TheBarber Lab addresses questions on the fundamental cell biology of epithelial plasticity to understand dysregulated functions in human diseases. Our primary focus on how pHi dynamics regulates cancer cell behaviors such as migration and metabolic reprogramming and stem cell behaviors and lineage specification bridges protein electrostatics with cell biology, revealing protonation as a post-translational modification regulating protein conformations and functions. Our secondary focus on the regulation of actin filament dynamics and architectures includes revealing regulatory mechanisms and roles in transformation, stem cell differentiation, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition.
The Bush lab studies basic mechanisms by which signaling between cells coordinates mammalian morphogenesis. Understanding this control has significance beyond its fundamental importance in development since birth defects are the leading cause of death for infants during the first year of life. We utilize multiple approaches based in mouse genetics to understand fundamental signaling processes as they relate to development and disease with particular foci in the craniofacial and respiratory systems. In addition to mouse genetics approaches, we utilize human ESCs/iPSCs, biophysical approaches, genomics, and live imaging to understand the cellular and molecular control of morphogenesis.
The Chang Lab studies cell morphogenesis and cell division. We are interested in fundamental questions concerning spatial organization within a single cell: How do cellular components organize to form cells of a specific size and shape? How might cells sense their own shape and size? Topics include: cytokinesis, placement of the cell division plane, cell polarity, dynamics of microtubules and actin, biomechanics of cell morphogenesis, and sensing of cell shape and size. Many of our studies are on the simple rod-shaped fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
The Choksi Labstudies how airway stem cells differentiate to build and maintain the respiratory epithelium. We focus on multiciliated cells - specialized epithelial cells that protect the lung by clearing inhaled pathogens. By combining mouse genetics, single-cell technologies, and imaging-based approaches, we aim to uncover novel principles underlying multiciliated cell differentiation. Our long-term goal is to identify new therapeutic strategies for restoring cellular function in respiratory disease.
The Goga Lab seeks to understand how specific oncogenes alter the cell cycle, miRNA and metabolic signaling pathways to drive tumorigenesis. We study how cancer signaling pathways are activated in breast and liver cancers and hematopoietic malignancies, amongst the most prevalent and deadly forms of human cancer. We are particularly focused on the MYC oncogene, the downstream pathways it activates, and synthetic-lethal strategies to target MYC overexpressing cancers. Using a variety of model systems we seek to develop anti-cancer therapeutics to selectively inhibit cancer signaling pathways.
The Carol Gross Lab takes genetic, biochemical, and systems approaches to study regulatory mechanisms of E. coli stress responses, protein interactions in the bacterial transcription apparatus, and genome-wide control of gene expression.
The Hutchins Lab seeks to map how post-transcriptional regulation controls developmental pluripotency and cell fate decisions in vivo, using vertebrate neural crest as a model. Neural crest cells are an essential stem cell population in the vertebrate embryo. Dysregulated post-transcriptional regulatory linkages in neural crest can lead to congenital malformations and cancer in humans, and a thorough understanding of the mechanisms underlying these fundamental processes can provide new therapeutic targets for biomedical intervention. By leveraging systems-level approaches and cutting-edge developmental biology techniques to understand how neural crest cell state transitions are achieved post-transcriptionally to drive cell fate choices, we can begin to understand how these programs fail during development or may be hijacked during disease.
Dr. Joyce is a teaching faculty with a joint appointment in the School of Medicine. She co-directs first and second year Dental school courses in anatomy and physiology (BMS 116, 118, and 126) with Dr. Barbie Klein and directs BMS 117, which is focused on infectious disease and immunology. Dr. Joyce is passionate about health professions education and is a member of the Academy of Medical Educators.
Dr. Barbie Klein, MS, PhD, is an Assistant Professor with joint appointments in the School of Dentistry and the School of Medicine. Dr. Klein teaches gross anatomy, human embryology, histology, and neuroanatomy to health professional students and continuing education healthcare learners. She is the anatomy and embryology Discipline Director for second-year medical student courses and Co-Director with Dr. Joyce of the Biomedical Sciences curriculum for dental students. Her research explores innovations in curriculum development, interprofessional anatomy education, instructional design principles, and the use of technology to improve anatomy education.
The Knox Lab is concerned with analyzing the cellular and molecular events underlying the formation of epithelial organs (organogenesis) and their regeneration after injury. We employ multiple tissues (e.g. salivary gland, pancreas, ocular organs) to test three fundamental biological questions: 1) how do peripheral nerves impact epithelial stem cell fate decisions; 2) what are the mechanisms by which neuronal signals pattern organ architecture; and 3) how do immune cells modulate nerve-mediated morphogenesis, repair and regeneration. Understanding the relationships between multiple cell types will lead to new approaches to regenerate damaged tissue and to create new organs.
The Kutys Lab spans disciplinary boundaries between cell biology and engineering to answer fundamental questions in tissue morphogenesis and mechanobiology. We develop and apply biomimetic human tissue models, along with cellular and molecular technologies, to identify mechanisms across biological scales that govern cell-tissue structure and function. We aim to use these discoveries to inform the selection of candidate therapies and the design of next gen preclinical models for human cancer and cardiovascular disease. Current research thrusts include the role of Notch1 in multicellular mechanobiology and tumor suppression, chemo-mechanical signaling at adherens junctions during morphogenesis, and microfluidic human organoid platforms for developmental modeling.
The L'Etoile Lab investigates how neurons perceive and transmit information both in response to novel and persistent environmental cues. We use the nematode C. elegans because its neuronal circuitry is completely described, and exhibits robust plasticity. C. elegans also allows us to use powerful cell biological, genetic, behavioral, physiological and molecular techniques to study plasticity. For example, we discovered a pathway in which nuclear translocation of a kinase and small RNAs modify chromatin, which allows environmental cues to sculpt long-term behavior. Our research may inform understanding of normal processes such as learning and memory as well as elucidate what goes awry in disease states such as addiction.
Dr. Brian Shearer is an Assistant Professor in the USCF School of Dentistry, where he teaches anatomy, histology, neuroanatomy, and leads several clinically focused dissection initiatives for the advanced student. He has a dual appointment in the Department of Anatomy at the USCF School of Medicine. His work in medical education aims to mix traditional teaching methods with emerging technologies to augment learning and helping students create a holistic, future-focused knowledge base for their clinical practice. In addition to his teaching, Dr. Shearer's research program is focused on primate evolution where he uses paleontology, comparative anatomy, analysis of soft tissue systems through dissection and via advanced imaging modalities, geometric morphometrics, and phylogenetic methods to answer questions about humans and our closest relatives.
The primary focus of Dr. Sneddon’s research is the niche in pancreatic development and Type I Diabetes. Her research group employs the tools of stem cell biology, developmental biology, genomics, and tissue engineering. Dr. Sneddon’s laboratory studies the underlying biology of the cellular microenvironment, including the cellular diversity and lineage relationships of the non-epithelial compartment of the pancreas in the context of organogenesis, adult organ function, and disease. The hope is that a deeper understanding of the identity and biology of non-epithelial “niche” cell types within the pancreas will enable a more directed and efficient attempt at replacing lost cell and organ function via regenerative medicine.
The Wittmann Lab is interested in the mechanisms by which the microtubule cytoskeleton controls complex cell behaviors such as polarity, migration, and division. Specifically, we are analyzing the function and phosphoregulation of +TIPs, a diverse group of proteins that can specifically bind to the ends of growing microtubules, and are essential to link dynamic microtubule ends to other intracellular structures. We are employing high end fluorescent imaging methods, and are also developing novel tools to manipulate intracellular protein activities.
