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Affiliated Faculty

This list of affiliated investigators can help you identify potential research mentors at the University of Pittsburgh. PSTP students can, and do, work with mentors not on this list, but the investigators featured below have expressed interest in hosting PSTP students in their laboratories.

Kalil Abdulla, MD
Kalil Abdulla, MD
Research Areas: Cancer, Neurosurgery
Research Summary:

Brain tumors, hydrocephalus, Chiari malformations, trigeminal neuralgia, and traumatic br

Taylor Abel, MD
Taylor Abel, MD
Research Areas: Neurosurgery
Research Summary:

Neural mechanisms of visual and auditory perception.  

Sameer Agnihotri, PhD
Sameer Agnihotri, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer, Neurosurgery
Research Summary:

The Brain Tumor Biology and Therapy Laboratory studies pediatric and adult high-grade gliomas (HGG)—focusing on brain tumor signing, glioma metabolism and using genomics to identify novel and effective therapies.

Susanne E Ahmari
Susanne Ahmari, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience, Psychiatry
Research Summary:

The Ahmari Lab investigates the molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms underlying repetitive and compulsive behaviors in preclinical models and translates findings into the clinic through collaborative research studies in people with OCD.

Katherine Aird
Katherine Aird, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer
Research Summary:

The Aird Lab studies the bidirectional interplay between cellular metabolism and the cell cycle in cancer.
 

Elias Aizenman
Elias Aizenman, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Cellular and Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration

Aizenstein
Howard Aizenstein, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering, Psychiatry
Research Summary:

Cellular and Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration

Jonathan Alder
Jonathan Alder, PhD
Research Areas: Pulmonary
Research Summary:

The Alder lab focuses on understanding the contribution of telomere length to human health and disease.

Ambrose
Zandrea Ambrose, PhD
Research Areas: Infectious Diseases
Research Summary:

HIV infection and therapeutics

William Anderst
William Anderst, PhD
Research Summary:

The Biodynamics Lab investigates the effects of age, injury, surgery, and rehabilitation on dynamic joint function. 

Apodaca
Gerard Apodaca, PhD
Research Areas: Genetics, Nephrology, Pathology
Research Summary:

Endocytic pathways and stretch-regulated endocytosis/exocytosis in bladder

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Stephen Badylak, MD, PhD, DVM
Research Areas: Bioengineering
Research Summary:

Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, emphasis upon clinical application; Cell:biomaterial interactions; Epimorphic regeneration in mammals

Kelly Bailey
Kelly Bailey, MD, PhD
Research Summary:

The Bailey laboratory focuses on the intersection of DNA damage and immunobiology in Ewing sarcoma, a primary bone tumor diagnosed in adolescents. 

Bakkenist
Christopher Bakkenist, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer, Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Identify phosphorylations, dephosphorylations and acetylations that regulate ATM activity in vivo

Batista
Aaron Batista, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering, Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Neurophysiology of sensory-motor coordination, brain-machine interfaces

Becker
Jason Becker, MD
Research Areas: Cardiovascular
Research Summary:

Investigation of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the pathogenesis of genetic and acquired cardiomyopathies

Kambez Benam
Kambez Benam, DPhil
Research Areas: Bioengineering, Pulmonary
Research Summary:

Dr. Benam is the founder of Translational and Multidisciplinary Lung Microengineering Lab, which brings together researchers from the engineering, biology, bio-pharmaceutical industry, clinical and business communities with the aim of developing new technologies that recreate complex human organ pathophysiology in vitro, and applying them to discover novel therapeutics and personalized biomarkers. His research focuses on applying disruptive technologies that enable him and his team to elucidate cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern tissue pathology or offer protection during lung injury and host-environment interaction.

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Timothy Billiar, MD
Research Areas: Surgery
Research Summary:

The Billiar Lab focuses on the immune responses to acute systemic stresses of major clinical relevance including trauma and surgical sepsis

Binder
Robert Binder, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer
Research Summary:

The mechanisms of cross-priming of antigens during immune responses to cancer, viruses and autoimmunity

Borghesi
Lisa Borghesi , PhD
Research Summary:

Demand adapted hematopoiesis in infection and inflammation

Miguel Brieno-Enriquez
Miguel Brieño-Enríquez, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Women's Health
Research Summary:

Research in the Brieño-Enríquez lab focuses on the regulation of gametogenesis and reproductive aging in mammals (human, mouse and naked mole-rat) and, more specifically, the fundamental mechanisms that are required to produce viable germ cells and maintain them along the lifespan. 

Brodsky
Jeffrey Brodsky, PhD
Research Areas: Structural Biology
Research Summary:

Protein “quality control”, diseases associated with misfolded proteins, and drug treatments for these diseases

Buckanovich
Ronald Buckanovich, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer, Women's Health
Research Summary:

Tumor microenvironment, Cancer stem cells, novel therapeutics for cancer

Burns
Timothy Burns, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer, Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Development of targeted therapies for KRAS mutant NSCLC; Reactivation of OIS and apoptosis; Mechanisms of acquired resistance to targeted agents

Byrne
Leah Byrne, PhD
Research Areas: Genetics, Ophthalmology
Research Summary:

Gene therapy, viral vector engineering, genome editing, inherited retinal degeneration, genetics of eye disease

Callaway
Clifton Callaway, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Improving recovery from brain injury after cardiac arrest

Franca Cambi
Franca Cambi, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Neurology
Research Summary:

The overarching goal of my research is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underlie oligodendrocyte and myelin mediated support to neuronal cell and neural circuitry integrity in models of neurodegeneration. 

