We believe in the power of every person.
Faculty Profile
About
The long-term goal of my research is to reveal the role of bioenergetics, central carbon metabolism, redox homeostasis and proteostasis in the dysfunction of neuro/glial cells during environmental toxicity, trauma and infectious processes.
My Ph. D. studies (Biomedical Sciences with a focus on Neurochemistry) were focused on understanding the signaling and biophysical mechanisms regulating the stress response of brain cells to edema conditions. As a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS/NIH), I expanded my training to encompass the study of how changes in the redox environment of the cell regulate cell death progression. I am a Professor in Biomedical Sciences at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), In the last 13 years, I have established an independent research program that utilizes novel approaches such as integrated NMR/MS metabolomics, metabolize flux and redox sensors to understand mechanisms of cell death and survival.
My Ph. D. studies (Biomedical Sciences with a focus on Neurochemistry) were focused on understanding the signaling and biophysical mechanisms regulating the stress response of brain cells to edema conditions. As a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS/NIH), I expanded my training to encompass the study of how changes in the redox environment of the cell regulate cell death progression. I am a Professor in Biomedical Sciences at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), In the last 13 years, I have established an independent research program that utilizes novel approaches such as integrated NMR/MS metabolomics, metabolize flux and redox sensors to understand mechanisms of cell death and survival.
Education
- B. S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, 2000
- Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences (Neurochemistry and Biophysics), National Autonomous University of Mexico, 2004
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Signal Transduction and Redox Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 2009
Professional Responsibilities and Activities
- Nebraska Center for Virology member, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2018-present
- Faculty Ombud, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2019-present
- Courtesy Appointment, Department of Environmental Agricultural and Occupational Health. College of Public Health, University of Nebraska-Medical Center, 2015-present
- Redox Biology Center member, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009-present
Publications
Garza-Lombó C, Posadas Y, Quintanar L, Gonsebatt ME, Franco R. Neurotoxicity Linked to Dysfunctional Metal Ion Homeostasis and Xenobiotic Metal Exposure: Redox Signaling and Oxidative Stress. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2018 Jun 20;28(18):1669-1703. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5962337.
Navarro-Yepes J, Burns M, Anandhan A, Khalimonchuk O, del Razo LM, Quintanilla-Vega B, Pappa A, Panayiotidis MI, Franco R. Oxidative stress, redox signaling, and autophagy: cell death versus survival. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2014 Jul 1;21(1):66-85. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4048575.
Garcia-Garcia A, Zavala-Flores L, Rodriguez-Rocha H, Franco R. Thiol-redox signaling, dopaminergic cell death, and Parkinson's disease. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2012 Dec 15;17(12):1764-84. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3474187.
Franco R, Cidlowski JA. Glutathione efflux and cell death. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2012 Dec 15;17(12):1694-713. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3474185.
Complete List of Published Work in My Bibliography:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/rodrigo.franco.1/bibliography/public/
Awards and Honors
- Outstanding Young Scientist Award , SIGMA XI, University of Nebraska Chapter (2014)
- Layman Award, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2010)
- Travel Award, American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). Experimental Biology (2009)
- Travel Award, Keystone Symposia Scholarship (2008)
- Travel Award, American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). Experimental Biology (2007)
- Martin Rodbell Travel Award, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) (2007)
- National Researcher (Currently Level III), National System of Investigators (SNI, Mexico) (2006)
- Marie Curie Scholarship, European Cell Death Organization (2005)
- Postdoctoral Visitor Fellowship, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) (2004)
- Young Investigator Travel Award, International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) (2003)
- Young Investigator Travel Award, American Society for Neurochemistry (ASN) (2002)
- Young Investigator Travel Award, International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) (2001)
- Basic Neurochemistry School (Scholarship), International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) (2001)
- Ph.D. Fellowship, National Council of Science and Technology (Mexico) (1999)
Other
Ad Hoc Reviewer and Study Sections
Ad Hoc Reviewer and Study Sections
- Alzheimer's Association International Research Grant Program
- Veterans Affair (Neurobiology 2 Integrated Review Group)
- NIH (NOMD, NST-2/NINDS, NIEHS, ZRG1 F03B-R (20) L)
- Parkinson's Research Program from the Congressionally Directed Research Programs (CDMRP) of the Department of Defense
Editorial Boards
Editorial Boards
- Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods
- Chemico-Biological Interactions
- Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
- PLOS-ONE (Academic)
- Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (Review in Signaling)
- Frontiers in Neuroscience
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Chemical Research in Toxicology
- Neurotoxicology (Associate)
- Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy (Associate)
Location
210 VBS
4040 East Campus Loop North
Lincoln, NE 68583-0907
4040 East Campus Loop North
Lincoln, NE 68583-0907
Appointment
90% Research, 10% Teaching
Research Areas
- Neurobiology
- Toxicology
Professional Interests
- Molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of cell death by redox signaling
- Molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of cellular transformation by redox signaling
- Cell death and Neurodegenerative diseases
- Environmental Toxicity and Oxidative stress
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cytotoxic Brain Edema
Professional Society Memberships
- Society of Toxicology (SOT)
- Society for Neuroscience (SFN)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)