Faculty Profiles

Anis Ahmad, Ph.D.

Research Asst. Professor, Radiation Oncology

Email: axa1458@miami.edu

Research Project: Dr. Ahmad's laboratory focuses on investigating the mechanisms responsible for normal tissue toxicity induced by chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation therapy. They have a specific interest in understanding how disrupted lipid metabolism contributes to renal injury, leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and fosters treatment resistance in cancer cells. The lab employs murine models of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and renal cancer to explore the effects of dysregulated lipid metabolism on renal injuries and treatment resistance. Ultimately, their goal is to identify novel therapeutic pathways and targets that can enhance treatment outcomes and improve the quality of life for cancer survivors.

Hassan A. Ali, Ph.D., M.S.M.

Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery and Medicine

Phone: 305-243-7123

Research Interest: My lab focuses on finding new treatments for disorders of the nervous system, kidneys, and cancer. Our research includes the creation of biotechnologies and analytical tools to illuminate disease biology and enable drug discovery. Projects typically involve the identification of novel drug targets, performance of screening campaigns, and development of promising therapeutic candidates. We collaborate with academic and industry partners in the US and across the world to translate our discoveries into real-world applications.

Ibolya Edit Andras, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor

Email: iandras@med.miami.edu

Julio C. Barredo, M.D.

Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Pediatrics - Pediatric Hematology Oncology

Phone: 305-243-6824

Research Interest: Dr. Barredo is the Director of the program and a nationally and internationally recognized expert in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He is a physician scientist with expertise in childhood leukemia and has led a funded laboratory program focusing on the development of novel therapies for childhood and adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia for 25 years. In the clinical realm, his expertise includes clinical trial design and implementation at UM, and within the Children’s Oncology Group, the national/international consortia TACL and Sunshine Project, as well as investigator initiated trials at SCCC. In that context, he has developed and chaired the last two national trials for children with extramedullary relapse of ALL (POG9412 and COG AALL02P2), a phase I trial of Panabinostat in pediatric patients and a phase I trial of metformin in combination with induction chemotherapy for ALL.

Antoni Barrientos, Ph.D.

Professor, Neurology

Phone: 305-243-8683
Email: abarrientos@miami.edu
Location: RMSB Room #2067

Research Interest: The main research interest of our lab is on the basic mechanisms that govern the biogenesis of mitochondrial protein complexes in health, disease, and aging. We are most specifically interested in the assembly and function of the mitochondrial translation machinery and of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation system components, involved in biological energy transduction.

Ernesto Bernal-Mizrachi, M.D.

Professor, Medicine
Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism

Phone: 305-243-5631

Research Interest: Pancreatic ß-cell Biology The long-term goal of this research program is to determine the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of ß-cell mass. The objective of the research in this area is to delineate the molecular mechanisms, downstream signaling pathways and critical components involved in PI3K/Akt–dependent regulation of G1-S transition, proliferation and mass of ß-cells. Our central hypothesis is that the PI3K/Akt pathway regulates ß-cell proliferation and mass by regulating protein levels, expression, cellular localization and activity of cell cycle components involved in G1 to S transition.

Eleonore Beurel, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Phone: 305-243-0263
Email: ebeurel@miami.edu

Research Interest: Our research largely consists of a three- pronged attack on the crucial problem of how the immune system modulates stress responses and susceptibility to depression. First, we are following up our discovery that the T cell subtype Th17 cells promote susceptibility to depression. Second, we identified critical signaling mechanisms by which stress induces an inflammatory response and identified a new potential therapeutic intervention ((+)-naloxone). Third, we identified the first specific signaling mechanism by which the gut microbiome releases a chemical signal (Autoinducer-2) to modulate depression sensitivity.

Sanjoy Bhattacharya, Ph.D.

Professor, Ophthalmology
Graduate Program Director, Vision Science & Investigative Ophthalmology

Phone: 305-482-4103

Research Interest: The Bhattacharya laboratory uses a multidisciplinary approach which includes mass spectrometric proteomic and lipidomic approaches to study neurodegenerative diseases. The major focus is a group of progressive irreversible blinding diseases collectively called glaucoma and also a group of demyelinating diseases termed multiple sclerosis that frequently is associated with visual impairment preceding neurological deficits. The lab also has an interest in basic visual processes.

