Dr. Bauer’s research interests include cancer genomics and integration of heterogenous datasets in multiple myeloma and investigating cancer disparities in minority and rural populations.
The overall objective of my research is to elucidate biological mechanisms of cardiovascular injury from exposure to ionizing radiation and to identify potential methods for intervention. We focus on radiation-induced heart disease as a side effect of radiation therapy to the chest and cardiovascular effects of exposure to space radiation. Our research is performed with animal models of whole-body irradiation and image-guided localized irradiation combined with in vivo non-invasive echocardiography, ex vivo cardiac function measurements, and histological and molecular analyses.
My research focuses on how environmental and occupational exposure, nutrition, and genetic diversity influence cancer initiation, promotion, and progress.
My research focuses on how environmental and occupational exposure, nutrition, and genetic diversity influence cancer initiation, promotion and progress.
The major focus of my research is to characterize the molecular mechanisms of helicases involved in regulation of the DNA damage response using biochemical, biophysical, and systems biology approaches with the overall goal of designing better cancer treatments.
Our research focus is aimed at investigating the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms at the enhancers and promoters of the critical oncogenes and tumor suppressors that drive malignant proliferation and invasion during leukemogenesis in the Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients, characterized with BET (BRD4), SET (KMT2A, EZH2, and NSD1) or runt (CBFA2T3) over-expressed domains. Using the multi-omics platform, we intend to identify the alterations in DNA methylation, histone modifications and transcription factor assemblies in and outside the topologically assorted domains (TAD) in AML. We also aim to study the recurrent epigenetic mutations in AML patients in relation to their effect on the cancer cell metabolism. Suitable cells or animals will be induced with the mutant proteins to study the deleterious effects on the chromatin spread, transcriptional dysfunctions and metabolic turnover in the course hematopoiesis. CRISPR-multiplex or small molecule based drugs would be screened for their efficacy against the vulnerable targets of the mutant phenotypes
The Delgado-Calle laboratory focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which cancer cells alter the biology of other cells in the tumor/bone marrow microenvironment, in particular osteocytes, with the final goal of identifying targetable factors for the treatment of cancer that grows in bone. We employ ex vivo and in vitro models to study osteocyte-tumor biology, and animal models of cancer-induced bone disease to characterize the effects of genetic and pharmacologic approaches on tumor growth and bone remodeling. Current projects in the laboratory investigate the effects osteocyte-derived factors and bidirectional Notch signaling between myeloma cells and osteocytes on MM progression, myeloma cell dormancy, and cancer-induced bone disease.
Primary areas of investigation are aimed at enhancing our understanding of cancer biology to discover and develop improved methods for cancer treatment. Our major future objective is to significantly and positively contribute to translational research and clinical practice.
Website: Research Profile
Dr. Dixon’s research focuses on cancer biology and the role of post-transcriptional gene regulation on normal and tumor cell function. We use a variety of cellular, molecular, and in vivo techniques in our studies to develop early cancer-detection blood markers and chemoprevention drugs for the prevention of colorectal and pancreatic tumor progression.
Our lab studies DNA replication and DNA damage tolerance: mechanisms and roles in cancer.
Virology, cancer biology, immunology! Gammaherpesviruses are cancer-causing viruses that infect the majority of humans. We are working to define functions of viral proteins in infection and disease, identify host factors that block viral infection and prevent virus-driven cancers, and understand immune responses to chronic viral infections. Our major goal is to comprehend the complex relationship between gammaherpesviruses and their hosts. PLUS, we get to do cool science and figure out how stuff works!
Radiation and Cancer biology, exosomes and cell to cell crosstalk in stem cell differentiation and activity, nanomedicine applications. Dr. Griffin’s research interests include: molecular and physiological mechanisms of radiation and thermal sensitization; modulation of tumor blood flow, angiogenesis and oxygenation; biology and physiology of thermal therapy; and oxygen partial pressure as predictor of cancer treatment response.
Dr. Hsu’s laboratory uses population-based omics approach to address the factors that are contributing to the cancer health disparities. Her work aims to understand early prediction markers for chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients.
Our overall research goal is to identify the molecular mechanisms behind the genomic instability at critical oncogenes in lymphoma and the role DNA secondary structures may play in facilitating these genomic alterations. We are also interested in the impact of HIV infection on the molecular oncogenesis of lymphoma. To address these important questions we integrate basic and translational science using in silico, ex vivo, cell-based and tissue-based genomic and proteomic approaches.
Our lab has focused on the novel role of nuclear receptor NR2E3 in liver diseases and cancer. Among 48 human nuclear receptors, the biological roles of NR2E3 remain largely unknown. Our long-term goal is to develop precision medicine for liver disease and cancer based on mechanism-based, gene-oriented epigenetic therapy.
