Biochemistry Laboratory Heads
Karen M. Berkowitz, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
M.D. (1993) Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Telephone: 215-762-3508
karen.berkowitz@drexelmed.edu
The germ cell complement and the processes of germ cell development determine reproductive potential. Factors that reduce germ cell number or interfere with gametogenesis can limit or even preclude reproduction, leading to infertility. We are interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern mammalian gametogenesis and we use the mouse as our model experimental system. Our studies focus on meiosis, meiotic recombination, and chromosome segregation, processes that crucial to germ cell development and genome integrity. | more information
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Michael J. Bouchard, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1997), Microbiology, Columbia University
Telephone: 215-762-1898
michael.bouchard@drexelmed.edu
Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. While the exact molecular mechanisms that are associated with the development of liver cancer are not entirely understood, potential causes include exposure to environmental toxins and drugs, alcohol consumption, and chronic infections of the liver with viruses such as the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The work in my laboratory focuses on studying processes involved in hepatocyte transformation; hepatocytes are the major epithelial cell of the liver. We are interested in understanding the causes of HBV- and alcohol-associated liver cancers and developing novel liver model systems to study these processes.
| more information
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Irwin M. Chaiken, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1968) Biological Chemistry, University of California at Los Angeles
Telephone: 215-762-4197
irwin.chaiken@drexelmed.edu
The Chaiken Research Group uses a combination of chemical and biological approaches to investigate the fundamental nature of protein interactions in solution and cells and their roles in disease pathogenesis. The current focus is to determine the interaction mechanisms of HIV-1 cell entry and to design mechanism-based entry inhibitors for AIDS prevention and treatment. | more information
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Jane Azizkhan-Clifford, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1978), Developmental & Cellular Biology, University of Maryland
Telephone: 215-762-4446
jane.clifford@drexelmed.edu
Research Interests: Our laboratory is currently studying the cellular response to DNA damage resulting from several different sources, including ionizing radiation, UV, chemotherapeutic drugs and plasma treatment. We discovered that the transcription factor Sp1, which is involved in the regulation of expression of more than half of all mammalian genes, is phosphorylated by the ATM kinase in response to DNA damage and localizes to damage sites. We are also interested in how Sp1 regulates expression of genes involved in proliferation and apoptosis through post-translational modifications. | more information
Clifford Research Lab
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Simon Cocklin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (2001), Molecular Genetics, University of Newcastle
Telephone: 215-762-7234
simon.cocklin@drexelmed.edu
Research interests: The research in my lab centers globally in the area of macromolecular interactions in human disease. Current research projects are focused on viral protein–host protein interactions within the HIV-1 replication cycle. These include Env-CD4/CCR5/CXCR4 complexes in HIV-1 host cell entry and interactions involved in the intracellular trafficking of the HIV-1 structural gene products Env and Gag. | more information
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Tara Davis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (2004) Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Telephone: 215-762-4234
tara.davis@drexelmed.edu
Research Interests: The spliceosome is a large collection of RNAs and proteins which dynamically associate and disassociate throughout the pre-mRNA splicing cycle. Although many of these proteins may be interesting drug targets for correcting mis-splicing events, the basic functional information needed to tailor these drug efforts is lacking. The Davis Lab at Drexel studies the role that the nuclear cyclophilins, targets of both clinical and physiological relevance, play in spliceosome assembly and regulation of splicing chemistry. | more information
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Denise Ferrier, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1976) Biology & Biochemistry, Bryn Mawr College
Telephone: 215-991-8292
denise.ferrier@drexelmed.edu
Interests: As a full-time medical educator and the course director for Biochemistry, my major interests are the development of curricula (both lecture and problem-based), and of methods to assist and assess student progress through the curricula. Over the last several years, I have been a member of a group of educators at Drexel University College of Medicine that developed and implemented a lecture-based curriculum (Interdisciplinary Foundations of Medicine) that uses medical symptoms as the organizing principle. This approach is designed to integrate basic, behavioral, and clinical science. Additionally, I am involved in our problem-based curriculum (Program for Integrated Learning) as a case writer and faculty resource. | more information
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Bradford A. Jameson, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1984) Molecular Biology, S.U.N.Y. @ Stony Brook
Telephone: 215-762-6088
bradford.jameson@drexelmed.edu
Research Interests: Our laboratory is currently studying the role of serotonin as an essential autocrine growth factor. We are looking at its role in the cell cycle and in the proliferation of both normal and
cancerous cells. As an important growth signal, we are also looking at the control of serotonergic signals as a means of therapeutically controlling cell growth in both cancer and autoimmune diseases. We have
also recently discovered a potentially new type of serotonin receptor and are trying to characterize this protein. | more information
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Marilyn S. Jorns, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1970) Biochemistry, University of Michigan
Telephone: 215-762-7495
marilyn.jorns@drexelmed.edu
Research Interests: The broad areas of interest of our lab include the metabolism and regulation of hydrogen sulfide, the newest member of a small family of gaseous, biological signaling molecules, and the molecular basis of biocatalysis with special emphasis on flavoenzymes of biomedical significance. | more information
