DBBS mentors and educators are key to our training mission. Those who serve as primary mentors are DBBS Program Members, and others who participate in the educational mission are General Members. Learn about DBBS Faculty Membership »
To provide a supportive learning environment for our trainees, many DBBS-affiliated faculty have completed eight or more hours of CIMER-based mentorship training with a trained facilitator, as indicated below with a profile badge.
Find faculty of interest by entering a name, program or expertise keyword in the search bar; selecting a PhD program from the drop-down menu; or selecting the last name initial from the A-Z filter.
Naomi Dirckx, PhD
Assistant Professor
- Email: dirckx@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Research summary
Key words
Abhinav Diwan, MD, FACC, FAHA
Charlie W. Shaeffer, MD, Professor
- Email: adiwan@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Research summary
Transcriptional regulation of lysosome machinery under stress
Key words
Lysosomes, Ischemia-reperfusion, cell death, autophagy, transcriptional regulation, metabolism
Ram Dixit, PhD
Professor and Biology Department Chair
- Email: ramdixit@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Research summary
Molecular mechanisms of cytoskeleton organization and function
Key words
cytoskeleton, molecular motors, cell morphogenesis, cell wall biogenesis, plant biology
Ian G. Dobbins, PhD
Professor
- Email: idobbins@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Research summary
Interaction of Episodic Memory and Decision-Making Using fMRI and behavioral methods
Key words
Tamara L. Doering, MD, PhD
Alumni Endowed Professor
- Email: doering@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Molecular Cell Biology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Research summary
Biology and pathogenesis of the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans
Key words
biochemistry, biosynthetic pathways, cell biology, eukaryotic pathogen, gene regulation, genomic variants, glycobiology, host-pathogen interactions, microbial pathogenesis, pathogenic fungi, sterol transport, yeast
Nico U.F. Dosenbach, MD, PhD
David M. and Tracy S. Holtzman Professor
- Email: dosenbachn@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Research summary
Functional network plasticity in development and brain injury
Key words
functional networks, plasticity, brain injury, development, perinatal stroke, MRI, resting state
Joseph D. Dougherty, PhD
Professor
- Email: jdougherty@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Computational and Systems Biology
Human and Statistical Genetics
Research summary
Human Psychiatric Genetics, Mouse Models, Cell Type Specific Gene Expression Profiling, Translation, Astrocytes.
Key words
autism, gene expression profiling, genetics, genomics, mouse models, neurobiology, astrocytes, translation regulation
Elizabeth Draganova
Assistant Professor
- Email: draganova@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Research summary
Key words
Bettina F. Drake, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor
- Email: drakeb@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Human and Statistical Genetics
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Cancer Biology
Research summary
Identifying preventive strategies to reduce cancer disparities
Key words
James DuBois, DSc, PhD
Steven J Bander Professor of Medical Ethics and Professionalism
- Email: duboisjm@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
General
Research summary
We conduct social science research on ethical and social issues in medicine and biomedical research.
Key words
research ethics, bioethics, research integrity, qualitative research, surveys
Jennifer Gries Duncan, MD
Professor
- Email: duncan_j@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
General
Research summary
My research focus is on the impact of obesity and diabetes on mitochondrial biogenesis and function.
Key words
obesity, diabetes, mitochondrial metabolism, nutrition
Susan K. Dutcher, PhD
Professor
- Email: dutcher@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Cell Biology
Human and Statistical Genetics
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Research summary
Our lab studies hair-like structures on the surface of cells called cilia that act like antennas to process signals essential for development and survival, and beat in rhythmic fashion to remove potentially harmful pathogens. The malfunctioning of cilia or the structure that anchors them to cells – called the basal body – can contribute to the development of chronic kidney and lung diseases, congenital heart defects and other health problems. We have identified numerous genes required for the assembly and proper functioning of cilia in the green alga Chlamydomonas, a model organism, and their counterparts in humans. In collaboration with colleagues at WashU Medicine, we have analyzed the structure of cilia to obtain atomic resolution of many protein complexes. These studies have laid a foundation for improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients with ciliopathies, including those with polycystic kidney disease, which currently is treated with dialysis; primary ciliary dyskinesia, which causes chronic lung disease, misplaced organs and infertility; Bardet-Biedl syndrome, which leads to blindness in childhood and diabetes, kidney disease and extreme obesity; and many congenital heart defects, which occur when left-right asymmetry goes awry and require complex surgeries to repair
Key words
centrioles, cilia, signal transduction, cytoskeleton, lung disease
Gammon M. Earhart, PhD, PT
Professor and Associate Dean for Physical Therapy
- Email: earhartg@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Research summary
Movement and Neurodegenerative Disease
Key words
gait, balance, Parkinson disease, motor control, movement, neurodegeneration, neuroimaging, neurorehabilitation
Brian T. Edelson, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: bedelson@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Immunology
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Research summary
Immune cell development and function
Key words
dendritic cells, macrophages, hematopoiesis, infection, inflammation, innate immunity, autoimmunity, multiple sclerosis
Christine E. Edwards, PhD
Assistant Scientist
- Email: cedwards24@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Research summary
Using genetic approaches to understand the evolutionary and ecological causes and consequences of rarity in endangered plant species
Key words
John R. Edwards, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: jredwards@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Computational and Systems Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Human and Statistical Genetics
Research summary
We develop new computational and experimental approaches to understand the roles of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in neurodevelopment and cancer
Key words
bioinformatics, cancer, cancer genomics, epigenetics, epigenomics, neurodevelopment, transcriptional regulation
Takeshi Egawa, MD, PhD
Professor
- Email: egawat@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Immunology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Research summary
Gene regulation for lymphocyte development and adaptive immune responses
Key words
lymphocyte development, adaptive immunity, transcription factors, cytokines, oncogenesis
Gabor Egervari, PhD
Assistant Professor
- Email: gabor@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Neurosciences
Molecular Cell Biology
Research summary
We aim to understand how metabolism influences epigenetics, gene expression and behavior, particularly in the context of substance use disorders and neurodegeneration
Key words
Metabolism, epigenetics, alcohol, addiction, neurodegeneration, Alzheimer’s
Adam T. Eggebrecht, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: aeggebre@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Research summary
Developing novel tools that extend mapping of brain function beyond current limitations
Key words
optical, autism, congenital heart disease, language, development, HD-DOT, ECMO, brain
Bahaa E. Elgendy, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: belgendy@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Computational and Systems Biology
Research summary
Medicinal chemistry with a broad goal of drug design and organic synthesis
Key words