Molecular Medicine and Translational Science Graduate Program Faculty Research Interests
Click here for Molecular Medicine and Translational Science Graduate Program Faculty List
Adjunct faculty identified by * are available for committee service but not lab rotations.
Cancer Biology
Investigators in cancer biology use molecular approaches to study the underlying mechanisms of cancer and factors that contribute to tumor progression. Examples include identification of cancer susceptibility genes, genetic variation in tumor formation, DNA damage and repair pathways, cancer immunology and carcinogens.
Akman, Steven, MD * - DNA damage, mutagenesis and genomic instability
Cui, Zheng, PhD, MD – Lipid signaling in apoptosis and carcinogenesis; cancer resistance in murine models
Debinski, Waldemar, MD, PhD - Identification of molecular markers/targets that are specific to brain tumors and are pharmaceutically tractable
Dubey, Purnima, PhD – Cellular anti-tumor immune responses in mice/ prostate cancer biology
Furdui, Cristina, PhD - Dynamic analysis of signaling events (protein phosphorylation and oxidation) at molecular and cellular level using quantitative, mass spectrometry based proteomics experiments; rapid enzyme kinetics. http://www.signalingnetworks.com/
Gmeiner, William H., PhD– Developing novel cytotoxic oligodeoxynucleotides for treatment of prostate cancer, DNA structure in carcinogenesis and chemotherapy
Kucera, Greg, PhD * - Synthesis and testing of novel chemotherapeutic agents
Kulik, George, PhD - Signal transduction regulating apoptosis of prostate cancer cells
Miller, Mark, PhD, MA – Molecular pathogenesis and chemoprevention of lung cancer
Mintz, Akiva MD, PhD, - Developing and delivering novel tumor-targeted scaffolding to deliver molecular radiation and immunotherapies to infiltrating brain tumor cells
Pettenati, Mark, PhD * - Cytogenetics and chromosomal abnormalities in cancer
Schwartz, Gary, PhD, MPH – Role of vitamin D in the etiology, treatment and prevention of prostate cancer
Townsend, Alan, PhD – Mechanisms of resistance to cytotoxic and mutagenic agents; enzymes of glutathione metabolism; chemoprevention of cancer; oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses
Vaughn, James P., PhD * - Effects of BRCA1 expression on gene transcription and repair
Xu, Jianfeng, MD, MSc, MPH, DRPH – Prostate cancer gene mapping
Cardiovascular Health and Disease
These investigators use molecular methods to investigate mechanisms related to diseases of the heart and circulatory system, including those that affect specific organs such as the brain, kidney, or placenta. Research areas include hypertension, circulation, cardiac function, coagulation, atherosclerosis, and aging.
Applegate, William, MD, MPH * - Assessing cognitive, emotional and physical function in older adults; carotid atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women with heart disease.
Brosnihan, K. Bridget, PhD, MS – Role of Ang 1-7 in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia
Carr, Jeff, MD * - Breast cancer and cardiovascular imaging and public health functional genetics
Chappell, Mark, PhD – Regulatory role of renin-angiotensin system in development of salt-dependent hypertension and tissue organ injury
Cheng, Che-ping, MD, PhD – Cardiac dynamics, cellular signal transduction, and molecular alterations in CHF and alcoholic cardiomyopathy
Ferrario, Carlos M, MD - New endocrine mechanisms and the renin-angiotensin system in hypertension
Furdui, Cristina, PhD - Dynamic analysis of signaling events (protein phosphorylation and oxidation) at molecular and cellular level using quantitative, mass spectrometry based proteomics experiments; rapid enzyme kinetics
Geary, Randolph, MD - Artery wall remodeling in response to atherosclerosis and arterial injury; Restenosis following vascular reconstruction; Bioengineering of blood vessels; Functional genomics in artery wall biology
Hantgan, Roy, PhD - Integrin structure and function; molecular and cellular mechanisms of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis; conformation of proteins in solution
Herrington, David, MD, MHS * - The role of estrogen in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women
Hundley, Gregory, MD * - Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of cardiac function
Kim-Shapiro, Daniel, PhD - The effects of Nitric Oxide and Aggregation in biological systems in relation to Sickle Cell Disease
King, Bruce, PhD - oxidative chemistry of N-hydroxyureas, formation of nitric oxide or nitroxyl (HNO)
Parks, John, PhD – High density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism; Lecithin:Cholesterol Acyltransferase, Lipids, Botanical Lipids, Triglyceride Metabolism and Atherosclerosis
Smith, Thomas L., PhD - Effects of exercise and PPAR? agonists on myocardial performance; Tissue engineered peripheral nerve conduits in mice; Regulation of neuromuscular function at the cellular level
Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders (lipids, proteins, vitamins, renal function)
Research in these laboratories investigate molecular mechanisms of diabetes, diabetes related genes, hyperlipidemic diseases, coagulation, obesity, and renal function, often applying knockout models to investigate gene function.
