Faculty Research Labs

Our faculty lead innovative research across a wide range of disciplines.
Explore our labs by department to find the research areas, collaborations and opportunities that align with your interests and goals.

 

Microbiology and Immunology Department

AuCoin Lab
Develops rapid diagnostic tests for infectious diseases using antibody-based technologies to detect pathogens, microbial antigens, and toxins.
Brett Lab
Develops vaccines and therapeutic antibodies to prevent and treat bacterial infections, with a focus on melioidosis and immune responses to bacterial antigens.
Burtnick Lab
Studies how Burkholderia pseudomallei survives within host cells and identifies targets for developing vaccines, diagnostics, and immune-based tools to combat melioidosis.
Lee Lab
Discovers and develops new antifungal treatments to prevent and treat invasive fungal infections, with a focus on drug-resistant Candida biofilms.
McIlwain Lab
Maps immune responses to infectious diseases using advanced single-cell and multi-omic technologies to support vaccine development, therapeutic discovery, and global health preparedness.
Sumby Lab
Uses genetic and genomic approaches to understand how group A Streptococcus causes disease and to develop new strategies for preventing and treating infections.
Verma Lab
Investigates how viruses replicate and interact with host cells to advance the development of antiviral therapies for herpesviruses, coronaviruses, and other emerging viral pathogens.
 

Pharmacology Department

Agarwal Lab
Studies how cardiac cell signaling and ion channel regulation affect heart function to identify new treatments for cardiovascular disease.
Akin Lab
Investigates how the nervous system regulates cardiovascular function and identifies molecular targets for developing new treatments for heart disease.
Dean Burkin Lab
Develops innovative therapies and diagnostic tools for muscular dystrophy and other rare muscle diseases by studying integrin and laminin pathways involved in muscle function and disease progression.
Heather Burkin Lab
Investigates the molecular mechanisms that regulate uterine contractions and labor to develop new therapies aimed at preventing preterm birth.
Dagda Lab
Investigates the molecular causes of neurodegenerative diseases and develops potential therapies to protect neurons and restore brain function in disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Harvey Lab
Studies how neurotransmitters, hormones, and autonomic nervous system signaling affect heart function to improve the prevention and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.
Jones Lab
Studies the biological mechanisms underlying facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) to develop improved diagnostics and innovative therapies, including gene-targeted treatments.
Wen Lab
Investigates how immune cell adhesion and inflammatory signaling contribute to cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and immune disorders.
Radwanski Lab
Investigates the biophysics and pharmacology of cardiac and neural electrical disorders to develop safer, more precise therapies for arrhythmias and seizures.
 

Physiology and Cell Biology Department

Baker Lab
Studies gastrointestinal and bladder disorders by investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate smooth muscle function, motility, and neural signaling.
Cobine Lab
Advances the understanding, prevention, and treatment of esophageal disorders by studying the mechanisms that regulate muscle function and motility in the gastrointestinal tract.
Gonzales Lab
Investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate blood flow in the brain's capillary networks and their role in neurological health and disease.
Gould Lab
Uncovers the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control gut motility using advanced genetic, imaging, and functional approaches.
Grainger Lab
Investigates how the autonomic nervous system and energy production regulate blood vessel function to better understand cardiovascular health and heart failure.
Koh Lab
Investigates the cellular and neural mechanisms that regulate bladder and pyloric sphincter function to improve understanding and treatment of urinary and gastrointestinal disorders.
Mutafova Lab
Investigates how purinergic signaling regulates bladder function and contributes to bladder disorders associated with diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Perrino Lab
Investigates the molecular mechanisms that regulate stomach emptying and nutrient absorption to improve understanding and treatment of digestive disorders.
Renden Lab
Investigates the energy demands of synaptic communication in the brain and how changes in cellular energy use contribute to aging and neurological disease.
Ro Lab
Investigates microRNAs and their role in metabolic and gastrointestinal diseases to develop new treatments for conditions such as diabetes, obesity, fatty liver disease, and gastrointestinal motility disorders.
Sanders Lab
Investigates how smooth muscle, interstitial cells, and the nervous system work together to regulate gastrointestinal motility and bladder function.
Tran Lab
Investigates how interactions between blood vessels and brain cells regulate cerebral blood flow in health and disease.
Von Bartheld Lab
Investigates the causes and risk factors of strabismus and related vision disorders to improve understanding, prevention, and treatment across diverse populations.
Ward Lab
Investigates the cellular mechanisms that regulate pacemaker activity, nerve signaling, and smooth muscle function in gastrointestinal and other visceral organs.