2012-present Associate Professor, Department of Medicine. AECOM, NY. 2009-present Faculty Senate representative of the Department of Medicine, AECOM, NY. 2007-present Director of the Genetic Core for LonGenety, Institute for Aging Research and the DRTC, AECOM, NY. 2009-present Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics. AECOM, NY. 2005-present Director of Einstein SAR Research Program. AECOM, NY. 2005- 2009 Director of the Quantitative PCR Core, Institute for Aging Research and the DRTC, AECOM, NY.2005-2006 Instructor, Department of medicine. AECOM, NY. 2004-2005 Research Associate, Department of medicine. AECOM, NY. 2002-present Director, Summer Project, Institute for Aging Research. AECOM, NY. 2001-04 Fellow, in Human Genetic, AECOM, NY

Human Genetics, Human Molecular Genetics, Hypertension



 

M.D. (1984), Nanchang University Medical College, Nanchang, China, Ph.D. (1994), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, Residency (1999-2002), Clinical Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO Fellowship (2002-2003), Transfusion Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, Assistant Professor (2003-2011), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, Associate Professor (2011-present), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, Director (2003-present), Clinical Hematology and Coagulation Laboratories, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA

Dr. Zheng laboratory has been interested in understanding of the mechanism of thrombosis and hemostasis. Particularly, Dr. Zheng and his colleagues focus on elucidating the pathogenesis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). TTP is a fatal syndrome, resulted from severely deficient plasma ADAMTS13 (A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease with Thrombospondin Type 1 repeats, 13). Dr. Zheng has been a NIH-sponsored researcher since 2004. He is also an established investigator of American Heart Association, and the fellow of National Blood Foundation. Dr. Zheng’s current research projects include: 1) Structure-function analysis of ADAMTS13; 2) Cofactor-dependent regulation of ADAMTS13 function; 3) Development of novel tools for diagnosis and treatment of TTP syndrome. 



 

Airong Li earned her PhD from Uiversity of Oxford in medical genetics and completed a post-doctoral training in genetics at Yale University Schol of Medicine. She has joined the faculty of Havard Medical School and Massachusstetts General Hopsital since 2003. Dr. Li has studied genes associated with human diseases, including asthma, hypertension, ataxia telangiectasia, polycystic liver and kidney diseases and Alzheimers disease. Dr. Li is the co-author of more than 20 research publications in well-recognized journals including "Nature Genetics", "American Journal Human Genetics", "American Journal Medical Genetics" and "Human Molecular Genetics" etc. Dr. Li is the recipient of the NIH National Research Service Award, American Heart Association Scientist Development Award, Harvard Medical School Junior Faculty Award and Neuroscience Education and Research Foundation Award. Dr. Lis current primary research interest is genetic studies of Alzheimers disease.

Genetic studies of Alzheimer\\\\\\\'s disease.

PhD (09/1999—06/2002): Medical school of Xi’an Jiao Tong University, China
Master of Science (09/1994—07/1997): in Oncology, Xi’an Medical University, China
MD (09/1989—07/1994), in Clinical Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, China

1. Mechanisms of Tumor angiogenesis
2. Mechanisms of Tumor metastasis
3. Roles and functions study of lysophospholipids and their receptors

STEVEN J.FLIESLER Dr. Steven J. Fliesler is the Meyer H. Riwchun Endowed Chair Professor of Ophthalmology and Vice-Chairman and Director of Research in the Department of Ophthalmology, University at Buffalo/The State University of New York (SUNY-UB). He concurrently holds a Research Health Scientist staff position at the Buffalo VA Medical Center (Veterans Administration Western New York Healthcare System). Dr. Fliesler obtained a B.A. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Rice University (Houston, TX). Following postdoctoral research in retinal biochemistry and cell biology at the Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, he subsequently held faculty positions at Baylor College of Medicine (1984-85), the University of Miami School of Medicine (1985-88; Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology) and Saint Louis University School of Medicine (1988-2008; Departments of Ophthalmology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacological & Physiological Science) prior to moving to Buffalo in July, 2008. He is the author of approximately 100 peer-reviewed research publications, in addition to 14 review articles and book chapters, >165 abstracts, and has edited two books, with primary focus on lipid metabolism (particularly cholesterol) in the retina and animal models of hereditary human retinal degenerations. Dr. Fliesler’s research has been funded for more than 30 years, included grants from the NIH, March of Dimes, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and Research to Prevent Blindness.

Dr. Fliesler’s primary research focus concerns the role of lipid metabolism (particularly cholesterol) in the normal biology and pathobiology of the retina, and animal models of hereditary human retinal degenerations. He also has a longstanding interest in membrane structure and function, intracellular trafficking, and glycobiology.

Wafik S. El-Deiry, M.D. Ph.D. is a Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Medicine at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine, and is the Rose Dunlap Division Chair in Hematology/Oncology and Associate Director for Translational Research at Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute. Dr. El-Deiry’s research has been unraveling cell death pathways involved in tumor suppression and mechanisms that determine cancer therapeutic responses.  His group discovered the TRAIL death receptor that is a target for cancer therapy in clinical trials. He is also internationally recognized for discoveries of how the tumor suppressor gene p53 inhibits cancer cell growth and for unraveling several cancer drug resistance mechanisms.  He has developed strategies for live animal imaging and drug screening approaches. At Penn State Dr. El-Deiry’s research is focusing on new therapies for resistant cancers as well as new ways of monitoring cancer treatment, including monitoring circulating tumor cells and genetic factors that determine success of therapy. Prior to joining Penn State, Dr. El-Deiry was a Professor of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), Genetics & Pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, co-Director of the Radiobiology & Imaging Program at the Abramson Cancer Center and Associate Director for Physician-Scientist training in Hematology/Oncology. He earned his M.D. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1987 and completed Internal Medicine residency and Clinical Oncology fellowship training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center from 1987-1994. He joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania as an Assistant Professor of Medicine in 1994 and as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator from 1995-2004. He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 1999 and to Professor with tenure in 2005. 

