Highlights: Researchers
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Dr. Nancy Allbritton Distinguished Professor, Chemistry Dr. Allbritton’s research encompasses signaling in single cells and microfabricated systems for cellular analysis. Her lab’s objective is to quantitatively measure the activity of proteins in cellular signaling networks to understand the relationships of these intracellular pathways in regulating cell health and disease. It involves a multidisciplinary program for the development and application of new analytical methods with two main focus areas: 1) techniques to monitor cellular signaling, and 2) microfabricated cellular analysis systems. Learn More by Visiting Dr. Allbritton's faculty page |
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Dr. Maurice Brookhart Distinguished Professor, Chemistry, Member of National Academy of Sciences (2001) Dr Brookhart’s primary research interests are synthetic organometallic chemistry and catalysis. The Brookhart group carries out research in the general area of synthetic and mechanistic organometallic chemistry with particular emphasis on the application of organometallic complexes in catalysis. Dr. Brookhart is currently involved in a collaborative research project under the sponsorship of the NSF’s Center for Enabling New Technologies through Catalysis aimed at developing a potentially highly valuable transformation method for processing petroleum. See an educational video available at moreheadplanetarium.org. Learn More by Visiting Dr. Brookhart's faculty page View video presentation, "Today's Chemistry, Tomorrow's Fuels." Center for Enabling New Technologies Through Catalysis |
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Dr. Edward Chaney Professor of Radiation Oncology and Biomedical Engineering Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, NCSU and UNC-Chapel Hill Dr. Chaney’s primary research interests are in medical informatics and medical imaging, particularly the development of new techniques for image guided radiotherapy treatment planning and treatment verification. Morphormics, Inc., a UNC-Chapel Hill start up company based on Dr. Chaney’s innovations, develops and delivers medical imaging software systems to dramatically increase efficiency and success rate in image-guided medical treatment planning, intervention, and diagnosis. Learn More by Visiting Dr. Chaney's faculty page |
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Dr. Laurence Dahners Professor, Orthopaedics Dr. Dahners’ primary research interests include ligament physiology; ligament healing; ligament growth and contracture; bone healing and biomechanics of internal fixation. Dr. Dahners' research has resulted in two orthopaedic devices now on the market, licensed to and sold by Tornier, Inc.: The MIfx™ Dorsal IM Plate gives surgeons a minimally invasive approach to dorsally displaced unstable distal radius fractures that is unique in orthopaedics. The patented Intrafocal Pin Plate is a low profile, minimally invasive solution for dorsally displaced, distal radius fracture treatment. |
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Nancy DeMare, MD Dr. DeMare's current research will elucidate whether differences in biologic outcome between patients with micrometastic disease versus macrometastatic disease can be explained by differences in gene expression. Understanding the biological mechanisms of micrometastases will contribute significantly to the design of treatment strategies for patients with micrometastatic disease. |
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Dr. Joseph DeSimone Distinguished Professor, Chemistry Chancellor's Eminent Professor of Chemistry UNC William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering, NCSU In June 2008, Joe DeSimone was awarded the Lemelson-MIT Prize for innovations in polymer chemistry. “For Dr. Joseph M. DeSimone, the interface between seemingly disparate fields and concepts offers the best opportunity for invention and innovation. A well-recognized chemist and polymer expert, DeSimone has uniquely applied his skills to the development of groundbreaking solutions in green manufacturing, and promising applications in gene therapy and drug delivery, as well as medical devices.” (from UNC.News article on Lemelson-MIT Prize). Dr. DeSimone’s group’s latest breakthrough, PRINT, has been licensed to start up company Liquidia. Among other potential applications, the described method for fabrication and harvesting of monodisperse, shape-specific nano-biomaterials has important implications for cancer research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Learn More by Visiting Dr. DeSimone's faculty page Dr. DeSimone's Research Group Site DeSimone Awarded Lemelson-MIT Prize for Innovations in Polymer Chemistry The Man Who Taught CO2 to Clean |
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Dr. Henry Fuchs Distinguished Professor, Computer Science Henry Fuchs is the Federico Gil Professor of Computer Science and Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Engineering at UNC Chapel Hill. He has been active in computer graphics since the early 1970s, with rendering algorithms (BSP Trees), hardware (Pixel-Planes and PixelFlow), virtual environments, tele-immersion systems and medical applications. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the recipient of the 1992 ACM-SIGGRAPH Achievement Award, the 1992 Academic Award of the National Computer Graphics Association, and the 1997 Satava Award of the Medicine Meets Virtual Reality Conference. Learn More by Visiting Dr. Fuchs' faculty page |
