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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.