Cell Biology and Molecular Physiology

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine - Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program

CBMP People

CBMP Faculty, Staff and Administration

CBMP Faculty

Image - Gerard L. Apodaca
Apodaca, Gerard L.
Professor
Medicine, Renal-Electrolyte
gla6@pitt.edu
Membrane traffic in polarized epithelial cells

CBMP groups: Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids
Image - Meir Aridor
Aridor, Meir
Associate Professor
Dept of Cell Biology
aridor@pitt.edu
Biogenesis and sorting of proteins and lipids for vesicular-tubular transport from the endoplasmic reticulum.

CBMP groups: Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids
Image - Jeffrey L. Brodsky
Brodsky, Jeffrey L.
Professor, Avinoff Chair of Biological Sciences
Dept. of Biological Sciences
jbrodsky@pitt.edu
Protein biogenesis and degradation

CBMP groups: Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics, Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Michael B. Butterworth
Butterworth, Michael B.
Associate Professor
Dept of Cell Biology
michael7@pitt.edu
Regulation of epithelial ion channels by trafficking and recycling mechanisms.

CBMP groups: Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics, Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Marcelo Carattino
Carattino, Marcelo
Associate Professor
Medicine, Renal - Electrolytic Division
mdc4@pitt.edu
Function of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs)

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Christopher L. Cunningham
Cunningham, Christopher L.
Assistant Professor
Otolaryngology and Neurobiology
cunningc@pitt.edu
The Sensory and Neural Biology of the Auditory System

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration
Image - Daniel C. Devor
Devor, Daniel C.
Professor
Dept of Cell Biology
dd2@pitt.edu
Regulation, endocytosis, assembly and degradation of calcium-activated potassium channels involved in endothelial, epithelial and neuronal function.

CBMP groups: Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics, Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Peter F. Drain
Drain, Peter F.
Associate Professor
Dept of Cell Biology
drain@pitt.edu
Cell biology and signaling of insulin secretory granule proteins in diabetes

CBMP groups: Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics
Image - Yiqin Du
Du, Yiqin
Associate Professor
Ophthalmology, Developmental Biology
duy@upmc.edu
Trabecular Meshwork Cell Biology

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration
Image - Partha Dutta
Dutta, Partha
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
Vascular Medicine Institute
duttapa@pitt.edu
Role of inflammation in cardiovascular diseases

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration
Image - Zachary Z. Freyberg
Freyberg, Zachary Z.
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Psychiatry
freybergzz@upmc.edu
Schizophrenia; Antipsychotic drug action; Metabolism
Image - Arjumand Ghazi
Ghazi, Arjumand
Associate Professor
Pediatrics
Arjumand.Ghazi@chp.edu
Molecular Genetics of Aging in C. elegans

CBMP groups: Reproductive Biology, DNA Damage/Repair, Cell-Cycle Control and Gene Expression, Cancer, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration
Image - Eric Goetzman
Goetzman, Eric
Associate Professor
Pediatrics
esg5@pitt.edu
Regulation of mitochondrial function by sirtuin deacylases

CBMP groups: Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics
Image - Gerry Hammond
Hammond, Gerry
Associate Professor
Dept of Cell Biology
ghammond@pitt.edu
Molecular architecture of the cell surface in health and disease.

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids
Image - Yang Hong
Hong, Yang
Associate Professor
Dept of Cell Biology
yhong@pitt.edu
Cell polarity and genetic manipulation of Drosophilia genome.

CBMP groups: Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics
Image - Rebecca P. Hughey
Hughey, Rebecca P.
Professor
Medicine, Renal-Electrolyte
hugheyr@pitt.edu
Studying two proteins expressed on the apical surface of polarized epithelial cells: (1) the biosynthesis, processing and proteolytic activation of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), and (2) the function and membrane trafficking of the mucin-like MUC1.

CBMP groups: Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids, Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Ossama Kashlan
Kashlan, Ossama
Assistant Professor
Medicine, Renal-Electrolyte
obk2@pitt.edu
Allosteric regulation of ion channels, regulation of ion channels by proteases, ion channels selectivity

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Thomas R. Kleyman
Kleyman, Thomas R.
Professor
Medicine, Renal-Electrolyte
kleyman@msx.dept-med.pitt.edu
CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Adam Kwiatkowski
Kwiatkowski, Adam
Associate Professor
Dept of Cell Biology
adamkwi@pitt.edu
CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics
Image - Todd Lamitina
Lamitina, Todd
Associate Professor
Pediatrics
todd.lamitina@chp.edu
C. elegans, aging and stress response pathways

CBMP groups: Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics, Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Sanford H. Leuba
Leuba, Sanford H.
Associate Professor
Dept of Cell Biology
leuba@pitt.edu
Studying nuclear protein DNA interactions using single molecule approaches.

CBMP groups: DNA Damage/Repair, Cell-Cycle Control and Gene Expression, Cancer
Image - Yuan Liu
Liu, Yuan
Assistant Professor
UPMC Aging Institute and Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
liuy13@upmc.edu
Ubiquitin proteosomal system

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics, Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids
Image - Sandra A. Murray
Murray, Sandra A.
Professor
Dept of Cell Biology
smurray@pitt.edu
Connexin Gap Junction Protein Trafficking, Role of Gap Junction Protein in Cell Migration, Differentiation, Proliferation and Hormone Response.

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration, Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids
Image - Partha Roy
Roy, Partha
Associate Professor
Bioengineering and Pathology
partha.roy@pitt.edu
Directed cell migration

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Guy Salama
Salama, Guy
Professor
Cardiology
gsalama@pitt.edu
Mechanisms underlying the initiation and maintenance of cardiac arrhythmias; development of genetically encoded Ca2+ and voltage sensitive probes, rescuing the infarcted hearts with cell implants; sex differences in ion channel expression and their related arrhythmia phenotype in the long QT syndrome; high-speed depth-resolved images of electrical activity.

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Jami Saloman
Saloman, Jami
Assistant Professor
Medicine/Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Department of Neurobiology
jls354@pitt.edu
CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration
Image - Gerald P. Schatten
Schatten, Gerald P.
Professor
Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
gps15@pitt.edu
Molecular basis of reproduction and development; Stem cells and transplantation

CBMP groups: Reproductive Biology
Image - Yusuke Sekine
Sekine, Yusuke
Assistant Professor
Aging Institute
sekiney@pitt.edu
Molecular mechanisms and cellular stress responses that allow a cell to adapt to metabolic alterations

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics
Image - Shiori Sekine
Sekine, Shiori
Assistant Professor
Aging Institute
sekine@pitt.edu
Mitochondrial stress response

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids
Image - Sunder Sims-Lucas
Sims-Lucas, Sunder
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics (Nephrology) and Vascular Medicine Institute
simslucass@upmc.edu
The role of the microvasculature and oxygenation in kidney development and disease.

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics
Image - Alexander Sorkin
Sorkin, Alexander
Richard Beatty Mellon Professor and Chair, Dept of Cell Biology
Dept of Cell Biology
sorkin@pitt.edu
How endocytosis and post-endocytic trafficking regulates function(s) of the transmembrane proteins, such as receptors and transporters.

CBMP groups: Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics
Image - Claudette M. St. Croix
St. Croix, Claudette M.
Professor
Dept of Cell Biology
cls13@pitt.edu
Optical imaging in the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems.

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Donna Beer Stolz
Stolz, Donna Beer
Professor
Dept of Cell Biology
dstolz@pitt.edu
Angiogenesis and vascularization events in liver regeneration and remodeling.

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration
Image - Arohan Subramanya
Subramanya, Arohan
Associate Professor
Medicine, Renal-Electrolyte
ars129@pitt.edu
Regulation of thiazide-sensitive NaCl cotransport, blood pressure, and potassium homeostasis

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Stella Y. Sun
Sun, Stella Y.
Assistant Professor
Structural Biology
stellasun@pitt.edu
CBMP groups: Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids, Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Shivalingappa Swamynathan
Swamynathan, Shivalingappa
Associate Professor
Ophthalmology
swamynathansk@upmc.edu
Regulation of Gene Expression During Ocular Surface Development

CBMP groups: DNA Damage/Repair, Cell-Cycle Control and Gene Expression, Cancer, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration
Image - Jay Tan
Tan, Jay
Assistant Professor
Aging Institute
jay.tan@pitt.edu
CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids
Image - Deepika Vasudevan
Vasudevan, Deepika
Assistant Professor
Dept of Cell Biology
deepika.vasudevan@pitt.edu
CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration
Image - William H. Walker
Walker, William H.
Associate Professor
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
walkerw@pitt.edu
Hormonal regulation of Sertoli cell signaling pathways, gene expression and differentiation

CBMP groups: Reproductive Biology, DNA Damage/Repair, Cell-Cycle Control and Gene Expression, Cancer
Image - Simon C. Watkins
Watkins, Simon C.
Distinguished Professor and Vice Chair
Dept of Cell Biology
swatkins@pitt.edu
Dendritic cell function and connectivity in the immune system as studied using high end optical imaging.

CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Alan Watson
Watson, Alan
Assistant Professor
Dept of Cell Biology
alan.watson@pitt.edu
CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology
Image - Ora A. Weisz
Weisz, Ora A.
Professor
Medicine, Renal-Electrolyte
weisz@pitt.edu
Regulation of apical membrane traffic in renal epithelial cells

CBMP groups: Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids, DNA Damage/Repair, Cell-Cycle Control and Gene Expression, Cancer, Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics
Image - Jianhua Xing
Xing, Jianhua
Associate Professor
Computational and Systems Biology
xing1@pitt.edu
CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration
Image - Judith Yanowitz
Yanowitz, Judith
Associate Professor
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science
yanowitzjl@mwri.magee.edu
Chromatin structure and dynamics during gamete formation and DNA damage repair

CBMP groups: Reproductive Biology, DNA Damage/Repair, Cell-Cycle Control and Gene Expression, Cancer, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration
Image - Bokai Zhu
Zhu, Bokai
Assistant Professor
UPMC Aging Institute and Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism
BZHU@pitt.edu
CBMP groups: Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration, Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics

CBMP Graduate Students

Image - Shawn Allen
Allen, Shawn
Graduate Student Researcher
Dept of Cell Biology - Wohlever lab
spa37@pitt.edu
Image - Laura Bahr
Bahr, Laura
Graduate Student Researcher, Cell Biology & Molecular Physiology
Dept of Cell Biology - Ghazi lab
kkb66@pitt.edu
Image - Sahana Balasubramanian
Balasubramanian, Sahana
Graduate Student Researcher, Cell Biology & Molecular Physiology
Dept of Cell Biology - Kwiatkowski lab
fns11@pitt.edu
Image - Emily Lackner
Lackner, Emily
Graduate Student Researcher
Dept of Cell Biology - Weisz lab
eml146@pitt.edu
Image - Manuel Michaca
Michaca, Manuel
Graduate Student Researcher, Cell Biology & Molecular Physiology
Dept of Cell Biology - Nicotra lab
mam801@pitt.edu
Image - Morgan Ricci
Ricci, Morgan
Graduate Student Researcher, Cell Biology & Molecular Physiology
Dept of Cell Biology - Hammond lab
mor29@pitt.edu
Image - Amanda Suda
Suda, Amanda
Graduate Student Researcher, ISB Graduate Program
Dept of Cell Biology - Butterworth lab
amc371@pitt.edu
Image - Sachini Thanthirige
Thanthirige, Sachini
Graduate Student Researcher
Dept of Cell Biology - Wohlever lab
srt102@pitt.edu
Image - Hector Wang
Wang, Hector
Graduate Student Researcher
Dept of Cell Biology - Zhu lab
HAW204@pitt.edu
Image - Claire Weckerly
Weckerly , Claire
Graduate Student Researcher, Cell Biology & Molecular Physiology
Dept of Cell Biology - Hammond lab
clw142@pitt.edu

CBMP Administrative Staff

Image - Adam Kwiatkowski
Kwiatkowski, Adam
Program Director
Dept of Cell Biology - Associate Professor
adamkwi@pitt.edu
CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Cellular Injury, Wound Healing, Aging and Tissue Regeneration, Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics
Image - Gerry Hammond
Hammond, Gerry
Associate Program Director
Dept of Cell Biology - Associate Professor
ghammond@pitt.edu
CBMP groups: Cell Communication, Signaling and Ion Channel Biology, Membrane Traffic of Proteins and Lipids
Image - Sarah Biancardi
Biancardi, Sarah
Program Coordinator
Dept of Cell Biology - Graduate Studies Coordinator
sab181@pitt.edu