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Opp, Mark

Professor

Positions

Research Areas research areas

Research

research overview

  • Dr. Opp directs a research program funded by the National Institutes of Health to answer questions related to sleep-immune interactions. Epidemiologic studies consistently reveal strong associations between chronic insufficient sleep and inflammatory disease. Inflammatory diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and stroke, and others incur tremendous cost in terms of lives lost and burden to healthcare systems. Yet, mechanisms by which chronic insufficient sleep induces, or contributes to, inflammation are not well known. Dr. Opp’s research program aims to elucidate mechanism underlying links between sleep disruption and inflammation. Within this context, specific projects focus on sleep and the inflammatory conditions of Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury, musculoskeletal pain and aging.

keywords

  • Neuroimmunology

Teaching

courses taught

  • IPHY 1040 - Medical Professional Speaker Series
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2023
    Fall semester only, meets one time per week. For students enrolled in Health Professions Residential Academic Program (HPRAP). Introduction to careers by working professionals from a variety of medical fields.
  • IPHY 2010 - Seminar in Integrative Physiology
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022 / Fall 2022
    Introduces a small group of lower-division students to current research topics in integrative physiology. Emphasizes relevant applications to real-world situations. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours when topics vary.
  • IPHY 4580 - Sleep Physiology
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2022 / Fall 2023
    Describes the physiology, neurobiology, and functions of sleep and circadian rhythms; explains the impact of sleep and circadian rhythms, as well as sleep and circadian disruptions and disorders on immune, endocrine, thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, respiratory, and neural systems; examines changes in sleep and circadian rhythms across the life span. The integrative nature of sleep and circadian rhythms in normal physiological and cognitive functions and their importance in health and disease processes will be emphasized. All registration restrictions will be strictly enforced by the department. Recommended prerequisites: Statistics course (IPHY 3280 or EBIO 1010 or MATH 2510 or PSYC 2111 or SOCY 2061). Same as IPHY 5580.
  • IPHY 4870 - Honors Thesis
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2024
    An opportunity for students enrolled in the IPHY Honors program to earn academic credit for working on their thesis. Twenty-five hours of work is required for each hour of academic credit given. Consult for faculty mentor for approval. Recommended prerequisites: IPHY 3700; and IPHY 4850 (taken concurrently).
  • IPHY 4930 - Internship
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2019
    Offers upper-division students practical experience in laboratory, clinical, and field settings with direct supervision Students can earn 1 credit for every 45 hours of intern work. Consult with departmental internship coordinator for approval. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Department enforced prerequisite: Cumulative GPA of 2.0 and completion of two upper-division IPHY courses.
  • IPHY 5100 - Colloquium in Integrative Physiology
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021
    May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
  • IPHY 6010 - Seminar
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022
    Presents special topics in integrative physiology. May be repeated up to 15 total credits.
  • IPHY 6840 - Research Project
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2020
    Involves a scholarly investigation of a selected topic using literature and/or experimental techniques. Advisor required. May be repeated up to 3 total credit hours.

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