Dr. El-Deiry enjoys teaching, clinical work in the area of solid tumor oncology, serving on peer review panels, scientific editorial boards (including as Founding Editor-in-Chief of Cancer Biology and Therapy since 2001) and training future scientists and clinicians.

Dr. Cantor is a Professor in the Department of Human Genetics in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Center for Neuropsychiatric Research in the Department of Psychiatry in the Semel Institute at UCLA.  She has an educational background in mathematics, biostatistics and human genetics, and  expertise in analyzing complex and multifaceted genetic data sets and adapting newly developed genetic analytic approaches to these endeavors.  For the past 20 years, she has been responsible for planning, conducting and supervising statistical and genetic analyses for common complex diseases on multiple projects.   Her current focus is psychiatric disorders, and in particular quantitative traits and gene by environment interactions associated with autism spectrum disorders.  She is also involved in gene discovery endeavors in coronary artery disease and systemic lupus erythematosus.   Her current analytic interests include methods for conducting additional studies with existing GWAS data.

My research interests are statistical genetics methods, genetics of complex diseases, genetics of psychiatric disorders, genetics of autism spectrum disorders , genetics of coronary artery disease and genetics of systemic lupus erythematosus.

 

Deborah Neklason, PhD is a Research Associate Professor at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from University of Washington, followed by positions at Immunex Corporation in pharmaceutical drug development and with Francis Collins at University of Michigan in human genetics. She obtained her PhD in Human Genetics in 1999 from University of Utah under James Metherall with a research focus on defects in lipid metabolism. Her research for the past 10 years is focused on the genetic etiology of colorectal cancer. Current projects involve indentifying new genes that are important in cancer development, developing diagnostics to identify individuals at risk of developing colon cancer, and clinical trials to prevent cancer

Colon Cancer, Pharmaceutical drugs.

Dr. Urban is a molecular geneticist. He received his postdoctoral training at the University of Hawaii and served as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis from 2004 to 2009.

The Urban Lab is focused on inherited diseases of the extracellular matrix, particularly the elastic fiber system. Human genetic diseases under study include supravalvular aortic stenosis, Williams syndrome and cutis laxa. Cellular and zebrafish models are used to identify key molecules and processes of elastic fiber formation and maintenance. The insights from Mendelian diseases and models are applied to understand common, complex diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and aneurysms

Inherited diseases of the extracellular matrix, particularly the elastic fiber, using data on humans and cellular and zebrafish models

Dr.Slifer is an Assistant Professor at the Hussman Institute for Human Genomics in the Dr. John T. MacDonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine.  He received his medical training at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and then completed a Psychiatry Residency at Duke University where he served as Chief Resident for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.  While at Duke, he studied the genetics of Alzheimer’s Disease and received his Ph. D. in Genetics.  Dr. Slifer investigates the genetic diatheses underlying complex disorders in the elderly including Alzheimer’s Disease and late-life depression. 
 

His research focuses on parsing the genetic contribution to disease and identifying clinical sub-types that might differentiate more genetically homogeneous groups within common heterogeneous disorders.
 

Dr. Herman is an Attending Physician at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He specializes in Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a partner in his practice - Elite Women’s Healthcare.
He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women’s Health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in New York.

Due to a special interest in the hereditary nature of Breast and Ovarian cancers Dr. Herman has become a leader in the identification, testing and treatment of patients who are at risk for HBOC (Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome). Dr. Herman has developed, refined and implemented strategies for testing appropriate patients in the clinical office setting.

Through more than 320 lectures, meetings and media appearances Dr. Herman has taught both the science and the practical application to physicians and their ancillary personnel. Speaking forums have included grand rounds presentations, resident didactic lectures, community based events, as well as dinner conferences and lunch meetings. He is a frequent featured physician at women’s health day events.

HBOC & Lynch Syndrome

Jake Lusis received his Ph.D. in Biophysics from Oregon State University. He was a postdoctoral fellow with Kenneth Paigen in the Molecular Biology Department, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, NY. Since 1979, he has been on the faculty at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he is presently Professor in the Departments of Microbiology and Medicine. He has a secondary appointment in the Department of Human Genetics, where he is also Vice Chairman. He has served on advisory panels for the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and various private companies and organizations. Presently, he serves on the Board of Scientific Counselors, NHLBI. Among his awards are the Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Achievement in Research, the American Heart Association Duff Award, and the NAVBO Benditt Award.