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Dr. Leaf Huang Distinguished Professor, School of Pharmacy Dr. Huang is the Fred N. Eshelman Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics. Dr. Huang is associated with The Laboratory of Drug Targeting at UNC, and has been working on liposomes and immunoliposomes for drug delivery. Current activities are focused on the development of non-viral vectors for gene (including oligonucleotides) therapy, and receptor mediated drug and vaccine targeting using self-assembled nanoparticles. The technologies are tested for therapy of cancer and other diseases in animal models. Learn More by Visiting Dr. Huang's faculty page Dr. Huang's Lab Site |
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Dr. Robert Johnston Professor, Microbiology & Immunology Dr. Johnston’s research is focused in two areas, the molecular genetics of viral pathogenesis and its application to vaccine design. The first area is an investigation of the pathogenesis of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) The second area is design of live virus vaccines and vaccine vectors. In animal models of several important human and animal pathogens, e.g. influenza, Marburg, Ebola and simian immunodeficiency virus, VEE vectored vaccines have proven safe, immunogenic and protective. Dr. Johnston serves as the Director of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Carolina Vaccine Institute. (CVI) is in a unique position to help make North Carolina a world leader in vaccine and vaccine technology research. CVI’s mission is to change the dynamics of global public health by developing safe, low-cost, effective vaccines for people in the developing world. Learn More by Visiting Dr. Johnston's Faculty Page Carolina Vaccine Institute |
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Dr. Laurence Katz Dr. Katz's research interests include cerebral resuscitation, thermoregulation, therapeutic hypothermia, regulated hypothermia, hibernation and hemorrhagic shock. |
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Dr. Keith Kocis Professor, Pediatrics Dr. Kocis, professor of Pediatrics and M.D. in the School of Medicine at UNC-Chapel Hill, is involved in research and development of a new medical device to revolutionize how critically ill infants and children are monitored and cared for in pediatric intensive care units. REALTROMINS, Inc., a UNC-Chapel Hill start up company, is the vehicle by which Dr. Kocis will bring his innovation to the public. Dr. Kocis' Biographical Sketch UNC physican's new medical device aims to help treatment of critically ill children REALTROMINS, Inc. |
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Dr. K. H. Lee Distinguished Professor, School of Pharmacy Dr. Lee, Kenan Professor in the Division: Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, lists as his research interests Medicinal chemistry, bioactive natural products, new drug discovery and development, and Chinese medicine. His lab, The Natural Products Research Laboratories (NPRL) has established an exceptional research program in rational drug discovery. Learn More by Visiting Dr. Lee's Faculty Page Dr. Lee's Lab Site |
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Dr. Jeffrey Macdonald Dr. Macdonald’s research includes the non-invasive analysis of biological systems by NMR and MRI and the generation of multinuclear NMR metabolomic data at the cellular and systems level, and development of bioartificial liver and other tissue models. |
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Dr. Lars Nyland Lars S. Nyland is a research associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research interests target image-based rendering, high-performance computing and very large data sets, with specific interests in parallel computing and high volume data acquisition systems. Dr. Nyland's research led to the development of a 3D color, Laser, Scene Digitizer, the DeltaSphere-3000, used in crime scene/forensic analysis, museums and cultural exhibitions, architecture and construction, and other applications. |
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Cam Patterson, MD, PhD Dr. Patterson's laboratory uses molecular, genetic, and physiologic approaches to ask questions regarding events that underlie the processes of angiogenesis, vascular development, cardiac failure, and atherosclerosis. The laboratory employs a wide range of methods, including standard molecular techniques, gene discovery applications, genetically modified animals, and microphysiologic techniques. Dr. Patterson has a particular interest in understanding the genes that regulate angiogenesis, identifying stress-responsive genes that modify cardiac function, and characterizing oxidative pathways in atherogenesis. |
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Dr. Matthew Redinbo Dr. Redinbo's research group uses the tools of structural, molecular and chemical biology to examine dynamic cellular and systemic processes. They are currently focused on four central areas: Nuclear Receptors in Transcriptional Control and Therapeutic Development, Enzymes in Chemotherapy and Chemoprotection, DNA Manipulation Machinery Structure, Function and Inhibition, Bacterial Pathogenesis, Invasion and Dormancy. |
