Thematic Research Areas:
Genetics and Genomics Research
 

Numerous faculty at UCHC 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.

Stephen Clark, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology. Characterization of mutations affecting connective tissues; molecular genetic mapping; generation and analysis of transgenic mice.

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. The molecular regulation of limb development in the vertebrate embryo, from early stages where the limb is initially formed, to limb patterning and outgrowth, to skeletogenesis.

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.

Henry M. Furneaux, Associate Professor of Molecular, Microbial and Structural Biology; Ph.D., University of Aberdeen, Scotland. The regulation of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level.

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

Gloria Gronowicz, Professor and Director of Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedics, Ph.D., Columbia University. Effects of hormones and growth factors on the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, on the regulation of integrins (receptors for ECM proteins) and on apoptosis in bone; response of bone cells to implant biomaterials.

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.

Robert A. Kosher, Ph.D., Professor Department of Biostructure and Function. Limb development; roles and relationships among regulatory genes particularly homeobox-containing genes, secreted signaling molecules, and the extracellular matrix in the regulation of limb formation, outgrowth, patterning, cartilage differentiation, osteogenesis, and joint formation.

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.

Sanjay Mallya, Assistant Professor of Oral Health and Diagnostic Sciences, Division of Oral Diagnosis, B.D.S., M.D.S., University of Bombay; Ph.D., University of Connecticut. Molecular genetics of oral cancer, Effects of parathyroid hormone on bone.

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, Assistant 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 Rowe, M.D., Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology. Hormonal regulation of Type I collagen in mature and developing bone; heritable disorders of bone formation.

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.

Petros Tsipouras, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics. Heritable disorders of connective tissue, nosology, and genetics; genetic linkage studies; molecular mechanisms of mutations in human collagen genes.

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.