Faculty

Alaa Afify
Degree Held: M.D.
Title: Associate Professor and Director
Department: MED: Department of Pathology
Address: UCDMC, Research III Bldg
Phone: (916) 734-7477
E-mail: alaa.afify@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/pathology/our_team/faculty/afifya.html
Research interests: Extracellular matrix biology, particularly hyaluronic acid and its metabolism; p21 expression in ovarian cancer.

 

Paul Ashwood
Degree Held:
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: MED: Medical Microbiology & Immunology; and M.I.N.D. Institute
Address:
Phone: (916) 703-0405
E-mail: pashwood@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medmicro/staff/ashwood.html
Research interests: Evaluating the immune response in children with autism and to examine the interface between the immune system and the central nervous system.

 

Stephen Barthold
Degree Held: D.V.M., Ph.D.
Title: Professor and Director
Department: VM: PMI; and Center for Comparative Medicine
Address:
Phone: (530) 752-1245
E-mail: swbarthold@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://ccm.ucdavis.edu/barthold.html
Research interests: Host-agent interactions during Borrelia burgdorferi infection (the agent of Lyme disease) in mouse models, with emphasis on mechanisms of immune evasion and persistence, immune-mediated disease resolution, and antibiotic tolerance.

 

Nicole Baumgarth
Degree Held: D.V.M., Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor
Department: VM: PMI; and Center for Comparative Medicine
Address: Center for Comparative Medicine, Room 1004
Phone: (530) 754-5813
E-mail: nbaumgarth@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://ccm.ucdavis.edu/baumgarth.html
Research interests:

Regulation of immune responses to pathogens with emphasis on influenza virus infection and HIV and in collaboration with Steve Barthold studies on the regulation of immunity to infection with Borrelia burgdorferi; mucosal immunology; respiratory tract immunology; molecular regulation of early B cell activation; and function and development of B-1 cells.

 

Andreas J. Baumler
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: MED: Medical Microbiology & Immunology
Address: 451 East Health Science Drive, GBSF, Room 5513
Phone: (530) 754-7225
E-mail: ajbaumler@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medmicro/staff/baumler.html
Research interests: Pathogenesis and host response to Salmonella infections.

 

Charles L. Bevins
Degree Held: M.D., Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: MED: Medical Microbiology & Immunology
Address: 451 East Health Science Drive, GBSF, Room 5617
Phone: (530) 754-6889
E-mail: clbevins@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medmicro/staff/bevins.html
Research interests: Innate immune responses; mucosal immunology; antimicrobial peptides.

 

Christopher L. Bowlus
Degree Held: M.D.
Title: Associate Professor
Department: MED: Gastroenterology
Address: 451 East Health Science Drive, GBSF, Room 6319
Phone: (530) 752-6128
E-mail: clbowlus@ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests: Function of the thymic protease Prss16 in T cell development and susceptibility to autoimmunity. Clinical and translational studies of autoimmune disorders of the liver including Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

 

Camie Chan
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: MED: Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy
Address: Shriner's Hospital, Room 672, 2425 Stockton Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95817
Phone: (916) 453-2237
E-mail: camchan@ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests: Dendritic cell immunobiology; tumor immunology; viral immunology; tolerance and burn injury.

 

Anthony T. Cheung
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor Emeritus (on active recall)
Department: MED: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Address: UCDMC, Research III Bldg
Phone: (916) 734-3855
E-mail: atcheung@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/pathology/our_team/faculty/cheungA.html
Research interests: Vascular biology.

 

Kiho Cho
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Associate Adjunct Professor
Department: MED: Surgery
Address: Shriner's Hospital, 2425 Stockton Blvd. Sacramento, CA 96817
Phone: (916) 453-2284
E-mail: kcho@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/surgery/specialties/burn/kiho.html
Research interests: Primarily focusing on the roles of murine endogenous retroviruses (MuERVs) in the post-burn systemic immune disorder and multiple organ failure using a murine model.

 

Satya Dandekar
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor and Chair
Department: MED: Medical Microbiology & Immunology
Address: 451 East Health Sciences Drive, GBSF, Room 5511
Phone: (530) 752-3409 or (530) 752-3542
E-mail: sdandekar@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medmicro/staff/dandekar.html
Research interests: Mucosal immunity against pathogens.
Molecular Pathogenesis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and
Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) Infections with Special Emphasis on
Gastrointestinal Mucosal Lymphoid Tissue (GALT) as a Major Target Organ of the Viral Infection, and as a Viral Reservoir.
Repair and renewal of gut mucosal immune system during therapy.

