NEWARK-RBHS
Prospective Students

Multidisciplinary PhD Program in
Biomedical Sciences

Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Physiology (CBNP) Track

Faculty Listing

Abdellatif, Maha
Professor
abdellma@njms.rutgers.edu

 Alternations of bioenergetics and genome-wide transcriptional factors in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

Ahn, Hyung Jin
Assistant Professor
hyungjin.ahn@rutgers.edu

Cerebrovascular dysfunction is one of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our lab is interested in the crosstalk between the cerebrovascular system and the nervous system in AD pathogenesis.

Astrof, Sophie
Associate Professor
sophie.astrof@rutgers.edu

Molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways in cardiovascular development and remodeling.

Babu, Gopal
Associate Professor
babugo@njms.rutgers.edu

Research interests are studying (1) the abnormal Ca2+ handling in the pathogenesis of atrial arrhythmias and (2) the proteasome activation in cardiac pathology.

Bartlett, Paula
Assistant Professor
bartlepj@njms.rutgers.edu

Mechanisms which elicit and maintain hormone-induced Ca2+ oscillations in the liver, and the role Ca2+ dysfunction plays in the pathogenesis of disease states such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Beck, Kevin
Associate Professor
beckkd@njms.rutgers.edu

Stress/anxiety vulnerability, neuroendocrinology of sex differences in stress responsiveness and learning, neural basis of avoidance behavior.

Berlin, Joshua
Professor
berlinjr@njms.rutgers.edu

P-type active ion transporters: ion transport mechanism and roles in disease processes. Cellular mechanisms underlying acute traumatic brain injury.

Beuve, Annie
Professor
beuveav@njms.rutgers.edu

NO-cGMP signaling with biochemistry and integrative physiology tools. This pathway is critical for synaptic plasticity and regulation of blood pressure.

Bocarsly, Miriam
Assistant Professor
bocarsme@njms.rutgers.edu

Brain circuitry underlying naturally rewarding behaviors, such as food consumption, and how it is affected in instances of obesity.

Boukrina, Olga
Researh Scientist
oboukrina@kesslerfoundation.org

Behavioral and physiological research to improve the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of stroke-related impairments in reading and spatial processing.

Carcea, Ioana
Assistant Professor
ic283@rutgers.edu

How mammals process social information, and the neuronal mechanisms by which this information impacts brain states, neuronal plasticity and behavior.

Chitravanshi, Vineet
Assistant Professor
chitrava@njms.rutgers.edu

Central control of cardiovascular and respiratory functions, identification of neurotransmitters in different cardiovascular and respiratory reflex mechanisms.

Christakos, Sylvia
Professor
christak@njms.rutgers.edu

The object of research in the Christakos lab is to obtain a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of action of vitamin D.

Citron, Bruce
Professor
bruce.citron@rutgers.edu

Health of neurons in the CNS, dysregulation tipping the status to neurodegeneration in traumatic brain injury and Gulf War illness, and transcription factors that can be targeted to achieve neuroprotection.

D'Adamio, Luciano
Professor
luciano.dadamio@rutgers.edu

Molecular mechanisms causing neurodegenerative disorders, characterization of new drug targets and development of lead compounds showing disease modifying activity.

De Lorenzo, Mariana
Assistant Professor
delorems@njms.rutgers.edu

Effects of energy balance on aging, tumor microenvironment and progression.

Del Re, Dominic
Assistant Professor
delredo@njms.rutgers.edu

Novel signaling pathways mediating heart injury following ischemic stress. HIPPO signaling in multiple cardiac cell types.

Delic, Vedad
Assistant Professor
vedad.delic@rutgers.edu

Mechanisms of progressive neuronal loss in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries (r-mTBI). Determining the biological link between r-mTBI and increased risk for PD.

Diehl, Scott
Professor
diehlsr@njms.rutgers.edu

Genetic polymorphisms from arrays or next generation sequencing to reveal the causes of individual differences in disease risk and response.

Duran, Walter
Professor
duran@njms.rutgers.edu

Signaling mechanisms that regulate microvascular transport in health and disease. Signaling cascades associated with eNOS-derived nitric oxide.

Elkabes, Stella
Professor
elkabest@njms.rutgers.edu

The molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuronal degeneration and protection in animal models of multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury are investigated.

Ferraris, Ronaldo
Professor
ferraris@njms.rutgers.edu

The role of epithelial cell differentiation in modulating sensing of nutrients and gut microbiota; intestinal responses to probiotics; oxidative stress from sugars

Falvo, Michael
Assistant Professor
michael.falvo@va.gov

Dyspnea, Exercise intolerance, Clinical exercise physiology, Cardiopulmonary function and assessment, Environmental and occupational exposure

Fraidenraich, Diego
Associate Professor
fraidedi@njms.rutgers.edu

Pluripotent stem cell based repair of cardiac and skeletal muscle defects using mouse models of human disease.