Chalasani
Geetha Chalasani, MD
Research Areas: Nephrology
Research Summary:

Understanding how memory T cells are generated in transplantation

Chan
Stephen Chan, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Cardiovascular
Research Summary:

Basic science and translational research studying the molecular mechanisms of pulmonary vascular disease and pulmonary hypertension

Chang
Yuan Chang, MD
Research Areas: Cancer, Pathology
Research Summary:

The study of human tumor viruses

Cheetham
Claire Cheetham, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Development, plasticity and regeneration of neural circuits

Chen
Yuanyuan Chen, PhD
Research Areas: Ophthalmology, Pharmacology
Research Summary:

The Chen lab is interested in the pharmacological studies of visual disorders caused by protein misfolding. The lab's current three projects include pharmacological studies of rhodopsin metabolism, roles of purine metabolites in photoreceptor degeneration, and drug discovery of myocilin-associated glaucoma.

Jay Chhablani Picture
Jay Chhablani, MD
Research Areas: Ophthalmology
Research Summary:

Machine learning approach for OCT biomarkers identification in age-related macular degeneration

Chu
Charleen Chu, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience, Pathology
Research Summary:

Redox signaling & autophagy in neuroprotection and neurodegeneration; Mitochondrial phosphoproteomics; Genetic & toxin models of Parkinson’s disease

Clemens
Paula Clemens, MD
Research Areas: Neurology, Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Models of muscle disease causing muscular dystrophy and muscle atrophy; Translational research for treatment of muscle disease

Clermont
Gilles Clermont, MD
Research Summary:

Big data analytics, predictive modeling, and dynamic modeling of disease

Coffman
Lan Coffman, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer, Women's Health
Research Summary:

Stomal Interactions critical to the survival, growth, and spread of ovarian cancer

Cui
X. Tracy Cui, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering
Research Summary:

The intersection of neural engineering and biomaterials with specific focus on neural electrode-tissue interface, neural tissue engineering, biosensor and drug delive

Christopher Cunningham
Christopher Cunningham, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience, Otolaryngology
Research Summary:

The Cunningham Lab studies molecular and cellular mechanisms of protein assembly and trafficking in the mammalian auditory system with an ultimate goal of developing therapies for hearing loss.

Jishnu Das Photo
Jishnu Das, PhD
Research Summary:

Our research focuses on the development and use of novel systems approaches to analyze high-dimensional immunological datasets, and elucidate mechanisms of immune regulation and dysregulation. Our previous work has utilized systems approaches to analyze Mendelian mutations in the context of three-dimensional protein-protein interaction networks, to understand molecular mechanisms of corresponding disorders. We have also developed network analyses frameworks to characterize the evolutionary dynamics of these protein networks. Another dimension of our past work has been the use of statistical methods for the analyses of high-dimensional data and machine-learning approaches to elucidate correlates of natural and vaccine-mediated immunity in HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.

Davidson
Lance Davidson, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering
Research Summary:

Our group combines experimental and theoretical approaches to reverse-engineer the inherently mechanical processes of cell and tissue development.

Davis
Brian Davis, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of central and peripheral nervous system development and plasticity

DeFrances
Marie DeFrances, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Pathology
Research Summary:

HGF-MET-PI3K signaling in liver development, growth, regeneration and cancer. She has identified a novel regulator of the catalytic subunit of PI3K (p110) called PI3K interacting protein 1 (PIK3IP1)

DeFranco
Donald DeFranco, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience, Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Steroid hormone action in neural stem cells and cancer

Delgoffe
Greg Delgoffe, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer
Research Summary:

The metabolic regulation of T cell function, with a specific focus of those T cells that infiltrate the nutrient-poor tumor microenvironment

DeLuca
Neal DeLuca, PhD
Research Areas: Infectious Diseases
Research Summary:

HSV gene expression in productive and persistent infections

Dermody
Terence Dermody, MD
Research Areas: Pediatrics
Research Summary:

Research in the Dermody laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms of Mammalian Orthoreovirus (reovirus) and Chikungunya virus infections

Berthony Deslouches
Berthony Deslouches, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Infectious Diseases
Research Summary:

The design and development of cationic peptides as an effective countermeasure to the persistent problem of antibiotic resistance and other types of hard-to-treat infectious diseases.

Dombrovski
Alexandre Dombrovski, MD
Research Areas: Psychiatry
Research Summary:

Decision processes in late-life suicidal behavior and in borderline personality

Donnelly
Chris Donnelly, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

The molecular pathogenesis of neurodegeneration and aging

Andrew Duncan
Andrew Duncan, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer
Research Summary:

The Duncan lab studies liver homeostasis, regeneration, and injury, focusing on the role of hepatic chromosome variations (polyploidy and aneuploidy). 

