Center Faculty
Huaiying Zhang
Center Co-Director, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
天美传媒
We investigate the formation and function of biomolecular condensates in human cells with two focuses: 1) We develop chem-optogenetic tools to manipulate phase separation in live cells, enabling us to observe the functional consequences. Our focus is on telomere DNA synthesis in cancer cells, a biochemical reaction essential for the immortality of all cancer cells. We demonstrated that the condensation of liquid droplets on the telomeres of telomerase-free cancer cells clusters telomeres, providing templates required for homology-directed DNA synthesis. We investigate how the nucleation process is regulated, how components are recruited, and how material properties are controlled to facilitate telomere DNA synthesis and cancer cell growth. 2) We engineer synthetic condensates within cells to investigate the nucleation and growth of condensates across various cellular compartments. Additionally, we utilize synthetic condensates to control cellular processes such as the cell cycle and cell death.
Arohan Subramanya
Center Co-Director, MD, Associate Professor
UPMC
We are a team of molecular biologists, cell physiologists, and kidney-oriented physicians who aim to understand how salt and water homeostasis is regulated from cell to organism. Most of our work is centered on the WNK-SPAK/OSR1 pathway, a network of serine-threonine kinases that forms biomolecular condensates: membraneless cytoplasmic subdomains that assemble via phase transitions. WNK signaling condensates emerged in unicellular organisms to control cell fluid volume and size through the sensing of intracellular molecular crowding. Ultimately, however, these regulatory mechanisms were co-opted to control clinically relevant processes such as blood pressure and potassium homeostasis via the formation of specialized kidney-specific condensates termed WNK bodies. A fundamental principle that drives our work centers around unraveling how ion transport is coordinated in cells, and across tissues and organ systems. We strive to understand these processes to translate them to physiology and clinical practice.
Bruce Armitage
Professor, Head, Department of Chemistry
天美传媒
The Armitage lab is focused on synthesizing peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomers for use in (a) regulating gene expression at the DNA or RNA level, (b) assembling new antibiotic drug candidates, (c) manipulating biomolecular condensates and (d) fluorescent labeling of RNA. These projects take advantage of the high affinity of PNA for complementary DNA and RNA (as well as for itself) to invade local secondary structures such as G-quadruplexes and i-motifs. Our work involves collaborations with scientists in 天美传媒’s Department of Biological Sciences, Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine and Hillman Cancer Center and Duquesne University’s Department of Chemistry.
John Woolford
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
天美传媒
The Woolford laboratory studies how ribosomes are assembled, and how ribosome biogenesis is interconnected with the structure and function of the nucleolus, the cellular compartment where ribosomes are made. The lab uses the baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as their model eukaryotic organism, to take full advantage of tools in molecular genetics, proteomics, cell biology, and structural biology. Ribosomes and the participants and pathways of ribosome biogenesis are highly conserved. Thus, information that we learn from yeast has been transferable to human biology. As the ribonucleoprotein machines that catalyze protein synthesis in all cells, ribosomes are essential for and closely linked to the growth, proliferation, and adaptation of cells. Consequently, dysregulation of ribosome synthesis or nucleolar structure in humans results in cancers, anemias, neurodegenerative diseases, and a variety of developmental diseases.
Seth Childers
Professor, Department of Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh
An intriguing question with roots in the origin of life is how matter transitioned from Darwin’s warm pond to the last universal common ancestor. Impossible to address directly, scientists can still provide insights into these issues by asking questions about life today. For example, how do the simplest modern cells orchestrate the location and activity of millions of molecules like organized nano-sized factories? And how do molecules work as systems make complex decisions? Understanding these questions can also advance the design of intelligent materials, new synthetic biology technologies for health applications, and reveal antibiotic targets. Since establishing my independent career at the University of Pittsburgh in 2015, has investigated biomolecular condensates as a compartmentalization strategy in bacteria, biomolecular condensates as a reaction crucible in the origins of life and the design of intelligent nanomaterials. In addition, we develop synthetic biology tools and biosensors to study bacterial signaling mechanisms in how bacterial cells develop and how they impact the gut-brain axis. To investigate these questions, we apply interdisciplinary approaches that include synthetic biology, biophysical chemistry, chemical biology, mechanistic biochemistry and microbial genetics.
Jeffrey Brodsky
Avinoff Professor of Biological Sciences
University of Pittsburgh
The Brodsky lab studies how aberrant protein species contribute to human disease. Notably, a growing number of disease-associated mutations in proteins alter condensate behavior—or target proteins to other fates—and using a variety of model systems and in vivo and in vitro methods we have helped define the molecular basis of several of these diseases.
Derin Sevenler
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering (Courtesy)
天美传媒
My group's research is focused on problems at the interface of biotechnology and fluid mechanics. A major thrust of our current work is to address challenges in cell and gene therapy manufacturing. Towards this goal, we integrate a variety of approaches, including microfluidics, gene and drug delivery, bio-nanotechnology, complex bio-fluid dynamics, and cell membrane mechanics.
