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Professional Experience
Beckman Research Institute, Department of Neuroscience
Scientist and Light Microscopy Core Manager
Conduct research into the causes of cancer specializing in cancer of the brain. Write grant applications and manuscripts as well as the presentation of scientific data to peer groups. Responsible for all aspects of core facility maintenance, billing, employees, and future planning. Core facility includes approximately nine light/fluorescent microscopes, a live cell imaging facility, two LSM510 confocal microscopes utilizing six lasers and a Coherent 2-Photon laser, as well as a Prairie Ultima 2-Photon microscope. Duties also include collaboration with multiple researchers in the design and implementation of experimental protocols.

 

UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Semel Neuroscience Institute
Scientist
Managing a team of researchers, responsible for projects including: neuronal regeneration after nerve axotomy, crush, and cuff paradigms, assessment of genetic expression of VIP and PACAP in the brain, rescue of nerve damage and circadian rhythms using an adenovirus carrying the DNA for polypeptide transcription, and assessment of immune function as it relates to neuronal survival. Specializing in neuroanatomical, histological, pharmacological delivery systems, microscopy and digital imaging, and drug related paradigms.s

UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital
Licensed Psychiatric Technician, Unit Medication Nurse
Responsible for dispensing and charting medication regimens
Participated in multidisciplinary conferences
Lead therapy groups and community meetings
Specializing in the management and treatment of schizophrenic patients on a-typical antipsychotic therapy, dual diagnosed chemically dependent patients, and drug withdrawal
Veterans Administration Hospital, West Los Angeles, Sepulveda
Worked as a volunteer on the clinical trials of novel antipsychotic medications Assisted with many aspects of clinical trials of a-typical antipsychotic medications including patient assessment and manuscript preparation.

Education
Ph.D. Degree, University of California at Los Angeles Major in Behavioral Neuroscience, Minor in Neuroscience
Experimentation in the fields of Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
Thesis Title: The Use of Neuropsychopharmacological Methods to Elucidate the Relationship Between Serotonin and Dopamine in the Brain

Masters Degree, University of California at Los Angeles
Behavioral Neuroscience
Thesis Title: A Variety of Dopaminergic Stimulants Cause Degeneration in the Rat Fasciculus Retroflexus: Relevance To Human Schizophrenia

B.A. Degree, University of California at Los Angeles
Psychology
Thesis Title: The Use of A-Typical Antipsychotics in the Treatment of Schizophrenia.

Psychiatric Nursing Degree, Mt. San Antonio College
Received A.A. and A.S. with Honors
Class Valedictorian
Teaching Experience
UCLA
Lecturer:
Behavioral Neuroscience, 2000 through 2008

Memberships
Society For Neuroscience
American Society for Neurochemistry
Semel Institute for Neuroscience Research
Mental Retardation Research Center
Research Scientists Organization

Publications
Armstrong, B.D., Abad, C., Chhith, S., Cheung-Lau, G., Hajji, O.E., Nobuta, H., Waschek, J.A. (2008). Impaired nerve regeneration and enhanced neuroinflammatory response in mice lacking pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating peptide (PACAP). Neuroscience, Jan 2;151(1):63-73.

Galbraith, G., Wascek, J., Armstrong, B., Edmond, J., Lopez, I., Liu, W., Kurtz, I. (2006). Murine auditory brainstem evoked response: putative two-channel differentiation of peripheral and central neural pathways. J Neuroscience Methods, Jun 15;153(2):214-20.

Armstrong, B.D., Abad, C., Chhith, S., Cheung-Lau, G., Hajji OE., Coute AC., Ngo DH., Waschek, J.A. (2006). Impairment of axotomy-induced pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating peptide gene expression in T-Helper 2 lymphocyte deficient mice. Neuroreport, Feb 27;17(3):309-12.

Armstrong, B.D., Hu, Z., Abad, C., Yamamoto, M., Rodriguez, W.I., Cheng, J., Lee, M., Chhith, S., Gomariz, R.P., Waschek, J.A. (2004). Induction of neuropeptide gene expression and blockade of retrograde transport in facial motor neurons following local peripheral nerve inflammation in SCID and Balb/C mice. Neuroscience, 129(1):93-99.

