Current Research Interests:
My primary research interest is the development of reproductive technologies that can be applied over a broad range of different vertebrate species without much modification. I have had success so far developing this type of technology for gamete preservation. I am interested in molecular control of reproduction of seasonal breeders. We are currently developing methods for sperm injection into frog eggs with the goal being two sperm injection into an enucleated egg. The purpose of my research is the development of technologies directed toward the preservation of genetic diversity within threatened and endangered species.
General Areas of Research:
GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH DIRECTED BY DR. HERR:
EWU EWU EWU Oudes EWU WSU
STUDENT NAME
DATES & LOCATION
DEGREE
Kay Greeson
Improvements in the Use of PCR and Gel Electrophoresis for Preimplantation Genetic Analysis (Infectious Disease Researcher)
1995-97
MS
Mary Beth Provo
Sucrose Improves Tolerance of Embryos to Survive Freezing at Four Different Rates. (Works for Pfizer Pharmaceutical)
1997-98
MS
Kim Kegerreis
Mouse H-Y antibody Fails to Detect the Sex of Human Lymphocytes (Runs a immunology lab at WSU)
1995-97
MS
Asa
New Developments in Advanced Glycation End-Products Detection and Formation. (Ph.D. Program at WSU)
1996-97
MS
Stephanie Pagel
Effects of ionizing radiation on mutation frequency of cryopreserved bacteria exposed at -198oC.
2001-2003
MS
Mike Stucky
Cryopreservation of frog and bee semen using novel ultrafast freezing techniques
2004-2006
MS
Ryan West
Substantial improvement in the sensitivity and repeatability of molecular bird sexing
2004-2006
MS
Brandon Hopkins
Automation of sperm injection into frog eggs.
2005-
Catlin Valentin
High yeild DNA extraction from bone and feather.
2005-
Amanda Mattheson
Comparison of repeated W-specific DNA sequences for rapid molecular bird sexing
2005-
Lance Hilgers
Sensitivity of eukaryotic chromatin to different restriction endonucleases subsequent to various preparation protocols. (Plant Genetic Engineering at U of Idaho)
1992-93
MS
Undergraduate Student Research Directed at EWU By Dr. Herr:
EWU Journal of Undergraduate Research. Vol.2, No.1, 1998. Dodge EWU Journal of Undergraduate Research. Vol.2, No.1, 1998. EWU Journal of Undergraduate Research. Vol.2, No.1, 1998. Bernards EWU Journal of Undergraduate Research. Vol.3, No.1, 1999 Brunette EWU Journal of Undergraduate Research. Vol.3, No.1, 1999 Oudes Miranda Novo Fagerness Selgennity Hsu Martin Bendle Soto Flamoe Dang Smith
Of the many students who have conducted research in my lab, some have presented at meetings and/or received fellowships or grants:
Yvette Olsen
Age-Dependent Accumulation of Advanced Glycation End-Products in Drosophila Melanogaster. EWU Journal of Undergraduate Research. Vol.1, No.1, 1997.
1997
Yvette Olsen
EFFECTS OF THERMAL STRESS ON DESERT SPECIES OF DROSOPHILA
1998
Chrisy
EFFECTS OF THERMAL STRESS ON DESERT SPECIES OF DROSOPHILA
1998
Rita Mirada
DETERMINATION OF THE STABILITY OF PYRUVATE IN MODIFIED CZB MOUSE EMBRYO CULTURE MEDIA.
1998
Andy
RATES OF FORMATION OF ADVANCED GLYCATION ENDPRODUCTS ARE INCREASED IN THE PRESENCE OF INORGANIC PYROPHOSPHATE VERSUS PHOSPHATE
1999
Karen
STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF INORGANIC PYROPHOSPHATE ON THE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION
1999
Mary Provo
EXPOSURE OF PARAFFIN OIL TO SUNLIGHT CAUSES EMBRYOTOXICITY. Proceeding of Northwest Science Association, 70th Annual Meeting, March 1997.
1997
Asa
DETECTION OF ADVANCED GLYCATION END PRODUCTS FORMED IN A REACTION OF D-GLUCOSE AND GLYCINE WITH HORIZONTAL SLAB POLYACRYLAMIDE ELECTROPHORESIS Proceeding of Northwest Science Association, 70th Annual Meeting, March 1997.
