Faculty
Aging & Stress Cancer Biology Cell & Developmental Biology Disease Models Genomics & Bioinformatics Neurobiology RNA Biology
Affiliated Faculty
![Brian Altman, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/BrianAltman.jpg)
Research Interest:
Role of Circadian Rhythm in in gene regulation and cancer cell biology and metabolism.
![Douglas Anderson, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/DougAnderson.jpg)
Pharmacology & Physiology
Research Interest: LncRNA control of heart development and disease; Discovery and function of micropeptides encoded by putative lncRNAs; Genome-editing by RNA-guided nucleases.
![Jeevisha Bajaj, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/JeevishaBajaj.jpg)
Research Interest: Molecular mechanisms of cancer stem cell interactions with tumor microenvironment in disease progression
![Bradford Berk, M.D., Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/BradfordBerk.jpg)
Pharmacology & Physiology
Neurology
Research Interest:
Signaling transduction mechanisms in the vascular system
![Benoit Biteau, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/BenoitBiteau.jpg)
Research Interest: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms that Control Tissue Homeostasis and Somatic Stem Cells
![Dirk Bohmann, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/DirkBohmann.jpg)
Research Interest:
The biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics of signal-transducing transcription factors and their role in development, aging and disease
Dr. Bohmann works part-time and doesn’t accept new students.
![Paul Boutz, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/PaulBoutz.jpg)
Research Interest: Regulation of pre-mRNA splicing and polyadenylation in healthy and diseased states; the contribution of RNA processing to cancer biology; effects of small molecule drugs on RNA processing and gene expression.
![Michael Bulger, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/MichaelBulger.jpg)
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Research Interest: Chromatin domains and long-range activation by enhancers
![Stephen Dewhurst, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/StephenDewhurst.jpg)
Research Interest:
Understanding the interaction of HIV with glial cells; Developing an improved live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV); Elucidating the host cell response to infection by viral pathogens (with emphasis on SARS-CoV-2 and Adeno-associated virus, AAV)
![Thomas Diekwisch, D.M.D., Ph.D., Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/666a6e55-8dbe-47fb-b16d-4b0cbf739c1d.jpg)
Pharmacology & Physiology
Research Interest:
Our research interests span three areas including epigenetic mechanisms of mitotic cell division, chromatin, heterochromatin, histone variants and modifications; biomineralization of odontogenic tissues and finally generating tools for engineering and regeneration of complex periodontal tissues.
![Mark Dumont, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/MarkDumont.jpg)
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Research Interest: Signal transduction; membrane protein structure, yeast molecular biology
![Dmitri Ermolenko, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/9771ec8a-ab7d-4045-9cb9-39b9b5daa2da.jpg)
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Research Interest:
Structural dynamics of the ribosome and ribosomal ligands during proteins synthesis, regulation of protein synthesis by mRNA structure in normal and diseased cells, and mechanisms of antibiotic action.
![Dragony Fu, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/DragonyFu.jpg)
Research Interest: Nucleic acid modification and repair mechanisms linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, mitochondrial diseases, and cancer.
![Karl Glastad, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/e67f474b-8116-4149-b5f2-baea67014869.jpg)
Plasticity of aging, stress response, and metabolism, as well as behavioral plasticity.
![Vera Gorbunova, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/VeraGorbunova.jpg)
Research Interest:
Mechanisms of aging and the role of DNA repair and genomic instability in the aging process.
![Isaac Harris, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/9aeee0eb-e840-4eb6-bce7-d6a4b9653547.jpg)
Mitochondrial Research and Innovation Group
Biomedical GeneticsResearch Interest:
Understanding the roles of antioxidants in disease
![Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/JeffreyHayes.jpg)
William A. Bernhard Memorial Lab
Biochemistry & BiophysicsResearch Interest: Regulation of transcription, nuclear processes, related to chromatin structure and function
![Aram Hezel, M.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/AramHezel.jpg)
Medicine
Research Interest: The molecular biology and genetics of pancreatic and biliary tract cancers
![Amy Kiernan, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/AmyKiernan.jpg)
Flaum Eye Institute
Biomedical Genetics
Research Interest: Molecular development of the eye and inner ear; anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) and developmental glaucoma; congenital deafness and vestibular dysfunction
![Hartmut Land, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/HartmutLand.jpg)
Biomedical Genetics
Research Interest: Molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Signaling and Cancer Cell Metabolism
![Amanda Larracuente, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/AmandaLarracuente.jpg)
Research Interest: Satellite DNA (repetitive DNA typically found at centromeres and telomeres), Meiotic Drive, and Selfish DNA using genomic, population genetic, molecular and cytological methods.
