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MM faculty and research

Faculty associated with the Molecular Medicine Intercollege Graduate Degree Program at Penn State, together with a summary of their research interests. Faculty are listed in alphabetical order of last name. To see more information about a faculty member, click on his/her name.

Name	Email/phone	Interests include
Antonetti, David Assistant Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology	dantonetti@psu.edu 717-531-5032 (Hershey)	Understanding the changes in retinal vessels that occur in diabetes, in particular the increased microvessel permeability that occurs early in diabetes.
August, Avery Professor of Immunology Co-chair, Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Molecular Medicine	axa45@psu.edu 814-863-3539 (University Park)	Regulation of T cell activation, differentiation and allergic asthma induction by ltk (Tec family kinases).
Bascom, Rebecca Professor of Medicine	rbascom@psu.edu 717-531-6525 (Hershey)	Inhalation toxicology, including evaluation of cardiorespiratory effects of the 9/11 terrorist attack on New York City.
Bronson, Sarah Associate Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology	sbronson@psu.edu 717-531-5194 (Hershey)	Targeted transgenesis and transgene expression: stem cell differentiation/osteogenesis.
Cameron, Craig Paul Berg Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	cec9@psu.edu 814-863-8705 (University Park)	Defining the molecular details of genome replication in positive-strand RNA viruses and identifying components of this process suitable for antiviral drug development.
Cantorna, Margherita Associate Professor in Molecular Immunology Co-chair, Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Immunology and Infectious Diseases	mxc69@psu.edu 814-863-2819 (University Park)	Identification and characterization of the cellular and molecular targets of vitamin D in the immune system.
Cavener, Douglas (Doug) Professor and Head of Biology	drc9@psu.edu 814-865-4562 (University Park)	Regulation of gene expression underlying neonatal development & organ system physiology; mouse models of human congenital diseases including juvenile diabetes, metabolic disorders, skeletal dysplasias, and central nervous system dysfunctions.
Clawson, Gary Professor of Pathology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	gac4@psu.edu 717-531-5632 (Hershey)	Early changes in carcinogenesis.
Connor, James Distinguished Professor and Vice-Chair Department of Neurosurgery	jrc3@psu.edu 717-531-6408 (Hershey)	Regulation of expression of iron-binding proteins in the nervous system.
Courtney, Richard Professor and Chair, Microbiology and Immunology	rjc11@psu.edu 717-531-6521 (Hershey)	Role of tegument proteins in the envelopment of Herpes Simplex Virus.
Eckert, Kristin Associate Professor of Pathology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	kae4@psu.edu 717-531-4065 (Hershey)	The significance of spontaneous and carcinogen-induced mutations at short tandem repeat (STR) DNA loci in human cells.
Frisque, Richard Professor of Molecular Virology	rjf6@psu.edu 814-863-3523 (University Park)	Molecular investigation of JC virus, including the role of viral proteins in altering cell cycle progression.
Gabbay, Robert Professor of Medicine	rgabbay@psu.edu 717-531-3592 (Hershey)	Translational research efforts to improve diabetes care in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.
Gardner, Thomas Professor of Ophthalmology, and Cellular and Molecular Physiology	tgardner@psu.edu 717-531-8783 (Hershey)	Study of basic mechanisms which may initiate diabetic retinopathy, with particular focus on regulation of tight junction proteins.
Glick, Adam Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences	abg11@psu.edu 814-865-7170 (University Park)	Molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that regulate progression of squamous tumors from a benign to malignant phenotype.
Gowda, Channe Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	gowda@psu.edu 717-531-0992 (Hershey)	Understanding the structures and interactions between Plasmodium falciparum and human glycoconjugates that lead to malaria pathogenesis.
Hankey, Pamela (Pam) Associate Professor of Immunology	phc7@psu.edu 814-863-0128 (University Park)	Regulation of cell-mediated immunity, hematopoiesis, receptor tyrosine kinases, cellular transformation.
Harvill, Eric Associate Professor of Microbiology and Infectious Disease	harvill@psu.edu 814-863-8522 (University Park)	Molecular basis of bacterial infection pathology (including effects of bacterial virulence factors, such as toxins).
He, Biao Assistant Professor of Veterinary Science	bxh40@psu.edu 814-863-8533 (University Park)	Understanding how paramyxoviruses (SV5) induce and inhibit apoptosis. Using SV5 as a vector for expressing foreign genes and for live vaccine development.
Herzog, Christopher Assistant Professor of Pharmacology	crh13@psu.edu 717-531-8285 (Hershey)	Mechanisms by which carcinogens induce genomic instability in lung cancer.
Hu, Jianming Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology	juh13@psu.edu 717-531-6523 (Hershey)	Virus-cell interactions in Hepatitis B Virus replication and pathogenesis.
