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All Personnel (alphabetical)

Complete Directory of all MPB Personnel

POD 3

Administrative Team

Other administrative needs are delivered by personnel in POD 3 with special responsibility for MPB. Click on their names to access a picture.

POD3 Director: Kimberly Turner

HR – Donna Ingram

Grant Admin – post-award: Bess Cahill, Becky Bowden, Barbara Hill

Grant Admin – pre-award: Trang Doan, Alicia Davis, Jessica Hall

Procurement/Travel: Chris Reagan

IT – Tim Dugger

 

  • : 2525 West End Ave
    Suite 500
    Nashville, Tennessee - 27203-1764


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Christopher Acree

Graduate Student, Arrojo Laboratory, , Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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Matthew R. Alexander, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

Counter-regulatory immune mechanisms in hypertension and end-organ damage


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Rafael Arrojo e Drigo, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

The Arrojo e Drigo lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms regulating post-mitotic cell homeostasis and longevity. Many post-mitotic cells can be as old as the organism, which makes them remarkably long-lived. We study long-lived cells in different organs and explore their developmental trajectory, structure-function and aging patterns. Our lab uses a combination of single cell sequencing and high-resolution light, electron and isotope microscopy platforms to overlay cell structure-function with molecular identity, age and metabolism.


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Juan Pablo (JP) Arroyo, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophyiscs


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Julio E. Ayala, PhD

Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

Research in the Ayala lab focuses on gut-brain interactions that regulate energy balance. Specifically, we are interested in identifying regions in the central nervous system and molecular mechanisms within those regions that mediate the effects of the gut hormone Glucagon-like peptide-1 (Glp1) and related Glp1 receptor (Glp1r) agonists on feeding behavior. Our lab combines transgenic mouse models, targeted pharmacological interventions and state-of-the-art metabolic phenotyping capabilities to address research questions. We aim to extend the technical expertise in the lab to leverage the existing imaging, circuit mapping, electrophysiology and behavioral phenotyping capabilities at Vanderbilt. Other projects in the lab focus on leveraging biochemical and pharmacological properties of the Glp1r towards the design of more effective therapeutics for obesity and diabetes


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Deveena Banerjee

Graduate Student, Young Laboratory, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics


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Fernando Melara Barahona

Graduate Student, Carrasco Laboratory , Molecular Physiology & Biophysics


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Michelle Bedenbaugh, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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Gai-Linn Besing

Graduate Student, Ayala Laboratory, , Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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Albert H. Beth, PhD

Professor Emeritus, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

Structure, dynamics, and interactions of membrane proteins


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Milam A. Brantley, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

Pharmacogenomics and metabolomics of retinal diseases


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Jonathan D Brown, MD

Associate Professor, Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine

The Brown lab explores the role of the epigenome and transcription in pathologic gene regulation that drives cardiometabolic disease.


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Juliann Burkett

Graduate Student, Gannon Laboratory, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics


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Erin Calipari, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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    Nancy Carrasco, M.D.

    Chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
    Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
    Joe C. Davis Chair in Biomedical Science


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    Jeeyeon Cha, M.D., Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism
    Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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    Roger Chalkley, D. Phil.

    Professor Emeritus, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics



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    Wenbiao Chen, PhD

    Professor, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics

    Genetic basis of susceptibility to type 2 diabetes.


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    Rui Chen, Ph.D.

    Research Instructor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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    Alan D Cherrington, PhD

    Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
    Jacquelyn A. Turner and Dr. Dorothy J. Turner Chair in Diabetes Research, Medicine

    Diabetes, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, physiology.


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    Derek P Claxton, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

    Research area: Structural biology and mechanisms of substrate catalysis, transport and inhibition in glucose and lipid metabolism mediated by PAP2 and MFS superfamily membrane proteins


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    Joseph Cleland

    Graduate Student, Neuert laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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      Katie C. Coate, Ph.D.

      Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

      Research in the Coate Laboratory seeks to identify mechanisms controlling the activity and identity of human pancreatic islet cells in health and disease. Our work relies heavily on the use of human cadaveric donor islets coupled with specific genetic targeting of alpha and beta cells, static and dynamic assessments of hormone secretion, bulk and single cell RNA-sequencing, chromatin profiling, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, and transplantation of human islets into immunocompromised mice for in vivo studies.

       


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      Roger J. Colbran, PhD

      Professor, Vice Chair, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

      Role of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in normal synaptic signaling and in neuropsychiatric disorders.

      LAB WEB SITE


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      Jackie D. Corbin, Ph.D.

      Graduate Student, Assistant, Associate, Full and Emeritus Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 1971-Present

      Dr. Corbin, together with Dr. Sharon Francis, devoted his research career to determining the biochemical mechanisms whereby cyclic nucleotides mediate the effects of hormones, neurotransmitters, and other agents on many biological processes.  In 1976, he identified a novel protein that bound to cyclic GMP, which was later purified and characterized as being a phosphodiesterase that degrades cyclic GMP.  This enzyme, now known as PDE5, is the site of action of drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction.  Dr. Corbin was a HHMI investigator for 17 years.


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      Matthew Cottam

      Graduate Student, Hasty laboratory, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics

      I am a 5th year graduate student in Alyssa Hasty’s lab. My interests are at the interface of physiology and immunology and I am focused on using bioinformatic approaches to study the relationship between immune cells and metabolic perturbations. My project in the lab is to study adaptive immunity in the context of weight loss and weight regain, which we refer to as weight cycling. To date, little work has been done to describe and define changes in T cell activity within adipose tissue during significant weight changes. In the Hasty lab, I am working to understand the complex interplay between adipocytes, macrophages, and T cells that induces adipose tissue T cell accumulation, activation, tolerance, and hypersensitivity.


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      Brittney Covington

      Graduate Student, Chen Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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      Amber Crabtree

      Graduate Student, Hinton Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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      Bruce M Damon, PhD

      Professor, Radiology and Radiological Sciences
      Professor, Biomedical Engineering
      Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

      Development and application of novel imaging and spectroscopic approaches to studying muscle function.


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      Reza Dastvan, PhD

      Research Fellow in Hassane S. Mchaourab's lab, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics

      In Hassane Mchaourab's laboratory I study the multidrug transporters involved in cancer and infectious diseases.


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      Lea K Davis, Ph.D.

      Associate Professor, Division of Genetic Medicine
      Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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      Niels de Jonge, PhD, University of Freiburg

      Adjoint Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
      Head of Innovative Electron Microscopy, INM Leibniz-Institute of new Materials

      Molecular-level imaging, electron microscopy, biophysics, cell biology, protein function, nanobiotechnology, nanotechnology


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      Danielle Dean, PhD

      Assistant Professor, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism
      Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

      I study mechanisms regulating plasticity of alpha cells in the pancreatic islet.


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      Alexa DelBene

      Graduate Student, Gannon Laboratory, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics


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      Eric Delpire, PhD

      Professor, Anesthesiology
      Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

      Molecular physiology of cation-chloride cotransport mechanisms in the nervous system.


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      Matthew Dickerson, PhD

      Research Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics

      Pancreatic Islet Expression and Function of Two-Pore Domain Potassium Channels


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      Jordyn Dobson

      Graduate Student, Jacobson Laboratory, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics


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      Amanda Doran, MD, PhD

      Assistant Professor , Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation (VI4) and Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
      Assistant Professor , Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

      Our lab is interested in the immunologic and molecular mechanisms underlying atherosclerotic and cardiometabolic disease.


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      Alexander Eddie

      Graduate Student, Zaganjor Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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      Dale Scott Edgerton, PhD

      Research Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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      Ronald B. Emeson, PhD

      Joel G. Hardman Professor , Pharmacology
      Professor, Psychiatry
      Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

      Molecular neurobiology.