Bokai Zhu
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Aging Institute of UPMC
The Zhu lab investigates how cells coordinate proteostasis, stress responses, and metabolism through spatially and temporally organized regulatory systems. A central focus of my lab is to study the biophysics and function of nuclear speckles—membraneless nuclear condensates enriched in splicing and transcriptional regulators—as dynamic hubs that integrate gene expression and proteostasis. We have identified nuclear speckle rejuvenation as a fundamental process that restores proteostasis and mitigates neurodegenerative proteinopathies such as tauopathy. Our work combines molecular biology, cell biology, and biophysical approaches—including phase separation assays, live-cell imaging, transcriptomics, and proteomics—to elucidate how nuclear condensates and ultradian rhythms jointly maintain protein quality control and cellular resilience during aging and disease. For a detailed description of the research performed in Zhu lab, please visit .
Matthew Wohlever
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology
University of Pittsburgh
My lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms of membrane proteostasis at the molecular and cellular levels. Our major questions include: how do quality control factors discriminate between bona fide substrates and functional proteins in complex cellular environments, such as the lipid bilayer or biomolecular condensates; (2) what is the physiological role of biomolecular condensates in proteostasis, especially in the triaging of substrates; (3) once a substrate is recognized and triaged, what are the downstream steps that lead to resolution of proteotoxic stress; and (4) how can we leverage the resulting mechanistic insights to develop therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerative diseases?
Jose Lugo-Martinez
Assistant Professor, Department of Computational Biology
天美传媒
Jose's group develops the next generation of computational approaches to accelerate biomedical knowledge discovery through automated and autonomous science.
Anna Kietrys
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry
天美传媒
The Kietrys group applies chemical, biochemical, and bioinformatics tools to translate the RNA structure-function language to understand RNA-mediated cell signaling in neurodegeneration. Despite rapid advancements in transcriptomics and new research techniques, the complexity of the RNA world and its role in cell organization and function remain incompletely understood. Our goal is to explore the dynamics of RNA structure in the context of modified nucleotides and the function of RNA as an information carrier in intra- and extra-cellular signaling during disease progression. We focus on the biological roles of new RNA groups, such as circular RNAs (circRNAs) and ultra-small RNAs (usRNAs), which structural and epitranscriptional profiles remain elusive. Specifically, we leverage the 2′-OH acylation technique, noted for its one-step procedure, high efficiency, and reversibility, to develop universal, effective, and biocompatible acylating reagents. These reagents help us understand the RNA interactome and gain control over the biological function of various RNAs. We aim to use these findings to explore new therapeutic approaches, such as RNA-based treatments for Parkinson's disease, and to elucidate the complex interactions within the RNA world.
Jon Henninger
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
天美传媒
The Henninger Lab explores how RNA regulates gene expression at multiple scales in health and disease. We use approaches based in molecular biology, soft-matter physics, and super-resolution imaging to understand how RNA regulates its own production to direct cell fate and how RNA-mediated dysregulation contributes to human disease.
Rebecca Taylor
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
天美传媒
Using DNA as an engineering material, we create self-assembling mechanical systems with applications in both advanced manufacturing and bioengineering. By building at the scale of proteins and biological machines, we can develop nanometer-scale sensors and actuators, structures and machines with extreme mechanical properties and programmable nanoscale platforms that can interface both biotic and abiotic systems (i.e. cells and electronics). Active research directions in the lab: Automated and generative approaches for the design and production of nucleic acid nanostructures; Magnetically-actuated swimming microrobots with flexible DNA components; Synthetic "armor" for the protection and mechanical modulation of living cells; Targeted gene delivery using engineered nanostructures; Peptide nucleic acid nanotechnology: a water-soluble and nuclease-resistant nanomaterial.
Shigeru Amemiya
Professor of Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh
Recent progresses in nanoscience and nanotechnology lead to creation of novel membranes and interfaces that are organized and functionalized at nanometer scales. Such nanostructured membranes and interfaces are also found in nature and play important roles. We pursue novel experimental research focused on elucidation and control of chemical processes at nanostructured membranes and interfaces both in artificial and biological systems. In order to discover their superb properties, we develop advanced experimental methodologies by employing our expertise in electrochemistry and nanofabrication. We enable active control and accurate measurement of the processes with high sensitivity, selectivity, and spatial and temporal resolutions. The new knowledge and technology thus obtained promote opportunities for us to address diverse and significant problems in human healthcare, environmental safety, and energy sustainability.
