A neuroscientist and gross anatomist by training, Dan Belliveau’s research interest focuses on the “science of learning”. Presently he is focusing on two particular areas of learning. First, does three-dimensional representations of anatomy enhance the learning environment? Using the Anatatorium’s unique stereoscopic projection system, anatomical models can be constructed and deconstructed in three dimensions allowing students to complement their more traditional learning. Second, the influence of competition on learning is being actively investigated. Using novel question delivery technologies, Dr. Belliveau is exploring the role of peer-to-peer competition in preparing for and performing on examinations. Together, these studies address the intrinsic and extrinsic cues that influence student learning in an academic setting.
Neoplasms
PKC Inhibition Increases Gap Junction Intercellular Communication and Cell Adhesion in Human Neuroblastoma (with M. Morley, C. Jones, M. Sidhu, V. Gupta, S. M. Bernier, and W. J. Rushlow), Cell and Tissue Research (2010)
Abstract Gap junction intercellular communication and cell–cell adhesion are essential for maintaining a normal cellular...
Connexin Overexpression Differentially Suppresses Glioma Growth and Contributes to the Bystander Effect following HSV-Thymidine Kinase Gene Therapy (with T. Jiminez, W. P. Fox, C. C.G. Naus, and J. Galipeau), Cell Communication and Adhesion (2006)
Neoplastic transformation is frequently associated with a loss of gap junctional intercellular communication and reduced...
Retroviral Delivery of Connexin Genes to Human Breast Tumor Cells Inhibits in Vivo Tumor Growth by a Mechanism That Is Independent of Significant Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication (with H. Qin, Q. Shao, H. Curtis, J. Galipeau, T. Wang, M. A. Alaoui-Jamali, and D. W. Laird), Journal of Biological Chemistry (2002)
The mechanism by which gap junction proteins, connexins, act as potent tumor suppressors remains poorly...
Aggregated DsRed-Tagged Cx43 and Over-Expressed Cx43 are Targeted to Lysosomes in Human Breast Cancer Cells (with H. Qin, Q. Shao, and D. W. Laird), Cell Communication and Adhesion (2001)
To investigate if either wild-type or aggregated Cx43 is abnormally targeted to lysosomes in human...
In Vivo Growth of C6 Glioma Cells Transfected with Connexin43 cDNA (with C. C.G. Naus, K. Elisevich, D. Zhu, and R. F. Del Maestro), Cancer Research (1992)
In order to examine the possible role of intercellular communication via gap junctions in the...
Nervous System
Enhanced Neurite Outgrowth in PC12 Cells Mediated by Connexin Hemichannels and ATP (with M. Bani-Yagoub, R. M.L. McGirr, C. C.G. Naus, and W. J. Rushlow), The Journal of Biological Chemistry (2006)
Gap junctions have traditionally been described as transmembrane channels that facilitate intercellular communication via the...
Changes in Calcineurin Expression Induced in the Rat Brain by the Administration of Antipsychotics (with W. J. Rushlow, Y. H. Seah, and N. Rajakumar), Journal of Neurochemistry (2005)
Calcineurin (CN) was recently identified as a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia as well as showing...
Nerve Growth Factor Increases Connexin43 Phosphorylation and Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication (with P. R. Cushing, R. Bhalla, A. M. Johnson, W. J. Rushlow, and S. O. Meakin), Journal of Neuroscience Research (2005)
The function of gap junctions is regulated by the phosphorylation state of their connexin subunits....
The p75 Neurotrophin Receptor Mediates Neuronal Apoptosis and Is Essential for Naturally Occurring Sympathetic Neuron Death (with S. X. Bamji, M. Majdan, C. D. Pozniak, R. Aloyz, J. Kohn, C. G. Causing, and F. D. Miller), Journal of Cell Biology (1998)
To determine whether the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) plays a role in naturally occurring neuronal...
Blocking Nerve Growth Factor Binding to the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor on Sympathetic Neurons Transiently Reduces trkA Activation but does not Affect Neuronal Survival (with C. Lachance and P. A. Barker), Neuroscience (1997)
Nerve growth factor interacts with the trkA tyrosine kinase receptor and with the p75 neurotrophin...
Nervous System Disease
PKC Inhibition Increases Gap Junction Intercellular Communication and Cell Adhesion in Human Neuroblastoma (with M. Morley, C. Jones, M. Sidhu, V. Gupta, S. M. Bernier, and W. J. Rushlow), Cell and Tissue Research (2010)
Abstract Gap junction intercellular communication and cell–cell adhesion are essential for maintaining a normal cellular...
Viral Shedding and Biodistribution of G207, a Multimutated, Conditionally Replicating Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1, after Intracerebral Inoculation in Aotus (with T. Todo, F. Feigenbaum, S. D. Rabkin, F. Lakeman, J. T. Newsome, P. A. Johnson, E. Mitchell, J. M. Ostrove, and R. L. Martuza), Molecular Therapy (2000)
G207 is a multimutated, conditionally replicating herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) that is currently...
The p75 Neurotrophin Receptor Mediates Neuronal Apoptosis and Is Essential for Naturally Occurring Sympathetic Neuron Death (with S. X. Bamji, M. Majdan, C. D. Pozniak, R. Aloyz, J. Kohn, C. G. Causing, and F. D. Miller), Journal of Cell Biology (1998)
To determine whether the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) plays a role in naturally occurring neuronal...
Transgenic Mice Expressing the Intracellular Domain of the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor Undergo Neuronal Apoptosis (with M. Majdan, C. Lachance, A. Gloster, R. Aloyz, C. Zeindler, S. Bamji, A. Bhakar, J. Fawcett, F. D. Miller, and P. A. Barker), The Journal of Neuroscience (1997)
We have asked whether p75NTR may play a role in neuronal apoptosis by producing transgenic...
In Vivo Growth of C6 Glioma Cells Transfected with Connexin43 cDNA (with C. C.G. Naus, K. Elisevich, D. Zhu, and R. F. Del Maestro), Cancer Research (1992)
In order to examine the possible role of intercellular communication via gap junctions in the...
Other Research Interests
Autocrine Hepatocyte Growth Factor Provides a Local Mechanism for Promoting Axonal Growth (with X. Yang, J. G. Toma, S. X. Bamji, J. Kohn, M. Park, and F. D. Miller), The Journal of Neuroscience (1998)
In this report, we describe a novel local mechanism necessary for optimal axonal growth that...