Lawrence M. Pfeffer, PhD
College of Medicine

Dr. Pfeffer researches an anticancer and antiviral drug called “IFN.” By understanding the way this compound works at the level of the very molecules within cells, he may be able to identify strategies for enhancing the drug’s effectiveness and/or diminishing undesirable side effects.

Xin Zhang, MD, PhD
College of Medicine

Dr. Zhang is looking for the mechanisms of molecules and cells that govern the invasion of cancer and how they metastasize. His focus is primarily on the progression of prostate and breast cancer.

Tiffany Seagroves, PhD
College of Medicine

Dr. Seagroves is researching a protein (HIF-1 alpha) that is found in all solid tumors and is resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. Particularly in breast cancer, high levels of it are associated with increased risk of metastasis and a poor prognosis. She is trying to isolate the genes that are HIF-1 dependent.

Ram I. Mahato, PhD
College of Pharmacy

Dr. Mahato is searching for genetic modifi cations in pancreatic and liver diseases and cancer. He is developing genetic therapies that will be instrumental in treating both liver and lung metastases.

John K. Buolamwini, PhD
College of Pharmacy

Dr. Buolamwini is discovering ways to design drugs and therapies that inhibit or disrupt processes within cancer cells at the molecular level. Presently, he is targeting breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers. Additionally, he is in the forefront of developing a novel approach to cancer prevention, called chemoprevention.

Yi Lu, PhD
College of Medicine

Dr. Lu studies how breast cancer cells grow and metastasize, as well as how blood vessel development to the tumors are inhibited by a gene that suppresses these mechanisms. He is also researching viral gene therapy for prostate cancer.

Andrzej Slominski, MD, PhD
College of Medicine

Dr. Slominski is a physician-scientist whose goal is to find a cure for metastatic melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, and to develop strategies to diminish the effect that exposure to the sun has on the formation of this disease. He will also be testing whether novel chemical variations of vitamin D can be used successfully during therapy of breast, prostate, lung and other types of cancers.

Christopher Nosrat, DDS, PhD
College of Dentistry

Dr. Nosrat is focusing on a family of proteins (neurotrophins) that has a profound effect on how a nerve cell survives and responds to injury. In addition, he studies the origin and biological properties of stem cells found in adult teeth. Research indicates the possibility that these stem cells could replace those killed by a disease like Parkinson’s, and release the proteins (neurotrophins) that would support other cells that were dying. The theory is intriguing: in a procedure akin to a root canal, stem cells could be extracted from the molar of an adult who has developed Parkinson’s, grown in the lab, and then be injected into the patient’s brain to stem the tide of the disease.