 

Kent L. Erickson
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: MED: Cell Biology and Human Anatomy
Address: 3309 Tupper Hall
Phone: (530) 752-6616
E-mail: klerickson@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medschool/departments//anatomy/faculty/erickson.htm
Research interests: Cellular and molecular regulation of macrophage function. The work makes use of cytokines as well as lipid metabolites to assess pathways of signal transduction as well as effector functions of macrophages. In addition, my laboratory is involved with the development and differentiation of both embryonic and adult stem cells.

 

Laurel J. Gershwin
Degree Held: D.V.M., Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: VM: Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology
Address: 3327 VetMed 3A
Phone: (530) 752-6643
E-mail: ljgershwin@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/ljgershwin/
Research interests: Mechanisms of immune modulation in bovine respiratory syncytial virus infection, with particular emphasis on IgE, and in response to vaccines. Polymicrobial disease pathogenesis in the bovine lung. Effects of second-hand smoke on development of allergic lung disease/asthma using a mouse model. Vaccine hypersensitivity responses in the horse. Genetic correlates of allergic disease /IgE production in several animal species.

 

M.Eric Gershwin
Degree Held: M.D.
Title: Professor and Chief
Department: MED: Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Address: 451 East Health Science Drive, GBSF, Room 6510
Phone: (530) 752-2884
E-mail: megershwin@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/internalmedicine/rheumatology/immunolab_goals.html
Research interests: Molecular basis of immune regulation in autoimmunity. Cloning and sequencing the autoantigens that produce chronic liver disease, primary cirrhosis. Molecular genetic basis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Molecular and genetic tools are being utilized to study the genes contributing to susceptibility to murine lupus and the cellular and subcellular mechanisms that lead to immunopathology.

 

Tzipora Goldkorn
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: MED: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Address: 451 East Health Science Drive, GBSF, 6th Floor
Phone: (530) 752-2988
E-mail: ttgoldkorn@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/pulmonary/pulmonary/goldkorn.htm
Research interests: Ceramide/sphingomyelin signal transduction, stress modulation and apoptosis; molecular mechanisms of autoimmune antibodies in inflammatory diseases and the regulation of bacterial virulence.

 

Leigh G. Griffiths
Degree Held: VetMB, MRCVS, PhD
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: VME: Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology
Address: 2103 Tupper Hall
Phone: (530) 754-0334
E-mail: lggriffiths@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lggriffiths/
Research interests: Immunoproteomic identification, epitope mapping and in-silico modeling of xenoantigens. Investigation of antigen removal strategies in production of a xenogeneic scaffold for tissue engineered heart valve applications.

 

Daniel Hwang
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Professor
Department: Department of Nutrition; USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center
Address: 430 Health Sciences Drive
Phone: (530) 754-4838
E-mail: dhwang@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://nutrition.ucdavis.edu/faculty/hwang.html
Research interests: The goal of our research is to elucidate molecular mechanisms by which different types of dietary fatty acids and phytochemicals modulate pattern recognition receptor-mediated signaling pathways, target gene expression, and subsequent cellular responses, and to determine how this modulation is related to risks of development and progression of chronic diseases (see recent publications in PubMed).

 

Kirk C. Klasing
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: Department of Animal Science
Address: 2131B Meyer Hall
Phone: (530) 752-1901
E-mail: kcklasing@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/faculty/Klasing/
Research interests: Physiological ecology: Developmental, nutritional, and pathological costs of an immune response to pathogens; Nutrition and immunity: Effects of immune responses on metabolism and nutrient requirements. Avian immunology: Regulation of the avian inflammatory response.

 

Hsing-Jien Kung
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor and Deputy Director
Department: UCDHS: Cancer Center Basic Science; UCDMC Research III, Room 2400B
Address: 2645 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817
Phone: (916) 734-1538
E-mail: hkung@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/nccfar/investigatorsKung.html
Research interests: Signal transduction; oncogenes; tyrosine kinases; prostate cancer and cancer virology.

