23106-Block, Michelle
Faculty

Michelle L. Block, PhD

Paul Stark Professor of Pharmacology

Phone 317-274-7810
Address
NB 214D
320 West 15th Street

Indianapolis, IN 46202
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Bio

Dr. Block graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in 1994, received her Ph.D. in Genetics from Penn State University in 2002, and completed her postdoctoral work at NIEHS/NIH in 2007.  Dr. Block is the recipient of the NIEHS/NIH Outstanding New Environmental Scientist award and is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the Indiana University School of Medicine.   Her research team focuses on identifying environmental and endogenous disease triggers that initiate deleterious activation of the brain’s innate immune cells (microglia), revealing the redox mechanisms through which microglia cause neuron damage, and applying these findings towards halting chronic neuropathology in neurodegenerative diseases and neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzhiemer’s disease, and Gulf War Illness. 

SPECIAL AWARDS & HONORS:
2009 - Present Outstanding New Environmental Scientist (ONES) Award NIEHS/NIH
2007 - 2010 Pathway to Independence Award, NIH
2007 Fellow's Award for Research Excellence (FARE), NIH
2006 Presidents Award for Postdoctoral Research, North Carolina Society of Toxicology
2006 Fellow's Award for Research Excellence (FARE), NIH
2005 Presidents Award for Postdoctoral Research, North Carolina Society of Toxicology
2005 Fellow's Award for Research Excellence (FARE), NIH
2005 Young Investigator Award, The Winter Neuropeptide Conference, Breckenridge, CO
2005 Best Poster Presentation Award, NIEHS/NIH Science Day
2003 - 2007 Intramural Research Training Award Fellowship, NIEHS/NIH
2001 Gamma Sigma Delta, Agricultural Honors Society, The Pennsylvania State University
2000 The Siegel Research Award, The Pennsylvania State University
1994 Psi Chi, Psychology Honors Society, Iowa State University

MEMBERSHIP IN SCIENTIFIC OR PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:
2013 - Current The International Neurotoxicology Association
2010 - Current The Society of Toxicology
2010 - Current The Society for Free Radical Biology & Medicine
2005 - 2007 The North Carolina Society of Toxicology
2005 - 2007 The National Postdoctoral Association
2003 - Current The Society for Neuroscience
2000 - Current The American Association for the Advancement of Science

Titles & Appointments

  • Paul Stark Professor of Pharmacology
  • Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology
  • Education
    2007 FEL Postdoctoral IRTA Fellowship, NIEHS/NIH, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Chemistry
    2003 FEL Postdoctoral Scientist, NIEHS/NIH and the EPA
    2002 PhD Pennsylvania State University
    1994 BS Iowa State University
  • Research

    Microglia Biology, Environmental Neurotoxicology, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Gulf War Illness

  • Professional Organizations
    American Association for the Advancement of Science

Research Labs

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Faculty Labs