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The Engelstad Research Complex for Biomedical & Human Performance Research

The Engelstad Research Complex is committed to serving humanity and contributing to intellectual progress through insightful scientific research at Touro Nevada.

Two researchers in white coats performing tests in a lab.

Touro Nevada takes a proactive goal in promoting health and wellness in our community. As part of our institutional mission, we strive to use research to advance health and human services. We collaborate with national and international research institutions and award grants and fellowships to foster faculty and student research.

Research Department

Featured Research

DNA Strand

Groundbreaking Discovery May Lead to New Treatments for AIDS

Learn More About This Cutting-Edge Touro Research

More From Groundbreaking Discovery May Lead to New Treatments for AIDS
Microscopic image of blue cells

Horizontal Transfer of Malignant Traits & Extracellular Vesicles in Metastasis

Read the research team's full article.

More From Horizontal Transfer of Malignant Traits & Extracellular Vesicles in Metastasis
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For Researchers

Find the guidance, training, and tools to successfully conduct your research project from start to finish, and share your work with the community!

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Selected Publications

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  • Santos, MF. Rappa, G. Karbanová, DP. Cirrincione, G. Carbone, D. Manna, D. Aalam, F. Wang, D. Vanier, C. Corbeil, D. Lorico, A. HIV-1-induced nuclear invaginations mediated by VAP-A, ORP3, and Rab7 complex explain infection of activated T cells: A novel targetable pathway. Nature Comm. 2023. 14:4588. IMPACT FACTOR=16.6. Altmetric Index 616 - 99th percentile (ranked 436th) of the 204,742 tracked articles of a similar age in all journals.
  • Karbanová, J. Deniz, IA. Wilsch-Bräuninger, M. de Sousa Couto, RA. Fargeas, CA. Santos, MF. Lorico, A (co-senior author). Corbeil, D. Extracellular lipidosomes containing lipid droplets and mitochondria are released during melanoma cell division. Cell Commun Signal. 2024 Jan 19; 22(1):57. PMID: 38243233.
  • Singh, RK. Santos, MF. Herndon, C. Gieler, BA. Lee, I. Chen, J. Lorico, A. Detection by super-resolution microscopy of viral proteins inside bloodborne extracellular vesicles.  Extracell. Vesicles. Circ. Nucleic. Acids. 2023, 4, 557-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/evcna.2023.46
  • Arena, GO. Forte, S. Abdouh, M. Vanier, C. Corbeil, D. Lorico, A. Horizontal transfer of malignant traits and the involvement of extracellular vesicles in metastasis. Cells 2023 Jun 6;12(12):1566. PMID: 37371036.
  • Santos, MF. Rappa, G. Fontana, S. Karbanová, J. Aalam, F. Tai, D. Li, Z. Pucci, M. Alessandro, R. Morimoto, C. Corbeil, D. Lorico, A. Anti-Human CD9 Fab fragment antibody blocks the extracellular vesicle-mediated increase in malignancy of colon cancer cells. Cells 2022 11:2474.
  • Puglisi, C. Giuffrida, R. Borzì, G. Illari, S. Caronia, F P. Di Mattia, P. Colarossi, C. Ferini, G. Martorana, E. Sette, G. Eramo, A. Lorico, A. Di Grazia, A. Forte, S.
    Ex-vivo irradiation of lung cancer stem cells identifies the lowest therapeutic dose needed for tumor growth arrest and mass reduction in vivo. Frontiers in Onc. 2022 12:837400.
  • Santos, M.F., Rappa, G. Karbanová, J. Fontana, S. Di Bella, MA. Pope, MR. Parrino, B.  Cascioferro, SM. Vistoli, G. Diana, P. Cirrincione, G. Arena, GO. Woo, G. Huang, K. Huynh, T. Moschetti, M. Alessandro, R. Corbeil, D. Lorico, A. Itraconazole inhibits nuclear delivery of extracellular vesicle cargo by disrupting the entry of late endosomes into the nucleoplasmic reticulum. J. Extracell. Ves. 2021 10:e12132. IMPACT FACTOR = 25.8.
  • Fargeas, CA. Lorico, A., Corbeil, D. Commentary: “Could We Address the Interplay Between CD133, Wnt/β-Catenin, and TERT Signaling Pathways as a Potential Target for Glioblastoma Therapy?” Frontiers in Onc. 2021 11:712358. IMPACT FACTOR = 5.7
  • Lorico, A. Rappa, M. Karbanová, J. Corbeil, D. Pizzorno, G. CD9, a tetraspanin target for cancer therapy? Exp Biol Med. 2021 246(9):1121-1138. IMPACT FACTOR = 3.1.
  • Funk, RS. Singh, RK. Becker, ML. Metabolomic Profiling to Identify Molecular Biomarkers of Cellular Response to Methotrexate In Vitro. Clin Transl Sci. 2020 Jan;13(1):137-146.
  • Singh, RK. van Handel, L. Kiptoo, P. Becker, ML. Siahaan, TJ. Funk, RS. Methotrexate disposition, anti-folate activity, and efficacy in the collagen-induced arthritis mouse model. Eur J Pharmacol. 2019 Apr 2; 853:264-274.
  • Singh, RK. van Handel, L. Herath, DP. Ye, SQ. Leeder, JS. Becker, ML. Funk, RS. Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Deficiency Potentiates the Anti-proliferative Activity of Methotrexate through Enhanced Depletion of Intracellular ATP. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2018 Apr;365(1):96- 106

Research Interests

Research by faculty and students is encouraged in all the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of Health and Human Services programs.  

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Basic Sciences

The Department of Basic Sciences encourages faculty research, providing each faculty member with dedicated time and space for research, as well as funding for supplies, technical assistance, and encouragement for both intramural and extramural collaboration. 

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Human Performance Laboratory

The Human Performance Laboratory is a collaborative space where students from across the university have the opportunity to work closely with faculty on cutting-edge research in areas such as obesity, medical device development and pharmaceutical trials.

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Physician Assistant Studies

Students and faculty in the PA program have multiple research investigations currently underway including patient-provider communication among different cultures, impact of wilderness experience on health indicators, intention to provide healthcare to the homeless and its determinants, and public perception of physician assistants as healthcare providers.

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Occupational Therapy

Through research, faculty members expand their knowledge related to occupational performance across the lifespan while addressing our curricular themes of occupation-based, evidence-based, social justice, and leadership. 

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Physical Therapy

Faculty and students in the School of Physical Therapy conduct studies that improve our knowledge and understanding of human movement and control, physical function, and disability across the lifespan. They perform research at a variety of locations and routinely present their findings at peer-reviewed state, national, and international conferences.

Our Partners

Our partners in research include any local or out-of-state institutions that are involved in scientific, clinical, or community-based research. Here are some of the partners that are collaborating for a better tomorrow.

US Partners

Des Moines University

George Mason University

Johns Hopkins University

Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health

Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute

Roseman University

The Valley Health System

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harlem, NY Campus

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Middletown, NY Campus

University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV)

University of Tennessee College of Medicine

University of Washington

International Partners

European Institute of Oncology

Juntendo University

McGill University

Mediterranean Institute of Oncology

Technical University of Dresden

University of Milan

University of Palermo

Contact Us

Laura Yavitz, PhD

Vice Provost & Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness
lyavitz@touro.edu
(702) 777-9181

Lori Suleski

Administrative Assistant
lsuleski@touro.edu
(702) 777-1810