A quality training program is founded on strong mentorship. The Penn State CTSI is fortunate to have dozens of outstanding faculty at both the Hershey and University Park campuses.
The following faculty are currently listed as CTSI training faculty. Additional faculty will be added in association with new translational research clusters. If you would like to apply to be a faculty mentor, please download an application here.
College of Medicine |
University Park |
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Leann Birch, PhD |
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Doug Cavener, PhD |
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Donna Fick, RN, PhD |
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Larry Kenney, PhD |
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Andrea Mastro, PhD |
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Webb Miller, PhD |
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Joy Pate, PhD |
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David Proctor, PhD |
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Barbara Rolls, PhD |
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Catherine Ross, PhD |
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Rob Turrisi, PhD |
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Jack Vanden Heuvel, PhD |
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Nancy Williams, PhD |
BIRCH, LEANN. Dr. Birch’s research investigates factors that influence the developing controls of food intake from infancy through adolescence. This research focuses on both predictors and consequences of eating behavior, including a focus on the development of food preferences, and on problems of energy balance, particularly obesity, dieting, and disordered eating. Ongoing research investigates individual, familial, and other contextual factors, which influence the developing controls of food intake. Other projects include an investigation of relations among feeding, sleeping and growth in infants during the first year of life, and their subsequent influence on children’s eating, growth, and weight status; research on the effects of altering energy density and portion size of meals and snacks on preschool children’s energy intake; and a 10 year longitudinal study of the development of the controls of food intake among young girls, with a focus on the emergence of weight concerns, dieting, and problems of energy balance, including childhood obesity and disordered eating. This research contributes understanding how girls’ weight status is linked to their developing sense of self during middle childhood.
CAVENER, DOUGLAS. Dr. Cavener’s research is focused on the regulation of developmental and physiological processes that are mediated by translational control of gene expression and are related to major human diseases including diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, and malnutrition. Mouse genetic model systems are used in conjunction with cellular and molecular techniques to explore the role of the family of eIF2 alpha kinases in control key aspects of development, metabolism, and physiology. Current research is focused on regulation of the insulin secreting beta cells and osteoblasts by the PERK eIF2 alpha kinase. Deficiency in PERK result in the Wolcott Rallison syndrome in humans, which has been shown to be perfectly recapitulated in mice. PERK deficiency results in permanent neonatal diabetes, osteopenia, growth retardation, and other metabolic dysfunctions. Studies on the GCN2 eIF2 alpha kinase are focused on GCN2’s role in regulating amino acid, fat, and glucose metabolism during malnutrition and GCN2’s role in the brain in regulating behavior.
CONNOR, JAMES. Dr. Connor is interested in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which cells regulate their iron status. Iron is essential for normal function but at the same time too much iron can be toxic. When the mechanisms that regulate iron levels become dysfunctional either through damage, disease or genetic modification cell behavior is abnormal and they die. Much of the work has focused on mechanisms responsible for regulating iron in the brain. They have shown that too little iron during perinatal development will result in hypomyelination and that too much iron can contribute to a number of neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. In contrast, there is too little iron in the brain in Restless Legs Syndrome. To determine the mechanism(s) for brain iron delivery and the regulation of those mechanisms the lab has focused on a number of mouse and rat mutants as a model of human diseases in which the ability to acquire, mobilize or store iron has been disrupted. They have also shown that the Hfe gene is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
DONAHUE, HENRY. Dr. Donahue’s laboratory studies the regulation of bone and cartilage cell metabolism by extracellular signals, both chemical and biophysical, the mechanism by which these signals interact with cell membranes and how aging affects these processes. Current work focuses on cytosolic Ca2+ regulation and includes studies on the mechanisms by which hormones and biophysical factors interact with the cell membrane to facilitate Ca2+ influx. Dr Donahue also has an interest in intercellular communication and has shown that gap junctions appear to play a role in signal transduction and cellular differentiation. A long term goal of his research is to examine the effect of aging on the cell processes outlined above. They have undertaken projects which will identify age-induced changes in signal transduction in bone cells. The lab is also examining the role of gap junctional communication in tumorigenesis and bone metastasis, and has found that the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells is at least partly related to alterations in gap junction expression and function.
