Thematic Research Areas:
Genetics and Genomics Research
 

Numerous faculty at the UConn Health Center are engaged in cutting edge genetics and genomics research. For example, several groups use model organisms such as worms, flies, and mice, to address topics such as musculoskeletal development, cell fusion, aging, gene regulation and human disease. Genetics and genomics research frequently involves the generation of transgenic animals and genome-wide studies using microarrays and next-generation sequencing.
 

Alexander Amerik, M.S., Ph.D., Role of the ubiquitin system in protein degradation and sorting.

Andrew Arnold, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Genetics and Developmental Biology, Murray-Heilig Chair in Molecular Medicine, Director, Center for Molecular Medicine. Pathogenesis of parathyroid and other endocrine tumors, and role of the cyclin D1 oncogene in neoplasia, including breast cancer.

Gordon G. Carmichael, Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology; Ph.D., Harvard, 1975. Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes.

Stormy J. Chamberlain, Assistant Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology. Ph.D., University of Florida. Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell models to study 15q11-q13 imprinting disorders.

Soheil (Sam) Dadras, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, and Genetics and Developmental Biology, M.D.-Ph.D. Northwestern University. Discovery of small RNAs (including microRNA) as novel biomarkers in human melanoma progression and metastasis using next generation sequencing.

Asis K. Das, Professor of Molecular, Microbial and Structural Biology, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., University of Calcutta. Genetics, genomics and mechanisms of bacterial adaptive response; genetic control of bacteriophage lysogeny and lysis; and non-coding RNAs in prokaryotic development.

Caroline N. Dealy, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Oral Rehabilitation, Biomaterials and Skeletal Development, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development. Regulation of articular cartilage differentiation and homeostasis by matrix and growth factors; genetic control of skeletal development and regeneration; stem cells for repair or regeneration of cartilage or limb tissue; stem cells as models for cartilage disease .

Hicham Drissi, Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. Ph.D., Universite Paris V. Molecular pathways of bone and cartilage repair.

Richard Everson, Deputy Director for Cancer Prevention and Control, Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, M.D. University of Rochester, M.P.H. in Epidemiology University of North Carolina. Conducting large-scale cancer genomic clinical research and population studies by developing a state-wide biorepository of tumor tissue with analysis by high-throughput arrays and next generation sequencing.

Guo-Hua Fong, Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, Ph.D., University of Illinois. Developmental biology of the vascular system, VEGF-A receptor signal transduction, embryonic stem cells and gene knock-out in mice.

Brenton R. Graveley, Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology. Ph.D., University of Vermont, 1996. Regulation of alternative pre-mRNA splicing.

Gloria Gronowicz, Professor in the Department of Surgery with a secondary appointment in Orthopaedics, Ph.D., Columbia University. Projects: 1) Response of bone cells to implant biomaterials, 2) the effect of the human biofield, through Therapeutic Touch, on normal cells and breast cancer cells, and 3) otosclerosis.

Arthur Günzl, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology and Center for Microbial Pathogenesis. Transcription and Antigenic Variation in the mammalian parasite Trypanosoma brucei.

David Han, Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, Ph.D., Washington University, 1994. Apoptosis signaling using proteomics and mass spectrometry and bioinformatics technologies.

Marc Hansen, Professor of Medicine, M.S., University of Wisconsin 1982, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati College of Medicine 1986. Molecular genetics of osteosarcoma and related bone diseases.

Christopher Heinen, Assistant Professor of Medicine, B.Sc., Northwestern University, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati. Biochemical and cellular defects of the DNA mismatch repair pathway during tumorigenesis.

Marja Hurley, Professor of Medicine, M.D., University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Molecular mechanisms by which members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGFs) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) families, (produced by osteoblasts, osteoclasts and stromal cells) regulate bone development, remodeling and disorders of bone. Fgf2 knockout and Fgf2 transgenic mice are utilized in loss and gain of function experiments to elucidate the role of FGF-2 in disorders of bone including osteoporosis.

Lawrence A. Klobutcher, Professor of Molecular, Microbial and Structural Biology, B.S., Loyola University (Chicago), Ph.D., Yale University. DNA rearrangement in eukaryotic cells.

Barbara Kream, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Genetics and Developmental Biology. Hormonal regulation of bone remodeling.

Marc Lalande, Ph.D., Professor and Head of Genetics and Developmental Biology. Epigenetics including the control of gene expression in embryonic carcinoma stem cells and genomic imprinting and its association with neurogenetics disorders.

James Li, Ph.D., Assistant Professor. Development of the central nervous system (CNS), with an emphasis on the mammalian cerebellum.

William A. Mohler, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology. Developmental cell fusion; C. elegans genetics; multidimensional imaging of developmental and cell biological processes.

Justin D. Radolf, Professor of Medicine and Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, M.D., University of California-San Francisco. Molecular pathogenesis and immunobiology of spirochetal infections.

Ernst Reichenberger, Assistant Professor of Oral Rehabilitation, Biomaterials and Skeletal Development, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development. Ph.D., University of Erlangen. The Reichenberger laboratory is interested in learning about the complex processes required for generating and maintaining the skin and bones. To find out how the mechanisms operate in a healthy person, we study human genetic disorders in which they are disrupted.

Blanka Rogina, Associate Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Ph.D., Zagreb University School of Medicine. Biology of aging including the molecular genetic determinants of aging and longevity.

Daniel W. Rosenberg, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine. Molecular genetics of colorectal cancer; signaling pathways in the development of tumors; toxicogenomics

Lawrence I. Rothfield, Professor of Molecular, Microbial and Structural Biology, A.B., Cornell University, M.D., New York University. Membrane biology and biochemistry; bacterial cell division.

David W. Rowe, Professor of Reconstructive Sciences, Director of Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development, M.D., University of Vermont. Identification and characterization of cells within the mesenchymal lineages that lead to formation and maintenance skeletal tissues. Murine models for assessing cell based therapies for regeneration of adult skeletal structures.

Mansoor Sarfarazi, Ph.D., Professor of Surgery. Positional Mapping and Mutation Analysis of Human Genetic Disorders; Primary Open Angle Glaucoma, Primary Congenital Glaucoma, Synpolydactyly, Dyslexia, Mitral Valve Prolapse and Ascending Aortic Aneurysm.

Peter Setlow, Professor of Molecular, Microbial and Structural Biology, B.A., Swarthmore College, Ph.D., Brandeis University. Biochemistry of bacterial spore germination.

Linda Shapiro, Assistant Professor of Cell Biology; Ph.D., University of Michigan 1984. To dissect and analyze the regulation of tissue-restricted gene expression, my laboratory has concentrated on understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling transcription of the CD13/APN gene in hematopoietic cells and more recently, in angiogenic endothelium.

William B. Upholt, Ph.D., Professor of Professor of Oral Rehabilitation, Biomaterials and Skeletal Development, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development; Director, Skeletal, Craniofacial and Oral Biology Graduate Program. Regulation of gene expression during embryonic development; procollagen gene expression and regulation in limb chondrogenesis and skeletogenesis; pattern formation; homeobox genes.

Zhao-Wen Wang, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, Ph.D., Michigan State University. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter release; potassium and calcium channel function; Synaptic localization of potassium channels.

Ji Yu, Assistant Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin. Optical imaging technology; regulation mechanisms in dendritic RNA translation; cytoskeletal dynamics.