Pruitt, Kevin
WEBSITE
EMAIL
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PHD PROGRAM
Pharmacology RESEARCH INTEREST
Bioinformatics, Cancer Biology, Cancer Genomics, Cell Biology, Cell Signaling, Epigenetics & Chromatin Biology, Immunology, Pharmacology
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Pruitt lab research involves 3 broad areas. Interest in the first area (cancer epigenetics) stemmed from discoveries made during postdoctoral training assessing how tumor progression disrupts epigenetic mechanisms of control. The second area (Wnt pathway regulation) was the result of early screens as an Assistant Professor at LSU Health Sciences Center. We uncovered novel regulators of oncogenic Wnt signaling and published the first observation that epigenetic enzymes regulate a critical mediator of Wnt signaling (Dishevelled). The third project involves elucidating mechanisms of aromatase regulation which emerged from the obsession of early trainees in the lab with understanding mechanisms cancer-associated estrogen biosynthesis. Within the context of these three projects, I have mentored and guided multiple trainees at every level over the course of 17 years.
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Azizoglu, Berfin
WEBSITE
EMAIL
PUBLICATIONS |
PHD PROGRAM
Cell Biology & Physiology RESEARCH INTEREST
Cardiovascular Biology, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Disease, Neurobiology, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells
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Our lab studies body-wide control of organ growth and regeneration. The mammalian body is reticulated by blood vessels and neurons. How these networks communicate with organ cells to orchestrate local and body-wide decisions is obscure. We study this question with a focus on the mouse liver, the uniquely regenerative visceral organ. Current projects in the lab include 1-researching the role of a novel vascular progenitor network in liver regeneration, 2-determining the mechanisms of injury perception by liver innervation, and 3-in vitro assembly of reticulated, responsive liver tissue.
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Khan, Shahzad
WEBSITE
EMAIL
PUBLICATIONS |
PHD PROGRAM
Cell Biology & Physiology RESEARCH INTEREST
Aging/Alzheimer's, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, Neurobiology, Signal Transduction
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Maintaining health and reducing disease-risk requires the brain to properly transduce signals across specialized regions and cell types. My lab studies neural signaling at the primary cilium, an antenna-like organelle that helps cells sense and respond to environmental cues. The function of primary cilia in the adult brain remains enigmatic. To probe cilia function, the lab will utilize mouse models, neural cultures, human brain samples, single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, and microscopy. Ultimately, we aim to identify therapeutic targets for diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
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Burns, Ella
EMAIL
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PHD PROGRAM
RESEARCH INTEREST
Cell Biology, Genetics, Physiology
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“I am interested in studying the pathogenesis of muco-obstructive lung diseases—in particular, cystic fibrosis. At present, my interest centres on the role of chronic hypoxia on the development of CF lung disease. With this, I am also very interested in the epigenetic components of pathogenic changes in CF lung disease, with a focus on elucidating the impact of chronic hypoxia on such, and in turn, proposing novel treatment strategies/disease modelling techniques. Further, I would also like to pursue research on CFTR expression and regulation in the lung.”
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Harrison, Shenice
EMAIL
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PHD PROGRAM
RESEARCH INTEREST
Cell Biology, Immunology, Pathogenesis & Infection
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“My research interests lie in the intersection of pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions, and microbiology. I aim to explore the molecular basis of infectious diseases and develop novel treatments and vaccines. Within microbiology, I am particularly interested in investigating the genetic mechanisms that regulate microorganism biology and how this knowledge can be applied to advance medical treatments. Additionally, I aim to understand the molecular mechanisms of disease pathogenesis in microorganisms.”
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Bennett, Jack
EMAIL
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PHD PROGRAM
RESEARCH INTEREST
Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Immunology
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“I am interested in understanding the genetics and mechanisms behind cancer formation and progression, evolution and its consequences, signaling pathways involved in developmental biology, the cell cycle, and the immune system. I want to ask questions such as why host genetics can cause a certain infection to be worse or less severe, why some individuals may be more susceptible to certain cancers, what are new ways we can fight cancers and other diseases, or why the cell cycle and associated proteins function the way they do.”
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Guerra, Paolo
EMAIL
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PHD PROGRAM
RESEARCH INTEREST
Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology
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“I enjoy understanding the cell’s regulation of post translational modification of proteins. Understanding how this mechanism can change a cell’s function and even a cell’s fate is fascinating. It’s also a great area to research as it provides a great deal of therapeutic targets for disease.”
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González Dalmasy, Jose
EMAIL
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PHD PROGRAM
RESEARCH INTEREST
Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Drug Discovery
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“I am interested in answering questions related to developing better cancer therapeutics. Whether it’s by discovering novel targets and/or using drug delivery approaches to better bioavailability/efficiency of the compounds themselves.”
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DeMonia, Maggie
EMAIL
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PHD PROGRAM
RESEARCH INTEREST
Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Translational Medicine
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“I am interested in translational cancer research. I would like to study the pathophysiology of cancer and identify therapeutic targets in malignancies.”
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Holmes, Katie
EMAIL
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PHD PROGRAM
RESEARCH INTEREST
Cell Biology, Developmental Biology
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“I am interested in exploring the intersection between cell and developmental biology. I’m particularly interested in studying the morphological changes which specialized cells undergo during development and how a cell’s morphology contributes to it’s specialized function within a tissue.”
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