Armstrong, B.D., Hu, Z., Abad, C., Yamamoto, M., Rodriguez, W.I., Cheng, J., Tam, J., Gomariz, R.P., Patterson, P., Waschek, J.A. (2003). Lymphocyte regulation of neuropeptide gene expression after nerve injury. J Neuroscience Res., Oct 15;74(2):240-247.

Armstrong, B.D., Abad, C., Chhith, S., Rodriguez, W., Cheung-Lau, G., Waschek, J.A. (2004). Restoration of axotomy-induced PACAP gene induction in SCID mice by CD4+ T-lymphocyte-Enriched splenocytes. (2004). Neuroreport, Dec 3;15(17): 2647-50.

Armstrong, B.D, Noguchi, K., (2004). The neurotoxic abilities of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine on serotonin, dopamine, and GABA-ergic terminals: an in-vitro autoradiographic study in rats. Neurotoxicology, Dec;25(6): 905-914.

Armstrong, B.D, Paik, E., Chhith, S., Lelievre, V., Waschek, J.A., Howard, S.G, (2004). Potentiation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) induced neurotoxicity by the 5-HT2A partial agonist d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and protection by the 5-HT2A/2C antagonist MDL 11,939. Neuroscience Res. Comm., Vol 35(2): 83-95.

Carlson, J., Armstrong, B., Ellison, G., (2000). Selective neurotoxic effects of nicotine on axons in fasciculus retroflexus further support evidence that this a weak link in brain across multiple drugs of abuse. Neuropsychopharm, 39:2792-2798.

Armstrong, B., Noguchi, K., Ellison, G., A variety of dopamine agonists including amphetamine, cocaine, cathinone, methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine all induce degeneration in the fasciculus retroflexus in rats. Pending

Noguchi, K., Armstrong, B., Ellison, G., The effect of MK-801 on glutamate levels in the posterior and anterior cingulate. Pending
Waschek, J.A., Armstrong, B.D., Abad, C., Gomariz, R.P., Chhith, S., Cheung-Lau, G. PACAP, VIP and cytokines: reciprocal immune/neural interactions after nerve injury. Presentation given at the European Neuropeptide Society Meeting, Alicante Spain, May (2004).

Armstrong, B.D., Hu, Z., Abad, C., Rodriguez, W., Chhith, S., Cheung-Lau, G., Becker-Catania, S., Waschek, J.A., (2003). Regulation of Neuropeptide Gene Expression after Nerve Injury: Analysis in Neuropeptide and Cytokine Knockout Mice. Society For Neuroscience Abstracts, 498.18.

Armstrong, B., Butcher L., Ellison, G., (2000). A variety of dopamine agonists cause degeneration in the rat fasciculus retroflexus, and is potentiated by 5-HT agonists. Society For Neuroscience Abstracts, 723.8.

Armstrong, B., Carlson, J., Ellison, G., (1998). Degeneration in habenula and fasciculus retroflexus induced by drugs of abuse: cathinone, cocaine, and nicotine. Society For Neuroscience Abstracts, 92.16.

Armstrong, B.D., Chhith, S., Abad, C., Cheung-Lau, G., Coute., AC, Lelievre, V., Waschek, J.A. (2004) Mice Lacking the Neuropeptide PACAP Show Deficits in Their Ability to Regenerate Facial Nerves, and in Immune Function, Following Crush Injury. Poster presented at the Annual UCLA MRRC Conference.

Armstrong, B.D, Hu Z., Rodriguez W., Waschek JA., (2003) The upregulation of PACAP, but not VIP, is blocked in SCID mice following facial nerve axotomy. Poster presented at the Annual Conference for the Roman Reed Foundation

Armstrong, B.D, Hu Z, Abad C, Rodriguez W, Chhith S, Jamal M, and Waschek J., (2003). Regulation of neuropeptide gene expression after nerve injury: analysis in SCID and cytokine knockout mice. Poster presented at the Conference for the American Society for Neurochemistry.

Abad, C., Armstrong, B.D., Chhith, S., Martinez, C., Gomariz, R., Waschek, J.A., (2003). Neuropeptide modulation of the immune response: use of VIP and PACAP deficient animals. Poster presented at the Annual UCLA MRRC Conference.