Luisa Cimmino, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Email: luisa.cimmino@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: Understanding how environmental factors, such as micronutrients, influence the activity of epigenetic regulators to control hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and transformation.

Emiliano Cocco, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Research Interest: Study the biology of tumors that harbor rare oncogenicdrivers and identify mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapy in these malignancies.

Sylvia Daunert, Ph.D.

Sapna Deo, Ph.D.

Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Location: Gautier 239 DB
Phone: 305-243-4421

Research Interest: We are a bionanotechnology research lab in the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine located in Miami, Florida. We develop novel biotechnology tools employing luminescent proteins and inorganic probes. Our expertise is in the development of rapid, portable, inexpensive, paper fluidic-based, instrument- free method of pathogen detection based on their genetic material. In that regard we are working on paper-based platforms for the detection of TB, pathogenic E. coli and HPV. We are also working on the development of sensing systems for different classes of RNAs, including rare, small RNAs such as miRNAs. We capitalize on the high sensitivity of detection associated with luminescent proteins and combine it with one- step detection methods such as protein reassembly and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer in order to develop highly sensitive, fast detection methods for nucleic acid biomarkers. Another focus area of our work is in the development of targeted delivery of biomolecules for therapeutic purposes. In these we study different types of nanocarriers, such as dendrimers, and utilize them for gene and drug delivery.

Murray Paul Deutscher, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Shanta Dhar, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Research Interest: Our research is at the interface of chemistry and biology with particular emphasis on nanocarrier mediated intracellular delivery of payloads for potential applications in various diseases. Our research is directed to develop organelle targeted nanoparticles and to study nanoparticle assisted targeted delivery for possible applications in cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and to provide the scientific community with valuable knowledge that can guide into the discovery of potential drug candidates and vaccines.

Juan Dominguez-Bendala, Ph.D.

Research Professor of Surgery
DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery Cellular Transplantation

Phone: 305-243-4092

Research Interest: The main lines of research in the Domínguez- Bendala Lab revolve around the development of regenerative strategies for type 1 diabetes, including stem cell differentiation into insulin-producing ß-cells and islet regeneration. Alongside Dr. Chris Fraker, his team discovered the key instructive role of molecular oxygen to drive ß-cell differentiation (Fraker et al., Stem Cells 2007; Cechin et al, Stem Cells Transl Med 2014), and patented novel culture devices that provide enhanced oxygenation for stem cell cultures. They also developed innovative genetic fail-safe approaches (Qadir et al., Stem Cell Rep, 2019) to enhance the safety of pluripotent stem cell transplantation.

Maria E. Figueroa, M.D.

Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Phone: 305-243-2237

Research Interest: Dr. Figueroa received her MD from Universidad del Salvador, School of Medicine in Buenos Aires, and a Degree in Hematology from University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. She completed her postdoctoral training in the field of epigenetics of myeloid malignancies at Weill Cornell Medicine under the mentorship of Dr. Ari Melnick.

Flavia Fontanesi, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Primary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Phone: 305-243-7215
Email: ffontanesi@miami.edu
Location: Neuroscience Research Building  #103-B

Keywords: Mitochondria, cellular bioenergetics, mitochondrial biogenesis

Research Interest: Our research work focuses on the understanding at the molecular level of the processes governing mitochondrial biogenesis, including mitochondrial DNA maintenance and gene expression, and assembly and organization of the enzymatic complexes forming the oxidative phosphorylation system.

Alessia Fornoni, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Medicine
Director    and    Chair,    Peggy    and    Harold    Katz    Family    Drug Discovery Center
Chief, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension Associate Director MD-PhD Program
Member of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Program
Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Phone: 305-243-6251
Email: afornoni@med.miami.edu
Location: SCCC Building

Research Interest: My primary research focus is related to mechanisms of proteinuria in kidney diseases, including kidney disease caused by exposure to cancer treatment. In the laboratory, I have worked with several experimental models of glomerulosclerosis to study the metabolic pathways that modulates the function of glomerular cells, with a primary interest in lipid metabolism and mediators of inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. I have also discovered I unique mechanism of action of rituximab, an anti CD-20 molecule that we found to modulate sphingolipid related signaling. Through my NIH funded work on cholesterol metabolism and sphingolipid- related pathways, I have uncovered new pathogenetic mechanisms in glomerular disorders of diabetic and non-diabetic origin.

