CUNY Hunter College · ChemistryHolford Venom Lab
Mande Holford · New York, New York
Research Focus
Dr. Mande Holford's research lab at Hunter College focuses on understanding the evolution and molecular mechanisms of venom in cephalopods, a group of marine animals known for their complex behaviors and unique biology. The lab seeks to develop innovative genetic models to study how venom glands evolve and function, with implications for drug discovery and precision medicine. By creating transgenic cephalopods, the team aims to unlock the potential of venom-derived therapeutics and advance fundamental biological research.
cephalopodsvenombiomedical applicationstransgenic modelsgene regulationevolutionary biologydrug discoveryprecision medicinemolecular mechanisms
Research Aims
3AIM 01Analyze the evolutionary development of venom gland tissues in cephalopods.
AIM 02Identify genes and proteins involved in venom gland development and function.
AIM 03Establish transgenic models of cephalopods for studying venom properties.
Skills the Lab Values
genetic engineeringtransgenic organism creationgene expression analysisproteomicsgenomicscellular biology techniquesmolecular cloningbioinformaticsanimal handling
Output against the department
Publications109bottom 23% of dept.166th of 216
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.9kbottom 13% of dept.187th of 216
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.