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Don Messner, PhD
Current Roles
Dr. Messner is a research faculty member who teaches basic sciences courses and conducts laboratory research directed at understanding and combatting human disease.
Education
- BS in biochemistry from the University of California, Davis
- PhD in pharmacology from the University of Washington School of Medicine
Past Experience
Prior to joining Bastyr University, Dr. Messner worked at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and Purdue University. He has held visiting scientist positions at the University of Washington and the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle.
Teaching Interests
Dr. Messner teaches biochemistry and supports student research training in the laboratory. His goal as a teacher is to help students develop a solid scientific base on which to build their career.
Research Interests
Dr. Messner investigates causes of liver disease and corrective actions of plant-derived natural products in research funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). One current project focuses on the use of curcumin and turmeric for prevention of liver cancer associated with iron overload. A second seeks novel therapies for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a complication of type 2 diabetes. These studies incorporate a variety of laboratory approaches from molecular and cellular biology, protein biochemistry, analytical chemistry and pharmacology.