FICK, DONNA. Dr. Fick’s research is related to delirium in persons with dementia and inappropriate medication use in older adults, including the inappropriate use of central nervous system active medications in persons with dementia—and health outcomes and healthcare utilization associated with the use of these medications in older adults. This work has utilized administrative databases and clinical data to describe the cost and clinical outcomes of these medications in older adults in managed care and in persons with dementia. Dr. Fick updated and was principal investigator of the Beer’s Criteria for inappropriate medication use in older adults. This work published in Archives of Internal Medicine in 2003 has been utilized and cited by over 200 national and international studies. Reducing inappropriate medication use in older adults using the Beer’s Criteria is another focus of her work. Dr. Fick is also conducting a study on delirium in persons with dementia describing outcomes and risk factors for delirium in persons with dementia and nursing recognition of delirium in acute care settings. Her current work is an intervention for translating evidence into community settings using information technology and systems theory to facilitate the recognition and management of delirium in older adults.
FLOROS, JOANNA. Dr. Floros studies the mechanisms that may contribute to the individual variability in pulmonary disease susceptibility using the surfactant protein genes as a model system. Identification of genetic variants of candidate genes that may associate with susceptibility to lung disease and/or disease severity. In addition, her lab studies the impact of environmental pollution and ozone in particular on human lung injury in the presence or absence of infection.
JENSEN, GORDON. Dr. Jensen’s research interests have focused largely on geriatric nutrition concerns. He is a lead investigator in a USDA-supported cohort study of 21,000 older Pennsylvanians that seeks to relate nutritional status to health outcomes. A major limitation in the identification of elders at nutritional risk has been the lack of valid methodologies that have been tested in rigorous research studies with well-defined outcome measures. His team has therefore emphasized the development and testing of nutrition screening and assessment tools in relation to specific functional and health care resource outcomes for older persons. In particular he has focused upon the impact of obesity on these outcomes. Significant observations include a surging prevalence of obesity among older persons that is associated with a growing burden of co-morbid disease and functional decline. Poor quality diets are associated with micronutrient deficiencies that further impact upon health outcomes.
KENNEY, WILLIAM LAWRENCE. Dr. Kenney’s laboratory studies human thermoregulation and the biophysics of heat transfer between resting and exercising humans and the environment. Specifically, investigations involve elucidating the neural and cardiovascular mechanisms that control cutaneous blood flow during whole-body and local heating and cooling. Of particular interest are neurovascular changes that occur in aged skin and those associated with hypercholesterolemia.
KOLANOWSKI, ANN. Dr. Kolanowski’s program of research focuses on the use of non-pharmacological interventions to improve quality of life in nursing home residents with dementia. She has investigated factors associated with behavioral symptoms of dementia, such as aggression, wandering and screaming. Her findings support the concept that cognitive function, physical function and personality are associated with these behaviors in the nursing home. Based on these findings, she developed a method for prescribing recreational activities that are tailored to these risk factors, and has tested their efficacy in clinical trials. Initial findings indicate that when residents receive activities matched to their cognitive and physical function and personality style of interest, they exhibit less agitation, less passivity, more engagement and greater positive affect than when receiving non-tailored activities. Dr.
Kolanowski is now collaborating with colleagues on the use of cognitive activities for promoting cognitive reserve and reducing the severity, duration and health care costs of delirium in persons with dementia.
LANG, CHARLES. Dr. Lang’s major research interest relates to elucidating the mechanisms responsible for and the role of skeletal muscle as a contributor to the innate immune response produced by various inflammatory conditions. The research tests the hypothesis that in various catabolic conditions, such as sepsis, alcoholism, and diabetes, the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is regulated by the endogenous production of various inflammatory cytokines (eg, IL-6, TNF) and glucocorticoids, and that changes in the various components of this system are capable of impairing muscle protein balance. Although the mechanisms responsible for the stress-induced increase in muscle proteolysis (eg, increased atrogene expression) have been examined, the focus of the laboratory is on elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which catabolic states impair mRNA translation in general and mTOR-dependent regulation of translation initiation in particular in skeletal muscle under basal conditions and in response to nutrient (eg, leucine) and hormonal (insulin and IGF-I) stimulation. Finally, the laboratory is interested in the mechanism by which diabetes increases morbidity and morality induced by bacterial infection, as evidenced by the worsening insulin resistance.
LEGRO, RICHARD. Dr. Legro’s research focus is the pathogenesis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. He has been part of a longstanding consortium examining phenotype genotype correlations in PCOS that has been continuously funded for the last 14 years, and specifically the role of insulin resistance in the pathophysiology of the syndrome. He is particularly interested in identifying treatments that improve ovulatory function to address infertility and menstrual related complaints in the syndrome. He is currently the lead investigator on several trials testing a variety of treatment regimens – including lifestyle changes, aromatase inhibitors, oral contraceptive pill pretreatment, and statins that induce ovulation. He has also begun to study pregnancy and the offspring of women with PCOS to better understand the fetal origins of the syndrome.
