Name: Chen Gu
Email: gu.49@osu.edu
Department: Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology
Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty Email or In Person
Previous Mentoring: No (never applied)
Category of Research: Basic
Research Description: Currently, we are focusing on understanding ion channel regulation relevant to several brain disorders, including multiple sclerosis, concussive brain injury, epilepsy and alcohol addiction.
Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Autoimmunity, Neurologic Disorders, Psychological Disorders
Name: George Kyriazis
Email: kyriazis.2@osu.edu
Department: Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology
Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty Email or In Person
Lab Manager/Dept Contact: Vanida "Ann" Sena
Lab Manager/Dept Contact Email: Vanida.Sena@osumc.edu
Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty Email
Previous Mentoring: Yes (not funded)
Category of Research: Translational
Research Description: Sweet taste receptors (STRs) are nutrient sensing G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are expressed, beyond the tongue, in tissues such as the gut, pancreas and skeletal muscle. Using genetic mouse models and pharmacological approaches in vivo and ex vivo, we have identified a role of STRs in the regulation of endocrine secretion and nutrient metabolism. In addition, ongoing clinical studies, have revealed an unexpected association between a functional human variant in t1r2 gene of the STRs with glucose tolerance, and other indices of glucose metabolism and regulation (i.e. HbA1C, HOMA-IR, BMI). We are looking for motivated medical students to help:
1) Characterize the human t1r2 variant using cell-based assays
2) Explore the role of the variant in the regulation of human gut microbiota and metabolomics profiles
3) Genotype a large human cohort and investigate phenotypic associations with lifestyle parameters (i.e. diet, exercise) and metabolic disease progression. Our lab is committed to the development of a rigorous translational training program to advance our knowledge on nutrient-sensing receptor biology and their contributions to human physiology and the development of metabolic disease.
Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Cells, Organ Systems & Integrative Biology, Endocrine Disorders, Nutrition/Obesity
Name: Kamal Mehta
Email: mehta.80@osu.edu
Department: Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology
Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty Email
Previous Mentoring: Yes (not funded)
Category of Research: Translational
Research Description: My lab is interested in two broad themes related to the regulation of lipid metabolism in mammals: Signaling kinase as nutrient sensors- The focus of our laboratory is towards understanding how PKC signaling pathways are regulated by dietary fats and what the consequences are when these pathways become dysregulated in the pathogenesis of human disease. Specifically, we study a family of protein kinases known as protein kinase C (PKC). We use an integrative employing biochemistry, cell biology and mouse genetics to uncover the function of PKCb in sensing individual components of Westen-style high fat/cholesterol diets. By using this strategy we are able to investigate how the diet-sensitive protein kinase Cbeta signaling influence an increase in the size of existing fat cells (adipocytes), as well as, an increase in the number of adipocytes in fat tissue by nutrient excess, and participate in the development, manifestation, and complications of diabetes and obesity. Signaling pathways controlling cholesterol homeostasis- We are interested in studying the signaling mechanisms activated by dietary cholesterol in the liver and how these signaling mechanisms function in physiological and pathophysiological processes. Of particular interest is the Raf-1/MEK/ERK kinase cascade and the underlying mechanisms controlling cholesterol homeostasis. By enhancing our understanding of how diet influences gene expression and the genetic regulation of lipid metabolism, we aim to uncover novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis.
Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Molecular Genetics, Nutrition/Obesity
Name: Maria Mihaylova
Email: Maria.Mihaylova@osumc.edu
Department: Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology
Lab Manager/Dept Contact: Tyus Temples
Lab Manager/Dept Contact Email: Tyus.Temples@osumc.edu
Lab Manager/Dept Contact Phone: 614-685-2206
Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty Email
Previous Mentoring: Yes (funded)
Category of Research: Translational
Research Description: Our group is interested in understanding the effects of diet and aging on cellular metabolism. It is now appreciated that organismal and cellular metabolism can become deregulated with age, which can potentially accelerate cancer initiation or progression. One area of focus in the lab is understanding how metabolic deregulation in the gastrointestinal tract and liver can augment tissue homeostasis and promote age related pathologies, including cancer. To this end, we employ a number of genetic and multidisciplinary analytical approaches in both mouse models and 3D organoid culture systems with the ultimate goal of translating metabolic liabilities into potential therapeutics.
Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Aging, Cancer Biology, Tissue Repair and Regeneration
Name: Jian-Qiu Wu
Email: wu.620@osu.edu
Department: Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology
Lab Manager/Dept Contact Phone: 614-685-2206
Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty Email, In Person
Previous Mentoring: No (never applied)
Category of Research: Basic
Research Description: The long-term goal of our laboratory is to understand the roles of cytoskeletal and signaling proteins in cell division and cellular wound healing. In the near term, we are focusing on the molecular mechanisms of cytokinesis and single cell wound healing in the fission yeast S. pombe. Cytokinesis partitions cellular constituents into two daughter cells at the end of the cell cycle. When coordinated with the generation of cellular asymmetry, cytokinesis can produce diverse cell types in multicellular organisms. Thus, cytokinesis plays a crucial role in both cell proliferation and cell differentiation. Cytokinesis failure often leads to tetraploid cells, which could become aneuploid and eventually develop into cancer cells. Understanding the mechanism of wound healing is obviously fundamental to human health because wounds can result from diverse sources: trauma, surgery, infection, and muscle contraction. In addition, wounding can promote tumor formation and metastasis, and tumor cells could survive chemotherapy and radiation therapy using wound-healing pathways. Therefore, new therapies could eventually be designed to facilitate wound healing, lessen the incidence of tumorigenesis, and manage tumor cells based on our conceptual breakthroughs on the molecular links between cytokinesis and single-cell wound-healing responses.
Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Cancer Biology, Molecular Genetics, Wound Healing
Lab Website: https://www.asc.ohio-state.edu/wu.620/indexPage.php