Our Labs

The Horani lab research focuses on airway epithelial cell differentiation and regulation with special interest in cilia assembly and how it relates to impaired mucociliary clearance and the biology of primary ciliary dyskinesia. The lab uses primary culture of human and mouse cells and employs genetic manipulation methods to investigate the function of novel proteins involved in ciliogenesis.

Research profile

Our laboratory’s focus is the pathogenesis and pathophysiologic mechanisms of the chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Kidney diseases produce a complex set of body-wide complications. Some of these contribute to the mortality of kidney diseases, which is not due to the disease itself but largely due to associated cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease risk in CKD is contributed to by non-traditional risk factors which are components of the CKD-MBD syndrome.

Research profile

Our research efforts are directed toward understanding facilitative glucose transport as it relates to normal and disordered glucose homeostasis. A primary effort in our laboratory is the determination of structure/function relationships within the facilitative glucose transport proteins (GLUTs). We are using state of the art chemical and biophysical approaches to the determination of tertiary and quaternary structures of the human erythrocyte glucose transporter GLUT1 and the insulin responsive glucose transporter GLUT4.

In addition, we are also investigating the in vitro and in vivo effects of HIV protease inhibitors (PIs)on GLUT function. The goal of this research is to identify the molecular mechanisms that lead HIV infected patients receiving PIs to develop insulin resistance.

Research profile

Work in our lab focuses on the interactions of pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria with their hosts, using urinary tract infection (UTI) as our primary model. We aim to elucidate host-pathogen interactions in the urinary tract, modulation of host immune responses by uropathogenic bacteria, and the influence of sex on UTI pathogenesis.

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The COVID-19 pandemic will not be the last pandemic, as human populations will remain susceptible to newly emerging viruses. While the techniques for viral discovery have greatly expanded the number of known viral sequences, many fundamental questions regarding the biology of viruses can only be addressed through isolation and propagation of viruses in the laboratory setting.

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The Kao lab is interested in vaccine effectiveness, particularly in special populations.

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Childhood liver disease; liver transplantation; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; ischemia-reperfusion injury

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Dietary fat digestion and mechanisms of chronic pancreatitis.

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We are a multi-PI lab with a primary interest in understanding the role of serpins (serine proteinase inhibitors) in normal physiology and disease. Serpins play important roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis by regulating the activity of their target proteases. As such, an imbalance in the protease-serpin equilibrium can lead to cellular dysfunction, tissue damage and death.

Luke research profile
Pak research profile
Silverman research profile

The Magee lab is working to answer several important questions that surround the causes of childhood leukemia. How do childhood leukemias arise from normal blood forming stem cells? How do leukemia cells hijack normal stem cell programs? Why do childhood and adult leukemias have different mutations? Can we identify and target programs that maintain leukemia cells that are unique to childhood leukemia?

Research profile