Our Labs

Dr. Storch’s research program is devoted to using molecular methods to improve the rapid diagnosis of infections. The infectious agents of choice are those for which existing methods are inadequate, either because the agent cannot be cultivated or because current diagnostic methods are too slow or insufficiently sensitive. The emphasis is on viral and other unconventional agents, in both normal and immunocompromised hosts. Dr. Storch is also interested in pathogen discovery and applications of high-throughput nucleotide sequencing to that process. Dr. Storch’s main current research project is a study of viral causes of fever without focus in young children. He also continues to work on developing and evaluating new molecular diagnostic tests.

Research profile

The principal objective of my laboratory is to identify and define those molecular features that drive leukemogenesis and then use that information to develop rational therapeutic strategies for improving outcomes in acute leukemia.

The lab is most interested in molecular pathways that: 1) are differentially regulated between malignant cells and their healthy counterparts; 2) promote resistance to conventional chemotherapies; and 3) support leukemia stem cell biology.

Research profile

Our laboratory is focused on several inter-related projects. Our major effort is to determine if the microbes that populate the guts of newborn premature infants play a role in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which is a catastrophic necroinflammatory lesion that remains 30% fatal, and affects about 7% of very low birth weight infants. We use a combination of metagenomic sequencing, statistics, and clinical data to confirm or refute associations between the acquisition of this biomass, and its specific constituents.

Research profile

Our lab focuses on understanding factors that are involved in disease progression in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Our studies are based on the developmental origins hypothesis of adult disease which states that in utero and perinatal events drive risk for chronic disease. We are particularly interested in the effects of parental overnutrition on the offspring.

Research profile

The central research goal of our lab is to identify the molecular underpinnings of adverse maternal fetal cardio-metabolic outcomes from exposure to altered sex hormone milieu and endocrine disrupting chemicals in-utero.

Research profile

Our lab is interested in understanding the genetic causes of rare diseases and birth defects among infants and children. Our research goals are to use genomic sequencing technologies including whole exome and genome sequencing, RNASeq and gene expression studies to identify the genetic causes of rare diseases and birth defects among infants and children and to use functional studies to determine the disease mechanisms underlying these rare diseases.

Wambach research profile
Cole research profile

Current focus is to collaborate with clinicians and basic scientists in improving medical practice through the application of high-throughput multi-omics and associated computational methods. Involved in many collaborative efforts studying the microbiome and its association with disease.

Research profile

The Wylie Lab studies the microbiome, microbial infections, and maternal host response during pregnancy. We have particular interest in the human virome, and we are interested in developing and applying innovative technologies for the study of viral communities, viral dynamics, and host response. We are carrying out in vitro studies to understand herpesvirus and papillomavirus infections during pregnancy. We use microbial genomics, in vitro cell culture, and animal models in our work.

Research profile

My primary research interest is to understand the molecular mechanisms of dietary fat digestion by pancreatic lipases in young children to improve fat digestion for better growth and development. My secondary research interest is to define the role of proteotoxicity in the pathophysiology of chronic pancreatitis using mutant misfolded pancreatic lipases as study model for finding potential novel therapies.

Research profile