Biology

Dr. Song works with organ-on-chip systems and leads investigations on artificial implantable organs through engineering approaches and biomaterials that manipulate cell behavior. Her work has helped applications in neural regeneration, muscle rehabilitation, diabetes treatment, and bone tissue engineering. Her goals are to contribute to the fundamental scientific knowledge at the intersection of biology, engineering, and medicine. She aspires to advance new diagnostics and therapeutics that better serve the patients in need, help the physicians, as well as improve the public health outcome. Dr. Song completed her PhD from University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and University of California San Francisco (UCSF). She received her postdoctoral training on neural repair and neuromuscular recovery techniques through electrical stimulation on stem cell functions at Stanford University. Dr. Song obtained her BS with honors in biomedical engineering from Brown University. Dr. Song is the recipient of multiple academic awards and fellowships from the National Institute of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein Research Service Awards (NIH NRSA F32), the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP), Forbes Magazine 30 Under 30, Gates Millennium Foundation, amongst many others.

The research focus of my lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying normal and pre-neoplastic epithelial cell growth in the luminal gastrointestinal tract. My recent studies involve the use of animal and cell culture models to dissect the pathways through which chronic inflammatory processes, generally from bacterial colonization, leads to mucosal alterations of the luminal GI tract sets the stage for neoplastic transformation (pre-neoplasia). Ongoing projects in my laboratory include the role of sonic hedgehog in gastric homeostasis, e.g., acid secretion and chronic gastritis leading to metaplasia/dysplasia; the role of the nuclear protein menin in the genesis of neuroendocrine tumors, e.g., gastrinomas, carcinoids, and the role of the Krüppel-like transcription factor ZBP-89 (ZNF148) in mucosal restitution from infection to neoplastic transformation. We have used mouse models to dissect the role of Hedgehog signaling in the stomach during chronic inflammation. Over the past 18 years, my lab has established a major role for Hedgehog signaling in normal gastric physiology and during gastric preneoplasia. My initial studies demonstrated that parietal cells and therefore acid secretion requires sonic hedgehog signaling. More recently, studies from my lab have revealed that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) require Hedgehog signaling to create a permissive environment that supports the development of gastric metaplasia, a mucosal lesion preceding cancer.

I am an Associate Professor in the department of Nutritional Sciences (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences) at the University of Arizona and hold joint appointments in Pediatrics (College of Medicine) and Immunobiology (College of Medicine). I am also part of the mentoring team for the Physiological Sciences and Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs, which recruit students who are continuing in education. My research interests are concerned with the effects of aging, stress and exercise on the immune system, and the role of adrenergic receptor signaling on immune cell redistribution and activation. Major focus areas include understanding (1) how exercise and other behavioral interventions can offset age-related decrements in the normal functioning of the immune system (immunosenescence), (2) how adrenergic receptor signaling can be used to improve cellular products for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and immunotherapy, (3) the interplay between the immune and neuroendocrine system during high level human performance and extreme isolation (i.e. space travel), and (3) how persistent virus infections such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) can alter the phenotype and function of T-cells and NK-cells to protect the host from certain hematological malignancies. My current research is supported by NASA, the NIH (National Cancer Institute) and industry. I am a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and an honorary board member of the International Society of Exercise Immunology (ISEI). I am an active member of the Pychoneuroimmunology Research Society (PNIRS) and the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) and sit on the editorial board of the following scientific journals: Brain, Behavior and Immunity; Exercise Immunology Reviews (Associate Editor); Immunity and Ageing; American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.

Cell metabolism is a tightly controlled process that uses numerous feedback and feed-forward mechanisms to provide the necessary requirements to sustain growth. Many of these regulatory mechanisms are mediated through the post-translational modification of enzymes that serve to modulate activity and function. My laboratory studies the link between cell metabolism, protein post-translational modifications, and gene expression. We utilize mass spectrometry to investigate both novel and established metabolic feedback mechanisms and how these go awry in disease. Current work centers on histone modifications derived from cell metabolism and how these modifications are disrupted in diabetes and cancer.