Molecular genetic approaches in atherosclerosis research.
Genetic factors in lipoprotein metabolism:  Mouse model

Molecular genetic approaches in atherosclerosis research.
This program project is concerned with the identification and characterization of genetic factors contributing to energy homeostasis and metabolic disease.  The emphasis is on combined human-mouse approaches.  Project 1 (A. Lusis, PI) focuses on systems genetics analysis of metabolic disorders in mice

Born in 1957, Dr. Runjan Chetty did his school education from Dublin (Ireland), London (United Kingdom) and Durban (South Africa). His medical education was at the Royal College of Surgeons, in Ireland, from October 1976 to June 1982. Dr. Chetty excelled in his studies and was the winner of the Arthur Jacobs Open Scholarship, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, and achieved honours in Biology, Physics, Pathology, Microbiology, Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, Forensic Medicine, and the first prize and medal in Social & Preventive Medicine.

Molecular aspects of colorectal cancer (PS3, APC genes, microarray project comparing protein expression in primary and secondary tumours), molecular aspects of intraductal papillary mucinous tumours of the pancreas, pancreatic endocrine tumours in addition to on-going research from South Africa on oesophageal squamous carcinoma (cell cycle proteins adhesion molecules and DNA repair genes).

M.Sc., University of Delhi (Genetics), New Delhi, India Ph.D., National Institute of Immunology (Molecular Genetics and Life Sciences), New Delhi, India Postdoctoral Fellow (Special Fellow, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory-New York, USA

The long-term interest of her  lab is to understand how the initiation of DNA replication is coordinated with chromatin organization and cell cycle progression in mammalian cells. Initiation of DNA replication requires the assembly of a multi-protein pre-replicative
complex at the origins of replication. Binding of Origin Recognition Complex proteins to origins leads to the sequential binding of several other proteins that together establish the pre-RC. They  have identified a novel ORC-associated (ORCA/LRWD1) protein that is
required for stabilizing ORC binding to chromatin. Her  lab focuses on studying how Origin Recognition Complex (ORC) and ORC-associated (ORCA/LRWD1) regulate DNA replication and heterochromatin organization."
 

Veena N Rao, Ph.D, is Professor and Co-Director of the Cancer Biology Program GCC Distinguished Cancer Scholar in the Department of OB/GYN at Morehouse School of Medicine She received her PhD from India and some of her PhD work was done at Max Planck Institute in Germany, University of Edinburgh, Scotland and MIT Boston. Dr Rao completed her postdoctoral training at the University of California, Berkeley ,Yale University School of Medicine and National Cancer Institute where she and her colleagues identified the ERG gene which is involved in prostate cancers. Dr. Rao career began at Temple University and then at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia as an Assistant Professor where she and her colleagues cloned the ELK1 gene. She moved to Kimmel Cancer Center as Associate Professor where she identified the BRCA1 isoforms, and then became Professor and CoDirector of the Division of Cancer Genetics at Drexel University.

• Biology of Triple negative breast, Ovarian and Prostate Cancers

 •Role of Epigenetic, Nucleo-Cytoplasmic shuttling, posttranslational modifications in Cancers

 • Gene therapy, EMT, Cell-based assays, Function-based drug design and drug resistance in Cancers"
 

Cai graduated from Hunan Medical University in China (M.D.
equivalent) and from the Tokushima University School of Medicine in Japan
(Ph.D.). Dr. Cai currently is the research faculty member of Section of
Nephrology at Yale University School of Medicine and Yale PKD Center, and is
also the Guest (Visiting) Professor of Central South University, South Medical
University, and Chen-Du Medical College of China. Dr. Cai is the co-author in
more than 40 research publications in well recognized journals including
“Science”, “Cell”, “Nature Genetics”, “Nature Cell Biology”, “J Biol Chem” etc., Dr.
Cai is the four times recipient of the Travel Award of the American Society of
Nephrology (05’, 08’, 09’, and 10’), and the recipient of the American Heart
Association Scientist Development Award, the PKD Foundation Research Grant,
the NIH Sponsored Nephrology Training Grant , and the Fujii-Ostuka Fellowship
for International Exchange Program (Japan). Dr. Cai had been invited to give
lectures in Universities in USA, Canada, South Korea and China, and invited to
serve as the reviewer for the "Journal of American Society of Nehrology", "Kidney
International", "Cancer Letter", and “African Journal of Biotechnology”. Dr. Cai
also serves as the editorial board member for the “World Journal of Nephrology”
and for the journal “Health”.

 

Dr. Cai’s primary research interest is on the study of polycystic kidney disease
with current focus on the molecular basis of the PKD pathogenesis.

 

Dr Wang is an associate professor in Division of Biostatistics Institute for Health and Society at Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) with an adjunct appointment at Human Molecular Genetics Center in the Department of Physiology at MCW. He has collaborated with and assisted in several NIH funded genetic studies such as Crohn disease, juvenile type I diabetes, and consomic and congenic rat models in mapping disease genes for hypertension. Since 2005 ,he also has been serving as a PhD statistician for the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research( CIBMTR) Meanwhile he is a graduate faculty member at MCW and teaches graduate courses including Statistical Genetics, Linear Models, Advanced Statistical Computing and Statistical Methods for graduate students in the Biostatistics PhD program at MCW.

His research interests focus on statistical genetics, specifically on statistical modeling of quantitative trait loci and association analysis of SNPs and haplotypes.

My lab studies the JAK/STAT pathway in animal development, immunity, aging, and stem cell maintenance.  We also investigate the role of JAK/STAT signaling in pathological conditions such as tumor formation and hyperactive immune responses. A current focus of the lab is how JAK/STAT signaling influences cellular epigenetic states, including heterochromatin formation and chromatin modification, and their effects on multiple biological processes.

