker SM, Rodriguez CP, Silverman AB, Rotrosen JP. Brain macrostructural and microstructural abnormalities in cocaine dependence. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2008;92:164-172.

Publications prior to entering program:

Chipps TJ, Streeter PR, Franc DT, Neumeyer K, Planck SR, Rosenbaum JT, Smith JR. Modification of the Woodruff-Stamper assay demonstrates binding of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites to retinal vascular endothelium. J Immunol Methods. 2006;312:209-213.

Smith JR, Franc DT, Carter NS, Zamora D, Planck SR, Rosenbaum JT. Susceptibility of retinal vascular endothelium to infection with Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2004;45:1157-1161. PMID: 15037582

Smith JR, Subbarao K, Franc DT, Haribabu B, Rosenbaum JT. Susceptibility to endotoxin induced uveitis is not reduced in mice deficient in BLT1, the high affinity leukotriene B4 receptor. Br J Ophthalmol. 2004;88:273-275. PMID: 14736790