The Agazie lab focuses on the role of the Src homology phosphotyrosyl phosphatase 2 (SHP2) in receptor tyrosine kinase and the Wnt/ β- catenin signaling pathways and its role in cancer.

In July of 2006, I began a new chapter of my life, assuming the position of dean of the undergraduate campus of Oman Medical College, located in Muscat, Oman. As Dean, I am responsible for designing the curriculum, mentoring and managing faculty and interacting with students extensively. I enjoyed learning the culture and working with the students and hope to explore in greater depth the culture and geography of Oman. I am looking forward to this new journey in my life, but will always cherish fond memories of everyone in the department with whom I have interacted over the years.

The mechanism of anoikis and the development of novel cancer therapeutics based on this mechanism is a major focus of the laboratory.

While actively engaged in research my interests were focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of selectivity in G protein signaling and receptor theory. Areas of special expertise include expression and purification of proteins, functional reconstitution of membrane proteins, binding analysis, non-linear curve fitting and other statistical analysis. Recently I have ended my own research program to direct the Department of Biochemistry Protein Core and to concentrate on the educational mission of the department.

Dr. Gunther’s research has been directed towards understanding how mutant forms of the protein superoxide dismutase cause the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The primary interests of the lab have been identifying and characterizing free radicals formed on proteins with the hope of understanding how these unstable species might contribute to disease pathophysiology. In recent years we have been studying mitochondrial defects that arise from the expression of the ALS-causing mutant superoxide dismutase proteins in yeast. The main tools used in our laboratory are UV-visible spectroscopy and EPR spectroscopy, which is used to study free radicals.

The Hillgartner lab is interested in the mechanisms mediating the nutritional and hormonal regulation of genes involved carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

The laboratory of Alexey Ivanov, Ph.D., focuses on mechanisms that regulate gene expression with a special emphasis on how the DNA-packaging structure of chromatin is regulated during cellular processes. The laboratory seeks to define the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that govern the normal silencing of genes during development and homeostasis, as well as disruptions of these governing mechanisms during tumor initiation and progression.

Dr. Miller has two main research interests: 1) the spirochete that causes Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) and 2) bacteria in scuba diver’s rinse tanks. Research areas include: interaction of Bb with the vascular system, Bb-induced inflammation, how Bb penetrates blood vessels and molecular mechanisms regulating Bb chemotaxis and motility. He also studies bacterial contamination of communal equipment- and mask-rinse tanks used by scuba divers.

The fundamental question we are interested in is how cell adhesion and cell mitotic machineries communicate with each other. It is the matter of life for a multi-cellular organism, where specific and oriented adhesions were evolutionary necessary to develop. The focus of the Pugacheva Lab is the focal adhesion scaffolding proteins of the Cas family and their role in proliferation and invasion. Our current efforts are dedicated to outlining the molecular mechanisms governing Cas dependent activation of oncogenic kinase AurA and finding AurA substrates responsible for tumor progression.

Dr. Rajendran is interested in investigating the electrolyte transport processes that regulate colonic fluid movement during physiological and pathophysiological (diarrhea and ulcerative colitis) conditions. We focus to identify the Ca2+-activated intermediate conductance (also known as KCNN4) K+ channel isoform that provides the driving force for Cl- secretion in several fluid secreting epithelial cells. To achieve this goal, we employ electrophysiology, biochemical, molecular and biophysical techniques.

Dr. Riedel’s research program addresses the cellular signaling circuits that control normal cell proliferation, metabolism and the specific defects in these processes that underlie cancer and diabetes - with a combination of molecular cell biology, functional genomics/bioinformatics and proteomics approaches. A new project is focused on the design of cell-permeant zinc finger nucleases to directly attack a pathogen genome such as human papillomavirus (HPV) the causal agent of cervical cancer. The second project has discovered and is defining alternative signaling mechanisms of receptor tyrosine kinases that are independent of their catalytic activity with a current focus on the insulin receptor.

The Ruppert lab is interested in the role of the zinc finger transcription factors KLF4/GKLF and Gli1 as regulators of chromatin structure, gene transcription and malignant transformation in epithelial cells, and their role in tumors such as breast cancer and skin cancer.

The long-term goal of the laboratory is to understand the molecular details by which fatty acids regulate cellular functions. 

Dr. Schaller is interested in signal transduction and the regulation of cell growth, survival and motility in normal cells, cancer cells and endothelial cells. Signaling events regulated by tyrosine kinases and phosphatases following cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix are of particular interest. Multiple strategies, including molecular, biochemical, proteomic, structural, cell biology and animal model approaches, are being applied in his lab to study the mechanism of action of these types of enzymes.

Research interests in the Van Dyke laboratory are centered in two main areas: chemotherapy and inflammation.

Dr. Wonderlin is interested in the structure and function of ion channels and large pores. His research combines physiological, biochemical and cell biological techniques. His current primary focus is on the physiological properties of the Sec61 translocon in the endoplasmic reticulum.

The interests in the Crout laboratory lie in the areas of pharmacology, periodontics and oral health disparities.

Dr. Ma’s laboratory is interested in understanding the function and mechanism of action of xenobiotic-activated receptors (XARs) in mediating biological responses to xenochemicals, small chemicals that humans encounter from the environment including therapeutics, environmental/occupational carcinogens and toxicants, and dietary constituents.

The Mathers laboratory is specifically interested in studying genes that are critical for forming the sensory organs of the head: the eyes, the ears, and the nose.

Dr. Petros is interested in elucidation of factors which determine inter-individual variability in anti-cancer drug response and toxicity. The most common approaches he pursues involve investigation of drug clinical pharmacology and pharmacogenomics. In addition, he is involved in the design of anti-cancer drug trials including those in the early phases of investigation.

Biochemical mechanisms behind gene mutations that result in photoreceptor cell death; Protein methylation in neurons; Gene therapy for blinding diseases.

The primary research interests of the Sokolov laboratory are understanding molecular mechanisms of protein homeostasis in neurons that require molecular chaperones.

George P. Tryfiates PhD, Professor Emeritus