Investigators

Summary

Dr. Falo is actively involved in a variety of research projects focused on the prevention and treatment of melanoma and skin cancers, and has research expertise in the areas of cutaneous drug delivery, radioprotection, immunobiology, vaccine design, antigen processing and presentation, dendritic cell biology, and molecular immunobiology and immunotherapy.

Summary

The research in the laboratory of Dr. Fernandez focuses on improving cancer treatment and patient outcomes through various areas: Investigating drug-induced immunogenicity and liver injury. Developing targeted agents for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Preventing capecitabine-induced hand-foot syndrome. Studying the role of the NFAT transcription factor on immune cells. The Fernandez lab aims to enhance treatment outcomes by understanding complex biological processes using pharmacogenomic approaches. Our work includes addressing the immunogenicity of protein-based therapeutics, studying…

Summary

The long-standing interests of our laboratory center on identifying specific mechanisms of human anti-tumor immunity and cancer immunosurveillance. We study T cell and antibody repertoire in cancer patients and in healthy individuals at risk for cancer and factors that influence that repertoire. We were the first to identify a human tumor antigen recognized by human T cells and antibodies, the epithelial mucin MUC1. We showed that tumors express an abnormal form of MUC1 that is recognized by the immune system as a foreign rather than a self-antigen. Studies in mice and primates…

Summary

Our research is directed toward developing fundamentally new transformations and highlighting their utility for complex molecule synthesis.

Summary

The overarching goal of my research is to understand the cellular mechanisms that lead to genome instability, focusing on regions of the genome especially vulnerable to harmful environmental exposures. I particularly focus on defining the roles of ADP-Ribose transferase enzymes (ARTs/PARPs) in orchestrating the maintenance of both telomere and centromere integrity when exposed to chronic oxidative stress, a leading cause of tumorigenesis. DNA-dependent PARPs are key components of the DNA damage response and as such, are primary targets in cancer therapies. However, little is known on how…

Summary

Bruce Freeman, PhD is a biochemist and pharmacologist who investigates eukaryotic cell production and actions of chemically-reactive inflammatory and signal transduction mediators (e.g., superoxide, nitric oxide, peroxynitrite, electrophilic lipids). He is presently the Irwin Fridovich Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicin. He, is a founding member of the Vascular Medicine Institute and a member of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. His laboratory team has made…