Irby, Rosalyn Assistant Professor of Medicine	rirby@psu.edu 717-531-5035 (Hershey)	Etiology of large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia. Identification of the molecular basis for metastatic disease in colorectal cancer.
Isom, Harriet Distinguished Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Professor of Pathology	hci1@psu.edu 717-531-8609 (Hershey)	Liver pathophysiology: cellular and molecular analyses of growth control, differentiation, apoptosis, cell injury, iron metabolism and Hepatitis Virus infection in hepatic cell systems.
Jefferson, Leonard (Jim) Evan Pugh Professor and Chair of Cellular and Molecular Physiology	jjefferson@psu.edu 717-531-8567 (Hershey)	Regulation of gene expression in mammalian cells by hormones and nutrients.
Katzman, Michael Associate Professor of Medicine, and Microbiology and Immunology	mkatzman@psu.edu 717-531-8881 (Hershey)	Retroviral integration and AIDS pathogenesis.
Keil, Ralph Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	rkeil@psu.edu 717-531-8595 (Hershey)	Mechanism of action of volatile inhaled anesthetics.
Kester, Mark Professor of Pharmacology	mkester@psu.edu 717-531-8964 (Hershey)	Regulation of kinase cascades by lipid-derived second messengers.
Konan, Kouacou Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	kvk10@psu.edu 814-863-8254 (University Park)	Hepatitis C and related viruses: how their replication interferes with host protein and membrane trafficking.
LaNoue, Kathryn Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology	kfl1@psu.edu 717-531-8155 (Hershey)	Neuronal glutamate synthesis and degradation.
Lai, Zhi-Chun Professor of Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	zcl1@psu.edu 814-863-0479 (University Park)	Growth Control and Cancer Genetics
Lang, Charles Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, and Surgery	clang@psu.edu 717-531-5538 (Hershey)	Regulation of the IGF (Insulin-like Growth Factor) system during catabolic conditions.
Lazarus, Philip Associate Director, Penn State Cancer Institute Professor, Departments of Pharmacology & Health Evaluation Sciences	plazarus@psu.edu 717-531-5734 (Hershey)	Mechanisms involved in the induction and progression of tobacco-related cancers.
Lengerich, Eugene Professor of Health Evaluation Sciences	ejl6@psu.edu 717-531-7178 (Hershey)	Chronic disease epidemiology; public health surveillance; Geographic Information System (GIS); cartography; community-based research; program evaluation; health disparities; Appalachian region; rural health; screening; prevention.
Levenson, Robert Professor of Pharmacology	rlevenson@psu.edu 717-531-4545 (Hershey)	Molecular neurobiology, cell differentiation.
Liu, David Associate Professor of Neural and Behavioral Sciences	dxl39@psu.edu 717-531-4168 (Hershey)	Regulation of neuronal cell death and neural differentiation.
Loughran, Thomas Professor of Medicine Director of Penn State Cancer Institute	tloughran@psu.edu 717-531-4034 (Hershey)	Large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia
Luscher, Bernhard Professor of Biology Interim Co-Director, Penn State Neuroscience Institute	bxl25@psu.edu 814-865-5549 (University Park)	Structure, function and regulation of GABA-A receptors and their role in anxiety disorders.
Lynch, Christopher Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology	clynch@psu.edu 717-531-5170 (Hershey)	Adipose tissue biology, nutrient signaling and obesity.
Mastro, Andrea Professor of Microbiology and Cell Biology	a36@psu.edu 814-863-0152 (University Park)	Breast cancer and the immune system; how metastatic, osteolytic breast cancer cells affect osteoblasts.
McAllister, Jan Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology	jxm63@psu.edu 717-531-3588 (Hershey)	Regulation of the genes encoding steroidogenic enzymes in the human ovary.
McLaughlin, Patricia Professor of Neural and Behavioral Sciences Director, Graduate Program in Anatomy	pxm9@psu.edu 717-531-6414 (Hershey)	Growth factors and receptors in brain and heart development and cancer. The pentapeptide OGF and its receptor, OGFr; understanding the OGF-OGFr axis and its mechanisms of action in both normal and disease states.
Meyers, Craig Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Co-Chair, Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Molecular Medicine	cmm10@psu.edu 717-531-6240 (Hershey)	Differentiation-dependent replication of papillomaviruses and their role in carcinogenesis.
Moore, Gregory Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Neural & Behavioral Sciences Director, Behavioral Neuroimaging Research Division	gmoore@psu.edu 717-531-8646 (Hershey)	Neuroimaging biomarkers.
Mulder, Kathleen Professor of Pharmacology	kmm15@psu.edu 717-531-6789 (Hershey)	TGF-beta signal transduction, anti-cancer therapeutics and diagnostics, motor proteins, and intracellular trafficking.