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      John H. Exton, M.D., Ph.D.

      Professor Emeritus, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
      Instructor, Assistant, Associate and Full Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

      Over his five decade research career, Dr. Exton’s research greatly advanced our understanding of the biochemical mechanisms of signal transduction.  His research explored how hormones, neurotransmitters and growth factors activate phospholipase enzymes in order to regulate calcium ions, G proteins, protein kinases and other factors within multiple cell types.  He was a HHMI-funded investigator for 36 years and the recipient of multiple honors and awards, including the Lilly Award from the American Diabetes Association and election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2001.


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      Payam Fathi

      Defended Dissertation in the Ayala Laboratory on May 24, 2024 , Molecular Physiology & Biophysics


      Yolanda Fernandez Otero, PhD

      Research Fellow, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics


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      Sharron H. Francis, Ph.D.

      Graduate Student, Assistant, Research Associate, Research Professor and Adjunct Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 1975-Present

      Dr. Francis worked as a close scientific colleague with Dr. Jackie Corbin, forming a scientific partnership that lasted for 37 years.  Together they studied how cyclic nucleotides mediate the effects of hormones, neurotransmitters, and other agents on many biological processes.  She is widely recognized for her studies of phosphodiesterases, and specifically for helping to purify and characterize PDE5, the enzyme that degrades cyclic GMP and is the site of action of drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction.


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      Aurelio Galli, PhD

      Adjoint Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
      Professor, Psychiatry

      Trafficking and Biophysics of Neurotransmitter Transporters with emphasis on metabolic regulation of dopamine signaling.


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      Maureen Anne Gannon, PhD

      Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
      Professor, Medicine
      Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
      Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology

      Molecular genetics of pancreas development, organogenesis, morphogenesis, islet function, diabetes, transcription
      factors


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      Mario Garcia

      Graduate Student, Rendina-Ruedy Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


      Crockett Genea, MS

      Assistant, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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      Shannon Gibson

      Graduate Student, Jacobson Laboratory, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics


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      Jose A. Gomez, Ph.D.

      Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology Division
      Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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      John C. Gore, PhD

      Director, Institute of Imaging Science
      University Distinguished Professor , Radiology and Radiological Sciences
      Professor, Physics and Astronomy
      Hertha Ramsey Cress Chair , Medicine
      Professor, Biomedical Engineering
      Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

      Imaging Science, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)


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      Daryl K. Granner, M.D.

      Professor and Chairman, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 1984-2008
      Professor Emeritus, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

      Over his 14 years as Chair, Dr. Granner both renamed and transformed the classically-organized Department of Physiology into one that used molecular biological and biophysical strategies to define how hormones, neurotransmitters, growth factors and nutrients regulate gene expression and other signaling processes. He may be best known for his highly successful mentoring of many young scientists.  His own research focused on how insulin regulates genes important for glucose metabolism, including phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), glucokinase and hexokinase II.  He also served as Director of the Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center for 16 years, and was a frequent keynote or invited speaker at international conferences.


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        Brad Grueter, PhD

        Associate Professor, Anesthesiology
        Associate Professor, Psychiatry
        Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

        • : P435H MRB IV


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        Volker H Haase, MD

        Professor, Medicine
        Professor, Cancer Biology
        Krick-Brooks Chair, Nephrology and Hypertension
        Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

        Molecular oxygen-sensing


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        Joel G. Hardman, Ph.D.

        Instructor, Assistant, Associate and Full Professor, Physiology / Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 1964-1975

        The very significant body of work performed by Dr. Hardman has contributed tremendously to our understanding of cyclic nucleotide synthesis and degradation.  In particular much of the fundamental knowledge of guanylate cyclase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, which synthesize and degrade cyclic GMP, respectively, is a result of Dr. Hardman’s research.  In addition to his appointment in our department, Dr. Hardman was also Professor and Chairman of the Pharmacology Department from 1975 to 1990 and Associate Vice-Chancellor for Health Affairs at Vanderbilt until his retirement in 1997.


