Michael L. Canute
Instructor of Biology, Biology and Pre-Medical Studies Program
Office Telephone: (808) 236-5859
Office Location: Hawaii Loa Campus, AC 242B
Email: mcanute@hpu.edu
Academic Background:
PhD candidate - Molecular Biosciences & Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa
MS Biomedical Science (Human Physiology), University of Hawaii at Manoa, August 1995
BS Food Science and Human Nutrition (Nutritional Science), University of Hawaii at Manoa, May 1989
AA Liberal Arts, Kauai Community College, May 1986
Teaching and Related Experience:
Biology Instructor - Hawaii Pacific University, 1997 - present.
Teaching Introductory Anatomy and Physiology courses (2-semester course) to pre-
Nursing students, upper division Human Physiology course offered to pre-Medical science majors.
Science Teacher - Damien Memorial High School, 1995 - 1997.
Taught General Biology, Honors Biology, and AP Biology.
Teaching Assistantship - University of Hawaii, 1992 - 1995.
Taught Undergraduate General Science Lab course, and upper division Anatomy and
Physiology Lab courses (2-semester course).
Teaching Interest:
Undergraduate Courses in Anatomy and Physiology as well as upper division course(s) in Physiology (General and specialized areas, especially Neuroendocrinology), Anatomy, Histology, & Neuroscience (the latter three are yet to be developed).
Current Research (Queen’s Medical Center):
Characterization of a novel transmembrane protein, TMEM16E (also known as GDD1) that has been previously described in causing a debilitating bone disease, gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia, due to a single point mutation resulting in a missense translation of C356R and C356G.
University Service (HPU):
Pre-Medical Program (member / Coordinator): 1998 - 2002
Pre-Medical Program Review: 1998 & 2003
Arts and Science Curriculum Committee (elected): 1999 - 2000
Natural Sciences Curriculum Committee (elected): 2002
Research Issue & Scholarship Activities Committee: 2003 – 2006
Honors:
Dean's List - Kauai Community College, Fall 1984 to Spring 1986
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (Lifetime Member) - Spring, 1987
Professional Memberships:
Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS), 1996
National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP), 2000 - 2002
Hawaii Chapter, Society for Neuroscience, 2002
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – 2005
American Society for Microbiology (Hawaii Chapter) – 2005
Paper / Presentations:
March 6, 2004: BRIN, HPU Hawaii Campus – “Receptor Aggregation at the Neuromuscular
Synapse.”
April 30, 2004: Biomedical Symposium, UHM – “Molecular Roles of Dystrophin Complex and
Actin Filaments in the Formation of the Neuromuscular Synapse.”
August 4, 2006: INBRE Summer Fellowship Poster Presentation – “ Characterization of
TMEM16E and TMEM16F”
Grants / Fellowships:
Biomedical Research Intramural Network - Mini-grants: Summer 2003, & Academic Year 2003 to
2004
IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Summer Fellowship, 2006
Previous Collaborations:
Heinz Gert de Couet’s lab (UMH) – production of transgenic Xenopus embryos tagged with
moesin-GFP markers.
Kristen Kroll (Washington University at St. Louis) – design of transgenic Xenopus embryos.