1. JAK/STAT signaling and innate immunity
2. Epigenetic Mechanisms of Tumor Suppression and Tumorigenesis
3. Role of Heterochromatin in Aging and in Stem Cells

Kazuya Shinmura earned his M.D. and Ph.D. in Medicine from Hamamatsu University School of Medicine Hamamatsu Medical Sciences Graduate School (Japan). After his works in the Biology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute (Japan), the Pathology Department, Hamamtsu University Hospital (Japan), the 1st Department of Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine (Japan), and the Department of Cell Biology, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine (USA), he is presently serving as an Associate Professor in the 1st Department of Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine (Japan). He is a board-certified pathologist.

1. Centrosome abnormality in human cancer
2. 8-hydroxyguanine repair system
3. Genetic susceptibility to human lung, gastric, and colorectal cancers
4. Identification of genes involved in the genesis and development of lung, gastric, and colorectal cancers.

 

Dr. Ancha Baranova, a specialist in the area of functional genomics of complex human diseases, is an Associate Professor in the School of Systems Biology, College of Science, George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, USA and an Assistant Director of the Center for Study of the Genomics of Liver Disease in George Mason University. Dr. Baranovas major academic contributions are in the field of functional genomics, with emphasis on cancer and metabolic syndrome-related disorders. A significant part of Dr. Baranova’s efforts is dedicated to in silico analysis of the publicly available genomics and proteomics databases. Dr. Baranova directs a team of postgraduate and graduate associates that employs a multidisciplinary approach in order to broaden research perspective in the genetics of complex human diseases. Dr. Baranova has published about 40 peer-reviewed scientific papers in international journals including Genomics, Hepatology, Clinical Cancer Research, FASEB Journal, FEBS Letter, Bioinformatics, Leukemia and Lymphoma, Oncogene, and others.
 

Dr Ancha Baranova, a specialist in the area of functional genomics of complex human diseases, is presently working as an Associate Professor in the Molecular and Microbiology Department, College of Science, George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, USA. 
 

Dr Ralph Schneider studied medicine at the University of Regensburg from 2001 to 2007. He started his surgical training in Koblenz and is resident at the Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at the Philipps University of Marburg since August 2008. His scientific interest comprise colorectal cancer especially hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC; Lynch syndrome). The efficiency of information and screening in families with Lynch syndrome is one of his main interests .A second scientific focus is endocrine surgery and especially secondary hyperparathyroidism including the analysis of surgical procedures and outcome of patients undergoing parathyroidectomy.

Colorectal Cancer

Dr Cui has received his PhD in Statistics from University of Florida Gainesville Florida 2005 Currently working as Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics and Probability Michigan State University

Statistical genetics/genomics including QTL and eQTL mapping, gene-gene and gene-environment interaction, genetic linkage and association study  gene expression data analysis with microarray and RNA seq data and gene network inference

Tomoko Obara completed her PhD studies on cloning and characterizing G-proteins from yeast at the University of Tokyo. She left Japan and moved to USA to change her research field. She started her postdoctoral training with Doris Herzlinger at Weil Medical College of Cornell University (USA) to study kidney organogenesis using mice and chicken. To further develop her interest in kidney development and to understand human kidney diseases using zebrafish, she moved to join Dr. Iain Drummond at Renal Unit of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. In 2004, she was appointed as Assistant Professor in MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. She moved her research group to Dept of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center from 2009. She has record of successful and productive research projects in the field of kidney development and disease and an innovator in the development of model systems in kidney biomedical research.

Her research interest in kidney development and to understand human kidney diseases using zebrafish, mouse, Medaka, human genetics,  heart disease, ciliopathies)
 

EDUCATION
Ph.D. (1999 – 2003, Genetics) University of Cologne, Germany
M.S. (1994 – 1997, Biophysics) Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
B.S. (1989 – 1993, Biochemistry) Shandong University, China
EMPLOYMENT
Research Fellow, 2009 – Present
Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National institute Of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS),
NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow, 2004 -2008
Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National institute Of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS),
NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
Research Assistant, 1997 - 1999
Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
 

DNA repair and Genome stability; Cellular Senescence and Aging; Cancer drug mechanism and
toxicology; Environmental exposure and health risk

Wei Hsu earned his PhD from Mount Sinai Medical Center and completed a postdoctoral training at Columbia University Medical Cente.r He has joined the faculty of theUniversity of Rochester since 2002 .The interest of his laboratory is to investigate the Morphogenetic Signaling Network in Development and Disease, His work has led to important contributions to our understanding of Wnt signaling and its interplay with other signaling pathways in various developmental processes in health and disease .He has received distinctions including the NKF fellowship award the DOD IDEA award and the PHS awards from the NIH.

1 Gene knockout and transgenic studies

2. Mouse model for human disease

3.Embryonic Axis Determination/Axial Patterning

4. Craniofacial Morphogenesis

5. Skeletal Development and Disease

6. Breast Development and Cancer

7. Wnt

8. FGF

9 BMP

10. Small Ubiquitin related Modifier

Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

M.Phil, Microbiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong

B.S., Biology, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Kit Sing Au laboratory mainly focuses on two human genetic diseases: tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and neural tube defects (NTDs).