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Patrick J. Loll, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1989) Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Telephone: 215-762-7706
patrick.loll@drexelmed.edu
Research Interests: Research in my lab revolves around the structural basis of macromolecular interactions. These interactions control cell function in both normal and diseased cells, as well as the action of therapeutic drugs. Specific areas of interest include the mechanism of antibiotic action and the design of novel antimicrobials, studies of anesthetic interaction with proteins, mechanisms of deubiquitylation by Josephin family proteins, and the molecular basis of polyglutamine disease. | more information
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Alexander V. Mazin, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1984) Institute of Cytology & Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Telephone: 215-762-7195
alexander.mazin@drexelmed.edu
Research Interests: Research is focused on the study of homologous recombination (HR) in human cells. DNA damage may give rise to mutations that lead to premature aging, cancer and other genetic diseases. Homologous recombination (HR) is a very important cellular system that repairs damaged DNA; it deals with potentially lethal lesions, e.g., DNA double-stranded breaks (DSB) and inter-strand cross-links. To repair damaged DNA, the HR system uses a homologous dsDNA as a template. This mechanism includes recognition of two homologous DNA sequences, their pairing, and exchange of DNA strands between homologous partners. Due to this unique and evolutionary conserved mechanism, HR corrects damaged DNA, generally, error-free, operating preferentially in actively proliferating cells, e.g., embryonic stem cells and generative cells, where no errors can be tolerated. | more information
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Eishi Noguchi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1997) Molecular Biology, Kyushu University, Japan
Telephone: 215-762-4825
eishi.noguchi@drexelmed.edu
Research Interests: Our lab is interested in genome maintenance mechanisms in large part because genomic instability is thought to be a contributing factor to many diseases, including cancer. To ensure genomic integrity, eukaryotic cells are equipped with dedicated sensor response mechanisms referred to as cell cycle checkpoints. The checkpoints ensure the high-fidelity transmission of genetic information mainly by controlling DNA replication and cell cycle progression. Our research focuses on the DNA replication checkpoint control that is essential when DNA replication is impeded. Impeded replication forks are among the most serious causes for DNA damage and as such pose a grave threat to cell survival and genomic integrity. We work with the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and mammalian cell culture. Fission yeast has proven to be an exceptional model system for studying genome maintenance mechanisms, most of which appear to be highly conserved between yeast and humans. Our general approach will be to define principles and identify important proteins in fission yeast and then determine whether human homologs of these proteins have related functions using mammalian cell culture. | more information
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Mauricio J. Reginato, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1998) Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania
Telephone: 215-762-3554
mauricio.reginato@drexelmed.edu
Research interests: Breast and prostate cancer growth, survival and metastasis, oncogenic signaling, cancer metabolism, cell adhesion signaling, tyrosine kinase receptors, hypoxia, integrins. | more information
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Gerald Soslau, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1970) Biochemistry, University of Rochester School of Medicine
Telephone: 215-762-7831
gerald.soslau@drexelmed.edu
Research Interests: Work in the laboratory is primarily focused on platelet biochemistry. Human platelets are anucleated cells in the blood that play a central role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Current studies are involved in defining the roles of three different platelet thrombin receptors in platelet aggregation. Turtle and avian blood, which contain nucleated platelets (thrombocytes), are also being studied relative to human platelets to ascertain evolutionary relationships. | more information
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John B. Swaney, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1970) Chemistry/Biochemistry, Northwestern University
M.B.A. (2000) Villanova University
Telephone: 215-991-8285
john.swaney@drexelmed.edu
Research Interests: While my focus is now on education, as I no longer conduct laboratory research, I remain interested in the area of lipoproteins and the development of heart disease. | more information
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Keith Vosseller, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1998) Cornell University
Telephone: 215-762-8789
keith.vosseller@drexelmed.edu
We're interested in a novel type of protein glycosylation known as O-GlcNAc. Unlike other types of glycosylation, O-GlcNAc modifies cytosolic and nuclear proteins and is responsive to a variety of cellular stimuli. Our work has implicated O-GlcNAc functionally in diverse systems such as insulin signal transduction and signaling at neuronal synapses. Our fundamental goal is to understand site-specific O-GlcNAc regulatory roles in signal transduction. Mass spectrometry based proteomic approaches for defining protein complexes and mapping sites of O-GlcNAc and phosphorylation will provide a basis for our functional studies. The work will lead to an understanding of roles for O-GlcNAc in signaling and will contribute to a molecular understanding of disease states such as diabetes and neurodegeneration. | more information
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Michael M. White, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1982) Biochemistry, Brandeis University
Telephone: 215-762-2355
michael.white@drexelmed.edu
Research Interests:After a number of years investigating ligand-gated ion channel structure-function relationships I have transitioned to full-time teaching. I currently serve as the course director for the Medical Biochemistry course in the Program for Integrated Learning track, and also am heavily involved in teaching in the Medical Physiology and Medical Pharmacology courses in both the Program for Integrated Learning and Interdisciplinary Foundations of Medicine tracks.
