Barbara Mania-Farnell

Barbara Mania-Farnell is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University Northwest, specializing in neurobiology and developmental processes with emphasis on environmental impacts. Her academic leadership spans teaching and research in neural development and disease mechanisms.

Her educational credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Physiology from Northwestern University
• M.A. in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago
• B.S. in Biological Sciences from DePaul University

Dr. Mania-Farnell's research integrates Neurobiology, Epigenetics, and Developmental Biology to investigate environmental influences on neural development and pediatric brain tumor pathogenesis. Her work bridges molecular mechanisms with clinical applications through epigenetic and stem cell-focused therapeutic approaches.

Analysis of her recent publications (2017-2019) reveals a concentrated focus on neuro-oncology, particularly targeting epigenetic modifications (H3K4me3) and cancer stem cell markers (CD133) to overcome chemotherapy resistance in pediatric brain tumors. Her research demonstrates translational applications across ependymomas, pilocytic astrocytomas, and malignant gliomas.

Her teaching portfolio encompasses Anatomy and Physiology for non-science majors alongside advanced undergraduate/graduate instruction in Neurobiology, Epigenetics, and Developmental Biology, emphasizing interdisciplinary connections between environmental factors and neural development.