Karina Galoian, Ph.D.

Research Associate Professor, Orthopaedics
Ortho-Oncology

Office: 305-243-6692
Lab: 305-243-4271
Email: kgaloian@miami.edu

Research Interest: Understanding the molecular pathways leading to malignant transformation of progenitor mesenchymal cells, signaling and epigenetic pathways involved in sarcoma genesis, the role of cancer stem cells in disease recurrence and drug resistance is the primary focus of Dr. Galoian’s laboratory. PRP-1 and its analog neuropeptides significantly inhibit sarcoma growth and other connective tissues malignancies by targeting cancer stem cells responsible for disease recurrence and drug resistance.

Sophia George, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences.
Associate Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Office: 305-243-2036
Lab: 305-243-2036
Email: sxg890@miami.edu

Research Interest: Her research interests lie in understanding the effects of inherited genetic mutations on the fallopian tube and breast epithelia and their involvement in high-grade serous and triple-negative breast cancer development. She studies homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), DNA damage repair response, the enzymes and pathways responsible for sensing in the context of women’s cancers. Specifically, in the laboratory Dr. George, studies fallopian tube epithelia from women deemed to be at a high-risk for developing breast and/or ovarian cancer and breast and ovarian tumors from women with a germline mutation BRCA mutation carriers. Her work with others has found that the menstrual cycle (hormones), inflammation, parity and obesity, all influence the development of ovarian cancer.

Ronald B. Goldberg, M.D.

Associate Director of Diabetes Research Institute
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Director of Lipid Disorder Clinic
Professor of Medicine
Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Phone: 305-243-6574
Email: RGoldber@med.miami.edu
Location: DRI Building Room #2006

Feng Gong, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Associate Director of the BMB Executive PhD Program FBS1 Course Coordinator
Co-director of Molecular Medicine Pathway
Primary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Email: fgong@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: To understand the mechanisms of chromatin dynamics during DNA repair.

Shuanglin Hao, Ph.D.

Professor of Anesthesiology
Director of Preclinical and Basic Research Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Telephone: 305-243-6420
Email: shao@miami.edu

Research Interest: Dr. Hao’s research interest focuses on themolecular/epigenetic mechanisms of chronic pain and opioid use disorder.

Joshua M. Hare, M.D.

Director, Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute (ISCI)
Louis Lemberg Professor of Medicine

Email: jhare@miami.edu

Research Interest: We use a multi-faceted approach, from basic research to clinical trials, to understand and improve cardiovascular function. Our research focuses on optimizing the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells and novel pharmacologic agents, determining the function of nitric oxide in cardiac repair, and understanding cardiovascular development using pluripotent stem cells.

Thomas Harris, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Associate Professor, Chemistry

Email: tharris@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: My training and research interests involve the combined uses of protein engineering, NMR spectroscopy, kinetic, and thermodynamic approaches to determine structures and mechanisms of enzyme action and regulation, particularly involved in cell signaling and metabolic processes. To this extent, I serve as consultant and mentor to students performing dissertation research in the BMB Executive PhD Program. Our unique insight to structural and mechanistic enzymology contributes rational perspective towards discovery of novel experimental therapeutics, especially towards cancer, inflammation, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders.

Guy A. Howard, Ph.D.

Research Professor of Medicine
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Email: ghoward1@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: The main research focus of my work and that of my research group for more than 30 years has been in the area of bone biology and osteoporosis where I have used my training in cell and molecular biology to generate results for a number of seminal articles on regulatory mechanisms in bone metabolism. More recently my research has focused on human bone marrow- derived adult stem cells (hMSCs) and the potential they hold for regenerative medicine in the area of age-related bone loss.

Jennifer J. Hu, Ph.D.

