Education and Training

Post-Doctoral Fellow, Pharmacology

Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

B.S., Biological Sciences / Chemistry

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Click here for Dr. Moniri's Biosketch or Complete CV

Dr. Moniri received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Georgia State University and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Division of Medicinal Chemistry at the School of Pharmacy at UNC - Chapel Hill.  Trained primarily in molecular pharmacology and medicinal chemistry, Dr. Moniri conducted his post-doctoral research at Duke University Medical Center and joined the faculty at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Mercer in 2006.

Dr. Moniri's training has focused on molecular pharmacology and signal transduction of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR)  as well as the design and development of novel agents which modulate GPCR function.

Current research interests include signal transduction, alternative signaling, and design of functionally selective modulators of the prototypical GPCR, the b2-adrenergic receptor.  Specifically, this work seeks to characterize mechanisms of b2-receptor mediated generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, formation of which we have recently shown to be indispensable for receptor function.

The Moniri lab is also interested in characterization of neuro-endocrine GPCRs which are involved in glucagon/insulin homeostasis, food intake, and satiety, as well as development of novel anti-diabetic agents which target these GPCRs.  One such project focuses on intracellular signaling of the recently discovered long chain free fatty acid receptor GPR120. 

For a more detailed description of research in the Moniri Lab click here.

Dr. Moniri currently teaches medicinal chemistry and pharmacology of various systems and disorders in the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) curriculum at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Courses taught in include Musculoskeletal Disorders, Nervous System Disorders, Infectious Disease, and Cardiovascular / Renal Disorders.

For more detailed information on teaching click here.

(Click here for PubMed listing of publications)

Bagchi G, Wu J, French J, Kim J, Moniri NH, Daaka Y.  Androgens transduce the  G as-mediated activation of protein kinase A in prostate cells.  Cancer Research, 68(9):  3225-31, 2008.

Moniri NH and Daaka Y.  Agonist-stimulated reactive oxygen species formation regulates b2-adrenergic receptor signal transduction.  Biochemical Pharmacology, 74: 64-73, 2007.

Booth, RG and Moniri, NH.  Novel ligands stabilize stereo-selective conformations of the histamine H1 receptor to activate catecholamine synthesis. Inflammation Research, 56:S1-2, 2007.

Moniri, NH and Booth, RG.  Role of PKA and PKC in Histamine H1 Receptor-Mediated Activation of Catecholamine Neurotransmitter Synthesis.  Neuroscience Letters, 407:249-253, 2006.

Bagchi, G; Moniri, NH; Daaka Y.  Androgen Receptor.   AfCS-Nature Molecules Pages, 2006.

Guo, R; Kasbohm, EA; Arora, P; Sample, CJ; Baban, B; Sud, N; Sivashanmugam, P; Moniri, NH; Daaka, Y.  Expression and function of lysophosphatidic acid LPA1 receptor in prostate cancer cells.  Endocrinology, 147:4883-4892, 2006.

Wang, G; Moniri, NH; Ozawa, K; Stamler JS; Daaka, Y.  Nitric oxide regulates endocytosis by S-nitrosylation of dynamin.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 103(5):1295-1300, 2006.

Booth, RG and Moniri, NH.  Ligand-directed multifunctional signaling of histamine H₁ receptors.  Inflammation Research, 54:S44-45, 2005.

Moniri, NH; Covington-Strachan, DW; Booth, RG.  Ligand-directed functional heterogeneity of histamine H₁ receptors:  Novel agonists selectively activate and block H₁ mediated phospholipase C and adenylyl cyclase signaling in CHO cells.  Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 311:274-281, 2004.

Moniri, NH and Booth, RG.  Functional heterogeneity of histamine H₁ receptors.  Inflammation Research, 53:S71-72, 2004.

Booth, RG; Moniri, NH; Bakker, RA; Choksi, NY; Nix, WB; Timmerman, H; Leurs, R.  A novel phenylaminotetralin radioligand reveals a sub-population of histamine H1 receptors.  Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 302:328-336, 2002.