Faculty

More than 60 faculty support the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program as teachers and mentors.

Anastasiadis, Panagiotis Z., Ph.D. (Jacksonville)
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Anastasiadis.Panos@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Bajzer, Zeljko, Ph.D. (Rochester)
Associate Professor of Biophysics
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
bajzer@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Mathematical modeling and data analysis in biochemistry, biophysics, and biomedical sciences in general with special emphasis on nonlinear phenomena
  
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Billadeau, Daniel D., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Associate Professor of Immunology
billadeau.daniel@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Bolander, Mark E., M.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Orthopedics
bolander.mark@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Burghardt, Thomas P., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
burghardt@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Dynamics and structure of contractile proteins
  
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Research interests...

Research interests:

• Tumorigenesis and the mechanisms of antitumor agents
  
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Copland, John A. III, Ph.D. (Jacksonville)
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
copland.john@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Couch, Fergus J., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Associate Professor of Laboratory Medicine
couch.fergus@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Genetic, molecular biological, and epidemiological studies of breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer
  
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Eberhardt, Norman L., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Associate Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Professor of Medicine
eberhardt@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Basic research studies involving endocrine systems, including the pituitary, pancreas, and thyroid
  
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Edwards, Albert O., M.D., Ph.D. (Rochester)
edwards.albert@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• discovery of genetic variants that increase the risk of macular degeneration
• identification of genes that cause macular dystrophies and vitreoretinal degenerations
• understanding the pathophysiology and biology genetic variants

Federspiel, Mark J., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Associate Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
federspiel.mark@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Manipulate viral genes to interfere with viral replication
  
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Gendler, Sandra J., Ph.D. (Arizona)
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
gendler.sandra@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Tumor cell biology
• Mucins in cancer and cystic fibrosis
• Immunotherapy
  
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Gores, Gregory J., M.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Physiology and Professor of Medicine
gores.gregory@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Mechanisms of liver cell death
• Mechanisms by which cancer cells escape from cell death in order to undergo malignant transformation and metastases
  
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Grande, Joseph P., M.D., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Pathology
grande.joseph@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Understanding of basic mechanisms of fibrogenesis
  
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Harris, Peter, C., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Professor of Medicine
harris.peter@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Polycystic kidney disease
  
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Hedin, Karen E., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Assistant Professor of Immunology
hedin.karen@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Molecular mechanisms and biological impact of chemokine receptor signaling
  
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Horazdovsky, Bruce F., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Associate Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
horazdovsky.bruce@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Dysregulation of intracellular protein trafficking events that occur in cancer and neurodegenerative disease
  
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Isaya, Grazia, M.D., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
isaya@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Mitochondrial genetics
  
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Janknecht, Ralf G., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Associate Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
janknecht.ralf@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Gene expression control
  
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Jenkins, Robert B., M.D., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Laboratory Medicine
rjenkins@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Elucidation of the genetic events important for cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis
  
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Katzmann, David J., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
katzmann.david@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Protein sorting/receptor downregulation
  
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Kaufmann, Scott H., M.D., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Medicine
kaufmann.scott@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Biochemical basis for cell killing
• Causes for cancer cells resistance to drugs
  
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LaRusso, Nicholas F., M.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Professor of Medicine
larusso.nicholas@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Hepatic epithelial cell function and dysfunction
  
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Lee, James J., Ph.D. (Arizona)
Associate Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
jjlee@mayo.edu

• Molecular mechanisms regulating cell determination during mammalian hematopoiesis and embryonic development
  
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Lee, Nancy A., Ph.D. (Arizona)
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
nlee@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the recruitment of pro-inflammatory cells to sites of chronic inflammation
  
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Leof, Edward B., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Professor of Medicine
leof.edward@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Understanding the pathway(s) downstream of TGF-? receptor binding
  
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Research interests...

Lingle, Wilma L., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Assistant Professor of Pathology
lingle.wilma@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Centrosome amplification in the development of cancer
  
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Liu, Wanguo, Ph.D. (Rochester)
Assistant Professor of Pathology
liu.wanguo@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Cancer gene discovery using pathway-based candidacy techniques
  
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Lloyd, Ricardo V., M.D., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Pathology
lloyd.ricardo@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Molecular pathogenesis of pituitary and carcinoid tumors as models of endocrine tumor development and progression
  
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Research interests:

• Determination of 3-D structure of polypeptides and small proteins in solution
• Techniques for separation of structural and dynamical parameters and structure refinement
• Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study of internal mobility of proteins
• 1H, 31P and 13C spectroscopy of metabolites in vivo
  
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Research interests:

• DNA flexibility and bending
• Artificial control of gene expression
  
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McCormick, Daniel J., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology
mccormick.daniel@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Structure-function relationships of proteins in order to understand the specific molecular interaction(s) of protein ligands to receptors on the cell surface
  
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McMurray, Cynthia T., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Pharmacology
mcmurray.cynthia@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Huntington's diesease
• Schizophrenia
• Receptor-mediated gene expression
• Trinucleotide expansion
• DNA-protein interactions
  