Gao, Nan
Professor
ngao@njms.rutgers.edu

Dr. Gao’s lab utilizes mouse genetics, primary organoid culture, multiomics, and biochemical approaches to study how commensal and pathogenic gut microbes regulate host susceptibility to intestinal inflammation and infection. The lab is trying to dissect the mucosal immunology pathways that mediate the signaling from intestinal epithelial cell types to resident immune cells.

Gaspers, Lawrence
Associate Professor
gasperld@njms.rutgers.edu

Role of Ca2+ signaling in regulating mitochondrial physiology and pathophysiology, and how adaptations in Ca2+ homeostasis may contribute to the onset and development of liver diseases.

Lillo Gallardo, Mauricio
Assistant Professor
mlillo.gallardo@rutgers.edu

Research focuses on large-pore channels (Connexin, Pannexin, etc.) involved in regulating vasomotor tone, with an emphasis on evaluating ion channels linked to endothelial electrical activity and a strong focus on hypertension and vascular dysfunction.

Gunal, Ozlem
Assistant Professor
og80@njms.rutgers.edu

Molecular mechanisms affecting neuronal function and plasticity in rodent models of neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism, intellectual disability, and addiction behavior.

Harris, Andrew
Professor
aharris@njms.rutgers.edu

Structure-function of connexin channels and the roles they play in physiology & pathology, utilizing biophysical, biochemical, genetic and cellular approaches.

Hilfiker, Sabine
Associate Professor
sn656@njms.rutgers.edu

Molecular mechanisms underlying Parkinson´s disease, determination of pathological cell biologial events and signaling cascades to uncover disease-modifying targets and strategies.

Hu, Huijuan
Associate Professor
hh480@njms.rutgers.edu

Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels in nociception, peripheral and central mechanisms of pain sensitization.

Levison, Steven
Professor
levisosw@njms.rutgers.edu

Regeneration of the CNS after pediatric stroke and traumatic injuries by understanding how to expand resident neural stem cells and coordinate a regenerative response to injury.

Li, Hong
Associate Professor
liho2@njms.rutgers.edu

Development of mass spectrometry technologies to study the role of protein post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions in regulation.

Lin, Sheldon
Associate Professor
linss@njms.rutgers.edu

Ortho bone regeneration medicine: focus on stem cell, growth factor and systems in several models (long bone, fracture, fusion) of normal/impaired Diabetes mellitus.

Liu, Dongfang
Associate Professor
dl907@njms.rutgers.edu

Immunobiology of NK and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK, focusing on immunological synapse, CAR immunotherapy, and HIV-specific CTLs in chronic HIV and its related malignancies

Muresan, Virgil
Associate Professor
muresavi@njms.rutgers.edu

Molecular mechanisms that operate in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and ALS, with a focus on abnormalities in axonal transport

Myers, Catherine
Professor
cemyers@njms.rutgers.edu

Our lab conducts research on learning and memory, and how it is disrupted following injury or disease. 

Olarerin-George, Anthony
Assistant Professor
aolarerin@njms.rutgers.edu

Discovering the function and regulation of RNA chemical modifications in the cell using biochemical, molecular and computational biology approaches.

Pan, Ying-Xian
Professor
yx.pan@rutgers.edu

Understand molecular and cellular mechanisms of mu opioid receptor actions and development of novel opioid analgesics

Parveen, Nikhat
Associate Professor
parveeni@njms.rutgers.edu

Molecular basis of pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lyme disease causing Borrelia burgdorferi and syphilis causing Treponema pallidum.

Petrou, Vasileios
Assistant Professor
vp440@njms.rutgers.edu

Structural studies of membrane enzymes and receptors relevant to antibiotic resistance or human physiology and pathology using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy.

Rogers, Melissa
Associate Professor
rogersmb@njms.rutgers.edu

Studies of transcriptional & post-transcriptional Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 gene regulation as relevant to embryogenesis, cancer, & vascular calcification.

Rohacs, Tibor
Professor
rohacsti@njms.rutgers.edu

Regulation of heat- and cold-activated TRP and mechanically-activated Piezo ion channels in sensory neurons, and their roles in somatosensory touch, pain and itch.

Rohowsky-Kochan, Christine
Professor
rohowscm@njms.rutgers.edu

Mechanisms that regulate immune responses and strategies to manipulate these responses in autoimmunity and neurological diseases.