Our laboratory studies cellular and tissue injury due to oxidative stress. We pioneered the discovery that cells surviving oxidative stress develop hypertrophy. This discovery has been validated in many cell types as a consequence of cellular stress and survival response. Enlarged cells contribute to loss of functionality during the development of diseases. In the myocardium, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy can be detected as a result of ischemic injury and contributes to heart failure. Continuing on the investigation of mechanisms of cell survival has led us to focus on cellular defense system. From our many years of comprehensive and systematic studies on cellular and molecular events initiated by oxidative stress, Nrf2 stands out as the key controller for cell defenses. We have made several discoveries in recent years, including 1) oxidative stress induced de novo Nrf2 protein translation; 2) Nrf2 physically interacts with mitochondria and protects mitochondria against oxidative stress induced decay; and 3) deficiency in Nrf2 sensitizes the myocardium to ischemic injury.

I am interested in exploring innovative and useful chemical tools and small molecules as probes to study biology and as therapeutics for disease treatment. My laboratory has been particularly interested in exploring chemical tools to address the important biological questions. I am a well-established investigator with over 20 years research experience and more than 240 peer reviewed publications (H-index: 72) in the fields of organic and medicinal chemistry and chemical biology. The small molecule-based fluorescence probes developed from my laboratory have been widely used by biomedical researchers as tools to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms. One of the small molecules discovered by my laboratory has been licensed to the Andaman Therapeutics for clinical trials as a new class of anticancer therapy.

Our research focuses applying engineering methods to problems in biology with the goal of improving human health. In particular we aim to understand the underlying mechanisms of traumatic brain injury in order to better prevent and diagnose. We also research on the cerebral hemodynamics and the effect it can have on neurodegenerative diseases and stroke. We use an array of computational and experimental approaches including finite element modeling, magnetic resonance imaging and impact biomechanics. https://www.engr.arizona.edu/~klaksari/

Euan McLeod, Ph.D., works at the intersection of nanophotonics, soft materials science, and many-body systems. One of his current major research thrusts is to use optical tweezers combined with biomolecular functionalization to assemble nanostructured 3D devices out of colloidal nanoparticle building blocks. Euan also works on developing lensfree holographic microscopes that provide high resolution across an ultra-large field of view in cost-effective and compact platforms. Euan is developing new methods to improve the resolution and sensitivity of these microscopes to sense ultrafine nanoparticles like aerosols and viruses. By combining these microscopes with microfluidic chambers, he is working to develop highly multiplexed biomedical sensors. All of these areas of experimental research are supported by extensive computational and theoretical efforts. Previously in his career, Euan has published extensive research in high-speed acoustic lensing, laser-materials processing at the nanoscale, and free-surface microfluidic instabilities.

My major interests include epigenetic regulation of angiogenesis and vascular development. Angiogenesis plays a critical role in both physiological and pathological conditions. I am investigating various mechanisms involved in angiogenesis with development and aging of organisms and its role in organ development as well as cancers.

My other area of investigation is involving adipose-derived stem cells and their usefulness in treating osteoarthritis, diabetes, stroke, traumatic brain injury, myocardial infarction, and spinal cord injuries following road traffic accidents.

Alex Badyaev’s research focus is at the interface of evolutionary developmental biology and evolutionary ecology, with specific focus on the understanding of the origin of adaptations. The central goal of his work is to understand the evolution of organismal architecture that reconciles innovation and adaptation. Under this general umbrella, Badyaev lab studies the following empirical themes: 1) Origin, development, and evolution of avian color diversity, 2) Epigenetic remodeling and genetic adaptation in ontogeny of skeletal structures, 3) Relationship between epigenetic and genetic inheritance systems, 4) Role of stress in origin and diversification of organismal forms, 5) Evolution of behavioral and life history strategies, and 6) Evolution and ecology of sexual size dimorphism.