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          Ray Clement Harris, MD, PhD

          Director, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine
          Professor, Medicine
          Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

          Role of cycylooxygenase-2 in renal development and function; role of growth factors in recovery from acute renal injury; role of renin-angiotensin system in regulation of epithelial cell function


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          David Glenn Harrison, MD

          Director, Division of Clinical Pharmacology
          Professor, Medicine
          Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

          Inflammation; Endothelial cell metabolism of tetrahydrobiopterin


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          Alyssa H. Hasty, PhD

          Vice Provost and Senior Asssociate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Career Development at UT Southwestern, Office of the Provost


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          Emily Hawes

          Defended Dissertation in the O'Brien Laboratory on January 30, 2024, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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          Jacek J Hawiger, MD, PhD

          Distinguished Professor, Medicine
          Louise B. McGavock Chair,
          Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

          Inflammation, Innate Immunity, Biodefense, and Intracellular Delivery of Proteins and Peptides


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          Antentor O Hinton, Jr., Ph.D.

          Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

          The Hinton Lab utilizes SBF-SEM and FIB-SEM to investigate the molecular mechanisms that regulate molecule transfer and morphology changes between the mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum and how these mechanisms are altered during pathophysiological states diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.


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          Jason Hughes

          Graduate Student, Neuert Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

           

           


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          David A. Jacobson, PhD

          Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

          Secretagogue induced mechanisms regulating pancreatic islet electrical activity and hormone secretion


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          Leonard S. "Jim" Jefferson, Ph.D.

          Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow, Physiology / Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 1961-1967

          Dr. Jefferson’s graduate training with Dr. Charles Park helped prepare him for his impressive career at Penn State.  His research has encompassed multiple aspects of the translational control of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and liver, including effects of substrate availability to the tissue and the mechanisms by which hormones such as insulin and glucocorticoids regulate gene expression.  Dr. Jefferson has been a Professor of Physiology / Cellular and Molecular Physiology at Penn State since 1975, and Chairman of that Department since 1988.  One of his many honors and activities was serving as President of the American Physiological Society in 1995-1996.


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            Carl H. Johnson, PhD

            Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Biological Sciences, Biological Sciences
            Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

            Cellular and Molecular Biology of Biological Clocks


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            Erkan Karakas, PhD

            Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

            Structural Biology of Calcium Signaling and Transport through Biological Membranes


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            Annet Kirabo, D.V.M., M.Sc., Ph.D.

            Associate Professor, Clinical Pharmacology Division/Medicine, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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            Tetsuro Kono, Ph.D.

            Assistant, Associate and Full Professor, Physiology / Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 1963-1992

            Dr. Kono’s primary research focus was on the control of glucose entry into fat cells by insulin.  He was among the first to report that glucose transporters can be translocated from an intracellular pool to the cell membrane in an insulin-dependent manner is fundamental to the understanding of insulin-regulated glucose transport.  In addition, Dr. Kono identified and extensively characterized the insulin-sensitive cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase enzyme in fat tissue.  Dr. Kono remained active in the laboratory for several years as an Emeritus Professor..


              Guillaume Kraft, PhD

              Research Assistant Professor / Cherrington Lab, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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              Rachel W. Kuchtey, MD, PhD

              Professor, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
              Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

              Glaucoma is a major public global health problem accounting for vision loss and blindness in millions of people world-wide. Although glaucoma can be treated by lowering intraocular pressure with medications, laser treatments or surgery, most patients are unaware of decreased vision until advanced stages of the disease. Improved treatment for glaucoma patients requires better understanding of the disease mechanisms and development of early detection strategies. Our broad long term goals are to understand the disease pathophysiology and to identify genetic markers for early detection and better treatment of glaucoma.