Professor of Epidemiology
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Professor of Department of Public Health Sciences
Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Telephone: 305-243-7796
Email: JHu@med.miami.edu
Location: CRB Room #1511

Research Interest: Dr. Hu research program mainly focuses on DNA repair pathways and immune/inflammatory responses in breast cancer risk, treatment responses, adverse responses, and survival disparities. Her current research has been devoted to translating cancer genomics to targeted intervention using multiple OMICs approaches to characterize metabolomics reprogramming and dysregulated cancer genomic pathways in breast cancer.

Antonio Ivarone, M.D.

Professor of Neurological Surgery & Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Deputy-Director, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Phone: 305-243-7371

Research Interest: The overarching theme of our research program is the dissection of the role of proteins and networks (master regulators) that drive phenotypic states in normal and cancer cells of the brain. We use global and unbiased approaches to identify the genetic and transcriptional drivers of an obscure but incredibly important aberrant phenotype in brain tumors, the mesenchymal transformation of human high-grade glioma. This phenotype endows one of the most lethal types of human cancer (the glioblastoma multiforme, GBM) with extremely aggressive features such as the ability to invade the normal brain and form new blood vessels.

Chaitanya Jain, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Email: cjain@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: DEAD-box proteins comprise a large class of RNA-remodeling proteins, whose cellular functions are poorly understood. We are interested in determining the cellular targets of two E. coli DEAD-box proteins and the mechanisms through which these proteins regulate RNA function.

Joaquin Jimenez, Ph.D.

Research Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery
Research Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Phone: 305-243-6191
Email: j.jimenez@med.miami.edu
Location: RMSB Room #2023A

Norma Sue Kenyon, Ph.D.

Vice Provost for Innovation, University of Miami and Chief Innovation Officer, Miller School of Medicine
Professor of Surgery

Secondary Appointments: Microbiology & Immunology, Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Phone: 305-243-5346
Email: nkenyon@miami.edu

Research Interest: Dr. Kenyon’s research has been focused on ways to transplant insulin producing cells without the need for life-long anti-rejection drugs and has been supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, the DRI Foundation and several industry collaborators.

Sakhrat Khizroev, Ph.D.

Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Email: skhizroev@miami.edu

Research Interest: Novel Computing Paradigms – Neuromorphic Computing, Quantum Computing, Nanomedicine, Magnetic Recording Energy-efficient Spintronics

Byron Lam, M.D.

Professor of Ophthalmology Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Member of the Graduate Program for the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Phone: 305-326-6021
Email: blam@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: neuro-ophthalmology, hereditary retinal disease, and ophthalmic epidemiology.

Ralf Landgraf, P.h.D

Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Office: 305-243-5815
Lab: 305-243-5815
Email: rlandgraf@miami.edu

Research Interest: Dr. Landgraf’s research focuses on mechanistic and molecular interaction studies in the context of cancer signaling. For many years, this has emphasized signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases, especially ERBB3 and ERBB2. This included the role of various receptor association and activation states with regard to sensitivity or resistance to treatment with Herceptin, receptor maturation processes, and the role of the immediate membrane context in signal modulation. This work also pioneered the development and use of aptamers as functional probes. In recent years, the focus has shifted towards GPCR signaling in DLBCL, specifically roles of SMO that contribute to drug resistance and that are not part of the established modes of receptor function, as well as the bidirectional regulation of signaling relevant membrane components. This work continues to be mechanistic in nature.

Giacomo Lanzoni, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor
Primary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology

Research Interest: The development of Regenerative Medicine strategies for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and regenerating and protecting pancreatic islet ß cells – the cells that produce insulin and that are lost due to an autoimmune attack in T1D patients.

Anna Lasorella, M.D.

Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Phone: 305-243-7311

Research Interest: My research focuses on the link between stem/progenitor cells and cancer stem cells in the nervous system. Our work generated transformative knowledge on the role of cell fate determination factors, such as ID proteins, in brain tumor development and maintenance and characterized, using molecular definition, the normal and oncogenic functions of these factors. Furthermore, we successfully pioneered the use of high throughput genomic technologies in the search for actionable lesions in glioblastoma, leading to translation into clinical trials for patients with FGFR-TACC positive glioblastoma and other cancer types that harbor this same gene fusion. With a background in clinical oncology, I am interested in trans- disciplinary approaches combining data science and computational pharmacology to develop an experimentally validated pipeline for personalized cancer therapeutics. Towards this goal, which represents an exciting and complementary part of my research program, I have secured federal funds and partnerships that led to novel clinical interventions for brain tumors.

