Cecilia M. Fox
Professor of Biological Sciences and Director of Neuroscience Program
Health Professions Advisor
Education
- B.S. in Biology, Manhattan College
- Ph.D.Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Kentucky
Contact
Email: foxc@moravian.edu
Phone: 610-861-1426
Office: Priscilla Payne Hurd Academic Complex, Room 216
Teaching and Research
Dr. Fox's teaching responsibilities include the following courses: Neuroscience (NEUR/BIOL263), Introduction to Neuroscience Methods (NEUR 367), Neuroscience Seminar (NEUR373), Brain Sex (NEUR218), Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL103–104), Human Physiology (BIOL350) and Human Anatomy (BIOL 398).
Her primary area of research focuses on the neurobiology of aging and neuroprotective effects of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories in animal models of neurodegeneration. Her lab attempts to define the scope of protection afforded by antioxidants such as selenium, curcumin and capsaicin in the rat model of Parkinson's disease. A second area of research in her lab that was recently funded by the Council of Independent Colleges Intergenerational Grant examines the impact of personalized music on cognition and quality of life measures in elders living with dementia.
Biography
Dr. Fox received the Louise E. July Endowed Chair in 2018 and was recently awarded the Timothy M. Breidegam Faculty and Administrator Service Award in 2021. She is the recipient of the 2006 Moravian College IMPACT Award for Outstanding Performance and Dedication to the Highest Standards of Excellence and the 2005 Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching. She has been awarded the Omicron Delta Kappa Golden Apple Teaching Award and has been a consistent mentor in the SOAR Summer Research and Honors programs.
Dr. Fox is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Beta Beta, Sigma Xi, Society for Neuroscience, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience and Council on Undergraduate Research. In 2009, she founded the Lehigh Valley Society for Neuroscience (LVSfN) Chapter and served as president of this organization for over 10 years. In 2011, the chapter won the SfN Chapter of the Year award in recognition of its innovative brain awareness outreach and undergraduate research endeavors.
Dr. Fox is a regular presenter at the Society for Neuroscience conference where she and her research students share their work examining neuroprotectant therapies in the rat model of Parkinson’s disease. She has also presented the LVSfN brain awareness outreach service learning and advocacy programs at the Society for Neuroscience and Council on Undergraduate Research conferences. Dr. Fox and the Moravian University Brain Club received the 2010 and 2019 Omicron Delta Kappa Progress and Educational Program awards for the scholarly outreach programs conducted through the LVSfN Chapter. She has served on the Government and Public Affairs Committee for the Society for Neuroscience and continues to advocate for government support of scientific funding through visits to Capitol Hill for the annual SfN Hill Day.
Select Publications
Kanakamedala L, Lopez de Boer, R and Fox CM, The neuroprotective potential of curcumin in the 6- hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson’s disease. In preparation
Halasz S, Stowell R and Fox CM. DNSP-11 is protective in the MPP+ and TaClo models of Parkinson’s disease. In preparation
Fox. C.M. 2019. Bridging the Generational Divide: Using Age as a Central Lens for Neuroscience Research and Service Learning. Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Newsletter. October 2019 Issue.
Fox C.M. 2017. Why government funding for science research matters. Op-Ed. The Morning Call, March 31, 2017.
Fox C.M. 2016. Teaching neuroscience with a liberal arts edge. Neuronline, Society for Neuroscience Publishers.
Fox C.M. 2016. Brain awareness outreach: A liberal arts perspective. Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Newsletter. May 2016 Issue.
Fox C.M. 2015. "Developing the next generation of civic-minded neuroscience scholars: Incorporating service learning and advocacy throughout a neuroscience program." Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education 14(1):A23–A28.
Fox C.M. 2014. "Engaging neuroscience undergraduates in advocacy." Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Quarterly 2(2):3–5.
Fox C. M. 2010. Cow brains and sheep brains and rat brains, oh my! Using service learning to educate the public about the benefits of animal research. Research Saves, Issue 2, 24-25.
Fox C. M. 2007. Brain Awareness Day: Integrating service with classroom instruction in neuroscience. Journal of College Science Teaching, Vol. 37(2), 40-45.
Mueller S, Drost M and Fox C. M. 2007. Dietary and intraperitoneal administration of selenium provide comparable protection in the 6-hydroxydopamine lesion rat model of Parkinson’s disease International Undergraduate Journal for Neuroscience, 2, 1-10.
Fox C. M. The positive outcomes of student involvement in Brain Awareness Day, 2004. Proceedings of the Best Practices in Higher Education, November Issue: 19-21.
Select Presentations
Lopez de Boer R and Fox CM, The impact of curcumin on the production and metabolism of dopamine in the 6-hydroxydopamine model of Parkinson’s disease: an interdisciplinary study. Lehigh Valley SfN Undergraduate Research Conference, 2021
McHugh R and Fox CM, The neuroprotective potential of capsaicin in the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson’s disease. Lehigh Valley SfN Undergraduate Research Conference, 2021
Mondok C and Fox CM, The use of combined curcumin and vitamin E administration in the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson’s disease. Lehigh Valley SfN Undergraduate Research Conference, 2021
Lopez de Boer R, Mondok C and Fox CM, How curcumin and vitamin E have the potential to protect against acute 6-hydroxydopamine neurotoxicity in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease. Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Conference, 2020
Jones M, Buskirk M and Fox CM, The Impact of Personalized Music on Cognition and Quality of Life Measures in Elders Living with Dementia, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Conference, 2019
Jones M, Buskirk M and Fox CM, Bridging the Generational Divide: Partnering Undergraduates and Elders Through Music as Part of Brain Awareness Outreach, Society for Neuroscience Conference, 2019
Seitz B, Jones M and Fox CM, Challenges and effects of personalized music on cognition in dementia patients Lehigh Valley Society for Neuroscience Conference, 2018
Seitz B and Fox CM, Effects of personalized music on cognition in dementia patients: a Music and Memory Pilot Study, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Conference, 2017
Fox CM, Highlighting advocacy through brain awareness service learning throughout the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania, Society for Neuroscience Conference, 2017
Ryan J, Seitz B, Cusimano M, O’Hanlon K, Palmeri M and Fox CM, Incorporating advocacy in brain awareness service learning programs using a liberal arts approach, Society for Neuroscience Conference, 2017
Kanakamedala L and Fox CM, The neuroprotective potential of curcumin in the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson’s disease, Lehigh Valley SfN Undergraduate Research Conference, 2017
Jordan R and Fox CM, The impact of long term exposure to curcumin in the 6-hydroxydopamine nigral lesioned rat, Lehigh Valley SfN Undergraduate Research Conference, 2017
Spencer M, Ghoweri AO and Fox CM, The neuroprotective potential of intranasal DNSP-11 in a 6-OHDA rodent model: a behavior and cellular study, Lehigh Valley SfN Undergraduate Research Conference, 2016