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Aki Ushiki, PhD

Assistant Professor

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Computational and Systems Biology
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
Our lab investigates how non-coding genetic variation controls developmental programs and contributes to human disease and evolutionary change. We focus on congenital structural anomalies, pregnancy complications, and bat wing development, combining mouse genetics, embryo genome engineering, and functional genomics approaches, including in vivo MPRAs, to functionally dissect regulatory elements.

Key words
Enhancers, non-coding regulatory variation, developmental genetics, evolution, GWAS, limb development, placental biology, craniofacial development, functional genomics, MPRA

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Michael Vahey, PhD

Associate Professor

Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Biophysical mechanisms of infectious disease

Key words

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Steven Van Dyken, PhD

Associate Professor

Program affiliation
Immunology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Research summary
Cytokine-mediated tissue feedback loops that maintain homeostasis, and environmental factors that instigate inflammation and fibrosis.

Key words

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David Van Essen, PhD

Alumni Endowed Professor

Program affiliation
Neurosciences

Research summary
Cerebral cortex in humans and nonhuman primates: structure, function, connectivity, development, and evolution

Key words
neurobiology, vision, cerebral cortex, brain mapping, connectomics

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Deborah Veis, MD, PhD

Professor

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Immunology
Cancer Biology

Research summary
The bone microenvironment for cancer and infection

Key words
bone biology, osteoclast, cancer, metastasis, osteoporosis, microenvironment, osteoblast, osteomyelitis, infection

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Priyanka Verma, PhD

Assistant Professor

Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Understanding DNA repair mechanisms that impact cancer etiology and responses to chemotherapies

Key words
DNA repair and replication; Genomic instability in cancers; Oncogenes; BRCA-mutation

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Alessandro Vindigni, PhD

Professor

Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
DNA replication and repair, and the roles of these pathways on cancer initiation, progression and response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy

Key words
genome stability, DNA repair, DNA replication, chemotherapy response, cancer etiology

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Jessica Wagenseil, DSc

Professor

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Cardiovascular mechanics, how the heart and blood vessels respond to mechanical forces

Key words
biomechanics, artery, elastin, matrix

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James Walsh, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor

Program affiliation
Immunology
Neurosciences
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
The Walsh Lab is dedicated to defining the immunological landscape of the eye and how this process goes awry in uveitis. We utilize molecular and systems-level approaches to understand how local immune cells and systemic immunity collaborate to maintain ocular homeostasis or drive pathology, with a particular interest in the communication between the gut, eye, and brain.

Key words
Autoimmunity, CD4 T cell biology, Uveitis, CNS border immunology, Translational Research

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Matthew Walter, MD

Professor

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Cancer Biology

Research summary
Genetics and genomics of blood cancer: mutation discovery and mouse models

Key words
cancer, functional genomics, gene expression profiling, hematopoiesis, stem cells, tumor biology