Routh, Vanessa
Professor
routhvh@njms.rutgers.edu

Mechanisms by which the brain senses and responds to peripheral nutrient homeostasis and associated dysfunction during obesity, diabetes and disease anorexia

Sadoshima, Junichi
Professor
sadoshju@njms.rutgers.edu

Cardiovascular biology; signal transduction mechanisms in the cardiovascular system; stem cells.

Saleh, Soha
Assistant Professor
soha.saleh@rutgers.edu

Dr. Saleh studies underlying mechanisms of neuromuscular function, specifically neural networks involved in motor learning and control, and neuroplasticity after injury and in response to rehabilitation interventions.

Sayed, Danish
Assistant Professor
sayeddh@njms.rutgers.edu

Molecular cardiology; transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms of gene regulation in cardiovascular systems.

Serrador, Jorge
Associate Professor
serradjo@njms.rutgers.edu

Cerebral blood flow regulation and the role of the vestibular system in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular control.  Enhancing neural systems using stochastic resonance.  Sex differences in human physiology.

Shimizu, Emi
Assistant Professor
shimize1@sdm.rutgers.edu

Molecular and physiological mechanisms regulating tertiary dentin formation, as well as pulp regeneration technology using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and oral stem cells.

Shirokov, Roman
Associate Professor
rshiroko@njms.rutgers.edu

To understand how ion channels sense transmembrane voltage, we analyze structure-function relationships in sodium and calcium channels. We also develop novel bioinformatics algorithms to predict effects of site-directed mutations and naturally occurring variants.

Siracusa, Mark
Assistant Professor
mcs294@njms.rutgers.edu

Early cellular and molecular events that promote inflammation in the context of protective immunity to helminths and allergic disease.

Stephens, Robin
Associate Professor
Robin.Stephens@Rutgers.edu

Systemic Inflammation and the Neuro-Glial-Vascular unit. Mechanisms of neuroinflammation and sickness behavior in Cerebral Malaria including glial surveillance and neuroprotection and the roles of vascular congestion, neural hyperexcitability and seizure susceptibility in cerebral malaria pathogenesis.

Sugimoto, Katsunori
Associate Professor
sugimoka@njms.rutgers.edu

Cellular DNA damage response, telomere maintenance, cell senescence and transcriptional control.

Tambini, Marc D.
Assistant Professor
mdt93@njms.rutgers.edu

The Tambini Lab is focused on understanding the normal function of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP), the effect of Alzheimer's Disease-associated APP mutations on the function of APP as it relates to the content, target, and function of APP-containing extracellular vesicles. To accomplish this research goals, we use cellular and knock-in rat models of AD, combined with biochemical, cell biological, and histological approaches.

Tao, Yuan-Xiang
Professor
yt211@njms.rutgers.edu

Molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie chronic pain and opioid-induced analgesic tolerance and hyperalgesia.

Thomas, Andrew
Professor
thomasap@njms.rutgers.edu

Endocrine regulation of metabolism; calcium signal transduction in liver, heart & brain; mitochondria and cell injury; signaling in malaria; live cell imaging

Tyagi, Sanjay
Professor
tyagisa@njms.rutgers.edu

Intracellular dynamics of mRNA synthesis and localization.

Vatner, Dorothy
Professor
vatnerdo@njms.rutgers.edu

Cellular and molecular signal transduction mechanisms in the cardiovascular system

Whitehead, Ian
Professor
whiteip@njms.rutgers.edu

New treatment modalities for CML. This is a hematopoietic stem cell disorder that accounts for about 25% of all leukemias.

Wood, Teresa
Professor
woodte@njms.rutgers.edu

Signaling pathways regulating neural and mammary epithelial stem/progenitor cells in normal development, diseases and injury.

Xie, Lai-hua
Associate Professor
xiela@njms.rutgers.edu

Electrophysiology and Calcium handling in the heart; Cardiac remodeling and mechanisms of arrhythmias in experimental and natural animal models.

Xu, Ying
Associate Professor
yx328@njms.rutgers.edu

Molecular mechanisms by which epigenetics, environmental and lifestyle factors affect risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and neuropsychiatric disorders. Specific research interests include the role of epigenetic modification and mitochondrial phosphodiesterases (PDEs) in AD and dementias.

Yang, Jason
Assistant Professor
jason.y@rutgers.edu

Systems and syntheteic biology of chronic and infectious disease. Computational modeling, machine learning, quantitative microscopy, genetic engineering.

Zarbin, Marco
Professor
zarbin@njms.rutgers.edu

Developing cell-based therapy for degenerative retinal disease, including age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness

Zhai, Peiyong
Associate Professor
zhaipe@njms.rutgers.edu

Signaling mechanisms of cardiac myocyte growth and death; and establishing and characterizing animal models of cardiovascular diseases.

 

 

 

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