 

Kit S. Lam
Degree Held: M.D., Ph.D.
Title: Professor and Chief
Department: MED: Hematology and Oncology
Address: UC Davis Cancer Center, 4501 X Street, Sacramento, CA 95817
Phone: (916) 734-8012
E-mail: kit.lam@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests: Application of combinatorial library methods for basic research and drug discovery, protein tyrosine kinases -- biochemistry and drug development, peptide targeted-therapy for cancer, antibiotics development for vancomycin-resistant infections, peptide immunology, proteomics, peptide chemistry and biology, and synthetic peptide and small-molecule combinatorial chemistry.

 

Bill Lasley
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor Emeritus
Department: VM: Population, Health and Reproduction
Address: 1114 Tupper Hall
Phone: (530) 752-8506
E-mail: bllasley@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/bllasley/
Research interests: Comparative reproduction, reproductive toxicology and epidemiology (human, non-numan primate, wildlife, zoo/exotic).

 

Pam Lein
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor
Department: VM: Molecular Biosciences
Address: One Shields Ave., 1120 Haring Hall
Phone: (530) 752-1970
E-mail: pjlein@ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests: The role of inflammatory cells and cytokines in mediating the adverse effects of neurotoxic agents on the developing brain and altering nerve function in asthma.

 

Patrick S. Leung
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Associate Adjunct Professor
Department: MED: Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Address: 451 East Health Science Drive, GBSF, Room 6510
Phone: (530) 754-4943
E-mail: psleung@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/internalmedicine/rheumatology/immunolab_goals.html
Research interests: Molecular basis of autoimmune diseases. Expression of autoantigens and epitope analysis of autoantigens. Molecular immuology of food allergens.

 

Fu-Tong Liu
Degree Held: M.D., Ph.D.
Title: Professor and Chair
Department: MED: Dermatology
Address: 3301 C Street, Suite 1400, Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: (916) 734-6377
E-mail: fliu@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://anagen.ucdavis.edu/dermatology/futong.htm
Research interests: Our research interests encompass molecular and cellular mechanisms of allergic disorders and this includes the studies of IgE, IgE receptors, and mast cells. Current projects in the lab related to this area include the studies of mouse models of atopic dermatitis and the mechanism of anti-IgE therapy for allergy. In addition, our group is heavily involved in the investigation of expression, structure and function of a family of animal lectins, galectins. The research is focused on the roles of galectin-3, -7, and -12 in inflammation, infection, skin diseases, and cancer. Current projects include the role of galectin-3 and -12 in the innate and adaptive immune response, atopic dermatitis, and skin wound repair.

 

Shirley Luckhart
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor
Department: MED: Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Address: 3437 Tupper Hall
Phone: (530) 754-6963 or (530) 754-4932
E-mail: sluckhart@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medmicro/staff/luckhart.html
Research interests: General areas of research in the laboratory include: the molecular cell biology and biochemistry of the interaction between malaria parasites and their mosquito hosts, the functional characterization of primitive orthologs of mammalian innate immune molecules and cell signaling proteins using the mosquito as an invertebrate model. Specific research projects include: characterization of mosquito gene products that inhibit malaria parasite development and molecular/biochemical analysis of parasite damage; signal transduction pathways involved in parasite induction of mosquito innate immunity; analysis of expression, signaling, and regulation of anti-parasite genes in mosquitoes; molecular and functional analyses of immune factors that are conserved between mosquitoes and their mammalian hosts; immunological crosstalk between mosquitoes and mammals at the interface of bloodfeeding.

 

Emanuel Maverakis
Degree Held: M.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: MED: Department of Dermatology
Address:
Phone:
E-mail: emaverakis@ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests:

 

Melinda H. MacDonald
Degree Held: D.V.M., Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor
Department: VM: Surgical and Radiological Sciences
Address: 1310M Tupper Hall
Phone: (530) 752-3416
E-mail: mhmacdonald@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/mhmacdonald/
Research interests: Inflammation in the equine upper and lower airway. Equine inflammatory joint disease.

