Dr. James G. Granneman's lab focuses on understanding how fat tissue is formed and maintained, and how it can change in response to various conditions. The research explores the interactions between different cell types in fat tissue and how these interactions can affect metabolic health. By using advanced techniques like CRISPR and spatial transcriptomics, the lab aims to shed light on how fat cells develop and function, which could lead to new treatments for obesity and diabetes.

Dr. Antonia Abbey's research lab studies how alcohol consumption affects behaviors and cognitive responses related to sexual aggression in social situations, particularly using virtual reality simulations. By recreating dating scenarios in a controlled environment, the lab aims to uncover the situational and cognitive factors that contribute to sexual violence, with the ultimate goal of developing effective prevention strategies.

Dr. Matthew Allen's lab focuses on developing innovative imaging agents that can help visualize oxygen levels in the body, which is crucial for understanding diseases like cancer and kidney disorders. The lab is working on a new class of contrast agents that contain europium, a rare earth element, aiming to improve their delivery and effectiveness in medical imaging. This research has the potential to transform diagnostics and therapy for conditions associated with low oxygen levels.

Dr. Ulrike Klueh's lab focuses on developing innovative technologies to improve insulin delivery systems for diabetes management. They aim to enhance the longevity and effectiveness of insulin infusion pumps by addressing the inflammatory reactions caused by preservatives in insulin. Their research combines biomedical engineering and physiology to create solutions that alleviate tissue damage from subcutaneous insulin administration, thus aiming to improve the quality of life for diabetes patients.

Dr. Ann G. Schwartz's lab at Wayne State University focuses on understanding the genetic factors influencing cancer risk and outcomes, particularly in the African American community. The lab conducts extensive research on cancer survivors, aiming to identify genetic predispositions and barriers to genetic counseling. Their work seeks to improve cancer prevention and treatment strategies through community engagement and personalized medicine.

Dr. Carolyn A Harris's lab focuses on understanding and improving shunt technology for treating pediatric hydrocephalus. The lab studies how and why shunt obstructions occur due to tissue interactions, using advanced modeling techniques and patient data to inform potential design improvements. The aim is to reduce the high failure rates of these crucial medical devices and enhance patient outcomes.

Dr. Maik Huettemann's lab at Wayne State University is focused on developing innovative therapies for spinal cord injuries using non-invasive approaches. Their primary research involves utilizing specific wavelengths of infrared light to protect nerve cells from damage after an injury, aiming to enhance recovery and functional mobility. The lab combines advanced imaging and animal models to test their therapies and develop a new medical device intended for human application.

Dr. Pablo A. Ortiz's lab at Wayne State University focuses on understanding how proteins interact with the kidney's sodium chloride transporter, NKCC2, which plays a key role in regulating salt balance and blood pressure. Their research investigates the molecular mechanisms behind sodium reabsorption and explores the functions of proteins ALMS1 and ACTN4 in relation to hypertension and renal health. By studying these interactions, the lab aims to uncover new insights into kidney function and related diseases.

Dr. Hyeong-Reh Choi Kim's lab focuses on developing innovative treatments for castrate-resistant prostate cancer. The research aims to create and test new therapeutic agents that target and degrade androgen receptors, helping to overcome resistance to current therapies. Using advanced animal models and molecular techniques, the lab seeks to enhance our understanding of prostate cancer progression and identify effective alternatives to existing treatments.

Dr. Wanqing Liu's lab at Wayne State University focuses on understanding how heavy metals interact with our genes and how these interactions may contribute to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). They investigate how metal exposure affects liver cells and the overall health of the liver, aiming to provide insights that could lead to new diagnostics and treatments for liver diseases. Their work combines advanced techniques in genomics and bioinformatics to analyze human liver tissues and patient data.

Dr. Marta Rodriguez Garcia's lab focuses on understanding how aging affects the immune response in the female genital tract (FGT), specifically through the role of neutrophils in preventing infections. The research aims to uncover the mechanisms by which neutrophils provide protection against sexually transmitted infections and how these mechanisms change in older women. By employing advanced techniques like single-cell sequencing and tissue spatial transcriptomics, the lab seeks to develop new strategies for enhancing mucosal immunity in aging populations.

Dr. Zhibing Zhang's lab at Wayne State University focuses on understanding the development and functioning of sperm cells, with an emphasis on the mechanisms involved in spermiogenesis and fertilization. They investigate how specific proteins and complexes, like the MEIG1 complex and the IFT25/IFT27 complex, contribute to the formation of sperm flagella and the remodeling of chromatin, which is crucial for normal reproductive processes.

Dr. Michael Rybak's lab focuses on innovative strategies to combat difficult bacterial infections, particularly those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The research emphasizes the synergy between bacteriophages and antibiotics, aiming to enhance treatment efficacy and prevent resistance. By combining these therapies, the lab seeks to improve patient outcomes and translate findings into clinical applications.

Dr. Hien M Nguyen's lab at Wayne State University focuses on synthesizing complex carbohydrate structures to improve medical treatments and vaccines. They are actively developing new methods for creating glycosylations, which are crucial for producing compounds that can support cancer treatments and vaccine efficiency. The lab's research aims to better understand biologically important molecules and to enhance immune responses against diseases through innovative vaccine adjuvants.

Dr. Mary Kay Pflum's lab at Wayne State University focuses on understanding how modifications to proteins, such as phosphorylation and acetylation, influence their function and interactions in cells. These modifications are crucial for many cellular processes and are linked to diseases like cancer. The lab develops innovative chemical tools to study these protein changes, which could help in discovering new disease mechanisms and treatments.