H. Clarke Anderson, MD
Lab Personnel
Frank Belibi, PhD, Post Doc
Rama Garimella, PhD, Post Doc
Niru Nahar, PhD, Post Doc
Sara Tague, Research Assistant
Lab Location: G002 Wahl East
Howard H.T. Hsu, Ph.D.
Research Objective: Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and aortic calcification: the role of calcium and cholesterol in development of atheromatous lesions.
Lab Personnel
Ben Abbo, Research Assistant
Lab Location: G001 Wahl Hall East and G012 Hixon
More about Dr. Fields' research.
Rebecca Horvat, PhD
Area of Research Emphasis: Molecular Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease
Our laboratory has concentrated on the phenotypic and genetic characterization of clinical bacterial strains and the association with clinical outcomes. One area of interest is the association of antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae and outcomes in patients with pneumonia and upper respiratory infections. We are currently examining the molecular changes that have evolved to render the bacteria resistant to various antibiotic classes. This information is then correlated with clinical outcomes such as mortality, length of stay in the hospital, length of stay in the intensive care unit, requirement for ventilation and number of antibiotics used per hospital day. In addition we are evaluating the capacity of these bacterial strains to bind to human lung cells. Bacteria with a higher binding capacity are associated with patients who have a longer length of stay and are more likely to require ventilation. Further studies in bacterial binding properties in relationship to clinical disease are ongoing.
The second area of interest involves the study of respiratory bacterial pathogens that could be used as weapons.
Lab personnel
Natalie Reed, Research Assistant
Rachel Robson, Graduate Student
Lab location: 2000 Hixon
Michael J. Soares, Ph.D. Director
IMFB web site
Linheng Li, PhD
The goal of our laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanisms and genetic pathways that regulate adult stem cell development. Stem cells are the key subset of cells in the body functioning as ancestor cells to produce many types of functionally specialized mature cells (differentiation) in a given tissue, while at the same time maintaining the capacity to continuously divide and replicate (self-renewal). This self-renewal process is controlled by intrinsic genetic pathways that are subject to regulation by extrinsic signals from the microenvironment in which stem cells reside. Stem cells play essential roles ranging from embryonic development and organogenesis (fetal stem cells including embryonic stem cells) to tissue homeostasis and regeneration (adult stem cells). We mainly focus on two systems to study stem cell development: hematopoietic and intestinal tissues. The hematopoietic system facilitates functional characterization of stem cells as bone marrow transplantation experiments can be readily performed. The intestinal system has a well-organized developmental architecture in which stem cell marking and lineage tracing can be performed. Using a combination of genomic, developmental, and genetic-targeting approaches, our current focus is to investigate the roles of the BMP and Wnt signal pathways in regulation of stem cell development in the hematopoietic and intestinal systems of mice. We are interested to know: 1) how the microenvironment (or niche) maintains adult stem cells, controls stem cell number, and regulates stem cell properties including self-renewal, during homeostasis, and 2) how stem cells undergo asymmetric division to maintain a balance between self-renewal and differentiation.
Lab location: Stowers Institute for Medical Research
More about Dr. Paul's research.
Diane L. Persons, MD
Basic research projects include examination of signal transduction pathways involved in the cellular response to cisplatin, use of signal transduction inhibitors as enhancers of cisplatin cytotoxicity, and use of high-throughput screening for identifying small molecules that enhance the tumor cell killing effect of cisplatin. Clinical and translational research projects include examination of cytogenetic abnormalities as predictive or prognostic markers in leukemia, multiple myeloma, and solid tumors and development of molecular cytogenetic tests for use in clinical oncology.
Lab personnel
Amy Silvers, Post Doctoral Fellow
Qingling Tang, Research Assistant
Lab Location: 1021 Lied
Michael J. Soares, Ph.D.
Pregnancy is a complicated biological process that requires a dynamic interaction between embryonic and maternal tissues. The Soares laboratory investigates molecular mechanisms and signaling events involved in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. They have focused on studying cell differentiation in an extraembryonic tissue, the placenta, and in a uterine structure referred to as decidua. These tissues develop in concert with the embryo, form intimate relationships with each other, and enable the embryo to have access to and to control the availability of maternal resources. Differentiation of both trophoblast and decidual cells is crucial to the establishment of pregnancy and the growth and development of the embryo/fetus. Research in the Soares laboratory currently includes investigations on the prolactin gene family, intrauterine inflammatory and immune cells, uterine vasculature, and signaling pathways controlling the growth and differentiation of decidual and trophoblast cells. These scientific pursuits directly impact the understanding of key diseases of pregnancy, including preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.
Lab location: Lied 1001, 1003, 1007
Jay L. Vivian, Ph.D.
Cell-cell communication is critical for normal embryogenesis, giving rise to altered gene expression in target cells to affect their developmental and differentiative potential. Many of the signaling molecules and pathways present in the early embryo are also utilized in adult life and homeostasis. For example, several TGF-beta signaling components that are absolutely required for embryonic development are shown to be somatically altered in many adult tumors, including colorectal and hepatocellular carcinomas. Thus understanding the functions of these factors in embryogenesis, aided by the rapid and stereotypic development of the mouse embryo, will provide insight into the genetic processes of tumor progression. The Vivian laboratory is interested in understanding several embryonic signaling, including early patterning and vasculogenesis. We utilize the genetic manipulability of the mouse to understand the molecular mechanisms of embryonic development, including functions of the components of TGF-beta signaling. Our laboratory takes advantage of technical advances in homologous recombination and chemical mutagenesis to generate mutations in the mouse genome.
Lab location: Lied 1019
Leanne M. Wiedemann Ph.D.
The primary objective of my research is the identification and characterization of genes altered as a result of chromosomal translocations and the determination of their role in leukemogenesis. In order to achieve this, we utilize in vivo and in vitro model systems including primary bone marrow cultures from chick and mouse, transgenic animals, knock-in technology. We incorporate comparative genomic analyses, RNA and protein analysis and look forward to moving into microarray technologies. Information deduced from our studies is also used to design molecular methodologies, which will assist in diagnosis and management of leukemia and lymphoma. We focus on the molecular events that occur in leukemias with translocations involving the MLL gene, a gene normally involved in the regulation of HOX genes. In our efforts to understand the altered role of these proteins in leukemogenesis, we need to explore their normal function as well. This has developed into additional projects describing the regulatory mechanism controlling candidate genes downstream of the affected proteins.
Lab location: Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Hildy Bell
Rachel Robson
Yue Xue
David M. Pinson, DVM, PhD
Director, Lab Animal Resources
Marilyn K. Davis
Director of Cytodiagnostic Outreach Services/Image Analysis
Michael J. Soares, Ph.D.
Director
http://www2.kumc.edu/dcdb/
Roy Jensen, M.D.
Director
http://cancer.kumc.edu/
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