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              Fred Sanford Lamb, MD, PhD

              Professor, Pediatrics
              Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair,
              Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

              The role of anion channels in redox signaling.


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              Matthew John Lang, PhD

              Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
              Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

              The general goal of our research program is to probe the inner-workings of Nature's molecular and cellular machinery through functional measurement. Building from a molecular perspective we and collaborators employ a measure-make-model approach including single molecule biophysics methods of optical tweezers, single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy, functional mutations, and simulations.


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              Louise Lantier, PhD

              Research Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
              Metabolic Pathophysiology Core Managing Director


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              Bingshan Li, PhD

              Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

              Computational and statistical genomics, Bioinformatics, Cancer genomics, Complex diseases, Genetics of psychiatric disorders


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              Alejandro Llorente Esteban

              Graduate Student, Carrasco Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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              Robert L Macdonald, MD, PhD

              Professor and Chair, Neurology

              Transcription, translation, folding, assembly, trafficking and pharmacological and electrophysiological properties of recombinant/native GABAA receptor channels and of mutant GABAA receptor channels associated with genetic epilepsy syndromes in transfected HEK293T cells and in transgenic mice.


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              Mark A. Magnuson, MD

              Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
              Louise B. McGavock Chair and Professor, Medicine
              Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology
              Senior Associate Dean for Research-Designate

              Pancreatic endocrine cell differentitation and dedifferentiation, reprogramming of pancreatic acinar cells into new beta cells, genetic and epigenetic regulation of cellular plasticity


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              Jose Maldonado, Ph.D.

              Research Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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              Robert T. Matthews, PhD

              Research Associate Professor, Retired, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

              Research interests include the anatomy and physiology of (1) reward systems of the brain that are activated by abused drugs such as cocaine, and (2) limbic system brain areas involved in anxiety and stress. Of specific interest is how these brain systems interact to cause relapse of drug use by people previously addicted to drugs.


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              James M. May, MD

              Professor, Medicine
              Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

              Dr. May's laboratory is involved in two areas involving antioxidant vitamins and micronutrients: the function of vitamin C to tighten the endothelial permeability barrier in diabetes and the role of the vitamin in preserving pericytes in diabetic retinas.


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              Owen P McGuinness, PhD

              Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

              Regulation Of Metabolic Response to Inflammation: Interaction With Nutrition


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              Hassane S. Mchaourab, PhD

              Professor, Louis B. McGavock Chair, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

              Structure and dynamic basis for protein function.


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              Haley Mendoza-Romero

              Graduate Student, Simerly Laboratory, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics


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              Sabrina Mitchell, PhD

              Research Fellow, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

              Research Interests

              The impact of mitochondrial genetic variation on complex traits and disease
              Methods for high-throughput classification of mitochondrial haplogroups
              Mechanisms mitochondria employ to communicate with the nucleus to regulate gene expression
              Bridging statistical and molecular genetics to determine functional variants that influence disease risk.


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              Howard E. Morgan, M.D.

              Medical Fellow, Assistant, Associate and Full Professor, Physiology / Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 1954-1967

              During Dr. Morgan’s tenure at Vanderbilt, he investigated glucose uptake and glycogenolysis in heart muscle.  In particular, his studies of the regulation of phosphorylase b activity provided insights into the control of glycogen breakdown.  Dr. Morgan’s post-Vanderbilt research program at Penn State focused on the regulation of protein turnover in heart muscle.  He was Chairman of  the Department of Physiology at Penn State from 1973 – 1987.  Among his many honors and awards, Dr. Morgan was President of  the American Physiological Society (1985-86) and American Heart Association (1987-88), and was elected to the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences in 1987.