Falo
Louis Falo, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Dermatology
Research Summary:

Developing a better understanding of cutaneous biology and skin immune function, and leveraging that evolving understanding to develop new skin-targeted strategies to modulate local and systemic immune responses

Federspiel
William Federspiel, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering
Research Summary:

Respiratory assist and blood processing devices for critical care medicine; Cardiovascular and pulmonary transport phenomena 

Ferrarelli
Fabio Ferrarelli, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience, Psychiatry
Research Summary:

The neurobiology of schizophrenia and neurophysiological abnormalities during wakefulness and sleep in early course psychosis

Ferris
Robert Ferris, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer
Research Summary:

Mechanisms of immune escape and clinical translation to therapeutic cancer immunotherapy trials

Finkel
Toren Finkel, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Cardiovascular
Research Summary:

Intersection of mitochondrial function, metabolism and aging

Flynn
Joanne Flynn, PhD
Research Areas: Infectious Diseases
Research Summary:

Immunology and Pathogenesis of Tuberculosis

Freeman
Bruce Freeman, PhD
Research Areas: Pharmacology
Research Summary:

The production and signal transduction properties of oxidizing and free radical mediators in metabolic, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases

Freyberg
Zach Freyberg, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience, Psychiatry
Research Summary:

Dopaminergic signal transduction in the central nervous system, dopamine role in regulating peripheral pancreatic insulin secretion

Friedlander
Robert Friedlander, MD
Research Areas: Neurosurgery, Surgery
Research Summary:

The study of the basic mechanisms of apoptosis, as mediated by the caspase apoptotic family in neurologic diseases

Galson
Deborah Galson, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer
Research Summary:

Roles of signal transduction pathways, transcription factors, and chromatin epigenetics in pathological changes in osteoclasts and osteoblasts in cancer-induced bone disease and Paget’s disease of bone

Arjumand Ghazi
Arjumand Ghazi, PhD
Research Areas: Genetics, Pediatrics
Research Summary:

The Ghazi lab studies molecular genetics of aging and longevity, especially genes that link lifespan with healthspan and reproductive fitness. 

Avniel Ghuman
Avniel Ghuman, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience, Neurosurgery
Research Summary:

Our lab studies what human brain networks are doing using long-timescale recordings during real world behavior, as well as how our brains process social information during natural conversations.

Gonzalez
Lina Ghaloul Gonzalez, MD
Research Areas: Genetics, Pediatrics
Research Summary:

Exome and genome sequencing in newborns and genome sequencing in the Western Pennsylvania Amish and Mennonite communities

Gonzalez-Martinez
Jorge Gonzalez-Martinez, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience, Neurosurgery
Research Summary:

Adult and pediatric epilepsy surgery; movement disorder surgery; neuro-oncology; general neurosurgery

Rachel Gottschalk
Rachel Gottschalk, PhD
Research Summary:

My laboratory is working to understand mechanisms controlling healthy versus pathological innate immune function, with major projects including interrogating lung-specific macrophage signaling and dissecting molecular determinants of monocyte and macrophage inflammatory function during lung infection. 

Grace
Anthony Grace, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Neurophysiology of basal ganglia system related to psychiatric disorders

Melanie Grubisha
Melanie Grubisha, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience, Psychiatry
Research Summary:

My work focuses on understanding both normal and abnormal adolescent dendritic development using preclinical models, focusing on how excitatory dendritic arbors stabilize across adolescence and what the functional implications are of impairments in these processes.

Aditi Gurkar
Aditi Gurkar, PhD
Research Areas: Geriatrics (Aging)
Research Summary:

The Gurkar lab is interested in understanding the causal molecular players in cellular senescence and aging.

Costas Hadjipanayis
Costas Hadjipanayis, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Neurosurgery
Research Summary:

Dr. Hadjipanayis and the Brain Tumor Nanotechnology Laboratory he directs focuses on translational research approaches for more effective treatment of malignant brain tumors that involve preclinical studies, imaging, rodent/larger animal  brain tumor models, and actual human clinical trials. 

Hand
Timothy Hand, PhD
Research Areas: Pediatrics
Research Summary:

Understand the causes of diseases with disruptions between immune system and the microbiota, such as Crohn’s Disease and Environmental Enteropathy

Hastings
Teresa Hastings, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Oxidative mechanisms associated with neurodegeneration

Hempel
Nadine Hempel, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer
Research Summary:

Dr. Nadine Hempel's research interests center on understanding molecular mechanisms that regulate metastasis and tumor recurrence of ovarian cancer, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel targets for therapy of advanced-stage disease.

Karl Herrup
Karl Herrup, PhD
Research Areas: Neurology
Research Summary:

My laboratory works on the biochemistry and cell biology of neurodegenerative disease. Our main interest is Alzheimer's disease where our focus is the involvement of DNA damage, inflammation, and myelin.

Andrew Hinck
Andrew Hinck, PhD
Research Areas: Structural Biology
Research Summary:

We are interested in using the tools of structural biology to a) uncover the molecular adaptations that proteins of  a highly diversified signaling TGF-beta signaling family have acquired to achieve their unique functions and b) leverage this knowledge to to develop targeted therapies for treating human disease, including soft tissue cancers and tissue fibrosis driven by dysregulated TGF-beta signaling and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia caused by mutations in the receptors and co-receptors for BMP9 and BMP10. 