Stephen Lee, Ph.D.

Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Email: stephenlee@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: The laboratory studies mechanisms involved in the cellular adaptation to the adverse environmental conditions commonly found within the tumor microenvironment (hypoxia and extracellular acidosis). These extracellular stimuli alter fundamental cellular pathways by 1) activating an alternate translation apparatus that synthesizes proteins only in the absence of oxygen and 2) inducing a new class of long noncoding RNAs that regulate protein function. Ongoing projects blend basic and translational scientific research from the identification of novel stress-induced long noncoding RNA to the discovery of drugs as small molecular inhibitors for these essential tumor biology pathways.

Fan Liu, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor

Email: fliu@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: Epigenetic regulation in normal and malignant hematopoiesis.

Zhao-Jun Liu, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Surgery
Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Phone: 305-243-2051
Email: zliu@miami.edu

Research Interest: My research interests span two areas: (1) Vascular biology: development of gene- and stem cell-based therapy for therapeutic angiogenesis in regenerative medicine; elucidating molecular mechanisms for atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation; investigating the signals and mechanisms underlying homing of endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to wound, ischemia and tumor tissues. (2) Tumor biology: targeting tumor microenvironment, in particular, stromal fibroblasts and tumor vasculatures, through manipulating Notch signaling. The major goal of my research on tumor biology is to determine if the Notch pathway could be a potential therapeutic target for melanoma treatment.

Xue Zhong Liu, M.D., Ph.D., FACS

Director of Center for Communication Sciences & Disorders
Director of Miami Otogenetic Program
Leonard M. Miller Professor, Otolaryngology; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Pediatrics

Email: x.liu1@med.miami.edu

David Benner Lombard, M.D., Ph.D

Clinical Professor
Vice Chair of Clinical and Translational Research
Co-Leader, Cancer Epigenetics Program, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Office: 305-243-6856
Lab: 305-243-3518
Email: dbl68@miami.edu

Research Interest: Our work focuses mainly on the sirtuin proteins, deacylases that promote longevity in budding yeast and other invertebrates, and homeostasis in mammals. Our current efforts primarily involve the sirtuin SIRT5. Ongoing work in the lab, supported by the NIH and DoD, focuses on how SIRT5 plays oncogenic roles in specific cancer types, such as melanoma and sarcoma, and attempts to develop small molecule SIRT5 inhibitors as new cancer medicines. Our group performs complementary studies in cultured cells and whole mice, using biochemical, transcriptomic, and metabolomic-based approaches. Other studies in the lab are focused on development of small molecules targeting processes relevant for stress resistance and aging.

Izidore Lossos, M.D.

Professor of Medicine
Chief, Lymphoma Section at Division of Hematology Endowed Director, Lymphoma Program
Head of Lymphoma Site Disease Group, University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Phone: 305-243-4785

Research Interest: The laboratory is investigating pathogenesis of different subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas as well as novel therapeutic approaches. Specific interests are in: 1) Function of the HGAL gene in lymphoma dissemination and BCR signaling; 2) Role of LMO2 protein in pathogenesis of DLBCL; 3) Alterations in DNA repair mechanisms in lymphoma; 4) pathogenesis of orbital marginal zone lymphomas; 5) Function and targeting of PRMT5 protein in DLBCL.

Arun Malhotra, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Director of Master’s in Biomedical Sciences
Director of the MIBS Academic Curriculum

Phone: 305-243-2826
Email: amalhotra@miami.edu

Research Interest: Molecular Biophysics & Structure of Protein- Ligand Interactions.

Oliver Gene McDonald, M.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Director, Gastrointestinal Pathology Research Program, Division of Clinical & Translational Research
Director, Pathology Physician-Scientist Program, Division of Clinical & Translational Research

Phone: 305-243-6505

Research Interest: Our basic science research investigates how adaptive metabolism reprograms the pancreatic cancer epigenome during metastasis. Clinical research is focused on defining the histomorphology and molecular pathogenesis of various gastrointestinal, hepatic, and pancreaticobiliary diseases. The McDonald laboratory also provides translational pathology research support to other SCCC investigators.