LEUENBERGER, URS. Dr. Leuenberger’s research is in the area of neurocirculatory control and integrative physiology in humans. These studies explore cardiovascular reflex mechanisms engaged by physiologic stress and how they are altered in disease states such as heart failure, sleep apnea and peripheral arterial disease. Recent investigations have focused on how oxidative stress affects neurocirculatory regulation and may contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. The experimental techniques employed in this work include ultrasound to measure regional blood flow, microneurography to directly measure peripheral sympathetic nerve traffic, microdialysis to measure interstitial vasoactive metabolites, as well as systemic and regional pharmacological probes. These studies will shed light on pathogenetic mechanisms and will help design new preventive and therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular conditions. Dr. Leuenberger is a Professor of Medicine (Heart & Vascular Institute) with two decades of clinical and research experience. He has mentored a number of medical students, post-doctoral students and junior faculty in their clinical research projects and also serves as Co-Director of Penn State University’s CTSI.
LYNCH, CHRISTOPHER. Dr. Lynch’s laboratory is focused on three research areas. One involves uncovering the mechanisms of drug side effects related to body weight and obesity. Determining the mechanism of these side effects may lead both to the discovery of new drugs, with reduced side effects and to new targets for the treatment of obesity. Current studies focus on atypical antipsychotics, cannabinoids and topiramate. A second collaborative project utilizes proteomic approaches to identify adipose and plasma proteins that are altered by gastric bypass surgery. A third project focuses on nutrient signaling to adipose tissue by branched chain amino acids and the role of metabolism in this signaling. Current studies in the lab are focused on insulin-like signaling capability of the amino acid leucine. His focus is on translational regulation of leptin secretion, protein synthesis as well as adipose differentiation, tissue morphogenesis and hypertrophic growth. Leucine is a direct acting nutrient signal that stimulates protein synthesis in fat cells by activating signaling pathways that impact protein synthesis, including one involving the Ser/Thr protein kinase, mTOR. He is investigating how leucine accomplishes the activation of these pathways and how the signaling from leucine is terminated, focusing on intramitochondrial metabolism of leucine, its regulation and its relationship to leucine signaling.
MASTRO, ANDREA. Dr. Mastro’s research currently focuses on the bone microenvironment in metastatic breast cancer. It is not well understood why the skeleton is a favored location for breast cancer metastasis. Using cell culture and animal models, the laboratory has studied how bone cells, particularly osteoblasts, are affected in the presence of metastatic breast cancer cells. The interaction of the cancer cells with osteoblasts results in the production of a set of osteoblast inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-8, VEGF and MCP-1 which modulate the bone marrow microenvironment and make it attractive for cancer cells. The laboratory also is interested in how diet and physical exercise affects the cells of the immune system. Studies have been carried out in humans with healthy young individuals as well as with older, iron-deficient women. Currently underway is a collaborative project designed to determine how and why ingestion and exercise affect lymphocyte sub-populations
MILLER, WEBB. Dr. Miller’s research focus has been developing algorithms and software for analyzing DNA sequences and related types of data from molecular genetics. He is one of the authors of BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool). He is regarded as one of the pioneers in the field of computational biology, and has developed methods for aligning long DNA sequences and extracting functional information from them, contributing to the analysis of many vertebrate genomes. Dr. Miller’s recent research interests include the bioinformatics of species extinction, and in 2008 published a paper in Nature that described a draft sequence for the wooly mammoth genome. In 2009 Dr. Miller was recognized by the International Society for Computational Biology and was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
PATE, JOY. The overall goal of Dr. Pate’s research is to understand the cellular mechanisms that regulate the lifespan of the corpus luteum (CL, the ovarian structure responsible for progesterone production and the maintenance of pregnancy) and to use this knowledge to better regulate reproduction, including fertility and contraception. The current focus is to understand how resident immune cells are involved in regulation of homeostasis or regression of the CL. Bidirectional communication between luteal cells and lymphocytes has been demonstrated by the specific proliferative response of gamma delta T cells to luteal cells. Current efforts are to understand the physical and paracrine interactions between ovarian cells and lymphocytes. This work may impact the decline in fertility in human and animal populations, and also relates to fundamental mechanisms involved in the progression of autoimmune diseases and tumor formation or regression.