 

Lisa A. Miller
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Associate Adjunct Professor
Department: CNPRC; VM: Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology
Address: 2218 Haring Hall
Phone: (530) 754-7546 or (530) 752-6066
E-mail: lmiller@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lmiller/
Research interests: Mucosal and developmental immunology, primarily within the lung. Leukocyte-epithelial cell interactions. Chemokine-mediated mechanisms of leukocyte trafficking within the pulmonary immune system in response to allergens and air pollutants.

 

William J. Murphy
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: Department of Dermatology
Address: Research III #3300A, Sacramento, CA 95817
Phone: (916) 703-5662
E-mail: wmjmurphy@ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests: Use of immunotherapy in cancer, particularly in the context of bone marrow transplantation and using models of metastatic disease. How the immune system normally suppresses itself and how the tumor further suppresses attempts by the immune system to attack it.

 

Lorena Navarro
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Microbiology
Address: 255 Briggs Hall
Phone: (916) 752-0260
E-mail: lonavarro@ucdavis.edu
Web site:

http://biosci2.ucdavis.edu/BioSci/FacultyAndResearch/DisplayFacultyProfile.cfm?ResearcherID=2337
Research interests:

Our laboratory studies the virulence mechanisms used by pathogenic bacteria to circumvent the host innate immune response, with a specific emphasis on elucidating the biochemical and cellular function of bacterial effector proteins.  We are using the Gram-negative bacteria Yersinia as a model system for studying the molecular events occurring at the host-pathogen interface.

 

Robert T. O'Donnell
Degree Held: M.D., Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: MED:Hematology and Oncology, UC Davis Cancer Center
Address: 4501 X Street, Room 3016, Sacramento, CA 95817
Phone: (916) 734-3735
E-mail: rtodonnell@ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests: Radioimmuotherapy using radionuclide-labelled, cancer-specific monoclonal antibodies for treatment of patients with metastatic breast or prostate cancer, and lymphoma. Use of nude mouse models to explore synergy between this radioimmunotherapy and other drugs. Molecular, genetic changes caused by therapy and their effects on apoptosis. Molecular engineering of new antibody fragments capable of targeting malignant cells.

 

John Peters
Degree Held: M.D.
Title: Associate Professor-in-Residence
Department: Internal Medicine, General Medicine/Geriatric Medicine, Center for Aging
Address: Room 2354, Oak Park Bldg, UC Davis Medical Center, 2700 Stockton Blvd Sacramento, CA 59817
Phone: (916) 703-5079
E-mail: john.peters@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests: Generally, to define functional roles for extracellular matrix proteins, with emphasis on the fibronectin family of alternatively spliced proteins, in processes of tissue injury, inflammation and healing. Specifically, to define pathogenetic roles of ECM proteins in osteoarthritis and other chronic inflammatory disorders of aging.

 

Kent E. Pinkerton
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor and Director
Department: VM:Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology
Address: Center for Health and the Environment, Room 103
Phone: (530) 752-8334 (office) or (530) 752-5231 (lab)
E-mail: kepinkerton@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/kepinkerton/
Research interests: Immunotoxicology of the respiratory system. The effects of environmental air pollutants (gases, vapors, and particles) on lung inflammation and disease. The role of cytokines and growth factors in lung maturation and development.

 

Siba Raychaudhuri
Degree Held: MD
Title: Assistant Clinical Professor
Department: MED: Internal Medicine
Address: Rheumatology,Allergy & Clinical Immunology School of Medicine, UC Davis, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology VA Medical Center Sacramento
10535 Hospital Way
Building 807
Mather, CA 95655
Phone: (916) 326-0921
E-mail: sraychaudhuri@ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests:

In last few years, our research focus has been to understand how Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) influences inflammatory reactions such as cell trafficking and the activation of T cells. In addition to our interest in the role of neurogenic inflammation in inflammatory diseases, we have carried out significant work on cell trafficking and drug development. Our research work involves the identification of immune mediated inflammatory cascades of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. In order to make these studies possible, we have modified and improved the currently available SCID mouse-human skin chimera model of psoriasis. We have standardized this model for developing immune-based therapies for T cell mediated autoimmune diseases. Our research goals are to dissect and understand the inflammatory cascades of autoimmune diseases, with a focus on neurogenic inflammation, and apply this knowledge to the development of better treatments for this group of chronic debilitating diseases.

