In the postgenomic age, two major trends have revolutionized medical research. First, systems biology has integrated traditional life science disciplines with quantitative sciences of mathematics, engineering and computer science to address complex problems in human biology and medicine. Second, the marked advances in cell and molecular biology have allowed scientists to move knowledge from "bench to bedside" in the new field of translational medicine. The Systems and Translational Biology track in the medical sciences program provides students with knowledge and tools to investigate human biology and medicine at the leading edge of medical research.

Gianfranco Alpini, Ph.D. -- Temple
Professor
Internal Medicine
Research Interests: The pathophysiology of intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells or cholangiocytes, which line the intrahepatic biliary tree inside the liver.

Kenneth M. Baker, M.D. -- Temple
Professor
Division of Molecular Cardiology
Research Interests: Understanding the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that regulate cardiac cell growth.

Troy A. Baudino, Ph.D. -- Temple
Associate Professor
Molecular Cardiology
Research Interests: Dynamic Interaction Between Cardiac Fibroblasts, Myocytes and the ECM; Defining the Role of MYC During Cardiac Development and Disease

Kayla J. Bayless, Ph.D. -- College Station
Assistant Professor
Molecular & Cellular Medicine
Research Interests: Endothelial Invasion of 3D Matrices; Extracellular Matrix Biology

Heather L. Bradley-Francis -- Temple
Assistant Professor
Internal Medicin
Research Interests: Histamine related liver disease and liver cancer. Mast cell biology and the function of mast cells during liver injury. Bile acid effects on liver damage and repair during models of liver regeneration, cholestasis or liver cancer.

Sharon DeMorrow, Ph.D. -- Temple
Assistant Professor
Internal Medicine
Research Interests: Liver cancer - Cholangiocarcinoma

David Dostal, Ph.D. -- Temple
Associate Professor
Cardiovascular Research Institute
Research Interests: The major focus of my research is to understand the pathophysiology of cardiac hypertrophy. Two major areas of research include: (1) mechanical activation of proximal signaling pathways involved in regulation of the cardiac renin-angiotensin system in the cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts with respect to myocardial hypertrophy and remodeling, and (2) pathological effects of anthrax lethal toxin on MAP kinase and Akt signaling pathways in the context of systolic and diastolic function and myocardial survival.

Anatoliy Gashev, Ph.D. -- Temple
Associate Professor
Systems Biology & Translational Medicine
Research Interests: 1) To determine the age-related changes in the sensitivity of lymphatic vessels to transmural pressure and to evaluate their adaptive contractile reserves. 2) To determine the age-related changes in the active mechanical properties of the lymphatic vessels. 3) To determine the age-related changes in the mechanisms of flow/NO-dependent regulation of lymphatic contractions. 4) To investigate the molecular mechanisms of age-related alterations in the regulation of lymphatic contractility and to develop an experimental model to improve the pump function of aged lymphatic vessels using the genetic/transfections and pharmacological tools.

Shannon Glaser, Ph.D. -- Temple
Professor
Internal Medicine
Research Interests:

Harris J. Granger, Ph.D. -- Temple
Distinguished Professor and Head
Systems Biology & Translational Medicine
Research Interests My research focuses on cell signaling mechanisms and the physiology of postcapillary venules. Postcapillary venules are the primary sites of angiogenesis, inflammation, and the extravasation of fluid, proteins, leukocytes and tumor cells.

David P. Huston, M.D. -- Houston
Professor
Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis
Research Interests: The overall goal of his laboratory is to understand mechanisms regulating inflammation and thereby develop strategies for modulating immune responses.

Lih Kuo, Ph.D. -- Temple
Professor
Systems Biology & Translational Medicine
Research Interests: The overall goal of his laboratory is to understand mechanisms regulating inflammation and thereby develop strategies for modulating immune responses.

