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Research Labs by Department

Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Rachel Bailey, Ph.D.

The Bailey lab focuses on developing gene therapies for neurological disorders. We work on monogenetic pediatric disorders, including SLC13A5 epileptic encephalopathy, multiple sulfatase deficiency, Charcot Marie Tooth disease type 4J, giant axonal neuropathy and ECHS1 deficiency.

Bailey Lab

Sarah Shahmoradian, Ph.D.

The Shahmoradian lab investigates the roles of domain-specific neuronal proteins using advanced cryo-imaging techniques to understand their impact on cellular dynamics and neurological health.

Shahmoradian Lab

Biochemistry

Chuo Chen, Ph.D.

We are interested in building small organic molecules and studying their functions in biological systems. Our lab started in 2004 using state-of-the-art tools to address challenging issues in the field of natural product synthesis.

Chuo Chen Lab

Yunsun Nam, Ph.D.

The Nam Lab asks how the shape of an RNA regulates its function. We study the biochemical and structural mechanisms in RNA-mediated gene regulation pathways important for normal and disease states.

Nam Lab

Jinfan Wang, Ph.D.

The Wang Lab applies single-molecule fluorescence biophysical, quantitative biochemical, structural, and genetics approaches to unravel the intricate relationships between structure, dynamics and function in complex dynamic biological systems. Our primary goal is to understand the dynamic mechanisms of cytosolic and mitochondrial protein synthesis and how they are dysregulated in human diseases.

Wang Lab

Bioinformatics

Jeon Lee, Ph.D.

Our research is aimed at innovating and translating computational technology to advance biomedical research and medical diagnoses/treatments.

Lee Lab

Biomedical Engineering

Daniel Siegwart, Ph.D.

We aim to globally understand how the physical and chemical properties of materials affect interactions with biological systems in the context of improving therapies.

Siegwart Lab

Biophysics

Jan Erzberger, Ph.D.

Jan’s Lab is interested in understanding the dynamics of protein-RNA complexes during ribosome biogenesis. We are particularly focused on the roles of ATPases in coordinating ribosomal RNA processing and remodeling events, as well as the importance of these enzymes in signaling between the ribosome biogenesis pathway and the cell cycle machinery.

Erzberger Lab

Brain

William Dauer, M.D.

The central goal of the Dauer Lab is to unravel the molecular and cellular mechanisms of diseases that disrupt the motor system. In exploring these diseases, we also aim to understand a fundamental question relevant to CNS disease generally: what factors determine the selective vulnerability of particular cell types or circuits to insults? Our primary focus is on Parkinson’s disease and inherited forms of dystonia. We focus our efforts on disease genes that cause these disorders, employing a range of molecular, cellular, and whole animal studies to dissect the normal role of disease proteins, and how pathogenic mutations lead to disease.

Dauer Lab

Cancer

Jinming Gao, Ph.D.

We are working at the interface of nanotechnology, drug delivery, and tumor immunology.

Gao Lab

Cell Biology

Beatriz Fontoura, Ph.D.

Our laboratory studies the cell biology of viral-host interactions.

Fontoura Lab

Joachim Seeman, Ph.D.

The Seemann Lab studies the molecular mechanisms governing the function and inheritance of the mammalian Golgi apparatus.

Seemann Lab

Internal Medicine

James Brugarolas, M.D., Ph.D.

To understand how kidney cancer develops at the molecular level, To translate our findings into new treatments for kidney cancer patients, To train the next generation of physicians and scientists.

Brugarolas Lab

Isaac Chan, M.D., Ph.D.

Our lab is creating better experimental models that reveal how cancer cells metastasize and evade our immune system. We use these models to develop new drugs that engage our immune system to kill cancer cells.

Chan Lab

Robert Toto, M.D.

My research interests include prevention of progression of renal diseases, diagnoses, and management of lipid disorders in renal disease, hypertensive nephrosclerosis, the role of angiotensin II converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers in renal disease.

Toto Lab

Medicine/ID

John Beckham, M.D.

The Beckham Lab is a dynamic multidisciplinary laboratory that studies viral pathogenesis and neuroimmune response.

Beckham Lab

Microbiology

Xinyun (Sherry) Cao

Our research focuses on decoding the properties and regulation of RNA polymerases in various bacterial pathogens. By uncovering these fundamental mechanisms, we aim to lay the groundwork for the development of new antimicrobial therapies-moving toward a future where infectious diseases no longer pose a global threat.

Cao Laboratory

Nicholas Conrad, Ph.D.

The overarching goals of our lab are to understand the posttranscriptional mechanisms of gene expression and regulation in the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and its human host cell. We are particularly focused on the mechanisms and regulation of nuclear RNA stability, polyadenylation, and mRNA processing by viral and by host cell factors.

Conrad Lab

Keven Forsberg, Ph.D.

At Forsberg Lab, we strive to make impactful scientific discoveries, provide an excellent training environment for future scientists and communicators, and advance the long-term goals of those in the lab.

Forsberg Lab

Julie Pfieffer, Ph.D.

At Phieffer Lab, we are scientists who love exploring biological mysteries. We are passionate about tractable model systems and the power of genetics because they help us reveal how complex environments influence viral infection. We think that the best science is done by a diverse and supportive team.

Pfieffer Lab

Nan Yan, Ph.D.

The Yan Lab studies molecular mechanisms of innate immunity in infection, autoimmune diseases, cancer immunology, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Yan Lab

Mineral Metabolism

Orson Moe, M.D.

The Moe Lab specializes in translational pathophysiology that spans from individual molecules, in vitro cell models, in vivo animal models, to metabolic human studies.

Moe Lab

Molecular Biology

Michael Buszczak, Ph.D.

Buszczak Laboratory seeks to gain new insights into mRNA translation, ribosome biogenesis and germ cell biology.

Buszczak Lab

Joshua Mendell, M.D., Ph.D.

The Mendell Laboratory investigates fundamental aspects of post-transcriptional gene regulation, noncoding RNA regulation and function, and the roles of these pathways in normal physiology, cancer, and other diseases.

Mendell Lab

Kathryn O'Donnell, Ph.D.

The O'Donnell Lab investigates mechanisms of tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis using molecular and biochemical studies and mouse models.

O'Donnell Lab

Eric Olson, Ph.D.

Development of novel CRISPR-based therapeutic approaches for neuromuscular and cardiovascular diseases.

Olson Lab

David Sanders, Ph.D.

We seek to understand how RNA/protein assemblies control cellular states, and how related pathways are hijacked by diseases of aging.

Sanders Lab

Vincent Tagliabracci, Ph.D.

The Tagliabracci Lab studies the phosphorylation of extracellular proteins by a novel family of secreted kinases. This kinase family is so different from canonical kinases that it was not included as a branch on the human kinome tree.

Tagliabracci Lab

Jun Wu, Ph.D.

The Wu Laboratory mainly focuses on using stem cell models to gain novel insights in mammalian development and develop regenerative medical applications.

Wu Lab

Neurological Surgery

Zhongzheng Fu, Ph.D.

At the Fu Lab of human neuroscience we investigate the neural bases of cognitive control.

Fu Lab

Neurology

Jill Napierala, Ph.D.

The mission of Napierala Lab is to contribute to the development of therapies and a cure for Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) by elucidating molecular mechanisms causing the disease, developing novel cellular and animal models of FRDA, identifying disease biomarkers and testing novel therapeutic approaches.

Napierala Lab

Marek Napierala, Ph.D.

The mission of Napierala Lab is to contribute to the development of therapies and a cure for Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) by elucidating molecular mechanisms causing the disease, developing novel cellular and animal models of FRDA, identifying disease biomarkers and testing novel therapeutic approaches.

Napierala Lab

Neuroscience

Weichun Lin, Ph.D.

The goal of Lin (Weichun) Lab's research is to understand how neurons establish synaptic connections during development, and how these connections are maintained throughout adulthood. Toward this goal, we are currently focusing on the following two areas of research.

Lin Lab

Ophthalmology

Kevin (Kyung) Park, Ph.D.

Dr. Park’s research focuses on the visual system and how the projection neurons in the retina, the retinal ganglion cell axons, find their targets and form synapses in the brain. He is investigating two key areas: 1) cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the death of neurons and lack of regeneration in the central nervous system after injury and in degenerative diseases like glaucoma and 2) mechanisms by which neurons form proper connections with each other.

Park Lab

Matthew Petroll, Ph.D.

Petroll Lab applies engineering approaches and design principles to the investigation of fundamental clinical and biological problems in ophthalmology, while providing training to graduate students, medical students, and post-docs.

Petroll Lab

Vinod Mootha, M.D.

Mootha Lab uses human genetics and genomics to understand the molecular basis of Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy and develop novel therapeutic strategies.

Mootha Lab

Pathology

Liraz Galia, Ph.D.

Our lab is studying novel regulatory mechanisms that control innate immunity in intestinal health and disease.

Galia Lab

Pediatrics

Kenneth Chen, M.D.

Chen Lab studies how dysregulation of RNA synthesis and degradation drives childhood cancers with the ultimate goal of identifying new therapeutic vulnerabilities to exploit in treating them.

Chen Lab

Xin Li, Ph.D.

We are working at the interface of nanotechnology, drug delivery, and tumor immunology.

Li Lab

Pharmacology

David Corey, Ph.D.

Corey Lab is using nucleic acids or nucleic acid mimics to explore important cellular processes, develop novel therapeutic tools and strategies.

Corey Lab

Physiology

Joyce Repa, Ph.D.

We are interested in the molecular mechanisms by which nuclear hormone receptors regulate lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in the liver, intestine, pancreatic islet, and central nervous system.

Repa Lab

Yi Liu, Ph.D.

The Liu Lab is interested in the functions and mechanism of codon usage biases, circadian clocks, and non-coding RNA.

Liu Lab

Radiation Oncology

Xin Cai, M.D., Ph.D.

How do cells sense metabolites to drive their growth and proliferation? We seek to study metabolites not only as nutrients but as cellular instruction signals that dictate cell biology.

Cai Lab

Reproductive Biology

Benjamin Sabari, Ph.D.

We study how biomolecular condensates organize gene regulation.

Sabari Lab

Haiqi Chen, Ph.D.

Welcome to the Reproductive Genomics Laboratory (RGL) at UT Southwestern Medical Center where we innovate at the intersection of genomics, bioengineering, and data science to answer fundamental questions in reproductive biology.

Chen Lab

Urology

Jer-Tsong Hsieh, Ph.D.

Jer-Tsong Hsieh Lab research interests focus on key molecular mechanisms leading to urologic cancer progression, development of precision medicine of cancer therapy assisted with non-invasive molecular imaging.

Hsieh Lab