 

Subhadip Raychaudhuri
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Address: 451 East Health Science Drive, GBSF
Phone: (530) 754-6716
E-mail: raychaudhuri@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.bme.ucdavis.edu/profile/raychaudhuri/
Research interests: Computational and mathematical modeling of immune response and disease, B cell recognition of antigen and signaling, cell death (apoptosis) signaling and cellular decision making, cell-to-cell stochastic fluctuations in cellular signaling and design principles of signaling networks.

 

Gary Rhodes
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Associate Adjunct Professor
Department: MED: Pathology
Address: 3436 Tupper Hall
Phone: (530) 754-8327
E-mail: grhodes@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medschool/departments//pathology/people/faculty/rhodes.html
Research interests: Main project is to produce a nucleic acid vaccine against HIV using the SIV model including the investigation of immune mechanisms which control lentivirus infections. Use of nucleic acid vaccination to investigate immune mechanisms; the mechanisms by which viruses escape immune attack; and a gene therapy program.

 

Grace L. Rosenquist
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Adjunct Professor
Department: DBS: Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior
Address: 294A Briggs Hall
Phone: (530) 752-4973
E-mail: rosenqui@a.psc.edu
Web site: http://www.npb.ucdavis.edu/npbdirectory/rosenquist.html
Research interests: Post-translational modification of neuropeptides such as tyrosine sulfation which functions in the gut and immune systems: complement-4, immunoglobulin H chains. The prediction of tertiary structure such as packed helices from primary amino acid sequences. Confirmation of predicted structure by nuclear magnetic resonance.

 

Barbara L. Shacklett
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor
Department: MED: Medical Microbiology & Immunology; and MED: Division of Infectious Diseases
Address: 3327 Tupper Hall
Phone: (530) 752-6785
E-mail: blshacklett@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medmicro/staff/shacklett.html
Research interests: Cell-mediated immune responses to HIV-1 and other viruses in mucosal lymphoid tissues, and trafficking of lymphoid cells to mucosal tissues and the central nervous system.

 

Scott I. Simon
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: Department of Biomedical Engineering
Address: 451 East Health Sciences Drive
Phone: (530) 752-0299
E-mail: sisimon@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.bme.ucdavis.edu/profile/sisimon/
Research interests: Interested in blood-cell function, but specific area of interest is the behavior of one type of white blood cell, called the neutrophil. Neutrophils are in concentrations of about a billion per liter and circulate in the vasculature for only a few hours before being cleared in organs. Their goal over this interval is to surveil the circulation and peripheral tissues for bacteria and other foreign invaders and to home to sites of inflammation.

 

Jay Solnick
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: Departments of Medicine and  Microbiology & Immunology
Center for Comparative Medicine
Address:  
Phone: (916) 734-3815 or ( 530) 752-1333
E-mail: jvsolnick@ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests: The Solnick laboratory uses the rhesus macaque and mouse models to understand the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that commonly infects the stomach where it may cause peptic ulcer disease or gastric adenocarcinoma.

 

Ellen E. Sparger
Degree Held: D.V.M., Ph.D.
Title: Associate Adjunct Professor
Department: VM: Medicine and Epidemiology
Address: 3115 Tupper Hall
Phone: (530) 754-8461
E-mail: eesparger@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/nccfar/investigatorsSparger.html
Research interests: Molecular pathogenesis of feline immunodeficiency virus in cats; LTR mutant viruses; DNA vaccines.

 

Charles B. Stephensen
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Professor
Department: USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center
Address: 430 West Health Sciences Drive
Phone: (530) 754-9266
E-mail: charles.stephensen@ars.usda.gov
Web site:

http://nutrition.ucdavis.edu/faculty/stephensen.html ttp://www.ars.usda.gov/pandp/people/people.htm?personid=5405
Research interests: The role which micronutrients--particularly Vitamin A--play in immune function and resistance to infectious diseases and, conversely, in the impact of infection on nutritional status. Current work focuses on the role of vitamin A in the development of T-helper cells in mice and humans. Other projects also include the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on inflammation in human subjects with genetic variation in the ALOX5 gene, the first enzyme in leukotriene synthesis, and the impact of vitamin D on immne function.

