Gang Fang · Genetics
The lab of Gang Fang focuses on understanding the roles of bacterial epigenomes and complex gene splicing in neuropsychiatric disorders. They utilize advanced sequencing technologies to explore how bacteria adapt to their environments and how variations in gene splicing affect brain function related to disorders like schizophrenia and autism. Their research aims to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets that can improve treatment outcomes for these conditions.
Brian D Brown · Genetics
Dr. Brian D Brown's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on developing advanced RNA-based therapeutics, specifically modRNA (modified RNA), which can be used to improve vaccine responses and treat diseases. They are investigating how to control which types of cells produce proteins from modRNA, with the goal of enhancing the immune response to vaccines and potentially manipulating how the body tolerates certain proteins. This research is particularly relevant for developing more effective vaccines and therapies that target specific cells in the body.
Supinda Bunyavanich · Genetics
Dr. Supinda Bunyavanich's lab focuses on understanding how the oral environment contributes to food allergies in young children. By studying saliva samples from a large cohort of children, they aim to identify how oral immunity, microbial communities, and metabolites change as food allergies develop. This research could lead to better prevention strategies and methods for detecting food allergy risks using simple saliva tests.
Robert J Desnick · Genetics
Dr. Robert J. Desnick's lab focuses on developing innovative treatments for rare genetic disorders, particularly Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria (CEP). They are conducting clinical trials to test an oral medication, ciclopirox olamine, which aims to improve the enzyme activity deficient in patients with CEP. This research could potentially transform the lives of individuals with this challenging condition by alleviating symptoms and improving overall quality of life.
Ernest Turro · Genetics
Dr. Ernest Turro's lab focuses on understanding the genetic causes behind rare diseases using advanced genomic techniques. The lab specifically combines whole-genome sequencing with RNA sequencing of different blood cell types to enhance the diagnosis of rare disease patients. Through their work, they aim to uncover novel genetic variants that contribute to these diseases and improve precision medicine approaches.
Jeremiah James Faith · Genetics
Dr. Jeremiah James Faith's lab focuses on understanding the role of gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. They examine how these microbiota can be stable or transient in IBD patients and how this relates to disease progression and therapy effectiveness, particularly through methods like fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). The research aims not only to illuminate the mechanisms of gut microbiome transmission and stability but also to explore new therapeutic strategies for IBD.
Makiko Yasuda · Genetics
Dr. Makiko Yasuda's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding how the liver maintains proper levels of heme, an important molecule for various biological processes. Their research explores how liver cells and macrophages work together to manage heme levels, which is crucial for health. This work could lead to better treatments for diseases related to heme imbalances, particularly conditions affecting the liver.
Yizhou Dong · Genetics
Dr. Yizhou Dong's lab focuses on developing new vaccine strategies to combat HIV by combining nanoparticles and engineered mRNA. They aim to create innovative vaccine candidates that can stimulate strong immune responses, potentially offering protection against HIV. By exploring the design of adjuvants and immunogens, the lab works to improve vaccine efficacy and lay the groundwork for future applications in other emerging diseases.
Kuan-Lin Huang · Genetics
Dr. Kuan-Lin Huang's lab focuses on developing advanced artificial intelligence tools that utilize genomic data to improve cancer risk assessment and prevention strategies. By combining genomic information with diverse health data, the team aims to provide personalized cancer predictions that account for a person's unique genetic makeup and life circumstances. This innovative research not only seeks to enhance cancer screening methods but also addresses the ethical implications of implementing these AI tools in healthcare settings.
Christian Forst · Genetics
Dr. Christian Forst's lab focuses on understanding how different people respond to influenza infections and vaccinations. They use advanced techniques to analyze immune responses and genetic factors when addressing diseases, particularly in vulnerable populations. By integrating various biological data, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms that may lead to improved treatments and preventative measures against influenza.
Pin-Xian Xu · Genetics
Dr. Pin-Xian Xu's research focuses on understanding kidney development and the role of specific transcription factors in this process. His lab investigates how Eya1 and its cofactors regulate gene expression during nephron formation, which is crucial for kidney function. The research aims to uncover how these regulatory mechanisms contribute to kidney diseases like Wilms tumor, which is common in children.
Sander Michel Houten · Genetics
Dr. Sander Houten's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding and improving treatments for glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1), a rare genetic disorder that affects the metabolism of lysine. The research team investigates the mechanisms that regulate lysine degradation in the body and explores new therapeutic strategies, including small molecule inhibitors that could lead to better treatment options for patients suffering from this condition. By studying the biochemistry of key enzymes involved in this process, the lab aims to address the unmet medical needs of GA1 patients, where current treatments often fall short.
Eva Morava-Kozicz · Genetics
Dr. Eva Morava-Kozicz leads a research lab focused on understanding how congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) affect brain development and function. By using various model systems, such as zebrafish and human brain organoids, her team investigates the molecular mechanisms that lead to neurological symptoms like seizures and intellectual disabilities in CDG patients. The goal is to uncover how defects in glycosylation pathways impact neural cells and potentially identify new therapeutic targets.
Edward H. Schuchman · Genetics
Dr. Edward H. Schuchman's lab focuses on understanding and developing treatments for two rare neurological disorders known as Niemann-Pick diseases, Types A/B and C. These conditions involve the accumulation of harmful substances in cells, leading to severe neurological impacts with no current effective treatments. The lab is exploring the use of endocannabinoid-based therapies as a potential solution, aiming to improve patient outcomes and deepen our understanding of related neural diseases.
Panagiotis Roussos · Genetics
Dr. Panagiotis Roussos' lab focuses on understanding the role of RNA modifications in the brain, particularly in relation to Alzheimer's Disease (AD). They study how changes in RNA impact the immune cells of the brain, known as microglia, which are critical in neuroinflammation and AD progression. By utilizing advanced genomic techniques, the lab aims to uncover new insights that could lead to potential therapies for AD and related conditions.
Won-Min Song · Genetics
Dr. Won-Min Song's lab focuses on understanding the complex interactions in the tumor microenvironment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) to identify new treatment strategies. They are particularly interested in how certain tumors resist the effects of the existing therapy known as Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). By using advanced sequencing techniques, they will map out the molecular features of these tumors and seek to discover novel therapeutic targets that can improve treatment outcomes for patients.
Inga Peter · Genetics
Dr. Inga Peter's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind kidney disease and accelerated aging in people living with HIV (PWH). With a special emphasis on genetic factors that increase the risk of end-stage kidney disease, the lab is also investigating how epigenetic changes and clonal hematopoiesis can impact health outcomes in older PWH. The ultimate goal is to develop new strategies for prevention and treatment that improve the healthspan of individuals living with HIV.
Alison M Goate · Genetics
Dr. Alison Goate's lab at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding the role of microglia in Alzheimer's disease. They are investigating how specific genes and signaling pathways in these immune cells can protect against neurodegeneration and how dysfunctional activation of microglia might contribute to the progression of the disease. The ultimate aim is to identify therapeutic targets that could prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
Guo-Cheng Yuan · Genetics
Dr. Guo-Cheng Yuan's lab focuses on understanding the complex interactions between different cell types within tissue environments and how these interactions change during development, aging, and disease progression. The lab uses advanced spatial transcriptomics techniques to analyze the structural organization of tissues, specifically looking at the changes that occur during acute kidney injury. By developing new computational frameworks, they aim to produce powerful tools for researchers and clinicians to better investigate these vital areas of health and disease.
Bin Zhang · Genetics
The research lab led by Dr. Bin Zhang at the Icahn School of Medicine focuses on understanding Alzheimer's disease (AD) through the lens of cellular aging and genetic factors. By investigating the roles of senescent cells and the interaction between sex and the APOE gene, the lab aims to uncover new therapeutic targets for AD. Their innovative approaches include advanced single-cell sequencing techniques and multi-omics data analysis, enabling them to create personalized strategies for AD treatment and prevention.