Norbury, Chris Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology	ccn1@psu.edu 717-531-7204 (Hershey)	The activation of retinal microglia in the progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Omiecinski, Curtis (Curt) Professor of Veterinary Science H. Thomas and Dorothy Willits Hallowell Chair	cjo10@psu.edu 814-863-1625 (University Park)	Regulatory mechanisms responsible for controlling the expression of biotransformation enzymes.
Parent, Leslie Associate Professor of Medicine, and Microbiology and Immunology	lparent@psu.edu 717-531-8881 (Hershey)	Molecular mechanisms of virus replication; intracellular trafficking pathways of retroviral proteins and cellular factors that are recruited to facilitate virus propagation.
Paulson, Robert (Bob) Assistant Professor of Veterinary Science	rfp5@psu.edu 814-863-6306 (University Park)	Genetic and biochemical analysis of cell signaling during hematopoiesis.
Perdew, Gary Professor of Veterinary Science	ghp2@psu.edu 814-865-0400 (University Park)	Biochemistry of heat shock protein complexes; role of 90 kDa heat shock protein in stabilization of other cytosolic proteins.
Peters, Jeffrey Professor of Environmental Toxicology Co-chair, Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Molecular Toxicology	jmp21@psu.edu 814-863-1387 (University Park)	Roles of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in the regulation of homeostasis, toxicology, and carcinogenesis.
Reese, Joseph (Joe) Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	jcr8@psu.edu 814-865-1976 (University Park)	UV resistance pathways in eukaryotes. Regulation of DNA damage inducible genes by chromatin. Role of a highly conserved RNA helicase in DNA damage resistance and viral pathogenesis.
Richie, John Professor, Public Health Sciences & Pharmacology	jrichie@psu.edu 717-531-5381 (Hershey)	Metabolic and genetic factors that affect cancer risk. Role of glutathione in protecting against oxidative damage, and its relationship with cancer development.
Robertson, Gavin Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Pathology, and Dermatology Co-Chair Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Genetics	gprobertson@psu.edu 717-531-8098 (Hershey)	Genetic regulation of melanoma development.
Ropson, Ira Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	iropson@psu.edu 717-531-4064 (Hershey)	Folding, function and stability of beta-sheet proteins.
Sample, Jeffery	jts21@psu.edu (Hershey)	Mechanisms of Epstein-Barr virus persistence and tumorigenesis.
Schengrund, Cara-Lynne Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	cxs8@psu.edu 717-531-8048 (Hershey)	Biological role of gangliosides.
Schlegel, Robert Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	ur3@psu.edu 814-865-6974 (University Park)	Molecular mechanisms by which an asymmetric distribution of phospholipids is maintained across the plasma membrane in animal cells.
Simpson, Ian Professor of Neural and Behavioral Sciences	ixs10@psu.edu 717-531-4156 (Hershey)	Transport of nutrients across the blood-brain barrier. Cytokine-mediated activation of the brain's inflammatory/wound healing mechanisms in diabetes and strokes.
Smith, Jill Professor of Medicine	jsmith2@psu.edu 717-531-3694 (Hershey)	Peptides and growth of pancreatic cancer.
Tan, Song Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	sxt30@psu.edu 814-865-3355 (University Park)	Structural biology of eukaryotic gene regulation.
Teng, Michael Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	mnt2@psu.edu 814-865-4347 (University Park)	Interaction of viral proteins with the host; viral attachment and modulation of the antiviral immune response.
Thiboutot, Diane Professor of Dermatology	dthiboutot@psu.edu 717-531-8307 (Hershey)	Factors regulating human sebum production in acne.
Vary, Thomas Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology	tvary@psu.edu 717-531-5014 (Hershey)	Protein synthesis in inflammation and sepsis and in development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Vrana, Kent Elliot S. Vesell Professor and Chair of Pharmacology	kvrana@psu.edu 717-531-8285 (Hershey)	The potential of human embryonic stem cells in regenerative medicine.
Wang, Yanming Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	yuw12@psu.edu 814-865-3775 (University Park)	Epigenetic histone modifications in cell differentiation and cancer.
Xiong, Na Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Director, Transgenic Mouse Facility	nux1@psu.edu 814-863-2933 (University Park)	Molecular mechanisms underlying development of tissue specific gamma/delta T cells and their role in infection and inflammation.
Zagon, Ian Distinguished Professor of Neural and Behavioral Science Director, Program on Education in Human Structure	isz1@psu.edu 717-531-8650 (Hershey)	Peptides and receptors in development, cancer, cell renewal, wound healing, angiogenesis, cornea, neurodegeneration, diabetes and Crohn's Disease.
Zhu, Jiyue Assistant Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology	joz1@psu.edu 717-531-3597 (Hershey)	Molecular mechanisms of cellular senescence and immortalization, and their roles in tumorigenesis.

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MM faculty and research