David O. Freier, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences
Experience/Background
Prior to coming to Lynchburg College in the fall of 2003, I was an adjunct faculty at Middlesex County College, N.J., and a visiting faculty member at Allegheny College, the University of Richmond, and Mount Holyoke College, all in the department of biology. My doctorate is in pharmacology and toxicology, and my research interests span a broad range of areas including immunopharmacology, environmental toxicology, oral flora microbiology, psychoneuroimmunology, and three-generation families in professional baseball. Between earning my doctorate and beginning my academic career, I had two post-doctoral fellowships, first at the Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation where I explored signal transduction pathways associated with IL-1 signaling, and second at the University of Pennsylvania examining signal cascades connected to the signal component Vav in breast cancer work. To me a good research program examines a question or problem at four levels; whole organism, cellular, molecular, and genomic.
Degrees and Certifications
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B.S., Biology, University of Richmond, 1988
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Ph.D, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, 1993
Teaching areas
- Introductory Biology
- Cellular Diversity
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Professional interests/Research
Following my thesis on the immunosuppressive effects of opiates, I have examined IL-1 signal transduction in EL-4 thymoma cells and investigated the signaling connections of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Vav (now Vav 1) in prolactin receptor signaling. My current projects include, but are not limited to the following: understanding the immunomodulatory effects of the herbal remedy Echinacea purpurea, exploring and identifying novel microbial species present in feline oral flora, and examining functional and mechanistic immunotoxicity of the pesticide lindane (gamma hexachlorocyclohexane). Outside of the sciences I am interested in the cultural history of baseball, specifically aspects of three-generation families in professional baseball from the 1940s through the present.
Selected examples of my work (asterisks indicate undergraduate contributors):
- *Smith, Meredith, *A. Meyer, D. Yeager, V. Fuzaylova and D.O. Freier. 2009. Isolation and Identification of Possible Streptococcus and NeisseriaSpecies from Feline Oral Microflora. American Society for Microbiology, Philadelphia, PA.
- Freier, D.O. editor. 2009. Shaping the Environment: Science, Technology. and Society. Volume VIII of the Lynchburg College Symposium Readings series 3rd Edition. Philadelphia, Xlibris.
- *Patel, Tanha, *A. Crouch, *K. Dowless and D.O. Freier. 2008. Acute Effects of Oral Administration of a Glycerol Extract of Echinacea purpurea on Peritoneal Exudate Cells in Female Swiss Mice. Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society, Madison, WI.
- *Kennedy, Shannon and D.O. Freier. 2008. Modulation of RAW 264.7 Murine Macrophage Responses to Lipopolysaccharide by Larch Arabinogalactan. Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society, Madison, WI.
- *Polite, B., *Fulcher, L., Muir, J.K. and Freier, D.O. 2005. In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of a Glycerol Extract of Echinacea purpureaon Nitric Oxide Production in Macrophages. American College of Toxicology, Williamsburg, VA.
- Freier, D.O., *Wright, K., *Klein, K., *Voll, D., *Dabiri, K., *Cosulich, K. and *George, R. 2003. Enhancement of the Humoral Immune Response by Echinacea purpurea in Female Swiss Mice. Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology 25(4): 551-560.
- *Nespoli, L. and D. Freier. 2002. The Effect of Aroclor 1254 on the Thyroxine Levels and Behavioral Development of Rattus norvegicus Pups. Toxicological Sciences 66(1-S): 32. Society of Toxicology, Nashville, TN.
- Clevenger, C.V., Freier, D.O., and Klein J.B. 1998. Prolactin Receptor Signal Transduction in Cells of the Immune System. Journal of Endocrinology 157(2): 187-197.
- Freier, D.O., and Fuchs, B.A. 1994. Mechanisms of Morphine Induced Suppression of Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity, Journal of Pharmacology and Exerimental Therapeutics 270(3): 1127-1133.
Professional Associations and Affiliations
- Society of Toxicology
- American Society for Microbiology (National and Virginia Chapter Member/ ASM)
- Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society (PNIRS)
- Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)
- Inflammation Research Association
- National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT)
- Society for American Baseball Research (SABR)
You may contact me at 434.544.8083 or email: freier@lynchburg.edu