Prasoon P. Mohan, M.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Interventional Radiology
Program Director, Interventional Radiology Residency

Email: pxp136@miami.edu

Research Interest: Minimally invasive image guided interventions in women’s health – UFE
Thermal ablation of liver and kidney malignancies
Portal hypertension interventions such as TIPS and BRTO

Richard Myers, Ph.D.

Senior Lecturer of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Primary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Email: rmyers@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: The mechanics of inheritance, DNA damage repair and its consequences, genome engineering using viral recombinases.

Zafar Nawaz, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Primary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Email: znawaz@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Genetic Disease and Cancer.

Stephen Nimer, M.D.

Professor of Medicine
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Director of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Email: snimer@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: Dr. Nimer has spent several decades conducting basic science and clinical research into the genetic basis and treatment of hematological malignancies. His laboratory has been trying to decipher the normal and abnormal regulatory mechanisms that control the expression of genes implicated in hematopoiesis and the biological mechanisms that control the formation of blood cells. The ultimate goal of his research is to identify new critical, cellular mechanisms implicated in leukemogenesis and develop molecularly targeted therapies.

Min Seon Park, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor
Primary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Email: mspark@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: My research interest is exploring the mechanisms for methamphetamine (METH)-induced brain vascular toxicity and neurological complications of HIV-infected METH abusers. Establishing a mechanistic link between the disruption of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and the altered neurogenesis in HIV-infected METH abusers is very important and challenging work.

Pasquale Patrizio

Daniel Pelaez, Ph.D.

Research Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Scientific Director, Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Vision Research Center
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute - Ophthalmology

Phone: 305-482-4904

Research Interest: Dr. Pelaez is interested in the development of targeted therapeutics for tumors that affect the visual system. By studying the molecular determinants that drive tumor initiation, progression, or resistance to treatment, the Pelaez laboratory develops novel therapeutic approaches as first-line or adjuvant treatment for managing these lethal tumors. Another major interest of the Pelaez lab is the understanding the biology of developmental tumors of the central nervous system and the cellular lineages that are most susceptible to initiating cancer formation. Using organoid models and transgenic animals, Dr. Pelaez models developmental neuroepithelial tumors and examines their biology in high temporospatial and cellular resolution.

Sundaram Ramakrishnan, Ph.D.

Professor
Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Phone: 305-243-5508
Email: sxr924@miami.edu

Research Interest: Tumor angiogenesis and hypoxia-induced changes in the tumor microenvironment. These studies are focusing on micro-RNA network and cellular iron homeostasis modulating gut microbiome, tumor angiogenesis and immunophenotype of pancreatic and ovarian cancers.

Martin A. Rivas, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Principal Investigator, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Office: 305-243-0429
Lab: 305-243-4908
Email: mxr2997@miami.edu

Research Interest: The Rivas lab focuses on understanding the role of chromosomal architecture during inflammation and cancer using an interdisciplinary approach involving animal models, in vitro techniques, clinical samples, state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques, and computational biology.

David Robbins, Ph.D.

Sabita Roy, Ph.D.

Professor and Associate Vice Chair For Career Development.
Department of Surgery
Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Office: 305-243--845
Lab: 305-243-8452
Email: sxr925@miami.edu

Research Interest: Opioids are the gold standard for the management of moderate to severe cancer pain. The clinical use of opioids is limited because of co-morbidities associated with extended use. The goal of Dr. Roy’s studies is to identify therapeutic targets that can prolong opioid use and minimize its co-morbidities. Their recent studies show an association between chronic opioid use and altered gut microbiome. These findings have strong implications that manipulating the gut microbiome can be a potential therapeutic target to improve the pain relieving efficacy of opioids.

Kurt Schesser, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Phone: 305-243-4760
Email: kschesser@miami.edu

Research Interest: My research interest has always been focused on the interactions between microbial pathogens and their hosts. Initially our efforts were directed at identifying the host cell processes that were ‘targeted’ by microbial virulence factors. This line of investigation resulted in the discovery that eIF2a-mediated regulation of translation, a central stress response in eukaryotic cells, was activated, and at times manipulated, by virulence factors expressed by bacterial pathogens (PMIDs: 19553678; 22761422; 23874749; 24478090; 29311243). More recently our
interests is on infections during pregnancy and the highly complex relationships between the mother, fetus, and pathogen. Specifically our efforts are directed at distinguishing between maternal- and fetal-directed responses in the mammalian placenta during infection (PMID: 32839236).