Dr Veeraish Chauhan received his degree in medicine from Government Medical College, Chandigarh, India. He later served as a Clinical Tutor & Research Fellow at the St George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies. Having completed his residency in Internal Medicine, he is now a Fellow in the Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, at the Drexel University College of Medicine, Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA. He is a Diplomate Member of the American Board of Internal Medicine.
 

His research interests include hereditary and genetic causes of chronic kidney disease like polycystic kidney disease and Alport’s syndrome.
 

2011- present Director, Epigenetics and Cancer Prevention Research, Baylor
Research Institute, BUMC, Dallas
2005 - present Investigator, Baylor Research Institute, BUMC, Dallas
2003 - 2005 Associate Investigator, Baylor Research Institute, BUMC, Dallas
2001- 2003 Assistant Project Scientist, Department of Medicine and Cancer
Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Post-Doctoral Positions:
1998 – 2001 Post Graduate Researcher, Department of Medicine, University of
California San Diego, La Jolla, California
1996 – 1997 Research Associate, Department of Molecular Physiology and
Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville,
Virginia
1996 Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Panjab University, Chandigarh,
India
University Research:
1991 – 1996 Pre-doctoral Fellow, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
1990 – 1991 Junior Research Fellow, Post Graduate Institute of Medical
Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
1998 – 1990 Research Student, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
Teaching Experience:
1991 – 1996 Research Scientist, Regional Sophisticated Instrumentation Centre
(RSIC), Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
Education:
1991 - 1996 Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, Ph.D.
1988 - 1990 Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, MS (Hons).
1985 - 1988 Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, BS (Hons).
1983 - 1985 Govt. College, Chandigarh, India, High School
Research Interests:
1998 – present Genetics and epigenetics of gastrointestinal cancers, mechanisms
of genomic instability, DNA mismatch repair, Mechanisms of
epigenetic instability (DNA methylation, histone modifications,

Genetics and epigenetics of gastrointestinal cancers, mechanisms
of genomic instability, DNA mismatch repair, Mechanisms of
epigenetic instability (DNA methylation, histone modifications,
Ajay Goel, Ph.D.
2
microRNAs) in human colorectal cancer, potential role of JC virus
in colon carcinogenesis, complementary and alternative
approaches for the chemoprevention of gastrointestinal cancer
using natural dietary agents and polyphenols, and development of
noninvasive epigenetic biomarkers for the detection of
gastrointestinal cancers.

Dr. Steven J. Fliesler is the Meyer H. Riwchun Endowed Chair Professor of Ophthalmology and Vice-Chairman and Director of Research in the Department of Ophthalmology, University at Buffalo/The State University of New York (SUNY-UB). He concurrently holds a Research Health Scientist staff position at the Buffalo VA Medical Center (Veterans Administration Western New York Healthcare System). Dr. Fliesler obtained a B.A. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Rice University (Houston, TX). Following postdoctoral research in retinal biochemistry and cell biology at the Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, he subsequently held faculty positions at Baylor College of Medicine (1984-85), the University of Miami School of Medicine (1985-88; Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology) and Saint Louis University School of Medicine (1988-2008; Departments of Ophthalmology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacological & Physiological Science) prior to moving to Buffalo in July, 2008. He is the author of approximately 100 peer-reviewed research publications, in addition to 14 review articles and book chapters, >165 abstracts, and has edited two books, with primary focus on lipid metabolism (particularly cholesterol) in the retina and animal models of hereditary human retinal degenerations. Dr. Fliesler’s research has been funded for more than 30 years, included grants from the NIH, March of Dimes, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and Research to Prevent Blindness

He is interested in various topics including genetics for deafness, genotype phenotype correlation, genetic testing, molecular phylogenetics.

Dr. Pang received his MD in 1988 from China Medical University and got his PhD from Tokyo Medical and Dental University just before he moved to Oakland University for retinal gene therapy training in 1999. Dr. Pang moved to UF in 2002 and rescued many mouse models of human retinal disease, for example, 1) rd12 mice, a natural model of LCA with RPE65 mutation, 2) Cpfl5 mouse, a model of achromatopsia 2 with cnga3 mutations, 3) the rd10 mouse, a model of human retinitis pigmentosa with PDEbmutations, 4) Cngb3 KO mice, a model of achromatopsia 1. With other researchers, Dr. Pang also rescued different mouse models with retinal degenerations, such as Cpfl3, rd17, GC-1-/-, LART-/- and Ccl2/Cx3cr1 mice. Dr. Pang has more than 30 publications and gave 40 invited seminar talks internationally in the past 5 years. Dr. Pang currently is a Research Associate Professor at Ophthalmology, University of Florida

Research interest: Adeno-associate viral vector-mediated gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases.

Pietro Invernizzi received his MD in July 1993 from the University of Milan, Italy. In December 1996 he received his PhD from the University of Milan. During the PhD program he was a research fellow at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. In 2000 Dr. Invernizzi completed his training in Gastroenterology. In 2000 he was a post-doc in the Liver Unit of the San Paolo Hospital School of Medicine of the University of Milan. From 2004 to 2008 he had an appointment as Clinical Assistant at the same Division. In 2007 he has also received an appointment as Assistant Professor at the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, CA, USA. From 2008 he is head of the Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy.

His main scientific interests are on autoimmune liver diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis, and on cholangiocarcinoma.

