Members of the participating faculty are Duke faculty members who are currently mentoring MSTP students, who previously mentored (within the last year) MSTP students, or who are on Duke MSTP committees.
Students may choose mentors from among the many Duke faculty members with appointments to the Graduate Faculty. Training in a wide range of areas is available to MSTP students, and interdisciplinary collaboration across department lines occurs frequently. When faculty members are chosen as mentors by MSTP students, they are added to the membership of the Duke MSTP participating faculty.
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Leah Acker, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology
Dedicated to creating non-invasive, drug-free neuromodulation technologies that enhance brain function post-surgery, particularly for older adults. Overall, the ACkER lab is wholly focused on creating technologies that aid in patient recovery following major surgical procedures.
leah.acker@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Current mentee: Travis Larson
R. Alison Adcock, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
To understand how brain systems for motivation support learning and to use mechanistic understanding of how behavior changes biology to meet the challenge of developing new therapies appropriate for early interventions for mental illness
alison.adcock@duke.edu
Steering Committee
Oleg Alekseev, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Clinical focus is on inherited retinal degenerations, including conditions like retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, macular pattern dystrophies, syndromic retinal degenerations, and mimickers like autoimmune and iatrogenic retinopathies.
oleg.alekseev@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Staci Bilbo, PhD
Haley Family Professor, Psychology & Neuroscience
Understand the important role of the immune system during brain development, and thereby the ways in which immune activation during early brain development can affect the later-life outcomes of neural function, immune function, mood and cognition.
staci.bilbo@duke.edu
Current mentee: Seneca Oxendine
Gerard Blobe, MD, PhD
Professor, Medicine (Oncology), and Pharmacology & Cancer Biology
The role of transforming growth factor beta in cancer biology and vascular biology
gerard.blobe@duke.edu
Steering Committee
Diego Bohorquez, PhD
Associate Professor, Medicine (Pathology)
Unveiling how the brain perceives what the gut feels, how food in the intestine is sensed by our body, and how a sensory signal from a nutrient is transformed into
an electrical signal that alters behavior
diego.bohorquez@duke.edu
Current mentee: Emily Alway
Recent mentee: Peter Weng
Catherine Bowes-Rickman, PhD
George and Geneva Boguslavsky Distinguished Professor of Eye Research, Professor, Ophthalmology
Interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Currently our studies are focused on development and studies of animal models of AMD, AMD pathogenesis and pre-clinical studies of novel therapies for AMD.
bowes007@duke.edu
Current mentee: Lindsey Chew
Alexa Bramall, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery
Research focuses on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathways in the brain and the mechanisms by which hydrocephalus develops. In addition to intersecting every area of neurosurgery from pediatrics to trauma, abnormalities in CSF physiology have been implicated in a multitude of neurological diseases, from Alzheimer’s disease to depression.
alexa.bramall@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Jen-Tsan Ashley Chi, MD, PhD
Professor, Molecular Genetics & Microbiology
Genomic approaches to analyze biological systems and disease
jentsan.chi@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Ashutosh Chilkoti, PhD
Alan L. Koganov Professor and Chair, Biomedical Engineering
Biomolecular materials, genetically encoded synthesis, biotechnology, drug delivery, biological surface science, micropatterning of proteins and peptides, nanostructured materials and surfaces
ashutosh.chilkoti@duke.edu
Steering Committee
Current mentee: Rachael Putman, Aine O'Sullivan
Jose R. Conejo-Garcia, MD, PhD
Professor, Integrative Immunobiology
Understanding and targeting the mechanisms governing the balance between immunosuppression and protective immunity in the tumor microenvironment, with an emphasis on the crosstalk between innate (gamma/delta) and adaptive (alpha/beta) T cells, and B lymphocytes, including in Tertiary Lymphoid Structures.
jose.conejo-garcia@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Leonor Corsino, MD, MHS
Associate Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition)
Research focuses on diabetes, obesity and related complications and health disparities with a particular interest in Hispanic/Latino populations
corsi002@mc.duke.edu
Steering Committee
Greg Crawford, PhD
Wilburt C. Davison Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics
Research involves identifying gene regulatory elements across the genome to help us understand how chromatin structure dictates cell function and fate.
greg.crawford@duke.edu
Recent mentee: Makenzie Beaman
Yarui Diao, PhD
Associate Professor, Cell Biology
We are a functional genomics lab focusing on the fundamental gene regulation mechanism that control tissue repair and cancer development.