PAUL, IAN. Dr. Paul is studying the impact of postnatal/postpartum home visits for breastfeeding newborns in a suburban setting, and co-PI on an NIDDK-funded study that aims to test strategies designed for newborns as primary preventive interventions for childhood obesity. The latter study involves an intervention designed to improve sleep during infancy. He also is a co-investigator in the NICHD-funded Community and Child Health Network (CCHN), the NHLBI-funded Childhood Asthma Research and Education (CARE) Network, and on a cooperative agreement with the CDC to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome. Dr. Paul has also studied the use of over-the-counter cough and colds medicine for children.
PROCTOR, DAVID. Dr. Proctor’s research focuses on age-related alterations in the control of skeletal muscle blood flow, its role in cardiovascular regulation during exercise, and how these changes impact the health and functioning of older women and men. These studies are conducted in the Vascular Aging and Exercise Laboratory at University Park, which Dr. Proctor directs, and in collaboration with physician scientists at Hershey Medical Center. Dr. Proctor has also initiated two new collaborative research directions which will investigate (1) vasoregulatory balance across the menopausal transition and (2) changes in endothelial function following revascularization surgery in patients with peripheral arterial disease.
ROLLS, BARBARA. Dr. Rolls’ principal research interest is dietary influences on energy intake, hunger, and satiety. The primary aim of the research is to develop nutritionally sound dietary strategies that reduce energy intake in order to promote weight loss and prevent obesity. Previous research indicates that a promising approach is to systematically vary properties of foods such as energy density (kcal/g), portion size, and variety. For example, in a year-long clinical trial, advising obese women to reduce the energy density of the diet by lowering fat intake and by increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables was associated with significant weight loss, reduced hunger and improved diet quality. Other studies have shown that large portions of energy-dense foods increase energy intake over periods of up to 11 days. Dr Rolls is studying effective strategies that will help consumers moderate their energy intake by determining how energy density, portion size, and variety of vegetables can be used to increase intake of low-energy dense foods and reduce energy intake in a meal.
ROSS, A CATHERINE. Dr. Ross’ laboratory studies the nutritional regulation of gene expression, focused on vitamin A (retinoids). Two main projects are (1) to understand retinoid homeostasis (vitamin A accumulation, esterification and oxidation) in the liver and (2) lungs of adult and neonatal rats and mice. This project focuses on enzymes of the acyltransferase, dehydrogenase and cytochrome P-450 hydroxylase (CYP) families. Some members of these families exhibit regulation in response to changes in dietary vitamin A, and in response to treatment with exogenous retinoids such as are used as drugs. In the lungs, combinations of vitamin A and acidic retinoids that act in synergy on some of these enzymes. She is exploring whether vitamin A and retinoic acid combined may be an effective means to augment vitamin A storage, which is low, in the lungs of neonates. Her other interest is in the regulation of immune responses, especially antibody production, by vitamin A status and retinoids. Retinoids in combination with interferons or with immunological agents that act through Toll-like receptors stimulate a robust and durable antibody response in adult and neonatal animals. She is studying the role of these agents on gene expression, antigen-presenting cell responses, and antibody production in animal models and cultured cells ex vivo. She is also examining whether combinations of nutritional and immunological stimuli may be effective in inducing natural immunity and reducing the progression of breast tumor cells.
SINOWAY, LAWRENCE I. Dr. Sinoway’s main research interest is to examine mechanisms that regulate the circulation in humans. These mechanisms are affected by a number of stressors including disease, exercise and oxidative stress. Major areas of expertise include non-invasively measuring blood flow using Doppler ultrasound in the heart, kidney and peripheral vessels, peroneal microneurography to directly measure sympathetic nerve activity, and microdialysis to measure substances within the Interstitium. Dr. Sinoway is a Professor of Medicine, a cardiologist with clinical responsibilities, the Director of the Penn State Heart & Vascular Institute, and the Director of the Clinical Research Center.
TURRISI, ROBERT. Dr. Turrisi has two diverse lines of research activity focusing on the prevention of (a) high-risk drinking and alcohol-related consequences in late adolescents/emerging adults, and (b) UV risk behaviors that are related to skin cancer in varied populations. Examples of current projects in the alcohol prevention area include examining the: (1) effects of brief motivational counseling interventions to prevent drinking and alcohol-related consequences in high-risk samples; (2) effects of different timed and different dosages of parent-based interventions to prevent drinking and alcohol-related consequences in late adolescents/emerging adults; and (3) etiology of why late adolescents/emerging adults tend to engage in risk or protective behaviors. Examples of current projects in the skin cancer prevention area include examining the efficacy of: (1) brief motivational interviews to reduce UV risk
behaviors that are related to skin cancer; (2) appearance-based preventions to reduce UV risk behaviors; and (3) training methods for married couples to increase skin self-exams and reduce UV risk behaviors.