As an educator, I am especially interested in making connections between the various disciplines, as well as introducing simulation exercises into the Biochemistry curriculum using the IBX Medical Simulation Center here at Drexel.| more information
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Joint Faculty Appointments
Alessando Fatatis, M.D. The focus of my research is the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the management and therapy of metastatic disease. We are particularly interested in the dissemination and growth of cancer cells in secondary organs such as skeleton, lungs and brain. My laboratory pursues a translational approach by employing cellular and molecular biology techniques combined with pre-clinical animal models of cancer growth and dissemination.
Greg Johannes, Ph.D. My laboratory is interested in understanding the changes in gene expression, translation, and metabolism that occur in response to hypoxia and cellular stress.
Aleister Saunders We investigate the molecular and cellular biology of Alzheimer's disease.
Chris Sell
Akhil Vaidya, Ph.D We investigate mitochondrial physiology, metabolism, and signaling in malaria parasites with a view to discover new drugs and to understand drug resistance
Adjunct Biochemistry Faculty
Gordon J. Lutz, Ph.D glutz@drexelmed.edu Research Interests: Our major research focus is to develop novel splice modulating oligomers (SMOs) as drugs to treat various serious neurological diseases, neuromuscular/muscular disorders and cancer.
Joseph Nickels, Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. (1993) Microbiology & Immunogenetics, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey (UMDNJ)
Telephone: 609-570-1046
jnickels@mdlab.com
Research Interests: Our laboratory has a basic research focus in two different areas. The first area is aimed at understanding the signals that are used in controlling the cell cycle. Under normal circumstances, the cell cycle is carefully controlled to ensure that cells replicate at the "right time." A loss of appropriate cell cycle signaling can result in uncontrolled growth, which often manifests itself as a form of cancer. The other focus of our laboratory is directed at an understanding of the checks and balances governing sterol synthesis. Sterol synthesis is one of the major therapeutic targets in the control of heart disease. Both of these research projects involve extremely complicated regulatory signals. To aid in our basic understanding, we have adopted the yeast system as a means of addressing our experimental questions. | more information
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Adjunct Biochemistry Faculty at Fox Chase Cancer Center
Visit Fox Chase Cancer Center
Alfonso Bellacosa, M.D. DNA repair of mismatched bases and the cellular response to DNA damage. Identification of early genetic alterations in tumorigenesis.
Paul Cairns, Ph.D. The field of epigenetics addresses the set of stable changes that influence gene expression patterns that do not arise from primary mutations in gene sequence. The primary focus of our research program is the translation of basic knowledge of the epigenetics of cancer to improve the early detection, prognosis, and prediction of response to treatment of cancer through novel and well-conceived molecular tests.
Jonathan Chernoff, M.D., Ph.D. Signal transduction by small G proteins and their effectors and the role of these proteins in regulating cytoskeletal structure, tumor invasion, and metastasis; regulation of insulin signaling.
Edna Cukierman, Ph.D. Tumor microenvironment and tumor-stroma interactions; a primary fibroblast-derived and in vivo-like 3D system that mimics stroma progression is used to investigate both the mechanisms of matrix induced myofibroblastic differentiation (e.g., desmoplastic activation) and the tumor-associated matrix induced permissiveness that promotes tumorigenesis and cell invasion. The stroma progressive 3D system also serves as basis for a platform investigating tumor-associated matrix induced drug responsiveness.
Roland Dunbrack, Ph.D. Computational structural biology, including homology modeling, fold recognition, molecular dynamics simulations, statistical analysis of the PDB, and bioinformatics.
Erica Golemis, Ph.D. Understanding points of communication between the cell cycle machinery and cell shape controls, with particular reference to how these processes are simultaneously disrupted in cancer; the HEF1, HEI10, and HEI-C proteins, which function in cell cycle-cell attachment control pathways.
Eileen K. Jaffe, Ph.D. Protein structure-function relationships, the role of quaternary structure dynamics in allosteric regulation and drug action.
Warren D. Kruger, Ph.D. The role of dysregulated methionine metabolism and human diseases; correction of mutant protein function by chaperone therapy; mouse models of human disease.
Jeffrey R. Peterson, Ph.D. Mechanisms of signaling transduction in cancer. Biochemical and cell biological approaches to understand how information is processed and transmitted in the cell.
Tim Yen, Ph.D. Our laboratory is broadly interested in mechanisms that regulate genome stability and how these processes are disrupted in cancer cells. We are studying centromere and kinetochore function to understand the molecular defect that causes aneuploidy in cancer cells. We are also studying mechanisms in cancer cells that promote their survival in response to chemotherapy. The goal of our studies is to develop new strategies to enhance response of cancer cells to chemotherapy
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