![Richard Libby, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/RichardLibby.jpg)
Flaum Eye Institute
Ophthalmology
Research Interest: Neurobiology of glaucoma, molecular processes that lead to retinal ganglion cell death.
![Hongbo Liu, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/cfb9ee1f-20a5-4798-818a-961fbd8d2fcd.jpg)
Research Interest:
Functional genome of aging and age-related diseases, with specific focus on human genetic variation, epigenome, and 3D genome, by leveraging the power of large-scale biobanks, single-cell multi-omics technologies, machine-learning/AI models and molecular experiments.
![Lynne Maquat, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/a13da815-56bc-4c04-9b87-2a91fa93043b.jpg)
Research Interest:
RNA metabolism in human cells (nonsense-mediated mRNA decay/mRNA surveillance); influence of pre-mRNA splicing on mRNA translation; Staufen-mediated mRNA decay and Staufen-regulated RNA metabolism; post-transcriptional gene control via lncRNAs and SINEs; miRNA metabolism; Fragile X Mental Retardation Syndrome/Autism; therapeutics of nonsense diseases.
![Thomas Mariani, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/ba85c7f8-03ab-4530-81df-c625ccb18ebf.jpg)
Medicine
Environmental Medicine
Pediatrics
Research Interest:
Genetic and environmental susceptibility to developmental lung injury
![David Mathews, M.D., Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/DavidMathews.jpg)
Research Interest: Computational biology of RNA, including structure prediction, molecular dynamics, and genomics.
![Margot Mayer-Pröschel, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/MargotMayer-Proschel.jpg)
Biomedical Genetics
Research 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.
![Matthew McCall, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/MatthewMcCall.jpg)
Biostatistics & Computational Biology
Research Interest:
Developing methods to estimate gene regulatory networks from gene perturbation experiments
![Helene McMurray, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/HeleneMcMurray.jpg)
Research Interest: Analysis of gene regulatory networks in cancer; role of immunogenetics in transplant
![Stephano Mello, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/StephanoMello.jpg)
Research 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 Murphy, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/afa6f6c4-a41d-44d3-80af-a8089f5ceda2.jpg)
Research Interest:
The genetics, genomics, and chromatin biochemistry of cell state transitions that occur during embryonic development and carcinogenesis.
![Keith Nehrke, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/KeithNehrke.jpg)
Mitochondrial Research and Innovation Group
Pharmacology & PhysiologyMedicine
Research Interest: Integrative Physiology
![Anne Nichols, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/9cd62859-6aa0-48be-8ca1-ddc116a2ba58.jpg)
![Mark Noble, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/MarkNoble.jpg)
Research Interest: Neuro stem cell biology and medicine, developing pharmacological and cell based approaches to peripheral and spinal cord injury.
![Mitchell O'Connell, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/MitchellOConnell.jpg)
Research Interest: Biochemical mechanisms of RNA-mediated gene regulation; RNA-targeting CRISPR tool development
![Michael O'Reilly, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/23e67430-8369-427e-bcdd-6495b223eea0.jpg)
Environmental Medicine
Research Interest:
Defining how an aberrant oxygen environment and oxygen-induced DNA damage signaling alter distal lung development, the host response to respiratory viral infections, and promotes cardiovascular disease later in life
![Alexander Paciorkowski, M.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/AlexPaciorkowski.jpg)
Biomedical Genetics
Neurology
Pediatrics
Research Interest: Pediatric Neurology, Human Genetics
![James Palis, M.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/JamesPalis.jpg)
Pediatrics
Research Interest: Cellular and Molecular events underlying the ontogeny of the hematopoietic system.
![Archibald Perkins, M.D., Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/ArchibaldPerkins.jpg)
Research Interest: Genetic mechanisms in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome with focus on the zinc finger oncoprotein EVI1
![Douglas Portman, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/DouglasPortman.jpg)
Biomedical Genetics
Biology
Research Interest: Neural circuit development and function; Genetic control of behavior; Sex differences in neurobiology
![Christoph Pröschel, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/4e418c10-0f7a-4847-9742-4486b56744a3.jpg)
Research Interest:
Using primarily human pluripotent stem cell models, we examine astrocyte development in normal and pathological conditions, the role of astrocytes in modulating response to injury or stress, the role of altered RNA processing and translation in neural development, and the utility of glial precursor cells and their astrocytic progeny for cell transplantation therapy.