Ho
Jackie Ho, MD
Research Areas: Pediatrics
Research Summary:

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing public health burden that results in significant morbidity and increased risk of mortality for individual patients

Jackson
Edwin K. Jackson, PhD
Research Areas: Pharmacology
Research Summary:

The biochemistry, molecular/cell biology, and physiology/pharmacology of adenosine

Max Joffe
Max Joffe, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience, Psychiatry
Research Summary:

We investigate how alcohol and drug use regulate or disrupt mechanisms of synaptic plasticity within the prefrontal cortex and we aim to use this knowledge to develop breakthrough psychiatric medications. 

Joglekar
Alok Joglekar, PhD
Research Summary:

Systems level analysis of T cell repertoires to understand and engineer the immune system.

Johnson
Jon Johnson, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

The Johnson lab studies the physiology, biophysics, structure, pharmacology, and regulation of glutamate receptors

Jurczak
Michael Jurczak, PhD
Research Summary:
Kane
Lawrence Kane, PhD
Research Summary:

Signal Transduction; The role of the Akt kinase in NF-kB and T cell activation; Role of TIM proteins in T cell activation

Kaplan
Daniel Kaplan, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Dermatology
Research Summary:

Role for nerves in the skin as modulators of immune responses

Kaynar
Ata Murat Kaynar, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Critical Care Medicine
Research Summary:

Long-term outcomes following sepsis using a Drosophila as well as murine model of sepsis

Kershaw
Erin Kershaw, MD
Research Summary:

The role of intracellular lipid metabolism and adipose tissue biology in normal metabolism and disease using basic and translational approaches

Kim
Kang Kim, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering
Research Summary:

Develop & translate state of the art noninvasive imaging technologies to improve disease diagnosis, guide therapy, and evaluate therapeutic efficacy

Kleyman
Thomas Kleyman, MD
Research Areas: Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Cellular, structural and molecular studies of epithelial ion channels

Kliment
Corrine Kliment, MD, PhD
Research Summary:

Our laboratory is interested in the interplay of mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular senescence in lung epithelial and innate immune cells in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosis to improve therapeutic options for patients.

Melanie Königshoff Picture
Melanie Königshoff, MD, PhD, ATSF, FERS
Research Summary:

Our research focuses on deciphering mechanisms involved in lung repair and regeneration, with the aim to identify novel therapeutic targets relevant for age-related chronic lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our translational research program focuses on the comprehensive characterization of primary lung epithelial (stem) cells from experimental models and human tissue samples from patients with chronic lung disease. we aim to identify and investigate target signaling pathways that impact cellular mechanisms we identified the developmental WNT signaling pathway as a potent contributor to impaired lung repair and epithelial cell reprogramming, which is amenable to therapy and have further characterized features of epithelial cell reprogramming, such as cellular senescence. We further pioneered and apply patient-derived 3D Lung Tissue Cultures that allow to further validate and test potential novel drugs in an individualized fashion.

Lagasse
Eric Lagasse, PhD, PharmD
Research Areas: Pathology
Research Summary:

Our research is focused primarily on stem cell biology and cell-based therapy for a variety of diseases including cancer and organ failure

Lakkis
Fadi Lakkis, MD
Research Summary:

Innate and adaptive immune response to transplanted organs and the mechanisms of transplantation tolerance

Lee
Adrian Lee, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer, Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Molecular profiling (genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic) of women’s cancers, mouse modeling, and predictive biomarkers for targeted therapy

Arthur Levine Photo
Arthur Levine, MD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Alzheimer's; Neurodegenerative diseases

Lewis
David Lewis, MD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Functional architecture of the prefrontal cortex and schizophrenia

Lin
Philana Lin, MD, MSC
Research Summary:

Our lab is focused on the host protective immune responses to M. tuberculosis, a major factor in outcome of infection.

Little
Steven Little, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering
Research Summary:

Drug Delivery, Biomimetics, Immunotherapeutics, Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials, Synthetic Systems

Cecilia W. Lo
Cecilia Lo, PhD
Research Areas: Cardiovascular, Genetics
Research Summary:

Genetics of congenital heart disease, role of epigenetics in adverse clinical outcome, disease modeling using patient derived induced pluripotent stem cells 

Lohmueller
Jason Lohmueller, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer, Surgery
Research Summary:

The Lohmueller lab works on developing genetic engineering approaches to augment adoptive cell therapy (ACT) for the treatment of cancer.

Luna
Beatriz Luna, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Brain basis of cognitive maturation through adolescence to adulthood

Mann
Mellissa Mann, PhD
Research Areas: Women's Health
Research Summary:

Molecular Regulation of Genomic Imprinting in Gametes and Early Embryos

Manole
Mioara Manole, MD
Research Summary:

Vascular pathways involved in cerebral vascular dysregulation and therapeutic strategies that improve neurological outcome after pediatric asphyxial cardiac arrest

Marra
Kacey Marra, PhD
Research Summary:

Tissue engineering (peripheral nerve and soft tissue), wound healing, and adipose stem cell therapies

Mars
Wendy Mars, PhD
Research Areas: Pathology
Research Summary:

Understanding how cytokines and proteases controlling normal liver growth become deviant, leading to the development of cirrhosis and liver cancer

Mcclung
Colleen Mcclung, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

We are interested in the molecular mechanisms of psychiatric disorders with a particular focus on the role of the circadian clock in these disorders.

