B.S., Chemistry, Mississippi College, 1970 Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin, 1976  
 
About:
Research in the Ferrell laboratory investigates the role of genes in determining susceptibility to common and mendelian diseases. Currently, we are searching for genes that are involved in lymphedema, edema of the limbs due to maldevelopment of malfunction of the lymphatic system. These studies use both linkage and candidate gene approaches in families with lymphedema (primary lymphedema) and women who are affected with secondary lymphedema following breast cancer treatment. The Adult Health and Behavior study examines a number of behaviors which have been associated with heart disease in the normal population of Pittsburgh.
 
Research Interests:
Gene mapping; genetics of common disease including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer; human population genetics and evolution
The AVPR1A Gene and Substance Use Disorders: Association, Replication, and Functional Evidence. Brion S Maher, Vladimir I Vladimirov, Shawn J Latendresse, Dawn L Thiselton, Rebecca McNamee, Moonsu Kang, Tim B Bigdeli, Xiangning Chen, Brien P Riley, John M Hettema, Howard Chilcoat, Christian Heidbreder, Pierandrea Muglia, E Lenn Murrelle, Danielle M Dick, Fazil Aliev, Arpana Agrawal, Howard J Edenberg, John Kramer, John Nurnberger, Jay A Tischfield, Bernie Devlin, Robert E Ferrell, Galina P Kirillova, Ralph E Tarter, Kenneth S Kendler, Michael M Vanyukov Biological psychiatry 2011 Apr