ÜNDAR, AKIF. Dr. Ündar’s research focuses on developing novel technologies and methodologies used in minimizing the adverse effects of cardiopulmonary bypass procedures (CPB) in neonates, infants, and small children. A special interest is minimizing cerebral, myocardial, pulmonary, and renal injury during and after pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. Dr. Ündar’s research interests include pediatric heart-lung machines, pulsatile versus non-pulsatile perfusion, pediatric mechanical circulatory support systems, complement, neutrophils, platelets, and cytokine inhibition during pediatric open-heart procedures, microdevices for measuring systemic inflammation in real-time, detection and classification of microemboli, blood viscoelasticity, and plasma proteomics. Dr. Ündar leads several experimental studies using different types of pulsatile pumps, membrane oxygenators, arterial filters, and aortic cannulae in vivo and in vitro. He has developed an optimal pediatric heart-lung machine that produces both pulsatile and non-pulsatile flow and membrane oxygenator combination in terms of minimal organ injury during pediatric open-heart surgery that is currently being used with pediatric cardiac patients.
VANDEN HEUVEL, JOHN. Dr. Vanden Heuvel’s research concerns regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) activity and target genes. Their group also studies potential ligands of PPARs including plasticizers, free fatty acids and clinically relevant drugs. Because of the high likelihood of human and animal exposure, their group is interested in how environmental agents might contribute to the epidemic of obesity and diabetes by acting upon nuclear receptors. Because PPARs are also regulated by free fatty acids, ongoing studies are examining the biological role of fatty acids in differentiation and gene expression.
VRANA, KENT. Dr. Vrana’s laboratory uses molecular biology and proteomics to study the nervous system. Specifically, the laboratory is actively engaged in (a) understanding structure/ function relationships in the biogenic amine (dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and serotonin) biosynthetic enzymes (tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase); (b) using functional genomic (DNA array, RT-PCR) and proteomic (2-D PAGE, mass spectrometry) technologies to better understand genomic and epigenetic factors in substance abuse (cocaine, alcohol) and neurodegeneration; and (c) stem cell development and characterization. New efforts within the laboratory include the study of human embryonic and adult stem cells. His research team demonstrated the ability
to generate pluripotent embryonic stem cells via parthenogenetic activation of oocytes in non-human primates. This ability to create ES cells from non-fertilized, self-limiting, and non-viable embryos may provide ethical alternatives to the use of fertilized embryos in therapeutic cloning applications. Proteomic and functional genomic tools are being used to profile those genes and gene products that contribute to “stemness”, as well as stem cell differentiation (both non-human primate and human embryonic stem cells).
WILLIAMS, NANCY. The focus of Dr. Williams’ work is the study of the modulation of reproductive function via alterations in energy balance. The overall goal is to increase understanding of the mechanisms whereby the metabolic status of the body is communicated to the centers that control the reproductive axis during conditions of chronic energy deficiency and/or energy surplus. A secondary goal is to improve our ability to predict an individual’s risk of experiencing alterations in levels of circulating reproductive hormones, primarily circulating estrogens, by assessing the contributions of other factors that influence one’s susceptibility to disturbances in reproductive function, including initial body composition, gynecological maturity, perception of stress, and inherent robustness. The clinical applications of this work relate to infertility, bone health, reproductive cancers, and physical performance. Recently, two randomized clinical trials examining the impact of increased exercise combined with caloric restriction on reproductive function and circulating biomarkers for breast cancer in premenopausal women have been completed.
WU, RONGLING. Dr. Wu’s current research interest focuses on the development of statistical and computational methods necessary to unravel the genetic machinery of complex traits, diseases, and life processes. He is particularly interested in integrating the idea and principle of systems biology into statistical genetic research, ultimately elucidating a comprehensive atlas of the genetic control network of complex biology. He designs statistical models and algorithms to address genetic and developmental influences in agriculture, forestry, biology, and biomedicine. His pioneering statistical work on functional mapping was highlighted in Nature Reviews Genetics in 2004 and 2006. Dr. Wu serves Associate Editors for a number of statistical and genetic journals.