EDUCATION
Ph.D., Lund University, Lund, Sweden

MEMBERSHIPS
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
International Society for Eye Research (ISER)
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Mechanism of photoreceptor degeneration in CNG channel deficiency. Cone phototransduction mediated by photoreceptor cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel activation is essential for central and color vision and visual acuity.  Mutations in the cone CNG channel subunits CNGA3 and CNGB3 are highly linked to various forms of achromatopsia, progressive cone dystrophy, and some maculopathies.  The underlying mechanism and retinal pathogenesis remain unclear.  We are interested in investigating the molecular mechanism of cone degeneration in CNG channel deficiency using mouse models.

Biochemical characterization of cone CNG channel complex.  Proper channel subunit association and complex assembly are essential for CNG channel function.  Using cone-dominant mouse models, we wish to determine the molecular basis of channel subunit interaction and stoichiometry of the channel complex and explore the channel modulation by identifying its interacting proteins.

I’m a Associate Professor in Marmara University at Department of Peditarics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology. After completing the my clinical education I have started basic research in Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical Faculty. I’m working as both clinician and basic scientist and, try to combine basic research with clinics.The main crossing field of basic and clinical science is genetics and containing very fast development recently. Since, most of the disease in the pediatric endocrinology have genetic basis, my main interest is the genetics. You can find my main research areas in the following CV.

Metabolic bone disease, vitamin D metabolism, genetics of rickets and pseudohypoparathyroidism, growth and growth factors, thyroid physiology and pathophysiology, thyroid genetics.
 

Dr. Yuanjia Wang received a PhD in Statistics from the Department of Statistics at Columbia University. She is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biostatistics at Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. She is also a core member of the Division of Biostatistics at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Her research interests include nonparametric and semiparametric modeling, reduced-rank smoothing, genetic association analysis with longitudinal phenotype and developing statistical methods for psychiatric research.

Her research interests include nonparametric and semiparametric modeling, reduced-rank smoothing, genetic association analysis with longitudinal phenotype and developing statistical methods for psychiatric research

A member of the National Academy of Sciences and Professor of Pediatrics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, Dr. New is one of the worlds leading pediatric endocrinologists. She has conducted pioneering research in the area of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a family of monogenic autosomal recessive disorders of steroidogenesis in which enzymatic defects result in impaired synthesis of cortisol by the adrenal cortex.

The primary research emphasis is on genetic steroid disorders. We continue to study two monogenic disorders: 21-hydroxylase deficiency and-hydroxylase deficiency, emphasizing genotype/phenotype correlation and prenatal diagnosis and treatment.

Research assistant at the Department of Haematology, Oncology and Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Unit of Microbiology, St. Orsola Malpighi General Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy since 1997 and employee of the Italian Ministry of Education as High School teacher since september 2007. Her work focuses on human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, mainly analysing CMV genes involved in viral pathogenesis. Main topics explored: biochemical and molecular characterisation of ORF UL53 and its interaction with the product of gene UL50; analysis of CMV polymorphisms at loci encoding for envelope glycoproteins, such as UL73-gN, UL55-gB and UL74-gO; association between specific genomic variants at the above mentioned loci and CMV-induced immunopathogenesis, analysed in different patient populations affected by CMV disease.

Her research approach, based on the main molecular biology techniques has been applied on the fields of cardiovascular syndromes, cancer research, microbiology and virology topics.

In 2002, I completed a Master degree in animal breeding and genetics at the University of New England with an average grade of distinction which was a course work only. In the next year, I started an advanced Master degree that required 2 years of pure research (MSc). In the first year, I could transfer to PhD degree, satisfying the criteria for upgrading from MSc to PhD, with approval of the committee. I completed my PhD degree in animal breeding and genetics at the University of New England in 2006. I was employed as a post-doc at the the University of New England until 2008, spent 1 year in Korea as a reserch officer, and have been at Queensland Institute of Medical Research since 2009.

 

Dr. Sang Hong Lee is interested in better understanding the genetic architecture of complex traits by using advanced statistical models and methods based on the quantitative genetic theory and molecular information. Dr. Lee has experience in developing advanced statistical methods to estimate genetic variance and individual genetic effects at quantitative trait loci (QTL) based on phenotype-genotype association analyses. Dr. Lee published a number of method papers including developments of a residual maximum likelihood approach, and full and empirical Bayesian approaches. Recently, genome-wide SNP data have been available for many traits in many species. Dr. Lee has developed an empirical Bayesian approach to use genome-wide SNP data to dissect the genetic architecture of complex traits, e.g. estimating genetic variances and individual genetic effects and predicting unobserved future phenotypes based on genome-wide SNP information. The developed statistical approaches were used to analyse a heterogeneous mouse line. Currently, Dr. Lee is focused on understanding the genetic architecture of liability for important human diseases. Dr. Lee developed appropriate statistical approaches to obtain unbiased genetic variances in liability for complex diseases using population-based case-control studies with genome-wide SNP data.

