Research Focus Areas

• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Neurological Disorders
• Cancers
• Infectious Diseases
• Structural Biology
• Genetic Diseases

While the span of research topics at the University of Cincinnati is quite diverse, there are a number of distinct themes on which the research efforts focus. These focus areas highlight the major interests of the University, the faculty, and the students of the PSTP.

Cardiovascular Diseases

Cincinnati’s Cardiovascular Research and Education Center provides PSTP students with state-of-the-art laboratories in which to conduct leading-edge research in cardiovascular science. Major efforts are on-going in:

• expression, function and abnormalities of proteins of the contractile apparatus 
• regulation of cardiac contractility by ion pumps and channels
• vascular smooth muscle and hypertension
• genetic susceptibility to hypertension and ischemic heart disease
• congenital heart defects

Close collaboration between research, teaching and clinical activities in the Center means new knowledge is efficiently applied to patient care. Research during the past few decades has opened new pathways to understanding the basic elements of cardiovascular development, anatomy, and pharmacology, and it is now possible to create new approaches for the treatment and prevention of many forms of cardiovascular disease.

Neurological Disorders

Clinically relevant research is critical to the understanding of neurological disorders, and this is a rapidly expanding area of research at the University of Cincinnati.  Research focus areas include 

• Developmental Neurobiology
• Membrane and Channel Biophysics
• Molecular Neurobiology
• Neuroendocrinology
• Neuronal Cell Biology
• Neuropharmacology and Substance Abuse
• Neurophysiology
• Sensory Neuroscience
• Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience

Many faculty have research programs with a clinical focus on brain diseases such as  stroke, Alzheimer's Disease, brain tumors, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, drug addiction and obesity.

Cancers

The Charles M. Barrett Center for Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Research combines UC’s clinical strengths in cancer therapeutics with those in the basic sciences. Faculty research interests include:

• tumor suppressor genes and genomic stability in predisposition to cancer
• genetics and biochemistry of myeloid leukemias
• regulation of cellular growth and differentiation
• endocrine dysfunction and tumorigenesis

Additionally, there are collaborative initiatives involving clinicians and basic scientists in the development and advancement of a Brain Tumor Center and a separate program in Head and Neck Tumor Etiology. There is also active research on breast tumors, ovarian, bladder and prostatic cancers, pancreatic carcinoma, bronchopulmonary tumors, and other diseases.

Infectious Diseases

Research in the field of infectious diseases is broad, and a variety of scientific methods are used to explore basic and clinical questions. Infectious disease research at U.C. is conducted in several basic science departments and NIH-funded centers. Faculty research includes:

• reactive investigations in molecular virology
  herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, rotavirus
• host immunity
  mucosal, neural and cell-mediated immunology
• pathogenesis
  pneumocystis, influenza, Chlamydia trachomatis
• gene therapy
  herpes simplex virus, adenovirus vectors
• cell biology
  mechanism of persistence of latent viruses
• epidemiology
  molecular analysis of Bordetella pertussis isolates, impact of vaccination on rotavirus gastroenteritis
• vaccinology
  nucleic acid vaccine development, immunotherapy
• drug/vaccine evaluation
  assessment of a new drug for enteroviral infection, testing of a cold-adapted influenza virus vaccine, assessment of a replication impaired herpes simplex virus vaccine

Structural Biology

UC has long recognized the necessity of high resolution structural analysis in understanding virtually all cellular events. By creating an advanced studies program in Structural Biology, the Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry & Microbiology has taken a leadership role in assembling and continually expanding an outstanding inter-departmental group of investigators having a common interest in the relationship between structure and function in macromolecules. UC has established a world class NMR facility staffed by faculty with interests in protein folding and function, nucleic acid structure and technique development. The facility presently houses five spectrometers, with field strengths of 400 to 800 MHz, and also includes the full computational support necessary for molecular modeling and to determine structure.

Genetic Diseases

Genetic studies on metabolic defects take place in the Departments of Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry & Microbiology, and the Perinatal Research Institute. Long-standing fundamental genetic research in the basic sciences, ambulatory care facilities, and clinical and surgical areas represent major strengths. Examples of genetic diseases under study include cystic fibrosis, hemoglobinopathies, and Gaucher disease.

UC’s Department of Environmental Health has also recently created the Center for Environmental Genetics, which brings together investigators to focus on understanding the impact of genetic diversity on the response of individuals and populations to toxic environmental agents.