Biography
Max is a neuropharmacologist with a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Utah State University. During his doctoral training, he characterized small-molecule ligands for the novel G protein-coupled receptor, GPR171, with the aim of furthering these drugs as potential pain therapeutics. After graduating, he worked in the San Diego biotechnology industry where he contributed to the characterization of new cystic fibrosis therapies, including CFTR-modulating small molecules and mRNA-based treatments. He employs molecular techniques such as immunoblotting, signaling assays, and immunohistochemistry to study drug–receptor interactions and intracellular signaling in mammalian cell culture and in vivo models.
Previous Teaching
As an undergraduate at Truman State University, Max served as a teaching assistant for Histology, Cognitive Science, Psychopharmacology, and Physiological Psychology. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he worked at Boys Town National Research Hospital, where he applied corrective teaching methods to teach social skills to young children with psychiatric disorders. At Utah State University, he served as a teaching assistant for Microbiology, Physiology, Anatomy, Neurobiology, and Techniques in Neuroscience, and was the instructor of record for Neurobiology in Fall 2022 and Fall 2023. During his doctoral training, he also worked at Utah Public Radio as a science reporter, where he wrote science news stories for a general audience. At Utah Tech, he serves as the instructor for two techniques-based, Innovative-Based Learning (IBL) courses where Biotechnology B.S. majors develop hands-on laboratory skills.
Experience
10 years of teaching experience
Research Interests
- Neurobiology
- Pharmacology
- Ligand-Receptor Interactions
- GPCRs
- Functional Selectivity
- Opioid biology
- Pain biology
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
Publications
McDermott MV, Ram A, Mattoon MT, Haderlie EE, Raddatz MC, Thomason MK, Bobeck EN. (2023) A small molecule ligand for the novel pain target, GPR171, produces minimal reward in mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav.
Afrose L, McDermott MV, Bhuiyan AI, Pathak SK, Bobeck EN. (2022) GPR171 activation regulates morphine tolerance but not withdrawal in a test-dependent manner in mice. Behav Pharmacol
Ram, A., Edwards, T. M., McCarty, A., McDermott, M. V., & Bobeck, E. N. (2021). Morphine-induced kinase activation and localization in the periaqueductal gray of male and female mice. Journal of Neurochemistry
Ram, A., Edwards, T., McCarty, A., Afrose, L., McDermott, M.V., & Bobeck, E. N. (2021). GPR171 Agonist Reduces Chronic Neuropathic and Inflammatory Pain in Male, but not in Female Mice. BioRxiv
McDermott, M. V., Afrose, L., Gomes, I., Devi, L. A., & Bobeck, E. N. (2019). Opioid-Induced Signaling and Antinociception Are Modulated by the Recently Deorphanized Receptor, GPR171. The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics