Dr. Luis A Martinez-Lemus leads a research lab focused on understanding how obesity contributes to cardiovascular disease, particularly through arterial stiffening and hypertension. The lab investigates the role of tissue transglutaminase, an enzyme that may be targeted to develop new therapies to improve vascular health and reduce heart disease risks in obese patients. By exploring the underlying mechanisms and testing pharmacological interventions, the lab aims to find innovative approaches to treat these conditions.

Dr. Dionna Whitney Williams leads a research lab focused on understanding how substance use, specifically cocaine and cannabis, affects pregnant women living with HIV and their placentas. The lab investigates the mechanisms by which these substances may disrupt antiretroviral treatment effectiveness and promote inflammation, which can lead to adverse outcomes for both mothers and their babies. The research aims to identify ways to improve health interventions and treatment for this vulnerable population.

Dr. Joanne Wang's lab at the University of Washington focuses on understanding how nutrients and drugs are transported from the mother to the fetus through key organs like the placenta and developing gut. They study the protein transporters that facilitate this process and their role in protecting the developing brain and body of neonates and infants. The research aims to shed light on how these transport proteins affect the safety and effectiveness of medications and nutrients during early development.

Dr. Geoffrey A. Chang's lab at UC San Diego focuses on understanding how nutrients and other important molecules are exchanged between mothers and their infants through transporters in various tissues. They are creating a detailed map called the Mother-infant Metabolite-transporter Atlas (MiMA) to identify which transporters handle specific molecules, and how these interactions affect health and development. This research aims to improve our knowledge of maternal and infant health, potentially leading to advances in nutrition and medical care.

Dr. Margaret M. McCarthy's lab studies how inflammation in the brain during development affects mental health, particularly in males. By investigating the different populations of mast cells in the brain, the lab seeks to understand their roles during critical periods of brain development and how they interact with other brain cells. This research aims to identify new ways to prevent or treat neurodevelopmental disorders, especially those linked to early life inflammation.

Dr. Jay P. Mclaughlin's research focuses on understanding how opioids like morphine interact with HIV proteins to affect brain health and behavior. His lab studies the impacts of these substances on brain function and emotional well-being, particularly in people living with both HIV and opioid use disorder. By exploring treatments like dimethylfumarate, which may protect brain function, his work aims to develop better interventions for vulnerable patients.

Dr. Jeannie Kim Lee's lab at the University of Arizona focuses on improving medication adherence in diverse populations with hypertension. The lab employs a team of clinical pharmacists and community health workers to provide personalized support for patients, addressing cultural and structural barriers to care. Their research aims to develop and test innovative intervention strategies to reduce health disparities, especially in African-American, Latino, and Vietnamese immigrant communities.

Dr. Sun Yang's lab at Chapman University focuses on developing new treatments for cutaneous melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer. The lab is particularly interested in small molecules that can selectively inhibit an enzyme called neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), which plays a critical role in melanoma progression and immune system evasion. By designing and testing novel nNOS inhibitors, the lab aims to improve treatment outcomes, especially for patients who do not respond to current therapies.

Dr. David Mendelowitz's lab focuses on finding new ways to combat the dangers of opioid overdose, a significant public health crisis. Specifically, they are exploring the potential of oxytocin, a hormone that is already approved for other medical uses, to prevent and treat respiratory depression caused by opioids. The lab aims to test various doses and methods of administering oxytocin in both animal models and clinical trials to assess its effectiveness before, during, and after opioid use.

Dr. Andrew S. Mendiola's lab focuses on understanding how microglia, the immune cells of the brain, contribute to inflammation and damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). The lab investigates the molecular processes that trigger harmful microglial behavior, particularly in relation to the blood-brain barrier and oxidative stress. They aim to discover new therapeutic targets that can help manage MS and prevent further neurodegeneration.

Dr. Mark T. Miedel's lab focuses on improving treatment strategies for metabolic dysfunction associated with fatty liver disease (MAFLD). They use innovative technology to create a human-like liver model, allowing them to study how specific genetic variations affect the disease and test potential new medicines. By mimicking human liver function, the lab aims to understand the mechanisms that contribute to MAFLD and identify more effective therapeutic options.

Dr. Huiping Liu's lab focuses on understanding cancer metastasis and developing new therapies, particularly for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and COVID-19. The lab investigates how tumor cells interact with the immune system and how these interactions can be targeted to block the spread of cancer. Additionally, the lab explores the potential of exosomes as diagnostic and therapeutic tools against COVID-19, aiming to improve outcomes for infected patients.

Dr. Wei Li's lab focuses on developing innovative treatments for metastatic breast cancer, particularly in overcoming challenges associated with brain and bone metastases. The lab aims to create new drug candidates that bypass the limitations of existing therapies while enhancing treatment effectiveness for patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Through a combination of structural optimization and advanced drug design techniques, they strive to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Dr. Pieter C. Dorrestein's lab focuses on how the microorganisms in our gut interact with diet and the human body to influence health and disease. They are working on building a comprehensive database of microbial metabolites, which are small molecules produced by these microbes, to understand their role in conditions like inflammatory bowel disease. The lab combines advanced techniques in metabolomics and data science to discover and characterize these metabolites, aiming to advance nutritional precision medicine.

Dr. Hong-Sheng Wang's research lab at the University of Cincinnati focuses on understanding how micro- and nanoplastics (tiny plastic particles) affect heart health. These particles are commonly found in the environment and can accumulate in the human body, potentially leading to serious heart problems. The lab conducts experiments using advanced models to explore how these plastics cause damage to heart cells and affect heart function. Their work aims to reveal critical information about the risks posed by these environmental contaminants to human cardiac health.

Dr. Frank Porreca's research lab focuses on understanding the brain circuits involved in migraine pain, a common and debilitating condition. The lab investigates how specific pathways and neuron types contribute to pain perception during migraine attacks, aiming to develop better treatments for patients who do not respond adequately to existing therapies. Through various advanced techniques, the lab explores both the genetic and physiological aspects of migraine to uncover new therapeutic targets.

Dr. Tamara Minko's lab at Rutgers focuses on creating personalized medical treatments for women with ovarian cancer using advanced nanotechnology. By studying the individual genetic profiles of tumors, the lab aims to design tailored drug delivery systems that improve chemotherapy effectiveness and reduce the chances of resistance. Their work is crucial because it represents a significant advancement in treating gynecologic cancers, making therapies more personal and potentially more effective for patients.

Dr. Bimal N. Desai's lab at the University of Virginia focuses on understanding how immune cells, particularly phagocytes, utilize mitochondrial calcium signaling to quickly respond to infections. By exploring the interactions between mitochondria and phagosomes, this research aims to uncover the mechanisms that enable these cells to efficiently fight off pathogens and clear away cellular debris. This innovative work could lead to new therapies that enhance immune function and improve public health.

Dr. Manisha N Patel's lab at the University Of Colorado Denver focuses on understanding how mitochondria, the energy powerhouses of cells, contribute to neuroinflammation and astrogliosis in epilepsy. By investigating the role of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) in neuronal-glial communication, the lab aims to identify potential new therapies for treating epilepsy. The research combines various techniques to explore how oxidative stress impacts brain function and inflammation in seizure models.

Dr. Jason D Huber's research focuses on understanding how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to brain injury following an ischemic stroke. His team investigates a specific mitochondrial protein called mitoNEET and its role in protecting brain cells from damage caused by reduced blood flow and subsequent cell death. The lab aims to develop new therapeutic approaches that could enhance recovery after strokes, using a novel compound they've created to target this protein.