Charles N Allen · Neuroscience
Dr. Charles N. Allen's lab at Oregon Health & Science University studies the brain's master circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). They focus on how brain cells communicate to maintain our biological rhythms and how neurotransmitters like GABA affect these processes. By understanding these interactions, the lab aims to find solutions for health issues related to circadian rhythm disruptions, which can arise from modern lifestyle demands.
Amy E Moran · Biology
Dr. Amy E. Moran's lab investigates how the androgen receptor affects T cell function, particularly in the context of cancer immunotherapy. They are exploring the mechanisms by which this receptor influences T cell behavior and its implications for improving treatment outcomes in cancers like prostate cancer. The research integrates animal models and chromosome-level analysis to better understand these processes and potentially augment immunotherapy effectiveness.
Ramon Francisco Barajas · Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Ramon Francisco Barajas's research lab at Oregon Health & Science University focuses on advanced imaging techniques to improve treatments for glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive brain cancer. The lab investigates the role of the hypoxic tumor immune microenvironment, specifically how certain immune cells can suppress the effectiveness of cancer therapies. By better understanding this immune response, the lab aims to correlate imaging findings with treatment outcomes, ultimately contributing to more effective immunotherapy strategies for cancer patients.
Ninian J Blackburn · Neuroscience
Dr. Ninian J Blackburn's lab at Oregon Health & Science University focuses on understanding how certain enzymes process peptides, which are crucial for creating hormones and therapeutic agents. Their research particularly emphasizes the role of copper in converting inactive pro-peptides into active forms, a vital step for drug development against cancer and infectious diseases. The lab employs advanced techniques to study these complex biochemical processes, aiming to uncover new insights that could lead to innovative treatments.
Monica T Hinds · Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Monica T Hinds' lab at Oregon Health & Science University focuses on innovative solutions to cardiovascular challenges, especially related to vascular devices like stents and heart valves. The lab develops biodegradable metal alloys for stents that prevent clotting and restenosis, and studies how patient-specific factors affect outcomes in transcatheter aortic valve replacements. By combining engineering with biology, the lab aims to enhance patient safety and device longevity in cardiovascular treatments.
David A. Dorr · Mathematics & Statistics
David A. Dorr's lab focuses on improving healthcare for patients with multiple chronic conditions, especially older adults. By using advanced data integration techniques, they aim to enhance clinical decision-making and better understand health risks associated with conditions like hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Their innovative research seeks to create tools that combine data from different health sources to optimize patient treatment outcomes and safety.
Steven A Shea · Neuroscience
Dr. Steven A. Shea's lab focuses on understanding how our body's internal clocks, or circadian rhythms, affect heart health and risk for cardiovascular events. The research investigates how these rhythms influence how the heart responds to stress and daily activities, especially in those with conditions like high blood pressure or sleep apnea. By exploring these connections, the lab aims to improve the timing of therapies for cardiovascular diseases, potentially leading to better health outcomes.
James E Gouaux · Neuroscience
Dr. James E. Gouaux's lab at Oregon Health & Science University focuses on understanding how nerve cells communicate through neurotransmitters. They study the 3D structures of receptors and transporters that play crucial roles in transmitting signals in the brain, revealing how these proteins function and interact with drugs. This research not only contributes to our knowledge of brain function but also has implications for treating neurological disorders.
Markus Grompe · Genetics
Markus Grompe's lab focuses on innovative methods for delivering gene therapy specifically targeting the liver, which plays a key role in treating inherited and acquired diseases. They explore the potential of using the biliary duct system for more effective gene therapy administration, especially in patients with liver cirrhosis. Their research aims to improve treatment outcomes by minimizing side effects and enhancing the efficiency of gene delivery methods.
Leslie Hammer · Neuroscience
Dr. Leslie Hammer's lab focuses on understanding the complexities of the workplace and how it affects worker health and wellbeing. The lab uses research to explore innovative solutions to enhance the health of workers and their families. Projects incorporate interdisciplinary approaches to improve mental health, support work-life balance, and promote healthier work environments.