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Dr. Mark Schoenfisch The objectives of Dr. Schoenfisch's Group's research include investigating protein adsorption related to thrombosis and improving the biocompatibility of medical implants and sensors by employing and further developing scanning probe microscopy, immunoassays, molecular patterning via contact printing and self-assembly strategies, nitric oxide (NO) release methods, and sol-gel chemistry. Dr. Schoenfisch is the lead investigator on the technology licensed to start-up company Novan, Inc. |
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Dr. Scott Singleton Dr. Singleton's research focuses on bio-organic and biophysical chemical investigations of the mechanisms of DNA repair, directed evolution of novel enzymes, and development of alternate strategies for targeting drug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms. |
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Dr. Oliver Smithies Excellence Professor, Pathology & Lab Medicine "Early in the morning on October 8, Oliver Smithies got the call. Carolina’s first Nobel Prize winner had spent half a century at the bench and still loves it." Carolina's own geneticist and Nobel laureate is credited with the invention of gel electrophoresis in 1950, and the simultaneous discovery, with Mario Capecchi, of the technique of homologous recombination of transgenic DNA with genomic DNA, a much more reliable method of altering animal genomes than previously used, and the technique behind gene targeting. Learn More by Visiting Dr. Smithies' Faculty Page Endeavors Article: A Life at the Bench |
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Dr. Russell Taylor Research Professor, Computer Science Russell Taylor is a Research Professor of Computer Science, Physics & Astronomy, and Applied & Materials Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the co-director of the UNC NIH National Research Resource for Computer Integrated Systems for Microscopy and Manipulation His research interests include Scientific Visualization, Distributed Virtual Worlds, Haptic Display, and Interactive 3D Computer Graphics. All of these come together in his role as the director of the computer science team in the UNC Nanoscale Science Research Group, which is a team of Physicists, Chemists, Gene Therapists, Biologists, Library Scientists, Perceptual Psychologists, and Computer Scientists working together to develop improved interfaces for scanned-probe and other microscopes. These tools enable scientists to see, touch and manipulate nanometer-scale objects like viruses and carbon nanotubes, either from within the laboratory or across a computer network. Learn More by Visiting Dr. Taylor's Faculty Page Navitas Research LLC MegaWattSolar 3rdTech |
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Dr. Holden Thorp Chancellor, UNC Chapel Hill Our new Chancellor has a long history with UNC-Chapel Hill as an innovator, including his involvement in start up companies based on technologies he pioneered as a researcher with the Chemistry Department. Along with his collaborators, his research was directed at developing new biological applications of transition-metal redox chemistry. This research has produced technologies for detecting specific nucleic acid sequences that are being commercialized for use in pharmaceutical research by Osmetech LLC. Additionally, Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a new UNC start up company, is using this work as a basis for discovering and developing metal-targeted therapeutics. Learn More by Visiting Chancellor Thorp's Web Page Viamet Pharmaceuticals Endeavors Article: A DNA Test Pushes the Envelope |
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Dr. Yi Zhang Dr. Zhang and his lab focus on how epigenetic-mediated dynamic changes in chromatin structure affect gene expression, cell lineage commitment and cancer development. Our long-term goal is to apply this basic research to studies of human diseases. Dr. Zhang's research has led to the formation of Epizyme, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that is creating innovative drugs that will provide revolutionary treatments for major diseases based on the profound discoveries emerging from the field of epigenetics. Learn More by Visiting Dr. Zhang's Faculty Page Details of Dr. Zhang's Research Can Be Found at his Lab Site |
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Dr. Otto Zhou Professor, Physics & Astronomy Dr. Zhou’s research interests focus on nanomaterials, new x-ray imaging technology and field emission display. He and his research group are responsible for the innovations behind UNC start up company Xintek, Inc., which develops and manufactures nanotechnology-enabled products for a broad range of applications including diagnostic medical imaging, homeland security, and information display. Learn More by Visiting Dr. Zhou's Faculty Page Endeavors article: The Physics of Clarity Xintek, Inc. |
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Dr. R. Jude Samulski Dr. Samulski's research focuses on the study of the dependent parvovirus adeno-associated virus. AAV is the only known DNA animal virus which requires co-infection by a second unrelated virus in order to undergo productive infection. Dr. Samulski has been able to test AAV as an alternative viral vector for gene delivery. The ability to generate non-pathogenic viral vectors for current basic research have the long term potential of serving as reagents for use in clinical settings. Dr. Samulski has established successful and long term gene expression over a year, which directly addresses the issue of molecular therapy required for genetic disorders. One of Dr. Samulski's current research goals is to continue to derive delivery systems for use in gene therapy. |