Antinozzi, Peter A., PhD - Functional mapping of diabetes-susceptibility genes; functional mapping of complex diseases.
Bowden, Donald W., PhD - Identification of genes contributing to type 2 diabetes and the renal and cardiovascular complications of type 2 diabetes
Chilton, Ski, PhD- The role of fatty acid metabolism in human diseases; function of botanical lipids as dietary supplements
DuBose, Thomas, MD - Regulation of renal transporters; Potassium balance; Molecular description of transporters responsible for urinary acidification; Expression and molecular regulation of non-gastric H+,K+-ATPases in kidney and distal colon, aldosterone deficiency and excess; Renal tubular acidosis; Clinical acid-base and electrolyte disorders
Wagner, Janice D., PhD - The role of hormonal influences on the cellular and biochemical aspects of atherosclerosis
Weinberg, Richard B., MD - Structure and function of human apolipoprotein A-IV (apo A-IV); biophysical aspects of lipid-protein interactions, lipoprotein metabolism, dietary effects on human lipid metabolism, diet-gene interactions
Genomics and Clinical Genetics
These scientists explore the contribution of specific genes to both physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. A major focus is on the experimental manipulation of genes and gene expression in human populations, animal models, and cell-based systems with analyses of phenotypic consequences. All studies are facilitated by advanced, high-throughput technologies in combination with functional computational analysis.
Antinozzi, Peter A., PhD - Functional mapping of diabetes-susceptibility genes; functional mapping of complex diseases
Bleecker, Eugene, MD - Genetics of allergy, asthma and complex diseases; Pathogenesis of asthma and chronic air flow obstruction, airways hyperresponsiveness and bronchial inflammation; Pharmacologic interventions in obstructive pulmonary diseases
Bowden, Donald, PhD - Genetics of common diseases with emphasis identification of genes contributing to type 2 diabetes and the renal and cardiovascular complications of type 2 diabetes
Christ, George, PhD - Functional Genomics; establishing a verifiable link between changes in gene expression and alterations in cell/organ/tissue function/dysfunction applied to understanding, diagnosis and treatment of smooth muscle diseases/disorders
Fetrow, Jacquelyn S., PhD - Computational biophysics, structural genomics of proteins, redox signal transduction pathway modeling, systems biology
Hawkins, Greg, PhD * - Molecular genetics of complex diseases; severe asthma risk and pharmacogenomics
Howard, Timothy D., PhD - Identification of genes for complex diseases, with a focus on cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases (asthma and allergy)
Jewett, Tamison, MD * - Connective Tissue Disorders, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Dysmorphology
Meyers, Deborah, PhD - Gene mapping in common complex diseases and Mendelian disorders, ascertainment and characterization of relevant families, DNA genotyping, linkage and association analyses, positional cloning
Pettenati, Mark, PhD * - Molecular cytogenetics
Ronca, April E., PhD - Animal models of obstetric complications (birth asphyxia; prenatal stress); Perinatal epigenetic programming of neurodevelopmental disorders; Phenotypic developmental profiling of genetically and/or environmentally altered mice/rats.
Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases
These investigators utilize molecular, genetic, and biochemical approaches to identify the processes that mediate host defense against invasive microbial or viral pathogens and similar mechanisms involved in inflammatory tissue injury. This includes identifying mechanisms by which immune cells respond to infection, host cell-pathogen interaction, and regulation of inflammatory mediators.
Alexander-Miller, Martha, PhD - Regulation of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes; control of functional avidity
Chilton, Ski, PhD - The role of fatty acid metabolism in human diseases; function of botanical lipids as dietary supplements
Daniel, Larry, PhD - Metabolic pathways responsible for forming lipid-derived second-messengers and the mechanism of action of these mediators in cancer and inflammation
Feldman, Steve, MD, PhD - Patients' adherence to treatment, health care delivery research, psoriasis treatment
Ferguson, Cristin, MD - Molecular Biology of Cartilage, Meniscus, Ligament Repair and Regeneration; Tissue Engineering; Growth Factors and Cell Signaling
High, Kevin P., MD - Translational research of age-related changes in immune function, termed immune senescence
Loeser, Richard, MD – Lab: The cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis and the role of aging. Clinical: The genetics of osteoarthritis; exercise and weight loss interventions for osteoarthritis
McCall, Charles E., MD - The molecular events that control the inflammatory components of innate immunity
McPhail, Linda, PhD - The molecular mechanisms involved in the activation of the leukocyte NADPH oxidase
Mishra, Nilamadhab, MD - Epigenetics, chromatin remodeling, transcriptional regulation, gene expression and identifying therapeutic targets by proteomics in lupus
Seeds, Michael C., PhD - Inflammation and host defense in the lung; regulation of secretory phospholipases A2; differential regulation of granulocyte apoptosis
Swords, W. Edward, PhD - Understanding how commensal bacteria and the host develop and maintain a mutually beneficial, symbiotic relationship; Cellular Microbiology of Airway Infections
Yoza, Barbara, PhD * - Deciphering the molecular events associated with the onset and progression of septic shock, particularly as it relates to the synthesis inflammatory mediators from cells of the blood
Neurological and Neuromuscular Function and Disorders
Faculty investigate molecular mechanism of stroke, neuromuscular disease, epilepsy, pediatric neurology and development, movement disorders, neuroplasticity, and neuro-rehabilitation. These laboratories employ a variety of genomic, physiologic, biochemical, pharmacological, dietary, and tissue engineering approaches to study disease treatment and prevention.
Delbono, Osvaldo, MD, PhD - Aging of the Neuromuscular System; reciprocal interaction between muscle cells and brain and spinal cord motor neurons
Eisenach, James, MD - Understanding neuroplasticity in the spinal cord as it relates to the pharmacology of analgesia
Mintz, Akiva MD, PhD, - Developing and delivering novel tumor-targeted scaffolding to deliver molecular radiation and immunotherapies to infiltrating brain tumor cells
Ronca, April E., PhD - Animal models of obstetric complications (birth asphyxia; prenatal stress); Perinatal epigenetic programming of neurodevelopmental disorders; Phenotypic developmental profiling of genetically and/or environmentally altered mice/rats.
Tytell, Michael, PhD, - Stress protein response mediated by heat shock proteins as a mechanism that prevents damaged neurons from dying
Voytko, Mary Lou, PhD * - Neural basis of age-related cognitive dysfunction; women’s health; effects of ovarian hormones on cognitive and neurobiological profiles
Pulmonary Function and Disease
Research in pulmonary medicine includes programs in airway smooth muscle and epithelial cell signal transduction, sequencing of genes associated with asthma and inflammation, disease-related phenotypes, and the response to medications used to treat these diseases. Other studies include phospholipase-mediated surfactant injury in asthma and ARDS and mechanisms regulating cell injury and death. Many of these studied involve human subjects.
