URMC / Biomedical Genetics / Faculty Faculty Primary FacultySecondary FacultyPrimary FacultyBrian J. Altman, Ph.D.Email BrianAltmanAltman LabResearch Interest: Role of Circadian Rhythm in in gene regulation and cancer cell biology and metabolism. John Ashton, Ph.D.Email JohnAshtonCo-Director of the Rochester Genomics CenterDirector, Wilmot Cancer Institute Shared ResourcesDirector, Functional Genomics ResourceJeevisha Bajaj, Ph.D.Email JeevishaBajajBajaj LabResearch Interest: Molecular mechanisms of cancer stem cell interactions with tumor microenvironment in disease progressionBenoit Biteau, Ph.D.Email BenoitBiteauBiteau LabResearch Interest: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms that Control Tissue Homeostasis and Somatic Stem CellsDirk Bohmann, Ph.D.Email DirkBohmannBohmann LabResearch Interest: The biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics of signal-transducing transcription factors and their role in development, aging and diseaseIsaac Harris, Ph.D.Email IsaacHarrisHarris LabResearch Interest: Understanding the roles of antioxidants in diseaseHartmut Land, Ph.D.Email HartmutLandLand LabResearch Interest: Molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Signaling and Cancer Cell MetabolismMargot Mayer-Pröschel, Ph.D.Email MargotMayer-PröschelMayer-Pröschel LabResearch Interest: Identification of different stem and precursor cell pools in CNS that may be critical for cell replacement therapies or are targets of insults that lead to developmental pathologies. Stephano Mello, Ph.D.Email StephanoMelloMello LabResearch Interest: Understanding how nuclear proteins and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) regulate gene transcription in pancreatic preneoplastic lesions, gaining knowledge of the process of cellular transformation and tumor initiation.Patrick J. Murphy, Ph.D.Email PatrickMurphyPatrick Murphy LabResearch Interest: The genetics, genomics, and chromatin biochemistry of cell state transitions that occur during embryonic development and carcinogenesis.Mark Noble, Ph.D.Email MarkNobleNoble LabResearch Interest: Neuro stem cell biology and medicine, developing pharmacological and cell based approaches to peripheral and spinal cord injury. Catherine E. Ovitt, Ph.D.Email CatherineOvittOvitt LabResearch Interest: Protective and regenerative strategies for salivary gland function and radiation therapies.Douglas Portman, Ph.D.Email DouglasPortmanPortman LabResearch Interest: Neural circuit development and function; Genetic control of behavior; Sex differences in neurobiologyChristoph Pröschel, Ph.D.Email ChristophPröschelPröschel LabResearch Interest: Glial progenitor cells and role of astrocytes as critical modulators in CNS disease and repair Andrew V. Samuelson, Ph.D.Email AndrewSamuelsonSamuelson LabResearch Interest: Understanding the genetic, cell biological and molecular basis for age-driven proteostatic deteriorationPaula M. Vertino, Ph.D.Email PaulaVertinoVertino LabResearch Interest: Cancer epigenetics: the role of DNA methylation and chromatin in driving cancer phenotypes and as a target for therapeutic interventionJiyong Zhao, Ph.D.Email JiyongZhaoLand LabZhao LabResearch Interest: Signal transduction and development of therapeutic agents in B-lymphomas; Cell cycle regulationSecondary FacultyKate G. Ackerman, M.D.Email KateAckermanResearch Interest: Genetics of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in lung development Daniel Bergstralh, Ph.D.Email DanielBergstralhBergstralh LabResearch Interest: Investigating cell division and adhesion in epithelial tissues, with a particular interest in how tissue integrity is established and maintained during development.Aram Francis Hezel, M.D.Email AramHezelResearch Interest: The molecular biology and genetics of pancreatic and biliary tract cancers Amy Kiernan, Ph.D.Email AmyKiernanKiernan LabResearch Interest: Molecular development of the eye and inner ear; anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) and developmental glaucoma; congenital deafness and vestibular dysfunction Richard Libby, Ph.D.Email RichardLibbyLibby LabResearch Interest: Neurobiology of glaucoma, molecular processes that lead to retinal ganglion cell death. Thomas Mariani, Ph.D.Email ThomasMarianiMariani LabResearch Interest: Genetic mechanisms of susceptibility to chronic lung diseases, focusing on developmental antecedents and influence of environmental factors. Matthew McCall, Ph.D.Email MatthewMcCallResearch Interest: Developing methods to estimate gene regulatory networks from gene perturbation experimentsAlexander R. Paciorkowski, M.D.Email AlexanderPaciorkowskiPaciorkowski LabResearch Interest: Pediatric Neurology, Human GeneticsJames Palis, M.D.Email JamesPalisPalis LabResearch Interest: Cellular and Molecular events underlying the ontogeny of the hematopoietic system. Ruchira Singh, Ph.D.Email RuchiraSinghSingh LabResearch Interest: Using patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to study the molecular mechanism of specific retinal and neurological diseases and applying that knowledge to pharmacologically target certain retinal disorders in patient-derived cells.