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NameEmailPhD ProgramResearch InterestPublications
Tamir, Tigist
WEBSITE
EMAIL
PUBLICATIONS

PHD PROGRAM
Biochemistry & Biophysics, Nutrition

RESEARCH INTEREST
Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Cancer Biology, Cancer Signaling & Biochemistry, Cell Signaling, Computational Biology, Metabolism, Molecular Biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, Structural Biology, Systems Biology

Systems Metabolism and Signaling Lab

Oxidative stress, a byproduct of energy production essential for all living organisms, arises from an imbalance of reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and carbonyl species (ROS/RNS/RCS). These highly reactive molecules present a significant waste management challenge within cells. Through evolution, oxidative stress response (OSR) pathways have emerged as critical guardian of cellular homeostasis, adept at neutralizing potentially harmful reactive molecules. Dysregulation of OSR—whether due to insufficient or excessive capacity to resolve oxidative damage—is a hallmark of numerous human diseases. For example, cancer cells co-opt OSR pathways by rewiring signaling and metabolism which leads to the development of resistance to chemotherapy.

The Systems Metabolism and Signaling Lab (i.e. Tamir Lab) seeks to unravel the biochemical intricacies of how cells defend against oxidative stress by investigating the cell signaling-mediated regulation of metabolism. We aim to address fundamental questions about the biochemistry of OSR regulation, including:

  • How is information transferred across biomolecules, from the phosphoproteome to the metabolome?
  • What is the role of phosphorylation in shaping the structure and function of antioxidant enzymes?
  • Where do cell signaling pathways intersect with metabolism during OSR?
  • What are the signals driving dysregulated OSR in diseases?

To tackle these questions, we employ a multidisciplinary approach that integrates biochemistry, proteomics, metabolomics, molecular biology, and systems biology. Our work focuses on dissecting the regulatory networks governing OSR and identifying targetable pathways implicated in obesity and cancer. As a member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Nutrition, and Computational Medicine Program, we bridge molecular insights with systems-level understanding as we strive to illuminate novel and effective strategies for therapeutic interventions. The Systems Metabolism and Signaling Lab is committed to fostering a collaborative, creative, and diverse group that is invested in mutual growth.

Carmichael, Iain
WEBSITE
EMAIL
PUBLICATIONS

PHD PROGRAM
Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Pathobiology & Translational Science

RESEARCH INTEREST
Bioinformatics, Cancer Biology, Cancer Genomics, Computational Biology, Medical Imaging, Pathology, Quantitative Biology, Translational Medicine

My lab builds data driven, computational systems to analyze high-resolution histology images of diseased tissue as well as other clinical data sources to improve clinical decision making and advance basic scientific investigation of disease processes.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence, computer vision/medical image analysis, natural language processing, deep-learning, open-source software, multi-omic analysis, digital pathology, multiplex immunofluorescence, spatial transcriptomics, cancer

Yuan, Runjie

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cancer Biology, Immunology, Virology

“I am broadly interested in virology. Specifically, I hope to investigate intercellular communications during viral life cycles. I am also interested in utilizing tools like cryogenic electron microscopy to study virion and viral membrane protein structures. In the meantime, I am very much open to other topics in the field, as well as in cancer biology and biochemistry.”

van Rooyen, Lara

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cancer Biology, Drug Discovery, Immunology, Metabolism

“To build on my experience studying the metabolism of pancreatic islets at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, I am eager to continue studying cell stress and metabolism, specifically in the context of disease. As such, I am interested in cancer metabolism, and how different metabolic vulnerabilities can be exploited to target cancer cells. As part of this interest, cancer immunology also fascinates me due to its promise of specifically targeting cancer cells with the deleterious effects on other somatic cells caused by many current chemotherapeutic treatments. My experience working on drug discovery in the muscular dystrophy space at Fulcrum Therapeutics has also given me an appreciation for the value of characterizing pharmacological compounds and their mechanisms of action, especially in the context of cancer biology.”

Shabrang, Mitra

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cancer Biology, Immunology, Immunotoxicology, Toxicology

“I would love to work on a Immunotoxicology project, like how different types of exposures to xenobiotics could suppress the immune cells and result in tumor development and cancer. Recently I got interested in the effects of lifestyle (diet, alcohol consumption, sleeping rhythms, etc) or even exposures to different materials (like PFAS) could affect the immune cells and the final result of Immunotherapy in cancer patients.”

San Andres Montalvan, Emily

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cancer Biology, Immunology, Translational Medicine

“I am interested in the interaction between the tumor microenvironment and the immune cells, looking into strategies to avoid or overcome immunosuppression. I am also interested in researching ways to make available immunotherapies more effective depending on the tumor microenvironment ( as it varies depending on the type of cancer.) I would like to work in a translational lab where I have access to patient samples and clinical trials (bench to bedside, and from the bed back to the bench).”

Rowland, Violet

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cancer Biology, Cell Biology

“I am interested in understanding how cancer develops and evolves depending on its environment. I am particularly interested in trying to understand why certain subpopulations in a tumor become metastatic or resistant to therapy, with the ultimate goal of creating treatments that can better help those affected by cancer.”

Reynolds, Amy

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cancer Biology, Cancer Immunology, Developmental Immunology, Immunology, Pathogenesis & Infection

“I am interested in the tumor microenvironment and how it shapes the immune response. My current research experience centers on investigating the interplay between the developing immune system, metabolism, and T-cell response to infection or cancer. I hope to broaden my scope to encompass other immune cell types. At UNC, I wish to explore cancer immunology research using pre-clinical models to uncover new pathways for novel immunotherapeutic treatments.”

Milhous, Sadie

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cancer Biology, Immunology, Translational Medicine

“I am primarily interested in pursuing translational aspects of cancer immunology. More specifically, I am interested in 1) investigating pathways that contribute toward/developing strategies to overcome an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and 2) understanding and countering mechanisms that drive a pro-tumor phenotype in immune cells.”

McCoy, Sydney

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cancer Biology, Cell Signaling, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, Pharmacology

“I am interested in studying different protein interactions or signaling pathways to see if they are potential drug targets. Also, I am interested in molecular mechanisms of disease!”