Stephan Schürer, Ph.D.

Professor of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology
Director of Digital Drug Discovery, Institute for Data Science & Computing
Associate Director of Data Science, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Phone: 305-243-6552

Research Interest: The Schürer Systems Drug Discovery Research Group develops and applies data science approaches across the domains of chemistry, biology, and medicine with applications in drug repositioning and -rescuing, precision combination therapies, and developing novel small molecules with specific biological functions and mechanisms. Our research programs interface data science, cheminformatics, computational biology, and medicinal chemistry. To make large and diverse datasets FAIR (Findable Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) and enable the development of data-driven and semantic models, our group develops data standards, ontologies, and full stack software applications.

Wensi Tao, Ph.D.

Research Asst. Professor
Radiation Oncology

Research Interest: Dr. Tao’s primary research interest is prostate cancer radiation biology. His research focuses on clinical relevant prostate cancer models, such as patient-derived xenograft, genetically modified animal models, and 3D cancer spheroids for radiotherapy and prostate-specific targeted therapy by nanoparticles/viral vectors.

Michal Toborek, M.D., Ph.D.

Leonard M. Miller Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Professor and Vice-Chair for Research for the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Primary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Email: mtoborek@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: Integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and how different pathological conditions can lead to the disruption and/or dysfunction of the BBB.

Nickolas Tsinoremas, Ph.D.

Professor
Vice Provost for Research Computing and Data Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Professor, Computer Science
Professor, Health Informatics

Phone: 305-284-4902
Email: ntsinoremas@miami.edu

Omaida C. Velazquez, M.D., FACS

Professor of Clinical Surgery
David Kimmelman Endowed Chair in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Email: ovelazquez@med.miami.edu

Research Interest: Dr. Velazquez's current research focuses on further understanding and advancing new treatments for lower extremity arterial occlusive disease and diabetes-related wound healing defects. Dr. Velazquez is the Principal Investigator of an NIH-funded basic science laboratory that investigates endothelial cell biology, angiogenesis, and vasculogenesis. Her clinical expertise focuses on endovascular and other minimally invasive approaches in the surgical treatment of vascular diseases. She has extensive expertise in both open and endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms, open and endovascular treatments for carotid, mesenteric, and renal stenosis and novel treatments for critical limb ischemia.

Claes Wahlestedt, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Director, Center for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI) Associate Dean for Therapeutic Innovation Professor of Chemistry (Secondary)
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Secondary)

Phone: 305-243-7694
Email: CWahlestedt@med.miami.edu
Location: BRB Room #407

Research Interest: My present laboratory, at the University of Miami’s Center for Therapeutic Innovation, works on genomics/transcriptomics as well as drug discovery and developement in several therapeutic areas.

Yu-Ping Yang, PharmD, Ph.D.

Research Asst. Professor
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Research

Email: yyang2@miami.edu

Fenghua Yuan, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor
Primary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Office: 305-243-9238
Lab: 305-243-9238

Research Interest: Mechanisms of Human DNA Repair, Interstrand Cross-Link Repair and Mismatch Repair.

Yanbin Zhang, Ph.D.

Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Primary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Director, BMB Program Admissions Committee

Phone: 305-243-9237

Research Interest: We focus on the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair including DNA inter-strand crosslink repair, double- strand break repair, mismatch repair, and translesion synthesis. We hope that our work will provide mechanistic insights into cancer and aging that are associated with irregulated DNA repair.

Jean-Marc Zingg Ph.D.

Research Associate Professor
Primary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Email: jaz42@miami.edu

Research Interest: Point-of-Care Tests for emerging pathogens. We are developing novel molecular Point of Care (PoC) methods required for detection of emerging pathogens (e.g., Flavi virus (Zika), Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and human papilloma virus (HPV)) that are low-cost and do not require extensive equipment. Simple sample collection and purification is followed by isothermal amplification (e.g., rolling circle amplification (RCA), recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)), after which the amplified product is captured and colorimetrically detected by lateral flow assay.