 

Jeffrey L. Stott
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: VM: Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology
Address: 3323 Vet Med 3A
Phone: (530) 752-2543
E-mail: jlstott@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/jlstott/
Research interests: Developmental, comparative, and clinical immunology with emphasis on bovine, equine, marine mammals, and zoo animal species. Viral and bacterial immunopathogenesis of the fetus and neonate. Immunology of the bovine mammary gland.

 

Yoshikazu Takada
Degree Held: M.D., Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: MED: Dermatology
Address: UCDMC, Research III, Suite 3300, 4645 2nd Avenue
Phone: (916) 734-7443
E-mail: ytakada@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://anagen.ucdavis.edu/dermatology/takada.htm
Research interests: Mechanism and regulation of integrin/ligand interactions. Role of integrins in growth factor signaling.

 

Suzanne S. Teuber
Degree Held: M.D.
Title: Professor
Department: MED: Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Address: 451 East Health Sciences Drive, Ste 6513
Phone: (530) 752-4257
E-mail: ssteuber@ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests: Molecular characterization of food allergens associated with life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. Effect of seed polyphenolics on immune response and the possible role in development of food allergy to peanuts and tree nuts. Cross-reactivity of a food allergy.

 

Jose V. Torres
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: MED: Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Address: 3134 Tupper Hall
Phone: (530) 752-3157
E-mail: jvtorres@ucdavis.edu
Web site:

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medmicro/staff/torres.html
http://drtorres.org
Research interests: Our laboratory is dedicated to the study of cancer. Our work includes: design, development and testing of new tumor vaccine components, study of tumors that avoid recognition and elimination by the human immune system, development of preventive and therapeutic approaches against cancer and induction of cellular and mucosal immune responses. Current interests include: tumor immunology, cancer immunotherapy, cancer-associated viruses, LTNP to AIDS and preventive and therapeutic vaccines against cancer and cancer-associated viruses.

 

Alfonso Tramontano
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Professor
Department: MED: Nephrology
Address: Surge I, Room 1121
Phone: (530) 752-8909
E-mail: tramontano@ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests: Our research is concerned with mechanisms of autoimmunity as they relate to pathogenesis. We utilize various animal models to investigate autoimmune diseases, including diabetes, arthritis and glomerulonephritis. These efforts focus on the molecular determinants of innate and adaptive immunity, which include conformational epitopes and posttranslational modifications. Recominant autoantigens expressed in insect cell hosts provide useful models for molecular studies. Projects include the development of antigen-based immunotherapeutic strategies for intervention in disease pathogenesis. Molecular libraries of human antibodies in phage display are employed to investigate autoimmune renal disease and for discovery of potential therapeutic antibodies with unconventional activity.

 

Renee M. Tsolis
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: MED: Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Address: GBSF, Room 5519
Phone: (530) 754-8497
E-mail: rmtsolis@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medmicro/staff/tsolis.html
Research interests: Host-microbe interactions mediating intracellular persistence of the bacterial pathogen Brucella.

 

Joseph M. Tuscano
Degree Held: M.D.
Title: Associate Professor
Department: MED: Hematology and Oncology
Address: UC Davis Cancer Center, 4501 X Street, Sacramento, CA 95817
Phone: (916) 734-3371
E-mail: joseph.tuscano@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://lymphomaweb.com/
Research interests: Myeloid and lymphatic signal transduction abnormalities; their role in human disease.

 

Judy Van de Water
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor in Residence
Department: MED: Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Address: GBSF, 6th Floor, Room 6512
Phone: (530) 752-2154
E-mail: javandewater@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/ourteam/faculty_staff/vandewater.html
Research interests: Immunopathology and the cellular and molecular basis of autoimmunity. Current research addresses the biological aspects of autism spectrum disorders including immune function, cellular mechanisms of immune dysregulation, and autoimmunity. Dr. van de Water also works in the area of primary biliary cirrhosis, an autoimmune liver disease.

 

Andrew T. Vaughan
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: UCDHS: Department of Radiation Oncology
Address: 4501 X Street, Ste G140, Sacramento, CA 95817
Phone:
E-mail: andrew.vaughan@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests: My research interests are in the very earliest events that drive the development of leukemia.  These are likely linked to the fragmentation of chromosomes and their subsequent fusion to other sites.  It appears that a restricted region of the MLL (Mixed lineage leukemia) gene at 11q23 is routinely involved in therapy related Acute Myeloid Leukemia (tAML) and Infant Acute Leukemia (IAL).  We are trying to determine what drives such location specific aberrations with the goal of developing ways of suppressing such events.

