By Research Area
Animal Models of Substance Use Disorder/Addiction
Neurobiological Mechanisms, Potential Treatments, and Sex Differences
Nieh, Edward Horng-An
Understanding the neural code underlying motivated behaviors like feeding, drinking, and social interaction, with a focus on how malfunction in associated brain areas are involved in diseases like addiction and eating disorders
Cardiovascular / Respiratory Biology
We aim to understand the molecular and physiological basis of the heart, lung and blood diseases. The related study of neuronal mechanisms that regulate respiration and blood pressure provides an integrated view of these vital processes. This understanding is leveraged to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Abbott, Stephen
Neurobiology of the autonomic nervous system and the homeostatic control of breathing
Leitinger, Norbert
Role of lipid oxidation products in inflammation and vascular immunology in atherosclerosis and diabetes
Shi, Yingtang
Central respiratory circuits, Mechanisms Underlying Breathing Complexity and Central hypoventilation syndrome
Isakson, Brant
Translating our discoveries in the microcirculation to tangible benefits in patients.
Sheynkman, Gloria M.
Proteoform Systems Biology: proteogenomic approaches to uncover the role of proteomic variation in human disease
Sonkusare, Swapnil
Identify the calcium signaling abnormalities that lead to vascular dysfunction and blood pressure elevation in cardiovascular disorders
Cell Death
Ebrahim, Seham
Cytoskeletal architecture, dynamics and roles in cellular physiology and disease; High-resolution live cell and tissue imaging
Cellular Physiology
Because novel approaches to drug development require a new and comprehensive understanding of cellular organization and communication, the mechanisms by which cells transmit signals within and among cells is an area of emphasis within the Department. The Department of Pharmacology at the University of Virginia has a distinguished scientific history in the study of cellular signaling processes (signal transduction); two recent Nobel Laureates honored for their work deciphering pathways of cellular signaling conducted this work in the Pharmacology Department at the University of Virginia. Today, faculty of the Department of Pharmacology bring to bear a wide range of scientific approaches and technical methods to address fundamental questions of cellular signaling related to neural transmission, hormone and growth factor signaling, cell cycle regulation, neoplasia and regulation of gene expression.
Abbott, Stephen
Neurobiology of the autonomic nervous system and the homeostatic control of breathing
Bland, Michelle
Molecular mechanisms linking innate immune and insulin signaling to control cell growth and metabolism
Martin, Timothy Dean
Identifying tumor selective drug targets, Understanding the genetic drivers of tumor immune evasion
Perez-Reyes, Edward
Exploring epilepsy circuits then preventing seizures using gene therapies. Developing drug-inducible genetic switches for insulin replacement gene therapies.
Shi, Yingtang
Central respiratory circuits, Mechanisms Underlying Breathing Complexity and Central hypoventilation syndrome
Sun, Shengyi Iris
Role of endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation in health and disease
Ebrahim, Seham
Cytoskeletal architecture, dynamics and roles in cellular physiology and disease; High-resolution live cell and tissue imaging
Ewald, Sarah
Innate immunity, chronic disease, host-parasite interactions, Toxoplasma gondii, proteomics
Winckler, Bettina
Endosomal function and dysfunction in neurons. Development of the nervous system: cytoskeleton and membrane traffic in axon and dendrite growth.
Chemical Biology
Combining the concepts and methods of biology, chemistry and other physical sciences often enables us to gain insight and manipulate biological systems with precision. We are using analytical and synthetic chemistry to tackle a variety of problems to probe and manipulate molecular mechanisms of various diseases.
Leitinger, Norbert
Role of lipid oxidation products in inflammation and vascular immunology in atherosclerosis and diabetes
Inflammation
Inflammation contributes to the pathology of various metabolic, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. We aim to understand the molecular, physiological and pathological mechanisms that connect the mediators of inflammation with the onset and progression of various diseases.
Bland, Michelle
Molecular mechanisms linking innate immune and insulin signaling to control cell growth and metabolism
Leitinger, Norbert
Role of lipid oxidation products in inflammation and vascular immunology in atherosclerosis and diabetes
Martin, Timothy Dean
Identifying tumor selective drug targets, Understanding the genetic drivers of tumor immune evasion
Sun, Shengyi Iris
Role of endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation in health and disease
Ebrahim, Seham
Cytoskeletal architecture, dynamics and roles in cellular physiology and disease; High-resolution live cell and tissue imaging
Ewald, Sarah
Innate immunity, chronic disease, host-parasite interactions, Toxoplasma gondii, proteomics
Metabolism
The ongoing epidemic of obesity and metabolic syndrome threatens to burden our healthcare system with unsustainable healthcare costs in the coming decades. We aim to understand and manipulate the molecular mechanisms that contribute to obesity and its associated diseases. This knowledge will contribute to novel pharmacological approaches to check the onset and progression of metabolic diseases.
Bland, Michelle
Molecular mechanisms linking innate immune and insulin signaling to control cell growth and metabolism
Martin, Timothy Dean
Identifying tumor selective drug targets, Understanding the genetic drivers of tumor immune evasion
Nieh, Edward Horng-An
Understanding the neural code underlying motivated behaviors like feeding, drinking, and social interaction, with a focus on how malfunction in associated brain areas are involved in diseases like addiction and eating disorders
Schulman, Ira G.
Regulation of transcription by nuclear hormone receptors, transcriptional control of metabolism and inflammation, small molecule approaches to drug discovery
Sun, Shengyi Iris
Role of endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation in health and disease
Ewald, Sarah
Innate immunity, chronic disease, host-parasite interactions, Toxoplasma gondii, proteomics
Molecular and Systems Neurophysiology
Research in Molecular & Systems Neurophysiology at UVA focuses on the structure and function of neural circuits and systems in a multitude of behaviors and disease states including perception, feeding, drinking, social interactions, as well as diseases and disorders, such as breathing, drug addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s.
Researchers in this group study the neural mechanisms by which information, decisions, and actions are stored, passed along, and performed in the brain and greater CNS. We employ a highly multidisciplinary toolkit, including optogenetics, electrophysiology, multiphoton imaging, computational modeling, and developing the next generation of research tools, from gene therapies to sensor molecules.
Abbott, Stephen
Neurobiology of the autonomic nervous system and the homeostatic control of breathing
Nieh, Edward Horng-An
Understanding the neural code underlying motivated behaviors like feeding, drinking, and social interaction, with a focus on how malfunction in associated brain areas are involved in diseases like addiction and eating disorders
Neuroscience
Neuroscience has emerged as a highly multi-disciplinary science with enduring mysteries. We are exploring many aspects of this discipline at the level of molecules, cells and circuits. Using a variety of experimental approaches, we hope to improve our understanding of neurophysiology as well as neuropathology.
Abbott, Stephen
Neurobiology of the autonomic nervous system and the homeostatic control of breathing
Nieh, Edward Horng-An
Understanding the neural code underlying motivated behaviors like feeding, drinking, and social interaction, with a focus on how malfunction in associated brain areas are involved in diseases like addiction and eating disorders
Perez-Reyes, Edward
Exploring epilepsy circuits then preventing seizures using gene therapies. Developing drug-inducible genetic switches for insulin replacement gene therapies.
Winckler, Bettina
Endosomal function and dysfunction in neurons. Development of the nervous system: cytoskeleton and membrane traffic in axon and dendrite growth.