James Schneider
Professor in Chemical Engineering, courtesy of Biomedical Engineering
天美传媒
The Schneider lab works on self-assembling amphiphilic nucleic acid materials, attaching lipids or alkane chains to peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) or DNA to form micelles and vesicles that present nucleic acids in a controlled, programmable way. This chemistry has been applied to bioanalytical tools such as gel-free DNA electrophoresis and rapid detection of trace RNA, miRNA, and viral contaminants in biomanufacturing. His group is now also co-leading a DARPA-funded project (with Whitehead) developing methods to load drug molecules and biologics into red blood cells as a novel delivery platform.
Robin Lee
Associate Professor in Computational & Systems Biology
University of Pittsburgh
I’m a systems biologist and an Associate Professor of Computational and Systems Biology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. My academic training started in physics and mathematics and progressed to graduate studies in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa in Canada, where my research focused on apoptosis-related protein interaction networks and proteomics. Before establishing my independent research program, I was a CIHR research fellow at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and in the Departments of Genetics and Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. My current research integrates principles from molecular biology, physics, and mathematics, and focuses on understanding the information-carrying properties of molecular signals that influence vital cellular decisions. We are particularly interested in cellular survival versus death signaling at the intersection of the immune system and cancers. In the long term, my research goal is to develop dynamical systems models with single-cell accuracy, aimed at understanding the sources and consequences of cell-to-cell variability, and identifying key control points in these processes.
Elizabeth Ransey
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
天美传媒
The mission of the Ransey Lab is to advance our understanding of the diverse functions and regulation of gap junctions—essential intercellular channels that mediate direct cellular communication, metabolic exchange, and stress adaptation. By investigating the unique properties of connexin isoforms and their interactions, we aim to uncover how this dynamic network of channels influences tissue homeostasis and contributes to health and disease.
Daniel Shiwarski
Assistant Professor in Bioengineering
University of Pittsburgh
The Shiwarski Tissue Engineering Laboratory is interested in how human disease alters the structure and function of the vascular system across a range of organs and tissue types. By integrating advanced 3D bioprinting, cell biology, regenerative medicine, and microfluidics we develop novel experimental platforms to investigate relationships between engineered 3D tissue structure, extracellular matrix composition, biomechanical forces, and altered receptor signaling that drives tissue maturation and disease pathology.
Xiaojun (Jay) Tan
Assistant Professor
Aging Institute of UPMC
Our research seeks to establish lysosomal stress adaptation as a fundamental mechanism of cellular resilience in aging and disease. We are particularly interested in how lysosomes sense diverse forms of stress, remodel their structure and function, and activate adaptive responses that preserve cellular homeostasis. Our long-term vision is to understand and harness these endogenous stress-adaptation programs to promote healthy aging.
Danith Ly
Professor, Department of Chemistry
天美传媒
Our research is focused on the design and development of molecular tools and reagents for regulating gene expression in mammalian systems. Of particular interest are protein design, tissue engineering, and molecular self-assembly, taking advantage of the strength of the department and our expertise in the design and synthesis of natural and synthetic biopolymers (DNA, RNA, proteins, and biomimetics).
Simon C. Watkins
Distinguished Professor and Vice Chair Cell Biology, Professor Immunology, Director Center for Biologic Imaging
University of Pittsburgh
Optical Microscopy has formed the core of my research career since my graduate training. Within the CBI we build, test, and use cutting edge optical tools for all types of research microscopic imaging in cells, tissues and animals from the single molecule to the whole animal, the goal being to build highly flexible, maximally effective imaging solutions, to be used by academic researchers. These include high speed Total internal Reflection Fluorescence microscopes able to image at 1000 frames/second, high speed confocal systems able to collect multicolor 3D stacks in the second timeframe and other prototype confocal systems able to scan very large samples (centimeter scale) with submicron resolution at very high speed (about 50 times faster than a standard confocal). Most recently we have been extending this include very high speed deep tissue imaging solutions base to collect and quantify images at the limit of entire, expanded tissues including brain, lung, kidney and liver.
Cary R. Boyd-Shiwarski
Assistant Professor of Medicine
UPMC
Dr. Boyd-Shiwarski’s research interests are potassium homeostasis and ion transport, with a focus on the regulation of the NCC (sodium-chloride cotransporter) by WNK (With-No-Lysine) kinases. WNK kinases are the only known kinases that directly bind chloride and act as regulators of potassium homeostasis. Her recent studies of have focused on the role of a kidney specific isoform of WNK1 in localizing WNK kinases to a protein complex.
Adam Kwiatkowski
Associate Professor, Department of Cell Biology
UPMC
The primary focus of work in the Kwiatkowski Lab is to gain a mechanistic understanding of cardiomyocyte adhesion and cytoskeletal organization. Our approach is to use to a combination of protein biochemistry, cell biology and microscopy to define mechanisms of cell-cell adhesion, and downstream regulation of actin and intermediate filament organization, by the cadherin-catenin adhesion complex. Our rationale is that understanding the molecular mechanisms of adherens junction adhesion in cardiomyocytes will provide fundamental insight into cardiomyocyte cell-cell adhesion and adherens junction biology.