People
Ira Schulman
My research has focused on the regulation of gene expression by nuclear hormone receptors with a strong emphasis on defining the mechanistic basis for ligand-dependent transcriptional regulation. Prior to moving to UVa in 2008 I spent 12 years working in the biotech industry exploring nuclear receptors as drug targets for metabolic disease. During my time in biotech I helped lead 3 drug discovery projects (liver X receptors, farnesoid X receptors, mineralocorticoid receptor) to the clinical development stage culminating in 2019 with the approval of novel MR antagonist (Esaxerenone) for treating hypertension.
At UVA, our work combines detailed mechanistic studies in vitro with the use of animal models of cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, liver disease, and inflammation. We have put in place systems to measure nuclear receptor activity that range from using purified recombinant proteins in biochemical assays to examining tissue-specific knockouts introduced into disease susceptible mouse models.
Alumni
Sarah Breevoort
Ph.D. 2014, MD 2017
Currently Resident Physician, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Utah.
Irena Ignatova
Postdoctoral Fellow 2010-2104
Currently Associate Director, Non-Clinical Research AAV-Gene Therapy, Ultragenyx.
Anna Belorusova
Postdoctoral Fellow Co-Mentored with AstraZeneca 2016-2020
Currently Scientist and Project Lead, ZoBio.
Lily Russo-Savage
Laboratory Technician 2020-2021
Currently Graduate Student, Neuroscience Program, University of Vermont.
Sung Han (Henry) Chan
Laboratory Technician 2013-2014
Currently Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Genetics, Yale University.
Erin Moran
Laboratory Technician 2011-2012
Currently Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia.
Undergraduate Researchers
- Molly Owens 2020-2021, Laboratory Research Associate ZielBio
- Sophie Liebergall 2016-2020, MD-Ph.D. Program. University of Pennsylvania
- Punit Barot 2016-2017, Medical Student, VCU
- Alexys Gray 2016-2017, Occupational Therapist
- Jin-Ju (Pearl) Kim 2012-2014 MD, Internal Medicine Resident, Inova Hospital
- Jess Floro 2009-2010 Ph.D., Scientist Rome Therapeutics