Molecular Mechanisms of Inflammation and Cell Death

An improved understanding of pathogenic pathways may identify novel therapeutic approaches. Based on a systems biology approach we have identified several novel candidate mediators of tissue injury regulated by the NFkB system and that have therapeutic target potentials. The project will explore one of these candidates using kidney disease as a model system.

The student will analyze the regulation of the expression and the function of the gene candidate. This will be explored in cultured cells and experimental animal models of kidney disease, including genetically modified animals (wild type, mutants, knockout mice). Also, the key observations will be validated in humans using biobank human tissue material. 

The project will involve cell culture, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, western blot or ELISA and RT-PCR to study protein and mRNA expression respectively, treatment with specific inhibitors of NFkB to characterize molecular pathway of inflammation in cell and animal models, and the use of systems biology databases.