1997
Rita
McNair Scholarship: Pyruvate Studies
1997
Joe
McNair Scholarship: Cryobiology Studies
1997
Some other students that have worked in my lab:
Jes
Effects of Glucose on Mouse Embryos
1996
Tom Meeks
Effects of Glucose on Zona Hardening
1995
Ben
Effects of Glucose on Zona Hardening
1995
Arron
Acceleration of Freezing Rates
1994
Mike
Drosophila cryopreservation
1998
Ben
Drosophila cryopreservation
1998
Manni
Spermatozoon chemoattractants
1995
Eric
Effects of pyrophosphate on PCR
1998
Chung
Development of a defined Drosophila medium.
1999
Mary
Effect of transition metals and oxygen on the formation of AGE.
1999
Mindy Spook
Effects of Dietary Methione on Homocysteine Levels in Mice
2k-2k1
Elisa Rigley
Advanced Glycation End-Product Formation: phosphate, transition metals and arsenic catalysis in the formation of AGE.
1998-2k1
Adriann Tobac
The Homocysteine and AGE Connection. (Ongoing.)
1999
Continue with more than 10 students per year
2000-
Grants Written or Received at Eastern Washington University:
June, 1996 Not Funded. Joe Novo Rita Miranda Summer 2K1 EWU Foundation EWU Foundation
National Science Foundation
Equipment purchase for integrated studies in molecular, cellular and developmental biology
$297,700 Total $178,620 from NSF balanced EWU
Not Funded
SCIRTI
Pre-proposal: Commercial Development of Fruit Fly Cryopreservation
$100,000
June 27, 1997, OK'd for full version prep
Sigma Chemical Company
Request to Sigma Cooperative Allowance Program
$500
Funded on January 5, 1995
National Science Foundation
Equipment infrastructure grant
300,000 total
Denied, completely revised and submitted above.
Northwest Grant
Improving mammalian embryo freezing methodologies
$8,000
March 1995, Acceptable scores but not funded.
Vetrepharm
Hyaluronic Acid
$500
Funded, April, 1995
EWU Foundation Mini-Grants
Equipment Purchase
$1,375
Funded, February, 1995
Northwest Institute for Advanced Study
Embryo Freezing Unit
$4,000
Funded,
NWIAS mini-grant
Embryo Freezing
$364.50
Funded, Jan. 13, 1997
National Science Foundation
Studies of Advanced Glycation End-Products
$590,711
Nov. 1996
McNair Scholarship Student Grant
Cryobiology of Drosophila
$3000
Funded
McNair Scholarship Student Grant
Pyruvate Stability
$3000
Funded
GTE Summer Research Grant
The AGE and Homocysteine Connection. Adriann Tobac
$1000
Funded
Northwest Foundation Grant
The effect of ionizing radiation on mutation frequency at -198 Celsius.
$8000
Funded
National Institute of Health
Assays for Advanced Glycation End Product Inhibitors
$70,000
Almost funded, in the process of re-writing from suggestions
Title 3 Grant for Technology Improvement
Software Grant
$1,400
Funded Summer 2001
Foundation Grant for Software to create a 3D virtual professor
Software Grant
$3,700
Funded Fall 2001
Title 3 Grant for summer Stepend
Time to develop the virtual professor
$6,000 + $1,000 for equipment
Funded 2002
Departmental Indirects Software Support
$2,000
Funded 2002
Mini Grant
Fluorescent Lamp set for inverted microscope
$550
Funded 2006
Mini Grant
Enzymes for molecular biology projects
$550
Funded 2007
Microsoft Corporation Grant for Travel
Travel to International Embryo Transfer Annual Meeting
$1,600
Funded 2007
SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL:
EQUIPMENT: I purchased with my personal funds all the modern scientific equipment essential for my research, which has a value in excess of $75,000.00 US. Students have had full use of this equipment for their research projects. I also purchased a complete computer graphics system, which is how I am able to create the genetics and the embryology web sites.
I will move this equipment to the location of my next position.
Herr’s EWU Graduate Students’ Professional Society Presentations:
Boston, Massachusetts, January 11, 1998 Boston, Massachusetts, January 11, 1998 Boston, Massachusetts, January 11, 1998 Spokane, March, 1997 Spokane, March, 1997
The FASEB Meetings: Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, International Meeting. San Francisco, CA May 16-20, 1999. Asa had his hotel and car paid for by the FASEB having won a student competition.
Resolving AGE on horizontal gels.