 

Robert H. Weiss
Degree Held: M.D.
Title: Professor
Department: MED: Nephrology
Address: GBSF, Rm 6312
Phone: (530) 752-4010
E-mail: rhweiss@ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests: My research is focused on signal transduction and second messenger events in cellular growth and apoptosis. Specific areas of interest include: (1) the function of the cyclin and tumor suppressor proteins in vascular cells, kidney disease, and cancer; (2) metabolomic and proteomic studies of cancer biomarkers; (3) the role of the epoxyeicosanoids and their metabolites in vascular cell growth and apoptosis.

 

Jean Wiedeman
Degree Held:
Title: Associate Professor
Department: MED: Pediatrics
Address: Ticon II Building, UCDMC
Phone: (530) 754-5055 or (916) 734-3557
E-mail: jataylorwiedeman@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://myprofile.cos.com/JeanWied
Research interests: Our laboratory is interested in the analysis of 2 main microbiol pathogens, Chlamydia pneumoniae and human cytomegalovirus, and their role in atherosclerosis. Chlamydia pneumoniae investigations are targeted toward examination of the biology of persistence in endothelial, smooth muscle cells. Human cytomegalovirus work is focused on determining viral genetic factors involved with endothelial cell tropism. The third area of interest in the laboratory is directed toward examining the ability of the 2 pathogens to alter host cell adhesion molecules and their respective infection cycles under co-infection conditions in cell types relevant to the atherosclerotic plaque e.g. endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, T cells and monocyte/macrophages.

 

Reen Wu
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Professor
Department: Internal Medicine, School of Medicine; and Department of VM: Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology
Address: GBSF Suite 6523
Phone: (530) 752-2648
E-mail: rwu@ucdavis.edu
Web site:
Research interests: Roles of airway epithelial cells in lung diseases and airway mucosal immunity, embryonic stem cell biology and regenerative lung biology and medicine, epigenetic mechanism.

 

Heike Wulff
Degree Held: Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: MED: Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine
Address:
Phone: (530) 754-6135
E-mail: hwulff@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/pharmacology/departmentlabs/heikewulff.html
Research interests: Ion channels in the immune system.

 

Tilahun D. Yilma
Degree Held: Ph.D.,D.V.M.
Title: Director and Distinguished Professor of Virology
Department: MED: Microbiology and Immunology; VET MED: Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology
Address: 2079 Haring Hall
Phone: (530) 752-8306
E-mail: tdyilma@ucdavis.edu
Web site: http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/Faculty/tdyilma
Research interests: As an FAO Collaborative Laboratory, the ILMB is meeting its responsibilities of technology transfer with a very active program of biotechnology training. We train scientists from developing countries in biotechniques, help establish branch laboratories in developing countries to direct or collaborate in projects of local interest; provide technical expertise and advice upon request to FAO and to participating countries, and organize on-site workshops and seminars to improve technical skills in branch laboratories. Individuals from India, Pakistan, Brazil, Egypt, and Argentina have worked or are presently working at the ILMB on projects related to vaccine and rapid diagnostic kit development. Eleven post-doctoral fellows from Egypt have been trained and have returned to their home country. We have established a branch laboratory in Egypt that is now completely equipped and fully operational, staffed by ILMB-trained scientists, and laboratories are in development in Ethiopia and Kenya. The ILMB is also active in the University of California Systemwide Biotechnology Research and Education Program, providing resources for training highly qualified graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in vaccine development and viral pathogenesis. The latest techniques in biochemistry, cell biology, immunology, recombinant DNA, biology, pathology, cell culture and vaccine development are promoted in the ILMB. Training is focused on two areas of central importance for the development of vaccines and diagnostic reagents: (1) improvement of recombinant vaccines, and (2) use of recombinant proteins for improved diagnostic kits. Trainee research is coordinated with projects involving vaccinia virus recombinant vectors, vaccinia virus immune modulating genes, cytokines, retrovirus recombinant vectors, retrovirus proteins, ribozymen gene therapy, vaccines for human and animal diseases, and immune responses to immunogenic proteins.