![Jacques Robert, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/JacquesRobert.jpg)
Environmental Medicine
Research Interest: Experimental platform using the amphibian Xenopus for research in immunotoxicology, fundamental and medical immunology
![Marlies Rossmann, M.D., Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/09a4f648-6996-4a6d-8b66-ba886e453569.jpg)
Mitochondrial Research and Innovation Group
Biomedical GeneticsMicrobiology & Immunology
Research Interest:
The role of metabolism in lineage differentiation
![Regina Rowe, M.D., Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/47f427ca-7789-4103-ad0d-7003e1dd59ee.jpg)
Research Interest:
Innate cell antiviral responses, allergic inflammation, mucosal/airway immunity, vaccine responses
![Andrew Samuelson, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/AndrewSamuelson.jpg)
Research Interest: Understanding the genetic, cell biological and molecular basis for age-driven proteostatic deterioration
![Edward Schwarz, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/EdwardSchwarz.jpg)
Urology
Medicine
Biomedical Engineering
Microbiology & Immunology
Orthopaedics
Research Interest: Inflammatory bone loss as seen in rheumatoid arthritis, infections, tumor metastasis and wear debris induced osteolysis around prosthetic implants
![Ruchira Singh, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/d3552cbb-ab5c-4781-8d66-9f36e28b58f4.jpg)
Biomedical Genetics
Ophthalmology
Research 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.
![Eric Small, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/EricSmall.jpg)
Pharmacology & Physiology
Biomedical Engineering
Research Interest:
Cellular and molecular mechanisms of heart development, disease, and regeneration; Transcriptional regulation of fibroblast plasticity and cardiac fibrosis
![Marissa Sobolewski-Terry, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/MarissaSobolewski.jpg)
Neuroscience
Research Interest:
Neurotoxicology, Etiology of neurobehavioral disease, Endocrine dysfunction, Synergistic Toxicity.
![Laurie Steiner, M.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/LaurieSteiner.jpg)
Medicine
Research Interest:
Understanding how regulation of RNA Polymerase II activity regulates cellular differentiation, with a focus on erythropoiesis. Delineating epigenetic control of normal erythropoiesis; determining the contribution of disrupted epigenetic regulation to inherited anemias.
![Gabriella Sterne, PhD](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/6bceb13b-b0ce-4b65-95bd-386019bb23d5.jpg)
Neuroscience
Research Interest:
Understanding the neural circuit mechanisms that generate and shape complex feeding behaviors
![Martha Susiarjo, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/MarthaSusiarjo.jpg)
Research Interest:
Our research program focuses on mechanisms underlying gene environment interaction in pregnancy. We are interested in elucidating how environmental factors influence epigenetic regulation of developmental-relevant genes including imprinted genes, and how exposure modulates maternal-fetal health.
![Michael Telias, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/f0604c35-df87-4cb2-94d1-cb277d404338.jpg)
Flaum Eye Institute
Neuroscience
Pharmacology & Physiology
Research Interest:
Retinal degeneration and maladaptive plasticity in inner retinal circuits.
![Juilee Thakar, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/JuileeThakar.jpg)
Program for Advanced Immune Bioimaging
Microbiology & ImmunologyResearch Interest: Systems approach utilizing bioinformatics, and dynamic modeling tools to study immune response to infections and vaccination.
![Charles Thornton, M.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/CharlesThornton.jpg)
Neuroscience
Research Interest: Myotonic dystrophy, repeat expansion diseases, and therapeutic development for neuromuscular disorders.
![Paula Vertino, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/PaulaVertino.jpg)
Research Interest: Cancer epigenetics: the role of DNA methylation and chromatin in driving cancer phenotypes and as a target for therapeutic intervention
![Ning Wang, PhD](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/uploads/1/6da6b52d-ce80-4ee5-b022-83a111af4f0f.jpg)
Research Interest:
Cell biology, biochemistry, and molecular genetics; Organelle biogenesis; Organelle degradation through selective autophagy; Organelle aging and neurodegeneration; Cellular stress response
![Michael Welte, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/MichaelWelte.jpg)
Research Interest: How microtubule motors, such as kinesins and dyneins, transport organelles and other cargoes throughout the cell.
![Jack Werren, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/JackWerren.jpg)
![Andrew Wojtovich, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/AndrewWojtovich.jpg)
Mitochondrial Research and Innovation Group
Pharmacology & PhysiologyAnesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Research Interest: Optogenetics to study the roles of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in mitochondrial physiology and stress signaling.
![Peng Yao, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/PengYao.jpg)
Mitochondrial Research and Innovation Group
Biochemistry & BiophysicsMedicine
Research Interest:
Pathophysiological function and molecular mechanism of new non-coding RNAs and RNA-binding proteins and translational control in cardiac system and cardiovascular disease
![Jiyong Zhao, Ph.D.](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroscience/_shared/img/faculty/JiyongZhao.jpg)
Research Interest: Signal transduction and development of therapeutic agents in B-lymphomas; Cell cycle regulation