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                Douglas P. Mortlock, PhD

                Research Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                Long-range gene regulation, genomics, developmental biology, bone and joint development


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                Terunaga Nakagawa, MD, PhD

                Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                Molecular and cellular biophysics of synapses


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                Gregor Neuert, PhD

                Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
                Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
                Associate Professor, Pharmacology

                Quantitative and predictive understanding of dynamic signal transduction and gene regulation of the coding and the non-coding genome in model organisms and human disease.

                 

                For more information, please see our lab web site.


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                Bianca Nguyen

                Graduate Student, Alexander Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                Kevin Dean Niswender, MD, PhD

                Associate Professor, Medicine
                Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism


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                Richard M. O'Brien, PhD

                Professor, Director of Graduate Studies, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                Diabetes and the Glucose-6-Phosphatase Gene Family


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                Cayla Ontko

                Defended Dissertation in the Penn Laboratory on March 8, 2024 , Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                Anna Osipovich, PhD

                Research Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                Characterization of endocrine progenitor cells and acinar to beta cell transdifferentiation


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                Charles R. "Rollo" Park, M.D.

                Professor and Chairman, Physiology / Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 1952-1984
                Professor Emeritus

                During his more than 3 decades of leadership in the Department of Physiology, Dr. Park’s research efforts with the group of investigators he recruited to Vanderbilt yielded tremendous advancements in the understanding of a variety of metabolic processes.  These include the regulation of glucose entry into cells by insulin, hormonal control of gluconeogenesis and glycolysis, and intracellular actions of hormones acting via cyclic AMP and its protein kinase.  Two of his many honors include the Banting Award of the American Diabetes Association in 1979 and election to the National Academy of Sciences in 1980.


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                  Spencer Peachee

                  Graduate Student, Jacobson Laboraty, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics


                  Dungene Peng, PhD

                  Research Fellow / Mchaourab Lab, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                  John S. Penn, PhD

                  Knights Templar Eye Foundation Endowed Professor , Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
                  Snyder Chair, Medical Education and Administration
                  Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology
                  Professor , Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                  A Molecular and Cellular Characterization of Ocular Angiogenesis


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                  Yasminye Pettway

                  Graduate Student, Powers Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                  Simon J. Pilkis, M.D., Ph.D.

                  Assistant, Associate and Full Professor, Physiology / Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 1972-1986

                  The research area pursued by Dr. Pilkis involved hormonal control of hepatic gluconeogenesis and glycolysis via alterations in enzyme activities.  He discovered fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, the key allosteric modulator of phosphofructokinase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, the bifunctional enzyme which synthesizes and degrades this regulator, and identified the gene that encodes this protein.  This led to his extensive study of the hormonally-mediated regulation of the enzymatic activities of the bifunctional enzyme, including studies of its genetic expression.  Dr. Pilkis became Professor and Chairman of Physiology and Biophysics at The State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1986.


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                    Julia Pinette

                    Graduate Student, Zaganjor Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                    Robert L. Post, M.D.

                    Instructor, Assistant, Associate and Full Professor, Physiology / Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 1948-1991

                    Dr. Post is credited with identifying the sodium and potassium ATPase active transporter of cell membranes, which is responsible for maintaining the proper concentrations of sodium and potassium in cells. Dr. Post pursued highly successful studies on the mechanism of action and energetics of the transporter, the results of which have also been extended to an understanding of many other transport systems.  Among his many honors and awards is the 1983 Cole Award from the Biophysical Society.


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                      Alvin C. Powers, MD

                      Joe C. Davis Chair in Biomedical Science, Medicine, and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
                      Professor, Vanderbilt Diabetes Center
                      Director, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology
                      Director

                      Pancreatic Islet Biology, Vascularization, Development, Regeneration, and Imaging; Diabetes

                      https://www.powersbrissovaresearch.org/

                       

                       


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                      Ambra Pozzi, PhD

                      Professor, Medicine
                      Professor, Cancer Biology
                      Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                      Role of arachidonic acid derived lipids in angiogenesis and tumorigenesis


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                      Suhaila Rahman, PhD

                      Research Fellow, Mchaourab Lab

                      In Mchaourab’s lab I study the functional dynamics of neurotransmitter transporters that are involved in neurological diseases


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                      Jeffrey Rathmell, PhD

                      Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Immunobiology, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
                      Director, Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology


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                      Elizabeth Rendina-Ruedy, Ph.D.