yarui.diao@duke.edu
Current mentee: Ashley Williams
Colin S. Duckett, PhD
Executive Vice Dean for Basic and Preclinical Science, Professor, Pathology
Molecular mechanisms of cellular transformation of Hodgkin’s disease and anaplastic large cell lymphoma, regulation of apoptotic cell death and proliferation in cancer, characterization of the canonical and noncanonical NF-kappaB signaling pathways in normal and malignant cells and homeostatic regulation of intracellular copper in mammalian cells.
colin.duckett@duke.edu
Steering Committee
Steven Eliades, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences
Research in my group focuses on the neural basis of vocal communication. Communication is a dynamic process that encompasses both production and perception, occurring in an interactive and contextually-dependent fashion.
steven.eliades@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Mai El-Mallah, MD
Associate Professor, Pediatrics
Control of breathing and pulmonary mechanics in murine models of several genetic diseases.
mai.elmallah@duke.edu
Steering Committee
House Faculty Advisor
Cagla Eroglu, PhD
Duke Health Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology
Understanding how central nervous system (CNS) synapses are formed.
cagla.eroglu@duke.edu
Current mentee: Helen Heo, Gabrielle Sejourne
Christine Eyler, MD, PhD
Butler Harris Assistant Professor in Radiation Oncology
Understanding the genetic, epigenetic, and molecular characteristics of cancer cells that resist typical treatments and finding ways to treat them more effectively. Goal to apply this information to design personalized treatment strategies to effectively treat both sensitive and resistant tumor cells.
christine.eyler@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Guido Ferrari, MD
Professor, Surgery, Associate Research professor, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Independent basic research and immune monitoring studies. The research revolves around three main areas of interest: class I-mediated cytotoxic CD8+ T cell responses, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), gene expression in NK and T cellular subsets upon infection with HIV-1.
gflmp@duke.edu
Recent mentee: Danielle (Rosenthal) Nettere
Don Fox, PhD
Professor, Pharmacology & Cancer Biology
Genomic extremes in organ development and repair.
don.fox@duke.edu
Current mentee: Jane Blackmer
Johnna Frierson, PhD
Assistant Professor of the Practice of Medical Education; Associate Dean of Research Engagement for the Basic Sciences; Director, IDEALS Office
johnna.frierson@duke.edu
Steering Committee
Rasheed Adebayo Gbadegesin, MD, MBBS
Wilbert C. Davison Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics; Associate Dean for Physician-Scientist Development
Molecular genetics of glomerular disease; Genetic risk factors for childhood onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.
rasheed.gbadegesin@duke.edu
Steering Committee
Sharon Gerecht, PhD
Paul M. Gross Distinguished Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Understanding how the microenvironment regulates cellular responses, with the long-term goal of developing countermeasures and therapeutics. Developing biomaterials and culture systems to emulate mechanical and physical stressors toward understanding tissue function, reliance, and homeostasis.
sharon.gerecht@duke.edu
Current mentee: Elijah Lawrence
Charles Gersbach, PhD
John W. Strohbehn Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Biomaterials, Drug & Gene Delivery, Immune Engineering, Synthetic & Systems Biology, Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine
charles.gersbach@duke.edu
Current mentee: Anish Karpurapu
Bradley Goldstein, MD, PhD
Professor, Head & Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences, Neurobiology
Understanding how to identify aging-related changes in human olfactory mucosa; to understand how certain epigenetic complexes regulate adult olfactory neurogenesis; and to identify how the novel coronavirus may cause prolonged olfactory dysfunction
bradley.goldstein@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Current mentee: Vincent D'Anniballe
Warren Grill, PhD
James B. Duke Distinguished Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Research employs engineering approaches to understand and control neural function. We work on fundamental questions and applied development in electrical stimulation of the nervous system to restore function to individuals with neurological impairment or injury.
warren.grill@duke.edu
Current mentee: Jahrane Dale
Jennifer Groh, PhD
Professor, Psychology and Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Computer Science
Research in my laboratory concerns how sensory and motor systems work together, and how neural representations play a combined role in sensorimotor and cognitive processing (embodied cognition)
jennifer.m.groh@duke.edu
Recent mentee: Jesse Herche
Rana Gupta, PhD
W. David and Sarah W. Stedman Distinguished Professor- Endocrinology and Metabolism
Understanding the mechanisms governing mammalian cell differentiation and tissue remodeling under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
rana.gupta@duke.edu
Current mentee: Ashley Truong
Amanda Hargrove, PhD
Professor, Chemistry
The Hargrove lab harnesses the unique properties of small organic molecules to study the structure, function and therapeutic potential of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs).