Megli
Christina Megli, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Women's Health
Research Summary:

Investigates how pregnancy modulates innate immunity and defines relevancy to infectious pathogenesis

Marlies Meisel, PhD
Marlies Meisel, PhD
Research Summary:

The Meisel lab explores how the microbiota shapes systemic immunity that modulates the etiopathogenesis of complex diseases such as autoimmunity and cancer.

Mellors
John Mellors, MD
Research Areas: Infectious Diseases
Research Summary:

Mechanisms of HIV-1 persistence at the single cell level and evaluating strategies to cure HIV-1 infection, including latency reversing agents, monoclonal antibodies, cellular immunotherapy and therapeutic vaccines

Meriney
Stephen Meriney, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Focuses on mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in the neuromuscular system in both normal and disease conditions

Metes
Diana Metes, MD
Research Areas: Surgery
Research Summary:

Human immunology: Innate and adaptive immune responses to latent viruses and to allo-antigens after organ transplantation

Michalopoulos
George Michalopoulos, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer, Pathology
Research Summary:

Liver regeneration and carcinogenesis, exploring the effects of growth factors and associated signaling pathways

Moalli
Pam Moalli, MD, PhD
Research Summary:

Use of novel regenerative materials in repair of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence

Kevin Mollen
Kevin Mollen, MD
Research Areas: Surgery
Research Summary:

Dr. Mollen's clinical interests include inflammatory bowel disease, thyroid surgery, anorectal malformations, and Hirschsprung’s disease. He is principal investigator of a NIH-funded research program investigating mitochondrial dysfunction during the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.

Monga
Satdarshan (Paul) Monga, MD
Research Areas: Pathology, Surgery
Research Summary:

Aimed at elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of liver pathophysiology

Moore
Patrick Moore, MD
Research Areas: Cancer
Research Summary:

The study of human tumor viruses

Morel
Penelope Morel, MD
Research Summary:

Autoimmunity & the control of T cell immune responses; Systems biology approaches to immune response to infectious organisms

Morelli
Adrian Morelli, MD, PhD
Research Summary:

The role of donor- and recipient-derived antigen-presenting cells (i.e. dendritic cells) and extracellular vesicles (i.e. exosomes, microvesicles) during allo-sensitization, graft rejection, and induction of donor-specific immunosuppression / tolerance, following transplantation

Michael J. Morowitz
Michael Morowitz, MD, FACS
Research Summary:

The Morowitz laboratory studies the effects of diet and antibiotics on interactions between the gut microbiome and the immune system.

Morris
Alison Morris, MD, MS
Research Areas: Infectious Diseases
Research Summary:

HIV-associated lung disease; HIV-associated emphysema; Role of Pneumocystis in COPD

Mousumi Moulik
Mousumi Moulik, MD
Research Areas: Cardiovascular, Pediatrics
Research Summary:

Moulik's clinical expertise is in cardiovascular genetics, cardiomyopathies, connective tissue disorders resulting in aortopathies, general cardiology and noninvasive cardiac imaging. She is the Director of the Cardiovascular Genetics Clinic at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The focus of this clinic is to determine an underlying genetic etiology for inherited familial cardiovascular disorders including various forms of cardiomyopathies, heart rhythm disorders, aortic aneurysms, inherited lipid disorders, unexplained sudden cardiac arrest and help families with appropriate risk assessment and clinical screening of at-risk family members. Moulik also leads an NIH funded research lab with focus on heart failure signaling.

Musahl
Volker Musahl, MD
Research Summary:

Research interests include knee and shoulder biomechanics, specifically rotator cuff tears

Muzumdar
Radhika Muzumdar, MD
Research Summary:

GH, insulin-like growth factors and a novel mitochondria-associated peptide on glucose homeostasis, energy metabolism, cardiovascular health and aging

Neal
Matthew Neal, MD
Research Areas: Surgery
Research Summary:

The mechanisms of hemostasis and coagulation following trauma and hemorrhagic shock

Kari Nejak-Bowen
Kari Nejak-Bowen, PhD
Research Areas: Pathology
Research Summary:

Our lab studies the signaling processes and pathways in rare liver diseases, with a focus on cellular reprogramming, autophagy, and cell-cell interactions. 

Nimgaonkar
Vishwajit Nimgaonkar, MD
Research Areas: Genetics
Research Summary:

Genetics of schizophrenia/bipolar disorder; functional genomics using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) based models; gene/environment interactions

O'Doherty
Robert O'Doherty, PhD
Research Summary:

The association between states of over nutrition and resulting metabolic disturbances, most notably obesity, NAFLD, and Type 2 Diabetes

Oesterreich
Steffi Oesterreich, PhD
Research Summary:

Hormone response and treatment resistance in breast and ovarian cancer, including the analysis of aberrant genetic and epigenetic changes

Abby Olsen
Abby Olsen, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Neurology, Neuroscience
Research Summary:

The Olsen laboratory uses fruit flies, human cells, and mice to develop new therapies for Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.