Steve Maxwell, Ph.D. -- College Station
Associate Professor
Molecular & Cellular Medicine
Research Interests Primary interests include Cancer; Oncogenes; Tumor Suppressor; Genes Programmed Cell Death (apoptosis); Chemoresistance, and Angiogenesis

Cynthia J. Meininger, Ph.D. -- Temple
Professor
Systems Biology & Translational Medicine
Research Interests: Endothelial Cell Dysfunction in Diabetes

Brett Mitchell, Ph.D. -- Temple
Assistant Professor
Internal Medicine
Research Interests: Immunophilins, Endothelial Function, and Blood Pressure Regulation

Mariappan Muthuchamy, Ph.D. -- College Station
Associate Professor
Systems Biology & Translational Medicine
Research Interests The main goal of our laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanisms of cardiac muscle dynamics in normal and diseased states.

Srinath Palakurthi, Ph.D. -- Kingsville
Associate Professor
Pharmaceutical Services
Research Interests Design of novel polymers for gene therapy, polymer-based nanoparticles for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics for the treatment of ovarian cancer, mucosal delivery of chemotherapeutics and antigens and cellular trafficking of nanoconstructs.

Janet L. Parker, Ph.D. -- College Station
Professor
Systems Biology & Translational Medicine
Research Interests Briefly, research in my laboratory involves areas of cardiovascular pathophysiology and chronic adaptive responses of the heart and vasculature to stress (i.e., chronic coronary occlusion, exercise training).

Xu Peng, M.D., Ph.D. -- Temple
Assistant Professor
Systems Biology & Translational Medicine
Research Interests: Our long-term goal is to explore and define novel genetic mechanisms that are involved in cardiovascular disease which can ultimately translate into potential strategies for its treatment.

Darwin J. Prockop, M.D. -- Temple
Director
Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine
Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Scott & White
Research Interests:

H. Wayne Sampson, Ph.D. -- Temple/College Station
Professor
Systems Biology & Translation Medicine
Research Interests: This laboratory is concerned with the broad spectrum of bone and mineral metabolism. The process of the initiation of mineralization and the effect of nutrition upon the development of osteoporosis are two major areas of concentration.

Manjit K. Sanghera Ph.D. -- Temple
Neuroscience Institute
Scott & White Hospital
Research Interests: Neurophysiologial mapping to treat Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis and dystonia. A current research interest is the underlying mechanisms of the pathophysiology of Parkinson's Disease.

Andreea Trache, Ph.D. -- College Station
Assistant Professor
Systems Biology & Translational Medicine
Research Interests: My research focuses on the application of advances in physics/optics to the study of biological phenomena at the cellular level. I am interested in developing technologies with unique capabilities that are broadly applicable across biological problems.

Jerome P. Trzeciakowski, Ph.D. -- College Station
Professor
Systems Biology & Translational Medicine
Research Interests: Biomathematics, particularly the application of nonlinear dynamics, signal processing techniques and pattern analysis to pharmacological and physiological systems.

Vincent J. VanBuren, Ph.D. -- Temple
Assistant Professor
Systems Biology & Translational Medicine
Research Interests: Computational Systems Biology

Emily Wilson, Ph.D. -- College Station
Associate Professor
Director of Graduate Studies
Systems Biology & Translational Medicine
Research Interests: The goals of my lab are to understand the role of mechanical forces in vascular growth and remodeling processes.

David C. Zawieja, Ph.D. -- Temple
Professor
Associate Department Head
Systems Biology & Translational Medicine
Research Interests: To investigates the microcirculatory movement of fluid and macromolecules. Our interests include the control and regulation of fluid and macromolecular exchange and transport throughout the three microcirculatory compartments: the microvascular compartment, the interstitial compartment, and the lymphatic compartment.

Shenyuan Zhang, Ph.D. -- Temple
Assistant Professor
Systems Biology and Translational Medicine
Research Interests: I am interested in the Ca2+ signaling transduction network. My goal is to discover and understand the missing pieces of this big puzzle, using techniques of molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics.

Warren E. Zimmer, Ph.D. -- College Station
Professor
Systems Biology & Translational Medicine
Research Interests: Gene Regulation, Development, Cancer and Genetic Therapies Dr. Zimmer's laboratory is interested in understanding how genes work in development and disease.