Dr. Jason T. Kaelber's lab at Rutgers focuses on improving gene therapies that use adeno-associated viruses (AAV). They are exploring the detailed mechanisms of how these viruses infect cells and package their genetic material, which could lead to more effective therapies with fewer side effects. By applying advanced imaging techniques, the lab aims to directly visualize viral interactions at the molecular level to address the challenges associated with AAV gene therapy.

Dr. Hyung Jin Ahn's lab focuses on understanding how vascular issues and white matter lesions contribute to motor dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and related disorders. They study both human brain tissues and mouse models to find out how blood vessel problems lead to damage in the brain and impair motor skills. The goal is to uncover mechanisms behind these changes and eventually develop therapies to help patients suffering from these conditions.

Dr. Steven S An's lab at Rutgers focuses on understanding asthma, specifically how inflammation affects the contraction of airway smooth muscle cells. The research aims to uncover new mechanisms that regulate airway constriction and to identify new treatments that could help patients with asthma, especially those resistant to current medications. This work is crucial for developing better therapies to manage asthma symptoms and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Jun Wang's lab at Rutgers focuses on developing innovative antiviral therapies to combat viral infections, particularly those caused by coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2 and non-polio enteroviruses. Their research aims to identify and optimize dual inhibitors that can target both viral and host proteins critical for viral replication, ultimately leading to effective treatments. The lab is dedicated to understanding the mechanisms of these viruses and creating therapeutic options that are urgently needed in public health.

Dr. Sophie Astrof’s lab focuses on understanding congenital heart disease (CHD), the most common birth defect that affects about 1% of newborns. Her research investigates how certain proteins, particularly fibronectin, contribute to the normal development of the heart's outflow tract. By studying the mechanisms of heart formation and the impact of abnormal cell behavior, the lab aims to identify new approaches for better prenatal screening and treatment options for CHD.

David A Dubnau's lab at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences focuses on understanding how bacteria can take up DNA from their environment, a process that can lead to antibiotic resistance and other traits. The lab studies the detailed mechanisms involved in this transformation process using the bacterium Bacillus subtilis as a model system. Researchers employ a variety of biochemical and biophysical methods to investigate the proteins and processes that facilitate this uptake and integration of DNA into bacterial genomes.

Dr. Tessa Bergsbaken's lab at Rutgers focuses on understanding how the immune system interacts with epithelial cells in the intestines to regulate immune responses. They investigate a specific molecule called CD103 that plays a significant role in the activity of lymphocytes, which are critical for defending against intestinal infections. This research aims to uncover how these immune responses can maintain a healthy gut barrier while preventing diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease.

Dr. Paula Bartlett's lab focuses on understanding how high fat diets disrupt calcium signaling in the liver, which is crucial for regulating metabolism. The research is primarily centered on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its links to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. By uncovering the molecular mechanisms and the effects of diet-induced changes, the lab aims to find potential solutions for managing these common health issues.

Dr. Diego Fraidenraich's lab focuses on understanding how certain proteins in heart cells, particularly Connexin 43, are affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a severe genetic disorder. The research explores how these changes contribute to heart problems associated with DMD and aims to develop new therapeutic strategies to protect heart function in affected patients. By utilizing advanced molecular techniques, the lab seeks to identify and manipulate the pathways that lead to cardiac complications in DMD.

Dr. Liangyuan Hu's lab focuses on developing advanced statistical methods for analyzing complex data from cardiovascular health studies. By utilizing Bayesian machine learning techniques, the lab aims to address issues such as missing data and causal inference in longitudinal cohort studies. This research is vital for improving our understanding of cardiovascular diseases and informing public health strategies.

Dr. Denise Hien's lab focuses on improving treatments for individuals with co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorders. By using advanced meta-analysis techniques on individual patient data, the lab aims to identify effective treatment strategies that enhance recovery outcomes. The research explores how to better integrate prolonged exposure therapy into substance use treatment programs to achieve significant improvements in mental health and substance use.

Dr. Theresa L. Chang's lab at Rutgers University focuses on understanding how sex differences affect immune responses in people living with HIV/AIDS. They investigate how these differences impact disease progression and the persistence of the virus in the body, with the aim of improving treatment strategies. By studying a specialized animal model that mimics human HIV infection, the lab aims to explore the role of estrogen in immune regulation and viral persistence.

Dr. Stefania Papatheodorou's lab focuses on understanding how air pollution and temperature affect the development of children. By analyzing large datasets from pregnancies and early childhood, they seek to identify harmful environmental factors that may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD. Their innovative research aims to provide insights that could guide public health decisions and policies to protect children's health.

Dr. Maureen Barr's lab focuses on understanding cilia and their roles in a variety of human health issues, particularly ciliopathies, which are diseases caused by defects in cilia. Using the model organism C. elegans, her team investigates how cilia develop and change, including how they produce extracellular vesicles that have implications for kidney disease. The research aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms that control these processes in hopes of identifying potential therapies for diseases like polycystic kidney disease and nephronophthisis-related ciliopathies.

Dr. Dongfang Liu's lab at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences focuses on how a small protein called Crk regulates immune cell functions, particularly in natural killer (NK) cells and T cells. The lab uses innovative techniques like live imaging and genetic models to study how Crk's phosphorylation acts as a switch that can either turn immune responses on or off. Their work has important implications for understanding and potentially treating immune deficiencies and cancers such as triple negative breast cancer.

Dr. Dominic P Del Re's lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind heart failure, particularly how metabolic dysfunction contributes to the disease. The lab investigates the role of the tumor suppressor Neurofibromin 2 (NF2) and its interaction with specific transcription factors to promote heart health under stress. By establishing new potential therapeutic targets, the research aims to improve treatment strategies for heart failure, thereby addressing a major global health issue.

Dr. Shuo Xiao's lab at Rutgers focuses on understanding how certain environmental chemicals and chemotherapy drugs affect female reproductive health. Their research investigates the harmful effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known for their persistence in the environment, on ovarian function. Additionally, they explore the mechanisms through which cancer treatments cause ovarian damage and potential strategies to protect women's fertility during cancer therapy.

Dr. Smita S Patel's lab at Rutgers focuses on understanding how specific enzymes interact with DNA and RNA during important biological processes like transcription, replication, and viral infection response. Using advanced techniques in biochemistry and structural biology, the lab investigates how helicases and polymerases work to recognize viral signals and regulate mitochondrial DNA function. The lab’s research aims to uncover fundamental mechanisms that could lead to new therapies for viral infections and mitochondrial diseases.

Dr. Zhaohui Feng's lab at Rutgers focuses on understanding colorectal cancer, particularly the role of a protein called Parkin in cancer progression. Parkin is often downregulated in colorectal cancer, and the lab aims to explore how this affects cancer development and how it can be targeted for therapy. Their research combines advanced screening methods and mouse models to uncover new treatment strategies for colorectal cancer, especially in cases where Parkin is deficient.

Dr. Bonnie L. Firestein's lab at Rutgers focuses on understanding how the brain recovers from mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), like concussions. They investigate how specific proteins and metabolic processes can help protect brain function and promote recovery. The lab looks for new ways to treat and potentially reduce the long-lasting effects of these injuries on individuals' cognitive abilities and overall brain health.