Vishnu Mohan · Mathematics & Statistics
Dr. Vishnu Mohan's lab focuses on improving healthcare documentation practices to combat physician burnout caused by electronic health records (EHR). They explore various documentation assistance technologies, including speech recognition and medical scribes, especially in the context of telemedicine. The lab employs a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the impact of these technologies on provider workflow, chart completion, and patient communication.
Summer Lynne Gibbs · Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Summer Lynne Gibbs leads a research lab focused on developing innovative imaging tools to help surgeons better visualize cancerous tissues and critical nerves during surgery, particularly for prostate and cranial nerve procedures. Using advanced fluorescence guided surgery (FGS) techniques, the lab aims to create specially designed fluorescent probes that can distinguish between tumor and nerve tissues, improving surgical outcomes and reducing complications for patients. Their work addresses critical limitations in current surgical technologies to ensure safer and more effective surgeries.
David Hoadley Ellison · Physiology
The lab led by David Hoadley Ellison focuses on understanding the diverse cell types in the kidney, specifically in regions crucial for solute retention. By employing advanced techniques to analyze these cells in health and stress conditions, the research aims to unravel mechanisms that may lead to kidney dysfunction and related diseases. Students in this lab will learn about the unique roles of different kidney cell types and how they respond to dietary changes and drug treatments.
Laurie King · Biology
Dr. Laurie King's lab at Oregon Health & Science University focuses on improving balance and mobility in older adults, particularly those suffering from Parkinson's disease. The team explores innovative rehabilitation methods using wearable technology for remote assessments and tele-rehabilitation to maximize independence and reduce fall risks. They aim to assess how effective these strategies are in the homes of patients while addressing challenges highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bonnie J. Nagel · Mathematics & Statistics · Physiology
Dr. Bonnie J. Nagel's lab focuses on understanding how children's cognitive and emotional development is affected by various factors, including mental health issues and environmental influences. The lab uses advanced mathematical and computational approaches to refine diagnostic tools that help clinicians identify and predict child psychopathology. By analyzing large datasets, including electronic medical records and brain imaging data, the lab aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions in children.
Mu-Shui Dai · Genetics
Dr. Mu-Shui Dai's lab at Oregon Health & Science University focuses on understanding how a protein called USP36 regulates the nucleolar RNA exosome, which is crucial for ribosome production in cells. The lab studies how disruptions in this regulation can lead to cancer, particularly breast cancer. By exploring the biochemical mechanisms behind this process, the lab aims to identify potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
Sue A Aicher · Physiology
Dr. Sue A Aicher's lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind ocular pain and light sensitivity, especially in conditions like migraine and dry eye disease. The research involves studying how pain and light sensing in the eye are connected and how immune responses may influence these phenomena. By examining these interactions in rodent models, the lab aims to uncover potential new treatments for these common and distressing conditions.
Justin Merritt · Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Justin Merritt's lab at Oregon Health & Science University explores the complex interactions of proteins in the bacteria Streptococcus mutans, which is closely linked to tooth decay. The research focuses on a unique protein complex called the RNA degradosome, which helps these bacteria manage gene regulation in response to their environment. By studying how different proteins work together within this complex, the lab aims to identify new therapeutic targets to reduce S. mutans levels and combat dental caries.
Megan K Ruhland · Biology
Dr. Megan K Ruhland's lab at Oregon Health & Science University studies how male and female immune systems respond differently to cancer, especially in melanoma. The lab focuses on understanding how androgen receptors in specific immune cells called dendritic cells influence the body's ability to fight tumors. By using innovative mouse models, the team aims to uncover how these differences impact T cell activation and vaccine effectiveness against cancer.
Jonah B. Sacha · Biology
Dr. Jonah B. Sacha's lab focuses on understanding how certain immune responses can lead to the cure of HIV. By studying the effects of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in both cured HIV patients and macaques, the lab aims to uncover specific T cell responses that can effectively eliminate the viral reservoir. Their research has significant public health implications, as it could lead to new therapeutic methods for HIV treatment.