amanda.hargrove@duke.edu
Current mentee: Marek Zorawski
Zachary Hartman, PhD
Associate Professor, Surgery
Research interests encompass studies of immunity and inflammation in the context of developing and established cancers. These research interests involve studies of inflammation in the genesis and maintenance of specific cancer types (principally breast and ovarian), as well as the impact of inflammation on tumor metastasis and the tumor microenvironment.
zachary.hartman@duke.edu
Current mentee: Violet Tu, John Wang
Stephen Harward II, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery
Epilepsy, brain tumors, medical student education
stephen.harward@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Bart Haynes, MD
Frederic M. Hanes Distinguished Professor, Medicine, Integrative Immunology
Studying host innate and adaptive immune responses to HIV, TB, and Influenza in order to find the enabling technology to make preventive vaccines against these three major infectious diseases.
hayne002@mc.duke.edu
Current mentee: Christopher Stringham
Nicholas Heaton, PhD
Associate Professor, Molecular Genetics & Microbiology
Genetic engineering of negative sense RNA viruses, particularly respiratory viruses such as influenza viruses.
nicholas.heaton@dm.duke.edu
Current mentee: Vishwas Rao
Joseph Heitman, MD, PhD
James B. Duke Professor and Chair, Molecular Genetics & Microbiology
Mechanisms of fungal pathogenesis
heitm001@duke.edu
Steering Committee
Christopher Holley, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Medicine (Cardiology)
Focuses on the role of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) in cardiovascular health and disease, with a special emphasis on snoRNA (small nucleolar RNA)
cholley@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Roarke Horstmeyer, PhD
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Develops microscopes, cameras and computer algorithms for a wide range of applications, from forming 3D reconstructions of organisms to detecting neural activity deep within tissue. Areas of interest include optics, signal processing, optimization and neuroscience.
roarke.w.horstmeyer@duke.edu
Current mentee: Harvey Shi
Josh Huang, PhD
Duke School of Medicine Distinguished Professor, Neuroscience
Study the development and function of cortical circuits underlying motor control and cognitive processing. Our research program integrates multi-faceted approaches from genetic engineering to single-cell genomics, developmental neurobiology, imaging, electrophysiology, and behavioral analyses, and aims to link fundamental neuroscience to the understanding and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
josh.huang@duke.edu
Current mentee: Patrick Mulcahey
Ru-Rong Ji, PhD
William Maixner Professor, Anesthesiology; Distinguished Professor of Anesthesiology
Research focuses on molecular and cellular mechanisms of chronic pain, such as inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain, and cancer pain.
ru-rong.ji@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Ravi Karra, MD
Associate Professor, Medicine-Cardiology
The intersection of regenerative biology with cardiovascular disease.
ravi.karra@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Current mentee: Lauren Parker
Michael Kastan, MD, PhD
Executive Director, Duke Cancer Institute
William and Jane Shingleton Professor, Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Pediatrics
Elucidating molecular mechanisms involved in cellular responses to DNA damage and other stresses
michael.kastan@duke.edu
Steering Committee
David G Kirsch, MD, PhD
Utilizing mouse models of cancer to study cancer and radiation biology in order to develop new cancer therapies in the pre-clinical setting.
david.kirsch@duke.edu
Recent mentee: Chang Su
Mary Klotman, MD
R.J. Reynolds Professor and Dean of Medicine
Molecular pathogenesis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) infection
mary.klotman@duke.edu
Dean, School of Medicine
Steering Committee
Dennis Ko, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Molecular Genetics & Microbiology
Human genetic variation regulating infection and inflammation
dennis.ko@duke.edu
Current mentee: Trisha Dalapati
Christopher Kontos, MD
Professor, Medicine (Cardiology)
Regulation of angiogenesis
cdkontos@duke.edu
MSTP Director
Admissions Committee
Steering Committee
Kevin LaBar, PhD
Professor, Psychology and Neuroscience
Cognition-emotion interactions in the human brain. The lab uses functional neuroimaging, psychophysiological, and behavioral methods in healthy adults and in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders.
klabar@duke.edu
Current mentee: Nimesha Gerlus
Andrew Landstrom, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Exploring the genetic and molecular causes of sudden cardiac death in children and young adults
andrew.landstrom@duke.edu
Current mentee: Minu Bidzimou
Robert Lefkowitz, MD
Duke Health Distinguished Professor of Medicine- Cardiovascular, Biochemistry
Signaling of G protein-coupled receptors
lefko001@receptor-biol.duke.edu
Steering Committee
Current mentee: Sunag Udupa
Giselle Lopez, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Pathology
Understanding clinicopathological correlates in oliogendroglioma, by delving into the mechanisms that underlie features observed on histological sections.
