MM faculty and research

Colloid and interfacial chemistry, material synthesis and chemistry, powder characterization, and powder processing.

Understanding the changes in retinal vessels that occur in diabetes, in particular the increased microvessel permeability that occurs early in diabetes.

Regulation of T cell activation, differentiation and allergic asthma induction by ltk (Tec family kinases).

Inhalation toxicology, including evaluation of cardiorespiratory effects of the 9/11 terrorist attack on New York City.

Roles of RNA-binding proteins in plant physiology. Plant ribonomics. Identification and characterization of functional RNAs in plants.

Targeted transgenesis and transgene expression: stem cell differentiation/osteogenesis.

Defining the molecular details of genome replication in positive-strand RNA viruses and identifying components of this process suitable for antiviral drug development.

Identification and characterization of the cellular and molecular targets of vitamin D in the immune system.

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.

Molecular mechanism of synaptogenesis and plasticity.

Early changes in carcinogenesis.

Regulation of expression of iron-binding proteins in the nervous system.

Role of tegument proteins in the envelopment of Herpes Simplex Virus.

The significance of spontaneous and carcinogen-induced mutations at short tandem repeat (STR) DNA loci in human cells.

Molecular investigation of JC virus, including the role of viral proteins in altering cell cycle progression.

Translational research efforts to improve diabetes care in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.

Study of basic mechanisms which may initiate diabetic retinopathy, with particular focus on regulation of tight junction proteins.

Molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that regulate progression of squamous tumors from a benign to malignant phenotype.

Understanding the structures and interactions between Plasmodium falciparum and human glycoconjugates that lead to malaria pathogenesis.

Regulation of cell-mediated immunity, hematopoiesis, receptor tyrosine kinases, cellular transformation.

Molecular basis of bacterial infection pathology (including effects of bacterial virulence factors, such as toxins).

Understanding how paramyxoviruses (SV5) induce and inhibit apoptosis. Using SV5 as a vector for expressing foreign genes and for live vaccine development.

Mechanisms by which carcinogens induce genomic instability in lung cancer.

Virus-cell interactions in Hepatitis B Virus replication and pathogenesis.

Etiology of large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia. Identification of the molecular basis for metastatic disease in colorectal cancer.

Liver pathophysiology: cellular and molecular analyses of growth control, differentiation, apoptosis, cell injury, iron metabolism and Hepatitis Virus infection in hepatic cell systems.

Regulation of gene expression in mammalian cells by hormones and nutrients.

Retroviral integration and AIDS pathogenesis.

Mechanism of action of volatile inhaled anesthetics.

Regulation of kinase cascades by lipid-derived second messengers.

Hepatitis C and related viruses: how their replication interferes with host protein and membrane trafficking.

Signal Transduction, Growth Control, and Cancer Genetics

Regulation of the IGF (Insulin-like Growth Factor) system during catabolic conditions.

Neuronal glutamate synthesis and degradation.

Mechanisms involved in the induction and progression of tobacco-related cancers.

Chronic disease epidemiology; public health surveillance; Geographic Information System (GIS); cartography; community-based research; program evaluation; health disparities; Appalachian region; rural health; screening; prevention.

Molecular neurobiology, cell differentiation.

Regulation of neuronal cell death and neural differentiation.

Large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia

Structure, function and regulation of GABA-A receptors and their role in anxiety disorders.

Adipose tissue biology, nutrient signaling and obesity.

Breast cancer and the immune system; how metastatic, osteolytic breast cancer cells affect osteoblasts.

Regulation of the genes encoding steroidogenic enzymes in the human ovary.

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.

Differentiation-dependent replication of papillomaviruses and their role in carcinogenesis.

Cancer Research, Lung cancer and development, Cancer genomics, Molecular study of oncogene mechanism, Oncogenic signaling, Functional screens for novel cancer genes, Developing function-based tools to rapidly evaluate multiple candidate cancer genes.

TGF-beta signal transduction, anti-cancer therapeutics and diagnostics, motor proteins, and intracellular trafficking.

The activation of retinal microglia in the progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Regulatory mechanisms responsible for controlling the expression of biotransformation enzymes.

Molecular mechanisms of virus replication; intracellular trafficking pathways of retroviral proteins and cellular factors that are recruited to facilitate virus propagation.

Genetic and biochemical analysis of cell signaling during hematopoiesis.

Biochemistry of heat shock protein complexes; role of 90 kDa heat shock protein in stabilization of other cytosolic proteins.

Roles of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in the regulation of homeostasis, toxicology, and carcinogenesis.

Molecular, pharmacological and biophysical properties of voltage-gated ion channels; calcium signaling; malaria; toxins; assay development.

Regulation of immune function by oxidative stress and antioxidants, including selenium. Regulation of HIV transcription by selenium.

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.

Metabolic and genetic factors that affect cancer risk. Role of glutathione in protecting against oxidative damage, and its relationship with cancer development.

Genetic regulation of melanoma development.

Folding, function and stability of beta-sheet proteins.

Mechanisms of Epstein-Barr virus persistence and tumorigenesis.

Biological role of gangliosides.

Molecular mechanisms by which an asymmetric distribution of phospholipids is maintained across the plasma membrane in animal cells.

Biophysical Chemistry applied to solution NMR spectroscopy of partially disordered proteins. NMR studies of protein dynamics coupled with computational and theoretical studies of the coupling between nuclear spin relaxation and molecular motion.

Transport of nutrients across the blood-brain barrier. Cytokine-mediated activation of the brain's inflammatory/wound healing mechanisms in diabetes and strokes.

Peptides and growth of pancreatic cancer.

Structural biology of eukaryotic gene regulation.

Interaction of viral proteins with the host; viral attachment and modulation of the antiviral immune response.

Factors regulating human sebum production in acne.

Mechanisms of action of hypolipidemic drugs and peroxisome proliferators; steroid hormone receptor-mediated signal transduction; signal transduction by lipids and fatty acids; receptor-mediated carcinogenesis.

Protein synthesis in inflammation and sepsis and in development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

The potential of human embryonic stem cells in regenerative medicine.

Epigenetic histone modifications in cell differentiation and cancer.

Molecular mechanisms underlying development of tissue specific gamma/delta T cells and their role in infection and inflammation.

Molecular Motors and the Cytoskeleton, Protein Structure/Function and Dynamics, Enzyme Kinetics, Molecular Mechanisms of Myosin Based Motility.

Peptides and receptors in development, cancer, cell renewal, wound healing, angiogenesis, cornea, neurodegeneration, diabetes and Crohn's Disease.

Molecular mechanisms of cellular senescence and immortalization, and their roles in tumorigenesis.