                      Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
                      Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophyiscs


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                      David Charles Samuels, PhD

                      Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                      Mitochondrial genetics and diseases. Toxicity mechanisms of HIV treatment. Pathogenesis of protein variations.


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                      Anna Schornack

                      Graduate Student, Dean Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                      Linda J. Sealy, PhD

                      Associate Professor Emerita, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


                      Identifying the transcription factors that control the conversion to EMT and metastasis in breast cancer.


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                      Elizabeth Semler

                      Graduate Student, Vickers Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                      Richard B. Simerly, Ph.D.

                      Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                      We study how environmental factors, such as nutrition and hormones, impact the development of neural circuits that control behavior and metabolism in order to better understand how early events in an individual’s life influence traits like feeding and metabolic physiology.

                       


                      Dollada Srisai, Ph.D.

                      Research Instructor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                      John Michael Stafford, MD, PhD

                      Associate Professor, Medicine
                      Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                      Cardiovascular risk associated with diabetes and obesity. Lipid Metabolism and HDL, Sex-differences in metabolism


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                      Jade Stanley

                      Graduate Student, Dean Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                      Roland W. Stein, PhD

                      Mark Collie Chair in Diabetes Research, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
                      Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology
                      Professor

                      Focused on defining the transcription factors involved in controlling the expression of Pdx-1 and MafA. In addition, we are examining how transcriptional factors influence beta cell formation and function.


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                      Richard A. Stein, PhD

                      Research Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                      James S. Sutcliffe, PhD

                      Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
                      Associate Professor, Psychiatry

                      Genetic basis of autism spectrum disorders; molecular genetics; statistical genetics; epigenetics, neuropsychiatric genetics; phenotypic dissection of complex genetic disorders (autism, anxiety, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other related conditions)


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                      Earl W. Sutherland, Jr., M.D.

                      Professor, Physiology / Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 1963-1973

                      Dr. Sutherland’s discovery of adenyl cyclase and cyclic AMP was a seminal contribution and led to the concept of intracellular second messenger signaling.  His research linking changes in intracellular enzyme activity to hormones such as glucagon and epinephrine provided a foundation for subsequent decades of work in the areas of  hormonal regulation of intracellular metabolism and other processes.  These important contributions resulted in election to the National Academy of Sciences and the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1971 for Dr. Sutherland.


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                        Serena Sweet

                        Graduate Student, Simerly Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                        Kristen Syring, BS

                        Graduate Student, O'Brien laboratory, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics

                        The prevalence type 2 diabetes (T2D) continues to increase worldwide. Multiple SNPs associated with altered risk of T2D have been identified through genome wide association studies including rs13266634 in the SLC30A8 locus, which encodes zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8). In addition, rare mutations resulting in SLC30A8 haploinsufficiency are protective against T2D. Using several mouse models, we are investigating the role that ZnT8 plays in beta cell function and the potential of ZnT8 as a therapeutic target for T2D.

                        • : 8415 MRB IV


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                        Darian T. Carroll

                        Defended Dissertation in the Gannon Laboratory on May , Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                        Alex Thiemicke, MS, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena Germany

                        Graduate Student, Neurt laboratory, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics


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                        Rohit Venkat

                        Graduate Student, Neuert Laboratory, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics

                        In the Neuert Lab, I study long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of non-protein coding transcripts that represents an emerging, previously unrecognized layer of gene regulation.  LncRNAs have been shown to mediate important biological processes ranging from cell cycle progression and cellular reprogramming to dosage compensation in mammalian development, but their mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. I work toward addressing these fundamental knowledge gaps.


