Dr. Kathleen T. Montone's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on collecting high-quality human tissue samples to support biomedical research in various diseases, particularly cancer and autoimmunity. The lab operates as part of the Cooperative Human Tissue Network, providing essential resources for researchers. By facilitating access to well-characterized biospecimens, the lab aims to foster innovation in diagnostics and therapeutics that can ultimately enhance public health.

Dr. Christopher Hunter's lab focuses on understanding immune responses to intestinal infections, particularly from the parasite Cryptosporidium, which poses serious health risks to children and individuals with immune deficiencies. The team explores the roles of immune molecules and pathways, such as CD40L and IL-22, in developing protective immunity, with the goal of guiding vaccine development and improving infection management. Through innovative techniques like parasite genetics and mouse models, they aim to harness the immune system to improve health against gastrointestinal diseases.

Dr. Ragini Verma's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on improving surgical outcomes for patients with high-grade gliomas, a type of aggressive brain cancer. The lab is developing innovative tools that use advanced imaging techniques to help surgeons accurately locate and remove both visible and infiltrative tumor tissue while preserving important brain functions. This research aims to increase survival rates for patients by enhancing pre-operative planning and minimizing neurological deficits after surgery.

Dr. Wenqin Luo's lab at the University of Pennsylvania investigates how our brains perceive the sensation of itching and the associated behavior of scratching. They focus on the role of specific neurons in the brain that are activated during scratching and how these neurons can suppress the itch sensation. By using advanced techniques like optogenetics and calcium imaging, the lab aims to uncover the neural circuits involved in mediating scratching responses and their implications for chronic conditions related to itch and pain.

Dr. Paul A. Janmey's lab at the University of Pennsylvania examines how the physical properties of cells and tissues influence their function and contribute to various diseases. The research focuses on the mechanical aspects of biopolymer networks, such as those found in the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix, and their role in cell behavior. The lab also investigates the dynamics of the cell nucleus and how it responds to mechanical stress, which could provide insights into conditions like cancer and fibrotic diseases.

Dr. Chengcheng Jin's lab focuses on understanding how neutrophils, a type of immune cell, behave in the context of cancer. They investigate how these cells change their function in the tumor microenvironment and how to selectively target the cancer-promoting activities of neutrophils while preserving their protective roles. Through advanced techniques, the lab aims to uncover new targets for cancer therapies that can effectively modulate neutrophil function without compromising immune health.

Dr. Kelly L Jordan-Sciutto's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding how HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) impact brain health, particularly looking at oligodendrocytes, which are crucial for creating myelin. They study how these factors disrupt the development of myelin, potentially leading to cognitive disorders in people living with HIV. The lab also investigates the effects of cannabinoids on inflammation and neuroprotection in the context of HIV and ART treatments.

Dr. Kellie Ann Jurado's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on studying the roles of cytokines in pregnancy, particularly the cytokine Interleukin 27 (IL-27). The lab investigates how IL-27 functions as an immune regulator during congenital infections and aims to understand its protective effects at the maternal-fetal interface. By defining the mechanisms of IL-27 signaling, the lab seeks to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

Dr. Joel S. Karp's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on enhancing cancer imaging techniques using advanced PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and CT (Computed Tomography) technologies. The research aims to develop innovative scan protocols and detector designs to improve diagnostic accuracy while reducing patient burden through shorter imaging times. By integrating dynamic imaging methods, the lab seeks to provide better insights into cancer biology and improve patient outcomes via enhanced imaging protocols.

Dr. Anna Kashina's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding how cells move, which is crucial for processes like tissue development, immune responses, and cancer spread. The lab studies how the structure and modification of a protein called actin influence cell migration. They are particularly interested in how specific changes in the genetic code and a process called arginylation affect the behavior of actin in cells, aiming to develop new treatments for diseases related to improper cell migration.

Dr. Alex Hughes' lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on developing engineered kidney tissues by manipulating stem cells to produce nephrons in a controlled, rhythmic manner. The research aims to understand the natural processes that facilitate kidney development and replicate those mechanisms in lab-grown tissues. By improving the scale and efficiency of nephron production, this work has the potential to revolutionize treatments for kidney failure and related diseases.

Dr. Dennis Kolson's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding and preventing brain injury related to HIV infection. The lab investigates how combining existing HIV therapies with new neuroprotective agents may reduce neurological damage and improve cognitive function in patients. Their groundbreaking work uses Rhesus macaques to explore the potential of a drug called dimethyl fumarate to enhance brain recovery following early HIV infection.

Dr. Marisa C. Kozlowski's lab focuses on developing new synthetic methods and catalysts to improve chemical reactions, enhancing access to valuable materials and pharmaceuticals. The research combines advanced computational and machine learning techniques with high-throughput experimentation to better understand chemical reactivity and selectivity. Through innovative approaches, the lab aims to create more efficient synthesis processes, particularly in the area of oxidative coupling of organic compounds.

Dr. Beatriz M. Carreno's lab focuses on developing advanced T cell therapies for solid tumors that have mutations in the KRAS gene, which are common in many cancers. The team works on engineering T cells to specifically target and attack these cancer cells while overcoming hurdles posed by the tumor environment that typically dampen T cell activity. Their ultimate goal is to create a new therapy that can significantly improve outcomes for patients with these difficult-to-treat tumors.

Dr. Trevor M. Penning's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on the health impacts of air pollution, specifically studying nitroarenes—carcinogenic compounds found in diesel exhaust. The lab investigates how these chemicals are activated in human lung cells and their potential to cause DNA damage, which may lead to cancer. Through a mix of molecular biology techniques and cell models, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms of lung cancer initiation related to environmental exposures.

Dr. Mark A. Sellmyer's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on developing innovative methods to control protein functions within living organisms for research in cancer therapy. They are particularly interested in how proteins can be tagged and regulated using small molecules, which allows for advanced imaging techniques to visualize these processes in real time. This work includes creating technologies that can improve treatments, like CAR T-cell therapies, by optimizing how these therapeutic proteins behave inside the body.

Melike Lakadamyali's lab at the University of Pennsylvania explores how cells organize themselves at a microscopic level and how these structures are critical for cell function. By using cutting-edge imaging technologies, the lab studies how organelles and proteins are spatially arranged and how this organization influences health and disease. Their research aims to uncover the links between cellular organization, gene activity, and the overall functionality of cells.

Dr. Virginia M. Lee's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding tauopathies, a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by abnormal tau protein aggregation. The lab aims to uncover how different forms of tau can spread and affect neuron function, ultimately seeking targeted therapeutic strategies to treat conditions like Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal degeneration. Through innovative models and advanced techniques, the team investigates the mechanisms behind tau transmission, which could lead to more effective drug therapies.

The research lab led by Brian Litt at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on improving surgery outcomes for patients with epilepsy who do not respond to medication. By developing advanced methods to analyze brain imaging and electrical activity, the lab aims to create personalized approaches that help identify the best surgical options for individual patients. The lab collaborates with multiple surgical centers to standardize data sharing and improve surgical strategies for epilepsy treatment.

Dr. Terence Gade's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on improving diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). They work on developing advanced imaging techniques and patient-derived models to better understand tumor behavior and predict treatment responses. This research aims to enhance patient outcomes by creating more effective therapies based on personalized data from these models.