2002-2007:         MBChB            Manchester Medical School
2010               MRCS        Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh
2009-2012       MSc             Master of Surgical Science (diploma2010)

EDUCATION
1998-2000       13 GCSE’s         Abraham Moss High School
2000-2002       6 A                     Urmston Grammar School
                  
AWARDS AND MERITS
2006 – Distinction in Special Study Module – ‘Management of Acute Stroke’ North       
Manchester General Hospital
2010- Best PBL tutor University of Liverpool medical school first year.
2010- Diploma Certificate in Surgical sciences- University of Edinburgh 
 

I attend Southport hospital for day case surgery and outpatient clinics where i see patients independently and have the support of a consultant to discuss new cases and difficult local flap reconstruction.
    Cover plastic and Burns ward, which include the management of post operative free flaps, usage of leeches and larvae, patients with drains, pre-operative patients, trauma patients, and the Burns unit patient.
    I attend allocated theatre sessions with different consultants and also trauma theatre when oncall.
    Daily ward rounds of inpatients ranging from simple SSG, local flaps to rare rhabdomyosarcoma reconstruction during their post-operative recovery periods and of those with complications.  This is a teaching round led by the consultant.  I also deal with, and am competent, in general medical complications of surgical inpatients.



 

Teruaki Tozaki earned his Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical sciences from Showa University School of Pharmaceutical sciences (Japan). After his graduation, he is presently serving as a Chief analyst in the Department of Molecular Genetics, Laboratory of Racing Chemistry (Japan).

His research interest is a gene hunting of human and horse diseases and athletic performance based on hereditary estimates and gnome wide association study.

 

Dr. Gil Atzmon is currently Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine and Genetic, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA. A graduate in Population Genetics from Hebrew University, Dr. Atzmon completed his fellowship in Human Genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine where he then joined as a faculty and rose to the rank of Assistant Professor

Research Interest: the study of human genome and its impact on aging, longevity.

Maya Sieber-Blum received her education at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, the University of Basel, and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is currently Professor of Stem Cell Sciences at the Institute of Genetic Medicine and the North East England Stem Cell Institute at Newcastle University in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

 

major neural crest derivatives, including bone/cartilage cells, neurons, Schwann cells, myofibroblasts and melanocytes. A protocol for the ex vivo expansion of hEPI-NCSC into millions of stem cells has been developed. Furthermore, protocols have been developed for the directed differentiation of hEPI-NCSC into osteocytes (Clewes et al 2011 and unpublished), melanoyctes (Clewes O et al 2011 and unpublished), dopamnergic neurons (unpublished) and sensory neurons (unpublished). The novelty of hEPI-NCSC lies in the combination of their highly desirable traits. They are readily accessible in the hairy skin by minimal invasive procedures. hEPI-NCSC are multipotent somatic stem cells that can be isolated reproducibly and with high yield. By taking advantage of their migratory ability, hEPI-NCSC can be isolated as a highly pure population of stem cells. hEPI-NCSC can undergo robust ex vivo expansion and directed differentiation. As somatic stem cells, hEPI-NCSC are conducive to autologous transplantation, which avoids graft rejection. Together, these traits make hEPI-NCSC novel and attractive candidates for future cell-based therapies and regenerative medicine.

Dr. Sukumar Saha is a Research Geneticist (GS-15) in the Genetic and Precision Research Unit, Crop Science Research Laboratory, Mississippi State, MS.   He has a total of thirty five years of professional research experience.  After working as a Research Assistant Professor for five years at Alabama A&M University the incumbent assumed the present position with USDA/ARS in 1997.  He demonstrated outstanding stature and received significant recognition as an international authority in cotton genomics and cytogenetics for the development of genetic and cytogenetic resources that are being used by the scientists in the USA and around the world.  He was awarded the 2010 Cotton Geneticist award from the National Cotton Council and ICAC Cotton Researcher of the year 2011 award from International Cotton Advisory Committee because of the impact of his outstanding research in cotton communities.  He made several pioneering discoveries such as:  1) discovering a strategy for detection of SNP-markers associated with candidate genes in tetraploid cotton; 2) developing for the first time large number of PCR-based EST-SSR markers using a novel cost-effective data-mining strategy from the publicly available cotton EST database; 3) identification of the SSR markers (>50) linked to important traits and their chromosomal locations; 4) identification of the first biochemical marker in cotton; 5) use of association mapping strategy to detect for the first time genome wide linkage disequilibrium value in cotton genome; 6) discovering that cotton fiber cells can undergo cell division, changing a dogma in cotton science; 7) releasing a unique set of interspecific backcrossed tetraploid chromosome substitution lines of G. barbadense (CS-B); 8) developing for the first time a unique set of aneuploid chromosome substitution lines for different chromosome of G. tomentosum in Upland cotton; and, 9) demonstrating the importance of the CS-B lines in the improvement of Upland cultivars. He also worked as an agricultural extension worker for eight years with farmers in India before immigrating to the US.

 

Genetics and Cyto genetics

Associate Professor Research Associate, 1998-1999, University of Virginia Post-doctoral fellow, 1996-1998, University of Rochester Ph.D., 1995, University of Rochester B.S., 1986, Department of Medical Technology, National Taiwan University

1. Chromatin dynamics and nuclear functions
We are interested in understanding how chromatin dynamics, including histone modifications and composition of different chromatin factors, contributes to the execution and regulation of different nuclear activities. Transcription regulation and mitotic checkpoint control are two current research focuses.

2. Tau phosphorylation and Alzheimer’s Disease
We are developing a novel system to produce recombinant Tau protein with pathophysiologically relevant hyperphosphorylation and to use this protein for Tau aggregation studies and drug screening.

3. Protein post-translational modifications
We have long interested in the structure-function relationship of protein post-translational modifications. Protein-protein interactions that are controlled by modifications are at the center of our research. In addition, we currently embarked on the development of a new system that enables us to produce recombinant proteins bearing a selective post-translational modification. These proteins, including Tau, will be used for biochemical experiments aimed to delineate the biological significance of such modifications.

