Pulmonary Medicine
Ching-Hsien (Jean) Chen, PhD
SOM: Nephrology/Internal Medicine
(See also: Biochemistry/Cellular Biology, Oncology)
Dr. Chen’s research strives to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer malignancy and thereby identify useful biomarkers and/or druggable targets. She seeks to develop peptide-based therapeutics to mitigate cancer metastasis and drug resistance by targeting aberrant oncogenic signaling. Research in her laboratory focuses on how the phospholipids such as PIP2 and PIP3 are regulated during the development of malignancies and inflammatory diseases.
As a STAR Program mentor, I offer projects focused on mechanism-based target identification and drug discovery in smoking-related diseases, including lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis. Students will investigate disease mechanisms and metabolic dysregulation using techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9, scRNA sequencing, qPCR, and Western blotting. They will characterize the immune microenvironment in cancer and fibrosis using flow cytometry, immunofluorescent staining, and multiplex cytokine assays on tissues from animal models. Additional projects include ex vivo drug screening on patient-derived precision-cut tissue slices and metabolic profiling with mass spectrometry and Seahorse XF Analyzers. Students will gain hands-on experience in molecular biology, immune profiling, cell and tissue culture, and data analysis, contributing to impactful translational research.
Dr. Chen can be reached via email.
Hong Ji, PhD
California National Primate Research Center
(See also: Genetics and Genomics)
The overall goal of the Ji lab is to understand the molecular and epigenomic mechanisms underlying impact of environmental exposures on human health, focusing the pulmonary and inflammatory responses and lung diseases.
Available projects include characterization of gene expression, immune factor secretion, lung inflammation and function in models of asthma and COPD. Training on dry lab bioinformatic analysis of omics datasets is also available to those who are interested.
Email: hgji@ucdavis.edu
Lisa Miller, PhD
Immunology, respiratory, pediatric
California National Primate Research Center
(See also: Immunology)
Dr. Miller's research program is focused on understanding the relationship between early life environmental exposures, immunity and chronic disease. We study how mucosal and systemic immunity is established during infancy, and determine the impact of air pollutants, allergens, and infectious disease on childhood health. A major emphasis has been in the elucidation of mechanisms for immune susceptibility that lead to pediatric airways dysfunction, which may ultimately lead to generation of new diagnostics and preventative medicine.
We will be conducting research on wildfire smoke health effects using cell cultures, murine models, and blood samples from nonhuman primates.
Dr. Miller can be reached via email.
Joao H. N. Soares, MV, MSc, DSc
Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia
(See also: Anesthesia/Pain Management)
Not taking students in 2025
Dr. Joao Soares is a veterinary anesthesiologist with a research interest in respiratory function during anesthesia, including the use of specialized monitoring such as respiratory mechanics, electrical impedance tomography and volumetric capnography. Current research projects are 1) Evaluation of methods to choose positive end-expiratory pressure during mechanical ventilation of anesthetized dogs; and 2) retrospective study on the occurrence of postanesthetic pulmonary complications in dogs and cats anesthetized at the VMTH.
Potential STAR projects are: 1) Anatomic and alveolar dead space in anesthetized dogs of different breeds; or 2) Effects of blood sampling duration upon arterial blood gases in anesthetized horses in lateral and dorsal recumbency. Both projects will be performed in anesthetized patients of the UCDavis VMTH. Other projects in the area of respiratory physiology applied to anesthesia may be discussed depending on the student interest.
Dr. Soares can be reached via email at jhsoares@ucdavis.edu.
Kent E. Pinkerton, Ph.D.
Professor of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology
(see also: cardiology, immunology, pathology/virology and pharmacology/toxicology)
1) To take an innovative approach in addressing air quality issues in dairy and cattle operations by the examination of direct health effects on the cardiopulmonary systems of mice and rats exposed to ambient particles using a concentrator system at the Tulare Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center.
2) To examine the effects of environmental factors (gases and particles in the air) on peri-natal development to affect lung anatomy and pulmonary function in the rat. From conception to adulthood in the rats takes approximately 6 weeks, an easy fit for one summer!
3) To measure heart rate variability as an indicator of change in autonomic control in the mouse exposed to Davis, CA summer particulates.
4) To take a comparative biology approach to elucidate mechanistic environmental pathways leading to increased susceptibility (fetal onset of adult disease).
5) To examine the role of secondhand smoke on increased susceptibility to infection (influenza).
6) To explore the role of metabolomics as an early indicator of disease (asthma, altered immune function, increased susceptibility to infection).
Dr. Pinkerton can be reached via email at kepinkerton@ucdavis.edu.
Laura S. Van Winkle, Ph.D., DABT
VM: Anatomy, Physiology & Cell Biology
(See also: Pharmacology/Toxicology)
My research focus is on toxicology and pulmonary cell biology. I study cellular responses in the lung.. Airways are a key site for many human lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis and lung cancer. Exposure to toxic air pollutants contributes to development of these diseases in humans and animals. We utilize unique in vivo and in vitro models to study airway epithelial injury and repair in diverse species from mice to monkeys. We have a substantial archive of tissue sections. My laboratories are located at the Center for Health and the Environment. Projects available include studies of: 1) The effect of inhaled particles on airway toxicology and histopathology in rats 2) Effect of inhaled toxic vapors, such as naphthalene on cytotoxicity in the nose and lung 3) Using nanoparticles to understand ultrafine particle dosimetry.
Students are invited to participate in any of these ongoing projects. Students may also conduct an original project of special interest to be completed during the summer session. Ongoing research is supported by funding from several grants from NIH.
Email - lsvanwinkle@ucdavis.edu