Eric Walters

Eric Walters is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Missouri's College of Medicine. He contributes significantly to both medical and graduate education, teaching core courses including Dental Biochemistry, General Biochemistry, and serving as Course Coordinator for the General Biochemistry Laboratory and Orientation to Research. He also mentors Ph.D. students through thesis advising.

Education:

• B.S. in Biology, South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, SC)
• M.Div., Howard University School of Divinity (Washington, DC)
• Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Missouri (Columbia, MO)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, Hoffman-LaRoche, Inc. (Nutley, NJ)

Research Interests:
Dr. Walters' research spans molecular genetics and neurodegenerative disease modeling. His work includes:

• Investigating the Tshr-hyt mutant mouse model to understand genetic factors in dopaminergic degeneration relevant to Parkinson’s disease.
• Developing novel APP-hypothyroid and hybrid Tshr-hyt/TgAPP mouse models to study the interplay between hypothyroidism and Alzheimer’s disease pathology, particularly amyloid plaque formation.
• Studying the molecular genetics of Dictyostelium discoideum, focusing on the dual enzymatic and non-enzymatic roles of glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes in cell signaling, proliferation, and differentiation.

His laboratory employs a wide array of techniques including transgenic technology, gene cloning, in situ hybridization, Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and next-generation sequencing.

Professional Affiliations:

• Society for Neuroscience
• Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS)
• Ordained Clergy, American Baptist Churches, USA

Advising and Grants:
Dr. Walters serves as a Graduate Thesis Advisor for Ph.D. candidates and coordinates key research-oriented courses. While specific grant funding is not detailed in the provided text, his research program suggests active engagement in externally funded projects related to neurodegeneration and molecular genetics. He plays a central role in training future scientists through structured coursework and direct research mentorship.

Laboratory and Research Team:
His lab integrates molecular, biochemical, and histological approaches to study disease mechanisms in mammalian and model organism systems. The research team likely includes graduate students and research staff working on mouse models of neurodegeneration and *Dictyostelium* cell biology projects, supported by a comprehensive suite of molecular and cellular analysis tools.