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                        Kasey C. Vickers, Ph.D.

                        Associate Professor, Medicine
                        Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                        To investigate mechanisms and consequences of HDL microRNA communication and systemic homeostasis. Short term goals include the characterization of microRNA regulatory modules controlling cholesterol biosynthesis. Moreover, we aim to determine i.) How microRNAs are selected and exported to HDL, ii.) How microRNAs are transported on HDL and altered in disease, and iii.) How microRNAs are transferred to recipient cells and regulate genes related to cholesterol and lipoprotein homeostasis.


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                        Katie Volk

                        Defended Dissertation in the Hasty Laboratory on February 29, 2024, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


                        Sun Waldron

                        Vanderbilt Neurochemistry


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                          John (Jack) Walker

                          Graduate Student, Powers laboratory, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics

                          I am an MD/PhD student who joined the lab of Al Powers and Marcela Brissova in 2016. I am originally from Kansas City and did my undergraduate work at Washington University in St. Louis. In undergrad, I worked on research projects that used novel chemical techniques to elucidate protein structure and function. In the Powers and Brissova lab, I am interested in mechanisms of human islet function and dysfunction and use unique models including in vivo transplantation of human islets and dispersion and reaggregation of islet cells to form pseudoislets. I am also characterizing the functional, morphologic, and transcriptional profiles of islets, sorted α and β cells, and pancreatic tissue from individuals with type 2 diabetes and using viral manipulation in the pseudoislet system to understand mechanisms of islet dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. I plan to pursue a career as a physician-scientist in pediatric endocrinology upon his return to medical school.


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                          Jeanne M. Wallace, DVM, DACLAM

                          Vice President for Animal Care
                          University Veterinarian
                          Director Division of Animal Care
                          Professor, Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
                          Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                          Diseases of nonhuman primates

                          Animal models of obesity and metabolic syndrome


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                          Quan Wang, Ph.D.

                          Research Instructor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                          Tenzin Wangmo

                          Graduate Student, O'Brien Laboratory, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics


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                          Stephanie Wankowicz, Ph.D.

                          Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics

                          The Wankowicz lab’s goal is to elucidate the role of entropy in substrate specificity and catalysis, aiming to provide a more comprehensive thermodynamic understanding of enzyme function. The influence of entropy is frequently underestimated because of the complexities in modeling multiple states and quantifying it. To achieve this, we develop computational algorithms to improve the modeling of conformational ensembles from X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM. We are parsing out how conformational and solvent entropy impacts binding specificity and catalysis using these improved models, biophysical measurements, and machine learning.


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                          Hannah Waterman

                          Graduate Student, Cherrington Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                          Qiang Wei, Ph.D.

                          Adjunct Research Instructor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics


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                          P. Anthony Weil, PhD

                          Professor Emeritus, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                          Molecular mechanisms of transcriptional regulation


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                          John P. Wikswo, Jr, PhD

                          Gordon A. Cain University Professor, Biomedical Engineering
                          A. B. Learned Professor of Living Physics, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
                          Professor
                          Professor

                          Development and application of microdevices for instrumenting and controlling single living cells


                          Jason Winnick, PhD

                          Adjoint Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                          The effect of aerobic exercise training on in vivo hepatic glucose metabolism in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus


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                          Jamey D. Young, PhD

                          Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor, Engineering
                          Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
                          Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
                          Director of Graduate Studies, Chemical Engineering

                          Metabolic engineering; systems biology; diabetes, obesity and metabolic disorders; tumor metabolism; autotrophic metabolism; cell culture engineering


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                          Elma Zaganjor, Ph.D.

                          Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

                          The Zaganjor laboratory investigates the role of mitochondrial function in cell fate decisions and the implications of this regulation in physiology. Importantly, we are focused on identifying how altered mitochondrial function leads to pathology.


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                          Baltazar Zuniga

                          Graduate Student, Young Laboratory, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics