University of Illinois at Chicago
Signal Transduction Training Program
Name/Degree(s) |
Rank |
Primary (& Secondary)
Appointment (s) |
Role in Program |
Research Interest |
| Ackerman, Steven J., PhD | Professor | Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics (Medicine) | Program Director |
Transcriptional mechanisms regulating hematopoietic (myeloid) development and gene expression. Eosinophil effector functions in asthma and other allergic diseases, tissue remodeling and fibrosis. Biochemistry, cell and structural biology of eosinophil protein mediators of inflammation. |
| Caffrey, Michael S., Ph.D. | Professor | Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics | Entry mechanisms of viruses including HIV, SARS Cornavirus and Influenza. Biochemistry and structural biology of viral envelope proteins. | |
| Chishti, Athar, PhD | Professor | Pharmacology | Training Faculty Admissions Committee |
Studies of the assembly and regulation of the cytoskeleton. MAGUKs, a family of multidomain peripheral membrane proteins play important roles in cell proliferation and tumor suppression pathways. The cellular mechanism of subcellular targeting, assembly, and trafficking of MAGUKs is under study utilizing genetically altered mouse models. Another research program is the exploration of the mechanism of malaria parasite pathogenesis in red blood cells, including intracellular signaling in the regulation of the cytoskeleton. |
| Christman, John, MD | Professor | Medicine (Pharmacology) | Training Faculty | Mechanisms of inflammation, innate immunity, macrophages |
| Colamonici, Oscar, MD | Associate Professor | Pharmacology | Training Faculty Mentor |
Characterization of the MIP/BARA/LIN-9 protein and its role in the regulation of cell cycle progression. |
| Colley, Karen , PhD | Professor | Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics | Training Faculty | Protein modification and trafficking; Golgi protein localization; Biosynthesis and function of anti-adhesive glycans in development and disease. |
| Cook, James L., M.D | Professor | Medicine(Microbiology-Immunology) | Understanding the regulation of mammalian cell responses to different types of proapoptotic injuries in the context of viral gene expression or bacterial infection. | |
| De Lanerolle, Primal, PhD | Professor | Physiology & Biophysics | Training Faculty | Cytoskeleton, protein phosphorylation, transcription, signal transduction |
| Garcia-Martinez, Jesus, MD, PhD | Associate Professor | Physiology & Biophysics | Training Faculty Admissions Committee Advisory Committee |
Excitation-contraction coupling and intracellular signaling in striated muscle. |
| Gettins, Peter G.W., PhD | Professor | Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics | Associate Program Director Training Faculty Admissions Committee Advisory Committee |
Structure function studies on members of the serpin family of proteins using NMR, x-ray crystallography and other spectroscopic and thermodynamic approaches. Structure-function studies on the receptor LRP and its protein ligands, including alpha-2-macroglobulin and the receptor-associated-protein. |
| Gibori, Geula, PhD | Professor | Physiology & Biophysics | Training Faculty Mentor |
Hormone signaling |
| Hay, Nissim Ph.D | Professor | Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics | Training Faculty Mentor |
Mechanisms of cell survival, cell cycle control, metabolism, and genesis of cancer |
| Kanteti, Prasad V.S Ph.D | Assistant Professor | Microbiology/Immunology | Training Faculty Mentor |
Mechanisms underlying Siva-1 mediated apoptosis. Siva-1 and anti-apoptotic members of the BCL2 family and intrinsic cell death. Siva-1 mediated inhibition of NF-kappa B activation and its relationship to AICD |
| Kaplan, Jack, PhD | Professor & Head | Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics | Training Faculty | Structure-function studies, mechanism, biosynthesis, assembly and cellular trafficking of P-type ATPases or Ion pumps. Mechanism and regulation of copper transport systems in human cells. |
| Katzen, Alisa, PhD | Associate Professor | Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics | Training Faculty Mentor |
Appropriate cell cycle regulation is a critical component in determining whether cells should divide, terminally differentiate, or die during development, and for avoiding cancerous growth. We use the powerful genetic and developmental model system, Drosophila melanogaster, to study highly conserved biochemical pathways that regulate cellular division and differentiation during development. |
| Kozasa, Tohru, MD, PhD | Associate Professor | Pharmacology | Training Faculty | Heterotrimeric G protein mediated signaling mechanism. Molecular mechanism of regulation of effctors by G proteins. |
| Lau, Lester F., PhD | Professor | Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics | Training Faculty Mentor |
Extracellular matrix signaling; Angiogenesis and tumor growth; Ribosome biogenesis |
| Lavie, Arnon Ph.D | Associate Professor | Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics (Medicine) | Mentor | Regulation mechanisms by scaffolding proteins (e.g MAGUKs). Development of improved enzyme-prodrug combinations as anti-viral or anti-cancer agents. Structure-function relationships of enzymes important for prodrug activation. Structure-based enzyme engineering. |
| Le Breton, Guy C., PhD | Professor | Pharmacology | Training Faculty Mentor |
Studies of thromboxane (TXA2)?mediated human blood platelet signal transduction pathways; Research program utilizes a wide range of chemical, biochemical, immunological, pharmacological and molecular biology techniques. |
| Liang, Jie, Ph.D | Associate Professor | Bioengineering;Secondary: Computer Science | Training Faculty Mentor |
