Olfaction, olfactory receptors and ligands
Cancer cell biology and metabolism

 

We are interested in the basic processes underlying the biogenesis of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) and how they bear on human neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders.

 

Thyroid hormone action starts and ends by deiodination

 

"My lab studies steroid hormone action in endocrine cancers. In particular, we focus on androgen and vitamin D regulation of oncogenesis in the prostate."

 

Molecular mechanisms of Tumorigenesis. Notch Signaling, mouse models of tumorigenesis. Cancer stem cells and pathway cross talk.

 

We study the cell biological bases of brain development by using various imaging and genetic technologies.

 

 

Mechanisms underlying the etiology of ER-negative vs ER-positive breast cancer and studies aimed at re-expressing ER in ER-negative tumors leading to clinical trials.

 

The Synaptopodin family of actin binding proteins and its role in signal transduction in renal podocytes and cardiac myocytes

 

Research focuses on characterizing the molecular mechanism responsible for diabetic complications, mainly kidney disease.

 

Control of Cell Differentiation Regulation of Gene Expression

 

Glial cell transplantation to repair long tract injury in primates. Dedifferentiation of neuroblastoma in reponse to hypoxia

 

My research uses functional imaging with calcium sensitive dyes to study signal transduction in peripheral sensory organs, taste buds.

 

"The research in the laboratory focuses on the study of: (1) molecular pathways that regulate self-renewal, activation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors, (2) molecular pathways supporting self-renewal and differentiation of cancer stem cells, and (3) stem cell transformation and leukemogenesis."

 

"My research focuses on the initiation of inflammation, autophagy and apoptosis in the CNS after traumatic brain and spinal cord injury."

 

Molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate dendrite morphogenesis and neural connectivity.

 

 

Membrane Traffic: Sorting and regulation of protein transport in the endocytic and secretory pathways.

 

Our laboratory uses advanced cell and molecular biology techniques and animal models to study skin related problems. We are specially interested in the function and mechanicsms involved in the epithelial extracellular matrix.

 

"We study how intracellular mediators interact to regulate signal output by G protein coupled receptors (GPCR). Understanding how GPCR signaling is regulated, in health and disease, can lead to new therapeutic strategies."

 

We study basic mechanisms controlling T lymphocyte development and function as they relate to autoimmunity, tumor immunotherapy, and immune memory.

 

 

 

"My laboratory focuses on several key aspects of CNS injury repair: 1) preventing progressive tissue damage following the initial mechanical trauma through the application of pharmacological or biological neuroprotectants, 2) overcoming the physical impediment of the injury cyst through the implantation of exogenous cells or by harnessing endogenous cellular repair mechanisms and, 3) the promotion of axon regeneration by the stimulation of intracellular signaling pathways that are important in the initiation and/or maintainence of axon growth."

 

CNS injury: pathophysiological mechanisms of cell death and neuroprotective strategies; special emphasis on cerebral ischemia, mitochondrial physiology, and neurodegenerative diseases

 

Hedgehog Signaling in Development and Disease

 

"mTOR signaling, autophagy and drug resistance in lung cancer. The second project is on arginine deprivation as targeted therapy in tumors which do not express argininosuccinate synthetase."

 

"Novel mechanisms of signal transduction, with a focus on heterotrimeric G proteins and Ca2+ binding proteins. Structure-function aspects and subcellular localization of signaling proteins"

 

"My research interests pertain to the role of the innate immune system, particularly of macrophages/monocytes, in the immune suppression observed in mice bearing advanced tumors. Peritoneal and tumor-associated macrophages and their precursors, monocytes in the circulation, represent and exhibit different levels of local and systemic immune suppression in the host. We have found that transcripition factors NFkB, STAT1 and STAT3 are differentially expressed in these cells, resulting in altered cell signaling pathways and cytokine gene expression patterns."

 

Dr. Wahlestedt's research interests focus on novel drug therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders and epigenetics.

 

Myocardial ischemia, Apoptosis, Gene and Stem Cell Therapy  

 

Ovarian cancer biology and early embryogenesis

 

DNA repair and mutagenesis, Fanconi anemia pathway of DNA repair.