giselle.lopez@duke.edu
Steering Committee
House Faculty Advisor
Micah Luftig, PhD
Alter Geller Distinguished Professor in Immunology, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Viruses that cause cancer with an overarching goal of defining the basic molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis and leveraging these findings for diagnostic value and therapeutic intervention.
micah.luftig@duke.edu
Current mentee: Danielle Burner, David Labib
Xunrong Luo, MD, PhD
Boyce Haller Distinguished Professor in Nephrology
Focuses on the induction and mechanisms of transplantation tolerance, using innovative donor-specific negative vaccination strategies to target the host machineries involved in clearance of cellular apoptotic debris in an immunotolerogenic manner.
xunrong.luo@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Cameron McIntyre, PhD
Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Neurosurgery
Research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of deep brain stimulation
cameron.mcintyre@duke.edu
Current mentee: Andreas Seas
Manoj Mohanan, PhD
Professor, Interim Dean, Sanford School of Public Policy
Global Health
manoj.mohanan@duke.edu
Current mentee: Christopher Behrer
Ashley Moseman, PhD
Assistant Professor, Integrative Immunobiology
Understand central nervous system (CNS) immunity, with a specific focus on antimicrobial protection at the olfactory barrier.
ashley.moseman@duke.edu
Current mentee: Skye Tracey
Aditee Narayan, MD
Professor of Pediatrics; Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs
Medical education, curriculum development, child abuse and neglect, children and youth in foster care, mentorship.
aditee.narayan@duke.edu
Steering Committee
Trudy Oliver, PhD
Professor, Pharmacology & Cancer Biology
Understanding the biology of under-studied subtypes of lung cancer, specifically squamous and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
trudy.oliver@duke.edu
Current mentee: Margaret Weber
Mark Palmeri, MD, PhD
Professor of the Practice, Biomedical Engineering
Ultrasonic imaging, specifically using acoustic radiation force to characterize tissue properties, and finite element analysis of soft tissue response to impulsive radiation force excitation
mark.palmeri@duke.edu
Steering Committee
Current mentee: Ouwen Huang
Anoop Patel, MD
Associate Professor, Neurosurgery
Using single-cell sequencing techniques to study intratumoral heterogeneity in malignant brain tumors.
anoop.patel@duke.edu
Current mentee: Aditya Mohan
John Pearson, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurobiology
Application of machine learning methods to analysis of brain data and behavior. Special interest in neurobiology of reward and decision-making, particularly issues surrounding foraging, impulsivity, and self-control. More generally: computational principles underlying brain organization at the mesoscale, and work in lab studies phenomena that range from complex social behaviors to coding principles of the retina.
john.pearson@duke.edu
Current mentee: Daniela De Albuquerque
Ann Marie Pendergast, PhD
Anthony R. Means Professor, Pharmacology & Cancer Biology
Regulation of cellular signaling pathways by tyrosine kinases and adaptor proteins in normal development and pathological conditions, including cancer, immune deficiencies and neurological disorders
ann.pendergast@duke.edu
Steering Committee
Sudarshan Rajagopal, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Medicine (Cardiology), Biochemistry
Pulmonary hypertension; right heart failure
sudarshan.rajagopal@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Current mentee: Preston Anderson, Austin Lai
John Rawls, PhD
James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Director, Duke Microbiome Center
Understand how the intestinal microbiome contributes to vertebrate physiology and disease.
john.rawls@duke.edu
Current mentee: Margaret Morash
Zachary Reitman, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology
Radiotherapy for primary and metastatic tumors of the brain and spine. Interested in basic and translational research studies to develop new treatment approaches for pediatric and adult brain tumors. Uses genomic analysis, radiation biology studies, and genetically engineered animal models of cancer to carry out this research.
zjr@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Jatin Roper, MD
Associate Professor, Medicine - Gastroenterology
Interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of stem cell function in the normal intestine and in colorectal cancer using innovative three-dimensional organoid and in vivo platforms.
jatin.roper.duke.edu
Current mentee: Reuben Ryan Cano
Tatiana Segura, PhD
Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Neurology
We engineer therapeutic materials to promote wound healing and tissue regeneration (think Wolverine without the blades).
