Department of Biology

ame:	Mary A. Farwell
Title:	Undergraduate Coordinator Associate Professor
Area of Study:	Biochemistry
Phone:	252-328-4810
E-mail:	farwellm@ecu.edu
Office:	BN-307A

Mary Farwell

Research Program

My major area of research emphasis is gene regulation in cancer cells. In collaboration with Dr. Brett Keiper, BSOM, we are using siRNA to change the expression of isoforms of translation initiation factors. We hypothesize that specific isoforms of eIF4G are used in highly proliferative cells, such as cancer cells, and by individual knockdown of these isoforms, we can affect the proliferation of these cells or the susceptibility of these cells to apoptotic inducers such as chemotherapeutic drugs.

Additionally, I have an interest in the use of technology in education. In collaboration with Dr. Tabrizi, College of Technology and Computer Science, I testing the effects of virtual reality software on learning outcomes in students.

Courses Taught

BIOL 2100, 2101. Basic Laboratory Methods for Biotechnology.

BIOL 4230 Concepts in Cell Biology

BIOL 5810 Principles of Biochemistry II

Recent Publications

Amber R. Blackwell, Mary A. Farwell and Brett D. Keiper, "siRNA knockdown of eIF4G isoforms sensitizes MCF7 cells to chemotherapeutic drugs", in preparation for BMC Cancer.

Jacquelyn M. Long, Charles W. Bell, W. Samuel Fagg IV, Mary E. Kushman, Kevin G. Becker, James A. McCubrey and Mary A. Farwell (2008) Microarray and pathway analysis reveals decreased CDC25A and increased CDC42 associated with slow growth of BCL2 overexpressing immortalized breast cell line, Cell Cycle 7:19; 3062-73.

Baohong Zhang and Mary A. Farwell (2008) microRNAs: a new emerging class of players for disease diagnostics and gene therapy, J. Cell Mol Med 12; 3-21.

Elizabeth M. Hodge, M.H.N. Tabrizi, Mary A. Farwell and Karl L. Wuensch (2008) Virtual Reality Classrooms: Strategies for Creating a Social Presence, International Journal of the Social Sciences Special Edition:Virtual Reality in Distance Education 2, 105-109.

Rippei Hayashia, Takuya Ueda, Mary A. Farwell and Nono Takeuchi (2007) Nuclear respiratory factor 2 activates transcription of human mitochondrial translation initiation factor 2 gene Mitochondrion 7, 195-203.

Deborah Booth, Rudy Sirochman, David C. Richardson, Jane S. Richardson, Steven W. Weiner, Mary Farwell, Cindy Putnam-Evans, and Robert C. Bateman Jr. (2005) Assessment of Molecular Construction in Undergraduate Biochemistry Journal of Chemical Education 82, 1854