Endowed Scholars

Class 12: 2009-2013

Uttam Tambar, PhD

W. W. Caruth, Jr. Scholar In Biomedical Research 2009-2013
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry
Dr. Tambar is interested in developing new strategies and concepts in synthetic chemistry for the construction of complex biologically active molecules. His group is specifically interested in discovering chemical transformations that will have broad applications for the assembly of pharmaceutical drugs. Lab Website

Jen Liou, PhD

Sowell Family Scholar in Medical Research 2009-2013
Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology
Dr. Liou is interested in the signal transduction control of cellular calcium levels and the role of calcium in physiological functions. Her laboratory is studying molecular mechanisms underlying a novel calcium signaling pathway at the endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane junctions using quantitative live-cell imaging, high-throughput cell-based siRNA screens, and inducible perturbation approaches.

Jiang Wu, PhD

Virginia Murchison Linthicum Scholar in Medical Research 2009-2013
Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology
Dr. Wu is interested in chromatin regulation of mammalian neural development. Her laboratory is studying the function of chromatin remodeling complexes in key signaling pathways that regulate neural stem cell self-renewal, differentiation, as well as post-mitotic neuronal development. Lab Website

Class 11: 2008-2012

Yihong Wan, PhD

Virginia Murchison Linthicum Scholar in Medical Research 2008-2012
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology
Dr. Wan is interested in the transcriptional regulation of development, metabolism and cancer, currently focusing on how nuclear receptors regulate the differentiation and function of the bone-resorbing osteoclasts and the bone-forming osteoblasts. Her lab employs a wide spectrum of cutting-edge tools, including mouse genetic and disease models, molecular and cellular biology, genomics, metabolomics, stem cells and small molecules. Lab Websiteb

Chun-Li Zhang, PhD

W.W. Caruth Jr. Scholar in Biomedical Research 2008-2012
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Biology
Dr. Zhang is interested in the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating brain function, especially adult neural stem cells, neurogenesis, and psychological diseases, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and mental retardation. His laboratory is focused on nuclear hormone receptor signaling in these neurological processes. Lab Website

Bing Li, PhD

W.A. “Tex” Moncrief Jr. Scholar in Medical Research 2008-2012
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Biology
Dr. Li is interested in understanding the epigenetic events that regulate transcription initiation and elongation in normal and diseased cells. In particular, the research in his laboratory will focus on the molecular mechanism by which chromatin related complexes help the transcription machinery overcome the nucleosomal barriers while maintaining genome integrity. Lab Website

Steven Patrie, PhD

John L. Roach Scholar in Biomedical Research 2008-2012
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Dr. Patrie's lab is developing the state of the art in state-of-the-art in mass spectrometry and protein biochip technologies to discover and characterize the function of post-translational modifications (PTMs) in autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases and cancers. We are particularly interested in understanding how PTMs drive interactions between chromatin-associated proteins in gene transcription. We are also developing a translational proteomics pipeline that rapidly identifies and validates PTM-based biomarkers thereby enabling a new class of early detection or prognostic tools for hospital laboratories.

Class 10: 2007-2011

Neal Alto, PhD

Rita C. and William P. Clements, Jr. Scholar in Medical Research 2007-2011
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology
Dr. Alto is interested in understanding the biochemical and cellular basis of host/pathogen interactions with a particular emphasis on mechanisms by which bacteria hijack eukaryotic signal transduction systems. More specifically, the lab studies human Rho GTPase signaling to the actin-microtubule cytoskeleton and determines how pathogens co-opt this critical cellular system via bacterial Type III effector proteins.

Michael Buszczak, PhD

E.E. and Greer Garson Fogelson Scholar in Medical Research 2007-2011
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Biology
Dr. Buszczak uses several different types of Drosophila stem cells to study how chromatin organization promotes self-renewal in vivo. The Buszczak lab also seeks to characterize how this intrinsic program changes during the process of differentiation.

Nicholas Conrad, PhD

Southwestern Medical Foundation Scholar in Biomedical Research 2007-2011
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology
Dr. Conrad is interested in the mechanisms of post-transcriptional gene regulation of the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and its human host cells. Uncovering how unique KSHV factors exploit the host cell machinery to promote viral gene expression will yield a greater understanding of this important pathogen and the fundamental processes involved in human gene expression. Lab Website Research Interests

Chandrashekhar Pasare, PhD

Louise W. Kahn Scholar in Biomedical Research 2007-2011
Assistant Professor, Department of Immunology
Dr. Pasare's research interest is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which the immune system deals with pathogens. Specifically, he is investigating how receptors of the innate immune system, particularly Toll-like receptors, influence activation of the adaptive immune responses.

Luke Rice, PhD

Thomas O. Hicks Scholar in Medical Research 2007-2011
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry
Dr. Rice's research is focused on microtubules, dynamic cellular polymers made from alpha/beta-tubulin subunits. Microtubules have essential roles in chromosome segregation, vesicular trafficking, and organelle positioning. His laboratory is integrating biophysical studies of alpha/beta-tubulin, kinetic measurements of microtubule behavior, and computational models of microtubule assembly to discover the molecular mechanisms underlying dynamic microtubule behavior and its regulation.

Adrian Rothenfluh, PhD

Effie Marie Cain Scholar in Medical Research 2007-2011
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Dr. Rothenfluh is investigating genes that contribute to the behavioral responses to alcohol. His laboratory is particularly interested in the dynamic control of the actin cytoskeleton, and how it affects drug responses. Lab Website Research Interests

Benjamin Tu, PhD

W. W. Caruth Jr. Scholar in Biomedical Research 2007-2011
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry
Dr. Tu is interested in the study of biological cycles and understanding how fundamental biological processes are coupled to changes in cellular metabolic and redox state. Lab Website

Felix Yarovinsky, PhD

Nancy Cain and Jeffrey A. Marcus Scholar in Medical Research, in Honor of Dr. Bill S. Vowell 2007-2011
Assistant Professor, Department of Immunology
Dr. Yarovinsky is exploring molecular and cellular mechanisms of innate immunity to parasitic infections of global importance. He seeks to understand how dendritic cells can initiate and regulate host resistance to Toxoplasma gondii and malaria infections.

Xuewu Zhang, PhD

Virginia Murchison Linthicum Scholar in Medical Research 2007-2011
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology
Dr. Zhang's lab is studying regulation mechanisms for signaling proteins, especially cell surface receptors, through structural and biochemical analyses.