Dr. Hua Chen's lab focuses on understanding how selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), commonly prescribed antidepressants, affect growth during puberty. By analyzing large databases of health records, the lab aims to reveal how SSRIs impact height growth in adolescents, particularly boys, and whether stopping the medication can normalize growth rates later. This research is vital for informing clinical decisions regarding the use of SSRIs in young patients.

Dr. Clayton Neighbors' research lab at the University of Houston focuses on improving interventions to reduce alcohol consumption among college students. They are currently evaluating a telehealth version of the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS), aiming to make effective alcohol support more accessible for students. By comparing this online approach to traditional in-person sessions, they hope to maintain quality care while reducing barriers to treatment.

Dr. Mingfu Wu's lab at the University of Houston focuses on understanding how cells in the heart communicate during its development. They are particularly interested in a newly identified structure called signaling bridges, which may influence how heart cells behave and develop. By studying these interactions, the lab hopes to uncover new insights into heart diseases, particularly left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy, a condition that can be fatal.

Dr. Fatima Aziz Merchant's lab focuses on improving breast reconstruction surgery using advanced technology. They aim to create personalized molds for patients recovering from mastectomy to enhance their body image and quality of life. The lab employs a mix of engineering, machine learning, and clinical evaluation to develop decision-support algorithms that can optimize surgical outcomes for patients with diverse reconstructive goals.

Dr. Medina's lab focuses on improving Alzheimer’s disease research among Hispanic and Latino communities, who are often underrepresented in studies despite being at higher risk for these conditions. The lab works to create culturally relevant tools and resources that encourage participation from these communities. By building connections with local organizations, they aim to better understand the unique risks and needs of Hispanic/Latino individuals regarding Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Dr. Wei-Chuan Shih's lab at the University of Houston focuses on advancing cancer diagnostics by analyzing circulating tumor exosomes. These tiny vesicles contain important information from cancerous cells, and the lab is developing a novel microfluidic platform to streamline their profiling. This technology aims to improve the detection sensitivity and dynamic range of cancer biomarkers in patient samples without needing invasive blood withdrawal.

Dr. Lorra Garey's research focuses on helping Black adults with HIV who smoke cigarettes, addressing their unique challenges related to smoking cessation, mental health, and HIV management. By using a culturally tailored mobile health intervention, her lab aims to reduce barriers to quitting smoking and to improve overall health outcomes. Their innovative approach integrates mental health support into smoking cessation efforts, aiming to provide accessible and effective resources for those who need them most.

Dr. Ming Hu's lab at the University of Houston focuses on understanding how buprenorphine, a medication for opioid use disorder, affects dental health. They study why high levels of buprenorphine appear in oral fluids and how this contributes to dental caries. The goal is to find ways to reduce the drug's concentration in the mouth without affecting its overall effectiveness, improving the treatment experience for patients.

Dr. Ashok Kumar’s lab at the University of Houston focuses on understanding skeletal muscle wasting, particularly in the context of cancer and aging. They investigate signaling pathways that contribute to muscle loss and how these pathways can be targeted for potential therapies. Another area of research includes studying Rhabdomyosarcoma, a childhood cancer, where they explore how certain proteins promote tumor growth and differentiation. The ultimate goal is to find effective treatments for muscle-related conditions and cancers that affect muscle tissue.

Dr. Chandra Mohan's lab at the University of Houston focuses on advancing the diagnosis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly lupus nephritis (LN). Their research involves identifying and validating biomarkers that can help monitor disease progression and predict treatment response, aiming to improve patient outcomes. Additionally, they employ artificial intelligence and computer vision techniques to enhance histological diagnosis of kidney diseases associated with lupus, addressing the challenges of inter-pathologist variability.

Dr. Kirill V. Larin's lab at the University of Houston focuses on developing advanced imaging technologies to study how maternal substance exposure affects fetal brain health and to understand corneal biomechanics for diagnosing eye diseases. They use sophisticated imaging techniques to investigate the microvascular changes in fetal brains due to prenatal alcohol and nicotine exposure, as well as to create non-invasive methods to measure corneal elasticity for clinical application. This research aims to improve health outcomes for at-risk infants and enhance treatment strategies for corneal disorders.

Dr. Muna I. Naash's lab at the University of Houston focuses on understanding how certain genetic mutations lead to retinal diseases that can cause blindness. By using animal models, the lab explores the role of a protein called PRPH2 in the health of photoreceptor cells in the retina, aiming to identify therapeutic strategies that could help those affected by these conditions.

Dr. Mini Das's lab at the University of Houston focuses on developing advanced imaging technologies, particularly a new type of micro-CT system that utilizes spectral phase-contrast imaging. This innovative approach aims to improve soft tissue imaging while reducing radiation exposure, which is especially important for longitudinal studies in cancer research. By building a system that combines both phase and non-phase contrast imaging capabilities, the lab seeks to enhance the diagnostic potential and safety of imaging techniques used in preclinical studies.

Dr. Guizhen Zhao's lab focuses on understanding the complex interplay between metabolism and epigenetics in the context of atherosclerosis, a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. The lab investigates how certain proteins, specifically the BAF60c protein, influence vascular cell function and disease progression. By learning how to manipulate these molecules, the lab aims to develop novel therapeutic strategies to combat cardiovascular diseases.

Dr. Monique T. Mills' research focuses on helping bilingual children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). She studies how the language used in therapy affects the children's learning outcomes, specifically when using English and Spanish. Through her work, she aims to identify the best therapeutic approaches to improve communication skills in these children, benefiting their overall academic success.

Dr. Rohith Reddy's lab at the University of Houston focuses on improving the diagnosis of lupus nephritis, an autoimmune disease affecting the kidneys. The lab combines traditional tissue biopsy analysis with advanced imaging techniques, such as ultraviolet and mid-infrared spectroscopic imaging, to provide more accurate diagnostic information. By incorporating machine learning, the lab aims to identify specific biomarkers from imaging data to enhance diagnostic reliability and reduce discrepancies in pathology assessments.

Dr. Gregory Cuny's lab at the University of Houston focuses on creating new treatments for cryptosporidiosis, a disease caused by parasitic protozoa that affects people, especially children and those with weakened immune systems. The lab is working on selective inhibitors that target a specific protein involved in the survival of these parasites. This research aims to improve treatment options for those infected, as current medications are limited and ineffective for certain populations.

Dr. Vincent H Tam's lab focuses on fighting multidrug-resistant bacteria that no longer respond to standard antibiotics. The lab is developing a precision medicine platform that can select effective combinations of antibiotics tailored to individual patients. This research is crucial as it aims to prevent a return to the pre-antibiotic era by finding new ways to use existing drugs more effectively.