Many department faculty maintain laboratories and staff to perform both basic and clinical research projects. The main themes of research by faculty investigators in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine are degenerative neurological diseases, cancers, tissue injury, inflammation and infection, and metabolic disturbance and stem cell. The department’s research has been broadly involved in the understanding of the molecular mechanism of cancer biology, in the establishment of better pathology diagnosis, and in the development of novel cancer therapy.
Research
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Research faculty throughout IU School of Medicine’s academic departments post updates about their work to the research updates blog. Stay up-to-date about medical research in pediatrics.
Alzheimer's
The department’s research in Alzheimer’s disease is represented by the group led by Bernadino Ghetti, MD, who is an internationally renowned neuropathologist and researcher in Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Ghetti is also director of the Neuropathology Core of the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, which has been funded by National Institute on Aging since 1991 and is one of the 32 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers established by NIA nationally.Faculty focusing on degenerative diseases are Bernardino Ghetti, MD, Ruben G. Vidal, PhD, Kathy Newell, MD, Laura Cracco, MD, Holly Garringer, PhD, Grace Hallinan, PhD, Anlelly Fernandez, PhD.
Cancer
Many faculty in the department are involved in cancer related research that extend to lung cancer, liver cancer, genito-urinary track cancer (prostate cancer, germ cell cancer and ovarian cancer), and breast cancer. Faculty research has been broadly involved in the understanding of the molecular mechanism of cancer biology, in the establishment of better pathology diagnosis and in the development of novel cancer therapy.
Faculty focusing on cancer are Hong Du, PhD; John N. Eble, MD, MBA; Raymond L. Konger, MD; George Sandusky, DVM, PhD; Thomas M. Ulbright, MD; Cong Yan, PhD; Xiao-Ming Yin, MD, PhD; Chunhai "Charlie" Hao, MD, PhD; Anita Bellail, PhD; Chafiq Hamdouchi, PhD.
Metabolic Disturbance
Metabolic disturbance as represented by obesity, hepatic steatosis, type II diabetes and insulin resistance have rapidly become a major health concern in this country and worldwide. There is still much to be learned regarding the pathogenesis and clinical management of metabolic disturbance. Tissue injury, inflammation and infection as well as cell death have been well connected to neurodegeneration, cancer and metabolic disturbance. Research in this area is important for a better understanding of the disease and development of effective treatment using novel approaches such as stem cells.
Faculty focusing on metabolic disturbance is Xiao-Ming Yin, MD, PhD. Faculty researchers focusing on tissue injury, inflammation and infection are Thomas E. Davis, MD, PhD; Hong Du, PhD; Raymond L. Konger, MD
Transthyretin Amyloidosis
Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is a disease caused by the abnormal accumulation of protein molecules in body tissues. These protein accumulations or "amyloid deposits" are made from a blood protein, transthyretin (TTR), which normally transports thyroid hormone and vitamin A to the body tissues. When an inherited defect in the TTR protein occurs, this abnormal form of TTR has the tendency to accumulate in tissues such as the heart, kidneys, nerves, and intestine. The presence of these deposits interferes with the normal functions of the organs. and as the deposits enlarge more tissue damage occurs and the disease (TTR amyloidosis) worsens.
Faculty researching this disease are Rafat Abonour, MD, John Kincaid, MD, Noel Dasgupta, MD
Research Support Labs
Faculty in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at IU School of Medicine operate core research labs to support medical research.