Studies of the geometry and physicochemical texture of binding surfaces to understand protein function and to advance function prediction. A library of >2 million protein surfaces for PDB structures allows measurements of surface pockets & interior voids, & facilitates investigation of functional relationships between similar binding surfaces. The approach uncovers related functions on proteins of different fold or class. Also studied: relationships among binding surface mutation, residue conservation, & disease-causing SNPs. |
| Malik, Asrar, PhD | Professor & Head | Pharmacology | Training Faculty Mentor |
A major interest of the laboratory is to understand the regulation of the barrier properties of the endothelial and epithelial cells. Dr. Malik studies the events occurring at the level of the receptors and the signaling pathways regulating the barrier function of these monolayers. |
| Nakajima, Shigehiro, MD, PhD | Professor | Pharmacology | Training Faculty | To study physiological functions and molecular biology of ion channels with emphasis on Kir (inward rectifying K channel family) and TRPC (transient receptor potential canonical family). |
| Nakajima, Yasuko, MD, PhD | Professor | Anatomy & Cell Biology | Training Faculty Mentor |
Physiological, molecular & cell biological investigations on the signal transduction mechanisms of neurotransmitter effects on brain neurons, using our unique brain nucleus cultures. Our research is focused on the actions of slow acting neurotransmitters such as substance P, orexins (related to sleep disorders), and ghrelin (related to obesity). |
| Olson, Steven T., PhD | Professor | Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics | Training Faculty | Structure, function and biology of the serpin superfamily of proteins which regulate proteolysis in key physiologic processes and function as angiogenesis inhibitors and tumor suppressors. Molecular mechanisms by which serpins inhibit proteases by undergoing massive conformational change, how these conformational changes provide signals for activating biological pathways, and how serpins regulate complex physiologic processes through their interactions with effector molecules such as glycosaminoglycans. |
| Prins, Gail, PhD | Professor | Urology (Physiology & Biophysics, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics) | Training Faculty | Prostate gland growth and carcinogenesis, focusing on hormonal control of prostatic development, growth and function and how abnormalities in these systems contribute to aging-associated disease. Emphases include steroid receptor expression, developmental regulatory networks, developmental estrogenization, environmental estrogenic exposures, growth hormone and carcinogenesis, and the role of selenium and selenoproteins in prostate cancer prevention. |
| Rao, Mrinalini C., PhD | Professor | Physiology & BiophysicsDepartment of Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition | Training Faculty | Regulation of Epithelial Ion Transport |
| Rasenick, Mark M., PhD | Professor | Physiology & BiophysicsDirector, Graduate Studies in Neuroscience | Training Faculty |
G proteins and the cytoskeleton |
| Raychaudhuri, Pradip, PhD | Professor | Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics | Training Faculty Mentor |
The overall interest is to understand the molecular mechanisms tumor suppression and cell cycle control. A major focus of the lab is to analyze the mechanism by which the tumor suppression ARF regulates the cell cycle transcription factors E2Fs. In addition, we are investigating the co-factors that cooperate with MDM2 to induce proteolysis of p53. Our studies indicate that Cul4A, a gene that is amplified in breast cancers, participate in the MDM2-medicated proteolysis of p53. |
| Skidgel, Randal A., PhD | Professor | Pharmacology(Anesthesiology ) | Training Faculty | Role of peptidases in the regulation of peptide hormone activity; interaction of peptidases and G protein-coupled receptors on the cell surface; signal transduction pathways that regulate nitric oxide production by eNOS and iNOS. |
| Solaro, R. John, PhD | Professor & Head | Physiology & Biophysics | Training Faculty | Molecular, Cellular, and Integrated Biology of Cardiac Muscle Physiology, Pathology, and Pharmacology |
| Tyner, Angela, PhD | Professor | Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics (Medicine) | Training Faculty Mentor Advisory Committee Admissions Committee |
Epithelial cell differentiation, cell cycle regulation, cancer |
| Unterman, Terry G., MD | Professor | Medicine (Endocrine, Diabetes and Metabolism) | Training Faculty | This laboratory studies mechanisms mediating effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factors on metabolism and gene expression. Current studies focus on the role of FoxO transcription factors in the response to fasting and feeding, and in the regulation of liver and muscle metabolism. The identification of novel FoxO targets at the genomic/proteomic level in transgenic/knockout models, and the role of protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications in mediating FoxO functions are under investigation. |
| Voyno-Yasenetskaya, Tatyana, MD, PhD | Associate Professor | Pharmacology | Training Faculty | Signaling complexes formed by heterotrimeric G protein |
| Ye, Richard, MD, PhD | Professor | Pharmacology | Training Faculty Mentor Advisory Committee Admissions Committee |
Research in this laboratory focuses on how G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) are activated in cells that constitute the innate and adaptive immune systems. Specifically, we are interested in the regulatory mechanisms that determine the activation states of chemoattractant receptors and their implications in immunity, including bactericidal effects of neutrophils and cytokine induction in macrophages and dendritic cells. |
University of Illinois
at Chicago - College of Medicine