Research Interest: Molecular Biology

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cancer Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biology

“Overall, I am interested in immunology in a more basic science context. Under this umbrella I am curious about looking at how cancer forms and changes and am also very excited about the prospect of branching into autoimmune disease research.”

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Biochemistry, Computational Biology, Molecular Biology

“I am interested in a Biochemistry and molecular biology-focused research group, mostly focusing on RNA. Interested in research that will require performing both wet-lab tasks as well as some computational analysis. Highly interested in a Biochemistry PhD. with a BCB certificate.”

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Genetics, Molecular Biology

“I am interested in using molecular genetic approaches to study the proteins and signaling pathways responsible for inheritable conditions and metabolic processes in eukaryotes. I believe that model organisms are an especially valuable tool for investigating these targets thanks to the wide array of molecular genetic tools available.”

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Molecular Biology

“I am interested in research questions at the intersection between cell and developmental biology; specifically, understanding how cells get to the right place at the right time, and make the right shapes to form complex structures and systems. I am particularly interested in answering these questions within neurons, but also find other tissues extremely exciting. “

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Developmental Biology, Molecular Biology, Translational Medicine

“I am very interested in all aspects of the microbiome: microbial ecology and the establishment of microbial niches within a complex system (why are these microbes where they are?), the functionality of the microbiome in terms of metabolites (what are these microbes doing here?), the interaction between the microbiome and the immune system (how is the microbiome established and maintained?), and how the microbiome influences health and disease (how does the microbiome interact with other systems and/or respond to insults/exposures?)”

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Genomics, Molecular Biology, Organismal Biology

PHD PROGRAM
Cell Biology & Physiology

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, Pulmonary Research, Respiratory Physiology & Infections

We inhale about 10,000 L of air to take oxygen into our bodies every day. Along with the inhaled air, numerous pathogens, chemical pollutants, and other irritants are inhaled, which could pose potential life-threatening risks to our lungs. However, our lungs are protected by mucociliary clearance (MCC), a critical innate defense mechanism that is important for maintaining lung health. Okuda lab’s overall research interest focuses on how the MCC system is regulated to maintain homeostasis in the lung and how it fails in muco-obstructive lung diseases, including cystic fibrosis (CF), asthma, and COPD. Our previous work successfully characterized the regional expression patterns of major airway secretory mucins, MUC5AC/MUC5B, and CFTR/ionocytes in normal and CF human airways. These investigations provide insight into the small airway region (< 2 mm in diameter) as a critical site for pathogenesis of muco-obstructive lung diseases. We have developed a microdissection technique for human small airways and established in vitro and explant small airway epithelial cell cultures. We have combined these culture systems with single-cell-based omics approaches and gene editing technologies to understand cellular biology and physiology of the human small airways. In response to the emergent situation caused by SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, Okuda lab has been also actively involved in COVID-19 research.

PHD PROGRAM
Cell Biology & Physiology

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cardiovascular Biology, Cardiovascular Disease, Cell Biology, Cell Signaling, Developmental Biology, Developmental Disorders, Disease, Genetic Basis of Disease, Metabolism, Molecular Biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease

Our lab aims to identify the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying heart development and congenital heart disease. Our multifaceted approach includes primary cardiac cell culture, genetic mouse models, biochemical/molecular studies, and transcriptomics. Additionally, we employ proteomics-based methods to investigate 1) protein expression dynamics, 2) protein interaction networks, and 3) post-translational modifications (PTMs) in heart development. Current research projects focus on investigating the function of two essential PTMs in cardiogenesis: protein prenylation and palmitoylation.

PHD PROGRAM
Cell Biology & Physiology

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, Pulmonary Research, Regenerative Medicine, Respiratory Physiology & Infections, Signal Transduction, Stem Cells

We use cutting edge technology to study pathogenesis of human pulmonary diseases including cystic fibrosis, Job’s syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by both human specimens, mouse genetic models, with a goal of finding the therapies. Recently, we developed a serial of lung epithelial-lineage tracing systems, providing the powerful tools for identify mechanisms of lung disease involved in post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection, also known as “long COVID”, in collaboration with Dr. Ralph Baric’s Lab at UNC-CH.

PHD PROGRAM
Microbiology & Immunology

RESEARCH INTEREST
Bacteriology, Molecular Biology, Pathogenesis & Infection, Systems Biology

Our lab uses a systems biology approach to study phenotypic heterogeneity in bacteria. We develop tools that quantify single cell bacterial transcription. We then compare dynamic measurements during vegetative growth and infection to identify regulators of gene expression and mechanisms that bacteria use to coordinate community organization. With this data we want to understand the role of heterogeneity and noise in infectious disease.