Coghlan, Lezlee G.

Coghlan, Lezlee G. D.V.M., M.S.

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Research Interests

Mouse models of cancer, optical imaging, facility management, rodent diseases, parasitology

Current Research

Investigators in the Department of Carcinogenesis make extensive use of animal models to study various stages in as well as the prevention of the carcinogenic process. Animal models are being used to identify environmental carcinogens, cancer susceptibility genes, and to identify biomarkers for carcinogenesis, chemoprevention, and treatment response. Established models in use include those for cancers of the prostate, mammary gland, uterus (fibroid), kidney, urinary bladder, gall bladder, head and neck, skin (including the Xiphophorus melanoma model), and lymphoreticular system. Over 350 transgenic and knockout models for these and other cancers, as well as models based on over expression of transcription and growth factors, hormone receptors, and cell cycle regulators, are also being developed and utilized in our facilities. As campus Animal Resource Director, I oversee the operation of 30,000 sq. ft. of specialized facilities, which receive partial operational support through the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG). The CCSG Research Animal Support Facility provides animal husbandry, veterinary care, health and genetic quality assurance, consultation and numerous technical services to support faculty research efforts. Recently, we received support to expand mouse genetic services such as background characterization, speed congenics, and whole genome scans and to develop a new service, the Mutant Mouse Pathology Service. For more detail, please refer to our website http://inside.sciencepark.mdanderson.org/animals/index.html.

My research projects involve collaborations with scientists from M.D. Anderson, Rice University, and The University of Texas at Austin in developing animal models, biomarkers and contrast agents for optical imaging of cancer, particularly targeting oral, esophageal, cervical, and lung cancers.

Selected Publications

  1. Aaron J, Nitin N, Travis K, Kumar S, Collier T, Park SY, Jose-Yacaman M, Coghlan L, Follen M, Richards-Kortum R, Sokolov K. Plasmon resonance coupling of metal nanoparticles for molecular imaging of carcinogenesis in vivo, J Biomed Opt, 12 (3), 034007, 2007
  2. Carlson AL, Coghlan LG, Gillenwater AM, Richards-Kortum RR. Dual-mode reflectance and fluorescence near-video-rate confocal microscope for architectural, morphological and molecular imaging of tissue, J Microsc, 228 (Pt 1), 11-24, 2007
  3. Lomada D, Liu B, Coghlan L, Hu Y, Richie ER. Thymus medulla formation and central tolerance are restored in IKKalpha-/- mice that express an IKKalpha transgene in keratin 5+ thymic epithelial cells, J Immunol, 178 (2), 829-37, 2007
  4. Patrawala L, Calhoun T, Schneider-Broussard R, Li H, Bhatia B, Tang S, Reilly JG, Chandra D, Zhou J, Claypool K, Coghlan L, Tang DG. Highly purified CD44+ prostate cancer cells from xenograft human tumors are enriched in tumorigenic and metastatic progenitor cells, Oncogene, 25 (12), 1696-708, 2006
  5. Park SY, Aaron J, Markey MK, Richards-Kortum R, Sokolov K, Mackinnon N, MacAulay C, Coghlan L, Milbourne A, Follen M. Multispectral digital microscopy for in vivo monitoring of oral neoplasia in the hamster cheek pouch model of carcinogenesis, Opt Express, 13 (3), 749-62, 2005
  6. Benavides F, Glasscock E, Coghlan LG, Stern MC, Weiss DA, Conti CJ. PCR-based microsatellite analysis for differentiation and genetic monitoring of nine inbred SENCAR mouse strains, Lab Anim, 35 (2), 157-62, 2001
  7. Coghlan L, Utzinger U, Richards-Kortum R, Brookner C, Zuluaga A, Gimenez-Conti I, Follen M. Fluorescence spectroscopy of epithelial tissue throughout the dysplasia- carcinoma sequence in an animal model: Spectroscopic changes precede morphologic changes, Lasers Surg Med, 29 (1), 1-10, 2001
  8. Coghlan L, Utzinger U, Drezek RA, Heintzelman D, Zuluaga AF, Brookner C, Richards-Kortum R, Gimenez-Conti I, Follen M. Optimal fluorescence excitation wavelengths for detection of squamous intra-epithelial neoplasia: results from an animal model, Opt Express, 7 (12), 436-46, 2000
  9. Coghlan LG, Gimenez-Conti I, Kleiner HE, Fischer SM, Rundhaug JE, Conti CJ, Slaga TJ, DiGiovanni J. Development and initial characterization of several new inbred strains of SENCAR mice for studies of multistage skin carcinogenesis, Carcinogenesis, 21 (4), 641-6, 2000
  10. Hill LR, Kille P, Weiss DA, Craig TM, Coghlan LG. Demodex musculi in the Skin of Transgenic Mice, Contemp Top Lab Anim Sci, 38 (6), 13-18, 1999

Contact Information


Mailing Address: P.O. Box 389, Smithville, Texas 78957
Physical Address: 1808 Park Road 1C, Smithville, Texas 78957
Phone: (512) 237-9438