The functions of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). Characterization of the role of PKG in tumor biology, including angiogenesis, apoptosis and differentiation. Preclinical studies in animal models compliment in vitro work to establish PKG as a target for the treatment of colon cancer.
DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair and nucleotide metabolism are critical determinants of resistance to many types of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and ionizing radiation (IR). Therefore, expanding our knowledge of both pathways is of considerable significance for discovering a novel therapy as well as improving the existing options. Our laboratory contributes to this effort by investigating the overlaps between the two pathways and implication to cancer. We mainly focus on delineating functions and regulation of genes like SAMHD1, a known player in nucleotide metabolism and DNA damage response, while determining its coordination with RNR, a well-established nucleotide regulator. Our ultimate goal is exploring the possibility of utilizing knowledge gained to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancers such as malignant glioma.
Epigenetic and genetic regulation of tumor suppressor gene expression, mechanism of apoptosis resistance in tumor immune evasion and escape, development of molecular target-based chemotherapy to enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.
Institutional Faculty List | Lab web page
Discovery and analysis of novel biochemical transporters and receptors in retina which may be useful in the development of new therapeutic targets in the treatment and prevention of diabetic retinopathy.
Neurodegenerative retinal diseases
Primary teaching faculty of Biochemistry and Genetics for Phase I Medicine. Component Director of Medical Biochemistry and Module Director for the Cellular and Molecular Basis of Medicine (MEDI-5150) module. Facilitator in Problem-Based Learning for Essentials of Clinical Medicine 1 and 2.
Research interests relate to discovery and characterization of novel nutrient transporters in order to understand their physiological role in nutrient delivery and develop strategies to utilize these transporters as targets for drug delivery and cancer chemoprevention.
Our research program is primarily focused on delineating the molecular mechanisms driving progression, recurrence and metastasis of urological malignancies, with a major focus on prostate cancer. Specific areas of interest include (i) Elucidating novel non-coding RNAs/microRNAs-mediated signaling pathways instrumental in cancer progression, recurrence and metastasis. (ii) Identification and validation of novel exosome/extracellular vesicle (EV)-based markers for better diagnosis and prognosis. Long term goals include identifying better biomarkers for advanced disease and seeding development of novel therapeutic strategies against metastatic disease.
Institutional Faculty List | Lab web page
Role of plasma membrane transporters in the uptake of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors into tumor cells; Relevance of these transporters to tumor suppression in mammary gland via HDAC inhibition; Physiologic role of these transporters in apoptosis associated with mammary gland involution; Epigenetic mechanisms responsible for silencing of these transporters in breast cancer.
Ahmed Chadli
Assistant Professor, PhD. Cancer Research Center. Molecular Oncology and Biomarkers
Institutional Faculty List
John Cowell
Professor, PhD. Cancer Research Center. Leader, Molecular Oncology and Biomarkers
Associate Director For Basic Sciences
Institutional Faculty List
Han-Fei Ding
Associate Professor, PhD Cancer Center. Signaling and Angiogenesis
Institutional Faculty List
Michael Duncan
Assistant Professor, PhD. Department of Medicine. Function of the extracellular matrix
(ECM) during liver injury and disease.
Institutional Faculty List
Yukai He
Associate Professor, M.D., PhD., M.S. Cancer Center, Cancer Immunology/Immunotherapy
Institutional Faculty List
Rickey Hicks
Professor, PhD, Dean of CSM, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Institutional Faculty List
Anatolij Horuzsko
Associate Professor, M.D., PhD. Cancer Center. Molecular Oncology and Biomarkers
Institutional Faculty List
Il-man Kim
Assistant Professor, PhD, Vascular Biology Center. Transcriptional regulation and
microRNA regulatory network by seven-transmembrane receptor (7TMR)-mediated -arrestin
signaling pathways
Institutional Faculty List
Pandelakis Koni
Associate Professor, PhD. Cancer Center, Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance
Institutional Faculty List
Abdullah Kutlar
Associate Professor. Medicine. Thallasemias. Globin gene regulation.
Institutional Faculty List
Greg Liou
Associate Professor, PhD. Department of Ophthalmology. Regulation of gene expression
in the retina.
Institutional Faculty List
Kumar Manicassamy
Assistant Professor, PhD. Cancer Center, Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance
Institutional Faculty List
David Munn
Professor, M.D., Cancer Center, Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance, Leader,
Dept. of Pediatric Oncology
Institutional Faculty List
Betty Pace
Professor, MD., Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Institutional Faculty List
Huidong Shi
Associate Professor, PhD, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cancer
Center
Institutional Faculty List
Gang Zhou
Assistant Professor, PhD. Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance
Institutional Faculty List
Melissa B. Davis
Assistant Professor, PhD, Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology
Brian P. Higgins
Assistant Professor, PhD, Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology
Amy Medlock
Assistant Professor, PhD, Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology
Michele Monteil
Professor, PhD, Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology
Keith Robertson
Associate Professor, PhD., Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Clive A. Slaughter
Associate Professor, PhD. Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology
Leslie Petch Lee
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Ata Abdel-Latif
Regent's Professor Emeritus; Ph D., IL Inst of Tech, 1963
Rashid Akhtar
Professor; PhD, London, 1975. Receptor-mediated phospholipid metabolism, generation
of second messenger molecules and their role in signal transduction in iris ciliary
body and corneal wound healing.
Institutional Faculty List
Vadivel Ganapathy
Professor; Chairman Emeritus; Ph.D. Biochemistry, University of Madras, India
Cancer biology; development of novel anticancer drugs; interaction between gut microbiome
and the host; structure and function of the retina in health and disease.
Frederick H. Leibach
Professor and Chairman Emeritus; Ph D., Emory University, 1964. Regulation of metabolic processes and transport systems in kidney and intestine;
biochemistry and physiology of amino acid and peptide transporters of the mammalian
cell plasma membrane.