4. Lipid metabolism of yeast and model microalgae
Working with a group of scientists at the Michigan State University, we are also devoted to the delineation of lipid metabolism in yeast and two microalgae, Chlamydomonas and Nannpchloropsis. Our goals include (1) biofuel production and (2) biological functions of neutral lipids.

 

I trained as a Rheumatologist in the South Thames region after obtaining my PhD in the lab (2001) studying coagulation in the antiphospholipid syndrome. I gradually switched to genetic epidemiology in my early years as a consultant rheumatologist (2004-). I was awarded a Wellcome Trust Intermediate fellowship in 2007 which has funded my research into lumbar disc degeneration. In addition to this work, I am investigating the genetics of chronic widespread pain and a number of other complex age-related traits.

 

I have a broad interest in the genetic epidemiology of common complex traits, but my main focus lies with the degenerative musculoskeletal diseases including degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis and chronic widespread pain. Such conditions provide a high burden in terms of both direct cost to medical services and days lost from work. My work aims to identify genetic variants - single base pair or methylation - accounting for the variation in expression of these phenotypes. The ultimate aim is to understand better the cellular pathways involved and thereby identify novel therapeutic targets. I collaborate with research groups internationally and with industry and believe that the future of complex trait genetics in this field lies in large scale sharing of data. This will necessitate working towards the international standardisation of phenotypes enabling sharing and comparing of data to make inferences about genetic variants and their role in complex traits.
 

2004 founder member and head of the HAENETWORK Project
Conference organization: founder member and secretary of The International C1 inhibitor     Deficiency Workshop  in 1999 in Visegrád, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 in   Budapest, Hungary
Teaching: 1990 to date postgraduate teaching course and PhD course on Allergology and Clinical Immunology and Oto-rhino-laryngology, and  graduate teaching of medical students, Semmelweis University and all Medical Universities in Hungary
Grant: 1997-2000, 2000-2003, 2003-2005 ETT (project manager); 2003-2005 EU Concerted action Project entitled: “Novel methods for predicting and treating attacks in patients with hereditary angioedema” project manager of the Hungarian Center
Conferences: in 221 international conferences, 254 domestic conferences
Publications: 122 papers in peer-reviewed national and international journals, author of 3 books in Hungarian, 2 chapter of English, guest-editor of scientific review (supplement) in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
 

Immunological investigations, mainly angioedema, C1-INH deficiency, complement research human complement, relationship of complement status in immunological disorders, the role of complement in the pathogenesis of allergy, and pathogenesis of HAE

Dr. Mandal is working as senior research scientist in animal breeding section. He is primarily involved in the research with large ruminants, which deals with use of theory and computer analysis of data for genetic evaluation of animal. Particular areas of interest include breeding and management systems of cattle and genetic improvement of production and reproduction traits. Earlier he worked on genetic evaluation of production and reproduction traits of goat and sheep. He has also been engaged in the study of disease resistance of these species and molecular characterization of goat genetic resources.

Quantitative genetics, Molecular genetics 

1996     Bachelor Degree from Lan Zhou University
1999  Master Degree from Lan Zhou Institute of Chemical Physics
2003    PhD from Shanghai Jiaotong Univeristy
2006  Lecrurer in School of Materials Science and Engineering , Shanghai Jiaotong University
2007  Postdoctor in Newcastle University, UK
2008 Associate professor in Shanghai Jiaotong University

(1) Physiological and biochemical systems in insects/bacteria vulnerable to photo-activated synthetic drug/pesticide or natural plant defense chemicals, with especial focus on the use of new genomic tools;
(2) Insect growth regulation by applying of molecular biology and biochemistry to identify new proteins in insect as potential drug/pesticide targets for crop protection;
(3) DNA mutation and repairing as well as apoptosis signal pathways in insect/human cell lines vulnerable to new drugs and microbial secondary metabolites;
(4) Proteomic responses and Genetic adaptability of the insect midgut and immune defense system as well as the resistance selection in insects/bacteria to drug challenges.

 

1982 BE, Harbin Engineering University, China
1984 MS, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
1991 Ph.D., University of Iowa
1992 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mechanical Engineering, University of
Iowa
1992 Postdoctoral Research Associate, National Center of Speech Pathology
and Audiology, University of Iowa
1993 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Purdue University

i) storage and analysis of high-throughput DNA methylation and histone modification data by the statistics and combination methods.
ii) investigation of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms of DNA methylation and histone modifications in cellular differentiation and cancerogenesis by the methods of system bioloby such as network analysis.
iii)evolution of epigenetic modification elements in eukaryotes
 

Dr. Hesham, graduated and got his M.Sc from Genetics department, Assiut University, Egypt and his PhD degree from Chinese academy of Sciences in Microbial Genetics and Environmental Meta-Genome Biotechnology. He awarded postdoctoral studies from CAS-TWAS. He has published about 25 papers in reputed journals and serving as an editor in chief, editorial board member and reviewer of international reputed journals. 

 Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Microbial Genetics & Biotechnology, Environmental Meta-genome Biotechnology and Biodegradation & Bioremediation. I have experience in Molecular biology and Meta-genomics techniques (rRNA gene clone library, RFLP, sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, florescent in situ hybridization (FISH), PCR-DGGE, MPN-PCR, reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) , and quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR).