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Daniele Piomelli — The lab led by Dr. Daniele Piomelli at UC Irvine focuses on pain management, particularly by targeting a specific enzyme called NAAA to develop new pain medications that do not carry the risk of addiction. The research primarily explores how inhibiting this enzyme could lead to effective treatments for people suffering from acute and chronic pain. By studying animal models, the lab aims to uncover the cellular mechanisms involved in pain processing and to improve drug candidates for safer pain relief.
Jing Zhang — The research lab led by Dr. Jing Zhang focuses on integrating advanced computational methods and genomic techniques to understand complex diseases like Alzheimer’s and the impacts of opioid use in people living with HIV. Their work involves studying molecular changes at the single-cell level, employing innovative artificial intelligence approaches, and validating findings through cutting-edge genomic technologies. This interdisciplinary lab aims to pioneer new insights into the interconnectedness of genetics, epigenetics, and disease mechanisms.
Peter Kaiser — Dr. Peter Kaiser’s lab at UC Irvine studies two major areas: how cells communicate environmental signals through ubiquitin signaling and the reactivation of mutant p53 proteins in cancer. By examining metabolism and its effects on the cell cycle, as well as developing therapies for cancer that target p53, the lab aims to uncover important mechanisms underlying cell growth, disease, and potential treatments.
Elizabeth Head — Dr. Elizabeth Head's research focuses on Alzheimer's disease and how to potentially slow its progression using specific medications. Her lab studies the effects of a drug called tacrolimus in aging beagle dogs, which can show signs of cognitive decline similar to humans. By measuring cognitive outcomes, biological markers, and brain health, the goal is to understand if targeting a specific pathway in the brain can serve as a new treatment strategy for Alzheimer's in humans.
Charles G. Glabe — Dr. Charles G. Glabe's lab at UC Irvine focuses on understanding the formation and dynamics of amyloid plaques, a key feature of Alzheimer's disease. The research aims to investigate how different types of amyloid deposits are formed by various cell types and their roles in the progression of the disease. By using innovative labeling techniques to track proteins in real-time, the lab hopes to uncover new insights that could guide the development of better therapies for Alzheimer's.
Anthony A. James — Dr. Anthony A. James' lab at UC Irvine focuses on developing innovative genetic strategies to combat malaria, a disease that significantly impacts global health. They are particularly interested in using gene-drive systems, which harness CRISPR technology, to alter the reproductive capabilities of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, thereby reducing their populations and spreading resistance to the malaria parasite. The lab's work aims to provide new tools that are effective, safe for humans and the environment, and resilient against reinvasion by susceptible mosquito populations.
Kyriacos A Athanasiou — Dr. Kyriacos A. Athanasiou's lab at UC Irvine focuses on developing innovative treatments for injuries related to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). They are exploring the use of engineered tissue implants, specifically neodisc constructs, that incorporate immune cells to enhance healing and reduce rejection by the body. This multidisciplinary approach aims to solve a pressing medical issue affecting millions and could lead to advancements in tissue engineering beyond TMJ applications.
Bruce Blumberg — Dr. Bruce Blumberg's lab at UC Irvine focuses on understanding how prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals, particularly endocrine disruptors, affects obesity in future generations. They study mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance, which could explain how these effects are passed down without changes to DNA. This research aims to uncover how these inherited traits lead to metabolic diseases and how interventions might prevent these transgenerational effects.
Maksim V Plikus — Dr. Maksim V Plikus' lab focuses on understanding how hair follicles control their growth and size. Using a combination of advanced techniques, including mouse models and computational analysis, the lab studies the interactions between different cell types within hair follicles. Their research aims to reveal the complex signaling mechanisms that allow tissues to maintain their intended size, which has important implications for both basic biology and potential medical applications.