Bleecker, Eugene, MD - Genetics of allergy, asthma and complex diseases; Pathogenesis of asthma and chronic air flow obstruction, airways hyperresponsiveness and bronchial inflammation; Pharmacologic interventions in obstructive pulmonary diseases
Hawkins, Greg, PhD * - Molecular genetics of complex diseases; severe asthma risk and pharmacogenomics
Hite, R. Duncan, MD - Critical care with specific emphasis in acute respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation, ARDS, shock, sepsis and pneumonia; surfactant function and injury in ARDS
Howard, Timothy D., PhD - Identification of disease genes for complex diseases, with a focus on cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases
Meyers, Deborah, PhD - Gene mapping in common complex diseases as well as in Mendelian disorders, ascertainment and characterization of relevant families, DNA genotyping, linkage and association analyses, positional cloning and in analytical methods
Morris, Peter, MD - The mechanisms of acute lung inflammation; clinical study design and administration
Seeds, Michael C., PhD - Inflammation and host defense in the lung; regulation of secretory phospholipases A2; differential regulation of granulocyte apoptosis
Swords, W. Edward, PhD - Understanding how commensal bacteria and the host develop and maintain a mutually beneficial, symbiotic relationship; Cellular microbiology of airway infections
Regenerative Medicine
The mission of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine is to harness the body’s ability to heal itself. Using biomaterials, genetic engineering, stem and progenitor cells, and tissue engineering modalities, the Institute investigates translational approaches ranging from gene and cell therapy to the replacement of damaged organs with engineered tissues.
Atala, Anthony, MD - Tissue Engineering, Reconstructive Urology, Stem cells
Christ, George, PhD - Functional Genomics; establishing a verifiable link between changes in gene expression and alterations in cell/organ/tissue function/dysfunction applied to understanding, diagnosis and treatment of smooth muscle diseases/disorders
Ferguson, Cristin, MD - Molecular Biology of Cartilage, Meniscus, Ligament Repair and Regeneration; Tissue Engineering; Growth Factors and Cell Signaling
Geary, Randolph, MD - Artery wall remodeling in response to atherosclerosis and arterial injury; Restenosis following vascular reconstruction; Bioengineering of blood vessels; Functional genomics in artery wall biology
Lee, Sang Jin, PhD
Smith, Thomas L, PhD - Effects of exercise and PPAR? agonists on myocardial performance; Tissue engineered peripheral nerve conduits in mice; Regulation of neuromuscular function at the cellular level
Soker, Shay, PhD - Molecular and cellular biology of the vascular system; Stem and progenitor cell biology and genomics; angiogenesis
Van Dyke, Mark, PhD - Novel biomaterials that mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM); biomaterials derived from ECM; adult stem cells
Wilson, Patricia G., PhD - Immunology/allergy/inflammation, model development, health services/training, animals, whole, basic mechanisms, human, cells only, cell growth, differentiation, nervous/sensory system/behavior, transplantation, epidemiology, gastrointestinal system, translational research, neurosciences/behavior
Rheumatic Diseases
These investigators incorporate biochemical inhibitors, gene knockout technologies and transgenic approaches to human tissues and cell models to determine mechanisms of injury related to rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), gout, scleroderma, and inflammatory muscle disorders.
Loeser, Richard, MD - Lab: The cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis and the role of aging. Clinical: The genetics of osteoarthritis; exercise and weight loss interventions for osteoarthritis
McGee, Maria, MD - Cell-mediated inflammation with emphasis on the biology of monocytes and macrophages
Mishra, Nilamadhab, MD - Epigenetics, chromatin remodeling, transcriptional regulation, gene expression and identifying therapeutic targets by proteomics in lupus