A significant focus of our department is understanding cancer biology, particularly the mechanisms behind cancer development, progression, and metastasis. By examining key molecular players of cell signaling, we aim to uncover novel insights into the DNA damage response and repair mechanisms that allow cancer cells to thrive and resist treatment. Our interdisciplinary approach encompasses enzymology, structural biology, and NMR to elucidate the dynamic relationships within the cytoskeleton and their implications for signaling transduction in cancer progression. Coupled with our expertise in molecular biology techniques such as RNA-seq and ChIP-seq, we investigate gene regulation and expression profiles that illuminate the pathways involved in cancer progression. Through these advanced technologies, we are committed to translating our findings into impactful clinical applications, fostering an environment that not only advances scientific knowledge but also inspires the next generation of researchers.
Faculty
Alexander Drohat, PhD
Keywords: DNA Repair, Epigenetics and DNA methylation, Enzymology, NMR, Structural biology, SUMO modification
Wenjun Fan, PhD
Keywords: rRNA synthesis, RNA splicing, Ribosome heterogeneity, Translational fitness, Cancer cell plasticity, Functional genomics, Multi-omics, RNA Polymerase I, Ribosome biogenesis, CRISPR screening, Targeted therapy resistance, Precision medicine, Biomarker discovery
Mariusz Karbowski, PhD
Keywords: Mitochondrial membrane dynamics, Impact of ubiquitin and proteasome-dependent control of mitochondria
Jiayuh Lin, PhD
Keywords: IL-6, IL-11, GP130, STAT3
Jianfei Qi, PhD
Keywords: Transcriptional gene regulation, Epigenetics, Signaling transduction, histone demethylase, Ubiquitin ligase, Androgen receptor, c-Myc, prostate cancer, Castration-resistant prostate cancer, DNA damage response
David Weber, PhD
Keywords: Calcium-signaling, Tumor suppression & Cancer biology, Structural biology
Gerald Wilson, PhD
Keywords: Gene expression, RNA turnover, RNA-binding proteins, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Tumor progression, Inflammatory mediators, Lipoprotein receptors, High-throughput drug screening, Assay development
Mei-Yi Wu, PhD
Keywords: Epigenetics, Chromatin remodeling protein, Breast cancer, Prostate Cancer, Kidney development, Neurodegeneration
Michal Zalzman, PhD
Keywords: Stem cells, Embryonic stem cells, ESCs, Induced pluripotent stem cells, iPSCs, Multipotent stem cells, MSCs, Telomere, Cancer stem cells, CSCs, Parkinson's disease, Stroke, Conductive hearing loss, Bone reconstruction, 3D Printing, DeepFeeze-3D printing, Tissue-reconstruction, Regenerative-medicine, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, Bioengineering, Tissue engineering