Dr. Koss’s research interests are focused on understanding the fundamental mechanisms T cells utilize to adapt to environmental stress. His laboratory is currently developing and applying cutting-edge proteomic approaches to elucidate how proteome turnover dynamics influence the ability of a T cell to persist in solid tumors. To translate these findings, his laboratory seeks to establish new immune monitoring methodologies and engineer CAR T-cell therapies with superior persistence in the solid tumor environment.
Dr. Leung is an established investigator in the field of hormone regulation of cancer and is an expert on the developmental origin of cancer risk and the impact of environmental estrogens/endocrine disruption on epigenetics reprogramming.
The Liu lab studies host intrinsic innate signaling using poxvirus as probing tool. We also engineer poxviruses for immunotherapy of cancer such as ovarian cancer.
Young-Chen William Lu research focuses on the development of effective T cell-based immunotherapies for patients with metastatic cancers. Lu has played a pivotal role in the successful cancer treatments using the T-cell therapies targeting shared cancer antigens or patient-specific mutated antigens. More recently, he also utilizes single-cell sequencing technologies to facilitate the development of new T-cell therapies against cancer.
My research focuses on cell cycle control, stem cells, cancer stem cells, drug discovery, mRNA translation, and vertebrate development.
We are interested in studying primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), an aggressive B cell cancer caused by the Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus or human herpesvirus 8 (KSHV/HHV8). PEL tumor cells rely on the constitutive expression of virally encoded genes that globally reprogram host gene expression to create a conducive environment optimal for tumor cell proliferation and survival.
The laboratory of Dr. Moldoneavu centers on utilizing structural and biochemical approaches to understand the mechanisms of programmed cell death including apoptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis particularly in myeloma.
Dr. Qin's research focuses on cancer oncology and microbiology. He has an active NIH/NCI research award titled Periodontal Bacteria Enhance Oral KSHV Pathogenesis and Kaposi's Sarcoma Development in HIV+ Patients.
I specialize in epigenetics, with a focus on how environmental factors linked to cancer affect DNA and histone methylation. I investigate how the supply and metabolism of the methyl donor methionine modulates these responses and alters cancer development. My current project studies how to modulate dietary methionine to alter autophagy and improve the response rate to immunotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma.
Dr. Rahman’s laboratory is interested to study the mechanisms of alternative splicing (AS) and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) misregulation in cancer, and the means by which faulty AS or/and NMD can be corrected for therapy. My research utilizes biochemistry, molecular biology, genome editing, transcriptomics, proteomics, computational biology, and antisense pharmacology to study RNA metabolism in normal and cancer cells to contribute in developing effective cancer therapies.
My research focuses on protein-nucleic acid interactions.
Dr. Ryan’s research focuses on the identification of molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in Rho GTPase signaling. Rho family GTPases act as ‘molecular switches’ and are master regulators of many aspects of cellular behavior including regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, gene expression, cell cycle, cell migration, and apoptosis. Many cellular processes regulated by Rho GTPases, are commonly dysregulated in cancer.
My laboratory focuses on histone epigenetic mechanisms that regulate gene transcription and that are coupled to melanoma progression. We utilize a suite of techniques in our studies including proteomics of human biopsies, immunohistochemistry, cell culture, tumorigenicity assays, ChIPseq, biochemical and proteomic approaches for analyses of protein complexes, and cutting-edge mass spectrometry for the analysis of histone post-translational modifications.
The Taverna laboratory studies how histone marks contribute to an “epigenetic/histone code” that may dictate chromatin-templated functions like transcriptional activation and gene silencing, as well as how these On/Off states are inherited/ propagated. For example, transcription-modulating protein complexes with PHD finger motifs (methyl lysine “readers”) or Bromodomains (acetyl lysine “readers”) often have enzymatic activities that “write” these same histone marks. To explore these connections we use biochemistry and cell biology in a variety of model organisms ranging from mammals to yeast and ciliates. The lab also investigates links between small RNAs and histone marks involved in gene silencing. Importantly, many histone binding proteins have clear links to human disease, notably melanoma, leukemia, and other cancers.
Dr. Wolfe’s research is interdisciplinary, spanning the interface between DNA repair and radiation therapy in deadly cancers. The lab studies aspects of oncogenic DNA repair regulation, homologous recombination dynamics, and radiation mouse models of human cancer.
We are interested in the pathophysiology of multiple myeloma (MM), a B cell cancer characterized by proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow, presence of a monoclonal serum immunoglobulin, and osteolytic lesions. We are investigating roles/mechanisms of PTH axis (PTH signal transduction) in MM development and therapeutic agents that target this axis. Additionally we are exploring the roles of Hypoxia (low oxygen tension) and microRNA (miRNA) in MM.
Dr. Zhu’s research interests focus on identifying biomarkers associated with cancer risk, progression, and survival, as well as investigating their translational implications. His laboratory examines the impact of circadian factors, such as night shift work and changes in circadian genes, on tumorigenesis. Another focus involves translational research into small noncoding RNAs.