Opresko
Patricia Opresko, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer, Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Mechanisms for preserving telomeres in healthy cells to delay aging-related diseases including cancer, or that conversely deplete telomeres in cancer cells to stop their proliferation

Orwig
Kyle Orwig, PhD
Research Summary:

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and male germ lineage development

Hatice Osmanbeyoglu
Hatice Osmanbeyoglu, PhD
Research Summary:

My group extracts biological insights and disease mechanisms from multiomics data including single-cell and spatially resolved data.

Oury
Tim Oury, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Pathology
Research Summary:

Oxidative mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis, acute lung injury, inflammation, and pneumonia; The laboratory also studies the role of RAGE in the lung.

Abby Overacre-Delgoffe
Abby Overacre-Delgoffe, PhD
Research Summary:

My lab dissects the relationship between the microbiome and the immune system in the context of cancer and immunotherapy.

Padiath
Quasar Padiath, MDBS, PhD
Research Areas: Genetics
Research Summary:

Molecular mechanisms underlying various neurological disorders using human genetic approaches as well as research on animal and cell culture models

Pagano
Patrick Pagano, PhD
Research Areas: Pharmacology
Research Summary:

NADPH oxidase (Nox) & reactive oxygen species in signaling, vascular dysfunction and cardiopulmonary disease; Nox drug therapy development

Pandey
Udai Pandey, PhD
Research Areas: Genetics
Research Summary:

Molecular mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Pecina
Marta Pecina, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Psychiatry
Research Summary:

Neuroimaging biomarkers of antidepressant treatment response in humans; Molecular bases of depression

Julie Phillippi
Julie Phillippi, PhD
Research Areas: Cardiovascular
Research Summary:

Research in the Phillippi Lab is focused on microvascular dysfunction in cardiopulmonary disease, the role of perivascular progenitor cells, adventitial biology/biomechanics and vasa vasorum function in aortic disease and lung failure, cell-matrix interactions inciting vascular/microvascular matrix remodeling, pericytes in (patho)physiological vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, and tissue-engineered models of cardiovascular disease.

Phillips
Mary Phillips, MD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Identification of neural correlates that underlie the symptoms of specific abnormalities in emotion processing in people with mood disorders

Pirondini
Elvira Pirondini, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering, Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Stroke, motor control, proprioception, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), biomarkers

Pollack
Ian Pollack, MD
Research Areas: Neurosurgery, Pediatrics
Research Summary:

Molecularly targeted therapeutics for childhood and adult brain tumors and identifying and counteracting mechanisms of glioma treatment resistance.

Prochownik
Edward Prochownik, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer, Pediatrics
Research Summary:

Metabolic, molecular and biochemical changes in animal models of pediatric and adult liver cancers and how best to capitalize on these for therapeutic purposes

Rich
Jeremy Rich, MD, MHS, MBA
Research Areas: Cancer, Neurology
Research Summary:

The goals of the Rich Lab are to identify novel therapeutic paradigms in the treatment of advanced cancers, primarily malignant brain tumors, through the prism of stem cell biology to identify core regulatory pathways amenable to pharmacologic targeting.

Richardson
Anthony Richardson, PhD
Research Areas: Infectious Diseases
Research Summary:

Immunometabolism at the host:pathogen interface using Staphylococcus aureus as a model pathogen

Roberts
James Roberts, MD
Research Areas: Epidemiology, Women's Health
Research Summary:

Our current work addresses preeclampsia and it pathophysiology in high and low resource

Roman
Beth Roman, PhD
Research Areas: Genetics
Research Summary:

Understanding how endothelial cells integrate molecular and biomechanical signals to determine cell behavior during vascular development and disease

Rosano
Caterina Rosano, MD, MPH
Research Areas: Epidemiology
Research Summary:

Brain adaptation, neuroepidemiological approaches to the causes, biomarkers and consequences of brain aging, advanced data reduction analyses

Ross
Sarah Ross, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Understanding the functional organization of spinal microcircuits using molecular genetic, electrophysiological, optogenetic & behavioral approaches

Rossi
Ethan Rossi, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering, Ophthalmology
Research Summary:

The living human retina and visual system in health and disease through the development and application of advanced ophthalmic imaging technologies

Rothstein
David Rothstein, MD
Research Summary:

Immunoregulation: Focusing on regulatory and inflammatory B cells in transplant and autoimmune models, and their use as biomarkers in transplantation; as well as pathways by which regulatory T cells can be enhanced relative to Teffector cells

Rubio
Maria Rubio, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Understanding the functional organization of spinal microcircuits using molecular genetic, electrophysiological, optogenetic & behavioral approaches

Sachdev
Ulka Sachdev, MD
Research Areas: Surgery, Vascular Surgery
Research Summary:

Endogenous danger signals promoting recovery following ischemic muscle injury; Inflammatory biomarkers in patients with venous disease

Sadovsky
Yoel Sadovsky, MD
Research Summary:

Our lab focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying placental development and its function in supporting fetal growth and maternal-fetal communication.

Anita Saraf
Anita Saraf, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Cardiovascular, Pediatrics
Research Summary:

My laboratory is interested in understanding congenital heart disease using translational models that relate clinical findings to in vitro systems, so as to further elucidate molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute towards congenital heart disease. We use induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and gene editing to create clinically relevant biological models of congenital heart disease.