tatiana.segura@duke.edu
Current mentee: Sydney Jeffs
Mari Shinohara, PhD
Professor of Integrative Immunobiology
Uses mouse models for infectious and autoimmune diseases to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of; pathogen recognition by PRRs in macrophages and DCs, initiation of inflammatory responses in the innate immune system, and the impact of innate immune inflammation on the development and regulation of T cell-mediated adaptive immune responses
mari.shinohara@duke.edu
Current mentee: Devon DiPalma, Jonathan Messerschmidt
Gustavo Silva, PhD
Jack H. Neely Associate Professor of Biology
Understand and be able to control how cells respond to stressful and harmful conditions, which are the underlying causes of many human diseases. Study cellular response to stress at the protein level and aim to characterize the different regulatory functions mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), essential machinery involved in modulating protein dynamics.
gustavo.silva@duke.edu
Current mentee: Austin Maduka
Dorothy Sipkins, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Cancer Biology
Studies the molecular characteristics of tissue microenvironments, or “niches,” that regulate the migration, survival and regeneration of cancerous cells.
dorothy.sipkins@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Joshua Snyder, PhD
Associate Professor, Surgery; Assistant Professor, Cell Biology
Determine how cancer cells adapt and grow before cancer is diagnosed.
joshua.snyder@duke.edu
Current mentee: Alejandra Patino
Kevin Southerland, MD
Associate Professor, Surgery
My long-term research goal is to develop novel therapeutics for limb salvage. My strategy to accomplish this goal is to leverage functional genomics and molecular biology techniques to understand the cellular processes that drive tissue repair in the ischemic limb.
kevin.southerland@duke.edu
Steering Committee
House Faculty Advisor
Bruce Sullenger, PhD
Joseph W. and Dorothy W. Beard Professor, Surgery, Pharmacology & Cancer Biology
Ribozymes (RNA enzymes) and RNA ligands (aptamers) in gene therapy
bruce.sullenger@duke.edu
Recent mentee: Lyra Olson
Beth Sullivan, PhD
James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Associate Dean for Research Training
Focused on chromosome organization, with specific emphasis on the genomics and epigenetics of the chromosomal locus called the centromere and the formation and fate of chromosome abnormalities that are associated with birth defects, reproductive abnormalities, and cancer. The centromere is a specialized chromosomal site involved in chromosome architecture and movement, kinetochore function, heterochromatin assembly, and sister chromatid cohesion.
beth.sullivan@duke.edu
Steering Committee
Neeraj K. Surana (Neil), MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Integrative Immunobiology
Research innovatively integrates gnotobiotic murine models, immunology, microbiology, and characterization of the microbiota with the ultimate aim of identifying specific commensal bacteria with immunomodulatory potential and subsequent characterization of their biologic effects.
neil.surana@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Henry Tseng, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Ophthalmology
The ultimate research goal is to develop novel therapies and techniques for earlier detection of glaucoma and neurodegeneration. Dr. Tseng's research investigates molecular and cellular functions of optineurin, which is a gene associated with glaucoma, brain neurodegeneration, and Paget's disease of the bone. He is uncovering common disease mechanisms that leads to cell death in the eye, brain, and bone.
henry.tseng@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Peter Ubel, MD
Madge and Dennis T. McLawhorn Professor, Marketing and Public Policy
Research and writing explore the quirks in human nature that influence our lives -- the mixture of rational and irrational forces that affect our health, our happiness, and the way our society functions
peter.ubel@duke.edu
Steering Committee
Ophelia Venturelli, PhD
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Understand and engineer the spatiotemporal behaviors of biological networks using tools from systems & synthetic biology. Our research combines multiplexed measurements of single cells, populations and ecosystems with concepts from nonlinear dynamical systems, control theory, multi-objective optimization and machine learning.
ophelia.venturelli@duke.edu
Admissions Committee
Anne West, MD, PhD
George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology
Molecular mechanisms of activity-dependent synapse development.
west@neuro.duke.edu
MSTP Associate Director
Admissions Committee
Steering Committee
Kris Wood, PhD
Professor, Pharmacology & Cancer Biology
Develops state-of-the-art tools for large-scale, efficient, and information-rich mammalian functional genomics experiments
kris.wood@duke.edu
Current mentee: Christopher Delaney, Jude Raj, Michael Aiduk
Recent mentee: Shane Killarney
Colleen Wu, PhD
Associate Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery
Studies how low oxygen tension (hypoxia), in the bone microenvironment influences bone homeostasis, hematopoietic development, and metastatic bone colonization.
colleen.wu@duke.edu
Admissions Committee