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Research interests:

• Neurite extension and migration
• Synaptic morphogenesis
• Endocytosis at the synapse
  
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Mer, Georges, Ph.D. (Rochester)
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
mer.georges@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Formation and regulation of macromolecular assemblies that underlie biological functions
  
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Miller, Laurence J., M.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
ljm@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• G Protein-coupled receptor structure, function and regulation
• Ligand-receptor interaction
• Photoaffinity labeling
  
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Mukhopadhyay, Debabrata, Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
mukhopadhyay.debabrata@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Ogut, Ozgur, Ph.D. (Rochester)
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
ogut.ozgur@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Oursler, Merry Jo, Ph.D. (Rochester)
Associate Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Professor of Medicine
oursler.merry@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Cell biology of bone cells
  
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Owen, Whyte G., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology
wgo@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Control of thrombin specificity in platelet signaling
• Enzymology of mouse thrombin and platelets
• Angiogenesis from the vasa vasora
• Membrane-binding structure of prothrombin fragment 1
• Platelet transfusion
• Marked platelets in the presymptomatic diagnosis of atherosclerosis
  
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Pagano, Richard E., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
pagano.richard@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Endocytosis, sorting, and intracellular transport of lipids
• Lipid storage diseases
• Cholesterol and sphingolipids
  
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Research interests:

• Infections in solid organ transplant recipients
  
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Research interests:

• Melanoma
  
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Prendergast, Franklyn G., M.D., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Pharmacology and Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
prendergast@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Fluorescence spectroscopy
• Protein structure and dynamics
• Biochemistry and bioluminescence
  
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Radisky, Derek C., Ph.D. (Jacksonville)
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Radisky.Derek@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Radisky, Evette S., Ph.D. (Jacksonville)
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Radisky.Evette@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Research interests...

Research interests:

• Oncolytic virotherapy
• Cancer gene therapy
• Virus targeting
  
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Salisbury, Jeffrey L., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
salisbury@mayo.edu

Research interests...

shah.vijay@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Hepatic vascular biology and function
  
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Shridhar, Vijayalakshmi (Viji), Ph.D. (Rochester)
Associate Professor of Pathology
Shridhar.Vijayalakshmi@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Simari, Robert D., M.D. (Rochester)
Associate Professor of Medicine
simari.ropert@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Identify novel mechanisms of vascular disease
• Develop novel therapeutic strategies
• Test vectors in relevant animal models
• Design clinical gene transfer studies
  
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Smith, David F., Ph.D. (Arizona)
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
smith.david26@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Research interests:

• Genomic instability in cancer
• Role of the common fragile sites in cancer development
• Genetics of ovarian cancer
  
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Spelsberg, Thomas C., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
spelsberg.thomas@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• The mechanism of action of a tumor suppressor gene, TIEG, in TGF-B --Smad action pathway in bone cells and cancer cells
• The mechanism of action of estrogens on gene expression in bone cells and cancer cells: Role of coregulators and ER isoforms
• Mechanisms on calcification of heart valves and the roles of statins
  
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Storz, Peter, Ph.D. (Jacksonville)
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Storz.Peter@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Strehler, Emanuel E., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
strehler.emanuel@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Calcium signaling and calcium homeostasis in health and disease
• Plasma membrane calcium pumps and calcium sensor proteins (calmodulin, calmodulin-like proteins)
• Protein-protein interactions in the assembly and regulation of calcium “signalosomes”
  
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Research interests...

Professor of Laboratory Medicine
thibodeau.stephen@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Thomas, Charles F. Jr., M.D. (Rochester)
Associate Professor of Medicine
thomas.charles@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
thompson.aubrey@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Gene structure, function and control of gene expression as it applies to regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and death
  
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Tindall, Donald J., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Urology
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology

Research interests:

• Androgens
• Prostate cancer
  
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Research interests:

• The mechanism of action of molecular chaperones
• Protein folding and processing
• Steroid receptors and hormone action
  
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Assistant Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
urrutia.raul@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Molecular mechanisms of transcriptional regulation
• Cell differentiation
  
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van Deursen, Jan M., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Associate Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
vandeursen.jan@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Molecular basis of human cancer
  
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Weinshilboum, Richard M., M.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine
weinshilboum.richard@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Pharmacogenetics
• Drug metabolism
• Methylation pharmacogenetics
• Sulfation pharmacogenetics
  
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Research interests:

• Elucidating the molecular and genetic basis of cell proliferation in the nervous system
  
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Wieben, Eric D., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
wieben.eric@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Pharmacogenetics of phase II drug metabolizing enzymes
  
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Xu, Xiaolei, Ph.D. (Rochester)
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Xu.Xiaolei@mayo.edu

Research interests...

Young, Charles Y., Ph.D. (Rochester)
Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Professor of Urology
young.charles@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Prostate cancer research
  
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Assistant Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
zhang.zhiguo@mayo.edu

Research interests:

• Epigenetic silencing and epigenetic cause of cancer
  
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