Schopfer
Francisco Schopfer, PhD
Research Areas: Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Lipid signaling mediators associated with inflammation

Daniella Schwartz
Daniella Schwartz, MD
Research Summary:

My research program is focused on studying mechanisms of immune dysregulation by focusing on two areas: I work on the biology of interleukin 9 (IL-9) regulation/signaling in rheumatic diseases, and I study patients with rare monogenic diseases as “real world” models of immune dysregulation.

Scott
Melanie Scott, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Surgery
Research Summary:

Innate immune responses to sterile injury and infection with a focus on inflammasome activation and immune activation by endogenous danger signals

Shair
Kathy Shair, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer
Research Summary:

 Studying Epstein-Barr virus molecular pathogenesis in the nasopharynx using 3-D cell air-liquid interface culture models.

Shea
Susan Shea, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering, Surgery
Research Summary:

Dr. Shea utilizes microfluidic models and other flow-based assays to study hemostasis in the context of trauma and transfusion medicine. Dr. Shea is also interested in arterial thrombosis and thrombolysis.

Shiva
Sruti Shiva, PhD
Research Areas: Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Understanding the mechanisms by which mitochondrial function is regulated, particularly by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and the contribution of these mechanisms to cardiovascular health and disease pathogenesis

Shlomchik
Mark Shlomchik, MD, PhD
Research Summary:

My lab is interested in the establishment of long term B cell immunity and in pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune diseases and graft vs host disease.

Shroff
Sanjeev Shroff, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering
Research Summary:

Cardiac structure-function: contractile/regulatory proteins, post-translational regulation, dyssynchrony

Shurin
Michael Shurin, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Pathology
Research Summary:

Understanding of biological and clinical significance of tumor innervation and revealing neuroimmunological pathways controlling tumor spreading and metastasis formation

Sunder Sims-Lucas
Sunder Sims-Lucas, PhD
Research Areas: Nephrology, Pediatrics
Research Summary:

Dr. Sims-Lucas’ program focuses on acute kidney injury as well as the mechanisms that lead to predisposition to injury. 

Smithgall
Thomas Smithgall, PhD
Research Areas: Genetics, Structural Biology
Research Summary:

Non-receptor protein-tyrosine kinase structure, regulation and signal transduction in cancer, AIDS, and embryonic stem cell biology

Sorkin
Alexander Sorkin, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Mechanisms and functional role of endocytic trafficking of EGF receptor in cancer cells and the dopamine transporter in the brain

Sowa
Gwendolyn Sowa, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Orthopedic Surgery
Research Summary:

Biomarker discovery, beneficial effects of mechanical loading, & implementation in targeted exercise therapies for musculoskeletal conditions

St. Hilaire
Cynthia St. Hilaire, PhD
Research Areas: Cardiovascular
Research Summary:

Characterizing the underlying pathobiology of vascular disease, concentrating on defining the mechanisms that drive vascular and valvular calcification and remodeling during aging and disease states

Steinhauser
Matthew L. Steinhauser, MD
Research Areas: Cardiovascular
Research Summary:

We leverage molecular biology, human genetics, animal models, stable isotope tracers, imaging mass spectrometry, and human translational studies to discover cellular, molecular, and metabolic determinants of diseases of aging ranging from diabetes to cancer.

Steinman
Richard Steinman, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Cancer, Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Mechanisms of white blood cell differentiation & its inhibition in leukemias; Mechanisms of stem cell differentiation & growth control

Stetten
George Stetten, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering
Research Summary:

Image-guided surgery, medical image analysis, medical robotics, haptics, augmented reality, devices for visually impaired, music engineering

Stolz
Donna Stolz, PhD
Research Areas: Pathology
Research Summary:

Angiogenesis and vascularization events in liver regeneration and remodeling

Straub
Adam Straub, PhD
Research Areas: Pharmacology
Research Summary:

The Straub laboratory investigates redox cell signaling mechanisms that control endothelial and smooth muscle biology in the microcirculation.

Strick
Peter Strick, Phd
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

The control of voluntary movement by the cerebral cortex; The functional organization of the basal ganglia and cerebellum; Unraveling the circuitry of the central nervous system

Sun
Dandan Sun, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Neurology, Surgery
Research Summary:

Understanding the role of ion transporter proteins (sodium-potassium-chloride cotransporter, sodium/proton exchanger, and sodium/calcium exchangers) in ionic dysregulation and neurodegeneration associated with stroke and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

Sved
Alan Sved, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Central neural control of the autonomic nervous system and cardiovascular function; neurobiology of nicotine pharmacology

Sweet
Robert Sweet, MD
Research Areas: Neuroscience, Psychiatry
Research Summary:

Loss and altered plasticity of auditory cortex synapses in schizophrenia; Mediators of vulnerability to psychosis in Alzheimer disease

Tai
Changfeng Tai, PhD
Research Areas: Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Neural control of low urinary tract and neuromodulation of bladder dysfunction

Bradley Taylor
Bradley Taylor, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

We study the molecular neurobiology and pharmacology of chronic pain and substance misuse.

Thomson
Angus Thomson, PhD, CS.c.
Research Summary:

Regulation of the immune response; role of dendritic cells and T cells in tolerance induction; mechanism of action of novel immune suppressants

Tzeng
Edith Tzeng, MD
Research Areas: Surgery, Vascular Surgery
Research Summary:

Clinical applications of nitric oxide and carbon monoxide in the setting of vascular therapies

Tzounopoulos
Thanos Tzounopoulos, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience
Research Summary:

We study synaptic mechanisms and their role during normal and pathological sensory processing (tinnitus).

Urish
Ken Urish, MD, PhD
Research Summary:

The focus of the Urish laboratory is on understanding implant biofilm dynamics during an infection and identifying new treatment strategies.

Van Houten
Ben Van Houten, PHD
Research Summary:

Repair of DNA damage in nuclear and mitochondrial genomes; Structure and function of nucleotide excision repair proteins

Daria Van Tyne Picture
Daria Van Tyne, PhD
Research Summary:

The Van Tyne Lab studies how bacteria evolve to become superbugs, using comparative genomics and functional analysis. Our research falls into two main areas. First, we work to understand how bacteria evolve during human infection to resist antibiotics and host immune defenses. We sequence bacterial strains from human infections and use functional genomics to identify and characterize novel resistance mechanisms. These include the ability of bacteria to resist the host immune system, or to persist in the face of antibiotic pressure. Second, we help develop new approaches to treat resistant bacterial infections more effectively. We help characterize new types of antibiotics, and establish how novel compounds kill bacteria. We are also exploring how bacteriophages could be developed into next-generation antibacterials.

Vazquez
Alberto Vazquez, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering, Neuroscience
Research Summary:

Brain imaging of neuronal, metabolic and vascular function and dysfunction

Villanueva
Flordeliza Villanueva, MD
Research Areas: Cardiovascular
Research Summary:

The development of medical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that are based on ultrasound and ultrasound contrast agents (microbubbles)

Visweswaran
Shyam Visweswaran, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Computational Sciences
Research Summary:

Computer-aided diagnosis and patient-specific prediction, genomic and precision medicine, clinical decision support, research data warehouse

Nam Vo Picture
Nam Vo, PhD
Research Areas: Orthopedic Surgery
Research Summary:

Dr Vo’s research program aims at studying the biology of aging of the spine and its contribution to low back pain.  His research focus areas include: 1) interaction of autophagy and cellular senescence in spinal aging, 2) lactate metabolism and epigenetic regulation in spinal aging, 3) development of therapeutic interventions, including senolytics and gene therapy, for treating age-related spine degeneration and low back pain, and 4) Deep phenotyping of chronic low back pain through biomarker profiling.

Vockley
Jerry Vockley, MD, PhD
Research Areas: Genetics, Pediatrics
Research Summary:

Structure/function relationship in the acyl-CoA dehydrogenases (ACDs)

Vodovotz
Yoram Vodovotz, PhD
Research Areas: Surgery
Research Summary:

My long-term research goals are to obtain high-dimensional, dynamic data on the etiology and progression of various inflammatory processes and diseases in samples derived from cells, animals, and people; to create computational models based on these data as well as on key principles of immunology; and to modulate the inflammatory response in an optimal spatial, temporal, and individual- / disease-specific manner. 

Vorp
David Vorp, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering
Research Summary:

Vascular bioengineering in the context of vascular tissue engineering, aortic aneurysm, and regenerative medicine

Wagner
William Wagner, PhD
Research Areas: Bioengineering
Research Summary:

Cardiovascular engineering with projects that address medical device biocompatibility and design, tissue engineering, and imaging

Walker
William Walker, PhD
Research Summary:

Regulation of mammalian sperm

Kurt Weiss
Kurt Weiss, MD
Research Areas: Orthopedic Surgery
Research Summary:

Basic science laboratory dedicated to the study of sarcomas--cancerous tumors that arise in the musculoskeletal tissues

Ora Weisz
Ora Weisz, PhD
Research Areas: Nephrology
Research Summary:

Regulation of protein traffic in polarized epithelial cells

Wells
Alan Wells, MD, DMS
Research Areas: Pathology
Research Summary:

Integrative biology of wound healing and tumor metastasis, from molecules and cells through tissues and animals to humans

Wendell
Stacy Wendell, PhD
Research Areas: Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Investigates the signaling of electrophilic fatty acids in transformed stable cell lines while collaborating with clinicians to study the formation and signaling of electrophilic fatty acids in healthy controls, mild to moderate, and severe asthmatic subjects

Wenzel
Sally Wenzel, MD
Research Areas: Pulmonary
Research Summary:

Focuses on asthma phenotypes and the molecular mechanisms, particularly in the airway epithelium that control them

Peter Wipf
Peter Wipf, PhD
Research Areas: Chemistry, Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Drug discovery and drug development, employing organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry and molecular modeling to develop new therapeutic agents for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases in a highly collaborative environment

Yan Xu
Yan Xu, PhD
Research Areas: Neuroscience, Pharmacology
Research Summary:

Designed receptors as therapeutic targets for pain; Mechanisms of low-affinity drug action; Mapping of unconscious brain; Stem cell therapy for stroke

Yanowitz
Judith Yanowitz, PhD
Research Areas: Genetics, Women's Health
Research Summary:

Pathways that control the maintenance of genome integrity across generations using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Zuckerbraun
Brian Zuckerbraun, MD
Research Areas: Surgery
Research Summary:

Mitochondrial and metabolic responses to trauma and sepsis ad their influence on inflammation and immunity