Major Research Areas

Cytoskeleton

In addition to providing the structural support for cells, dynamic remodeling of the cytoskeleton is required for numerous cellular events including migration, mitosis, exocytosis and endocytosis, adhesion, growth control, and others.

Researchers at Upstate are working to understand the regulation and function of the three primary cytoskeletal networks: intermediate filaments, microtubules, and actin as well as the molecular motors, adaptor proteins, activation pathways, and inherent biochemical properties involved in cytoskeletal regulation and function.

Scientific approaches to cytoskeletal study vary greatly and include molecular cloning and mutagenesis, model organisms, light, video, electron, and fluorescent microscopy, protein biochemistry and numerous in vitro assays of cellular behavior.

David Amberg, Ph.D. Professor Regulation of actin dynamics and analysis of genomic influences on actin function.	Eric Olson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Cellular and molecular mechanisms of cerebral cortex development.
Scott Blystone, Ph.D. Associate Professor Actin Cytoskeletal Dynamics in the leukocyte inflammatory phenotype.	Thomas Poole, Ph.D. Associate Professor Vascular development and the alignment of growing nerves and blood vessels in quail and zebrafish embryos.
Dipak Dube, Ph.D. Professor Molecular mechanism of cardiac myofibrillogenesis in vertebrates.	David Pruyne, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Biochemistry and cell biology of formins as actin cytoskeleton organizers, using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system.
Steven Goodman, Ph.D. Professor Proteomic assessment of sickle cell severity.	Jean Sanger, Ph.D. Professor Analysis of the assembly of the actin/myosin cytoskeleton in muscle and non-muscle cells.
Ying Huang, M.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor Oncogenic signaling in cellular transformation and apoptosis; tumor suppressor genes.	Joseph Sanger, Ph.D. Professor and Chair Cellular analysis of the formation of myofibrils, stress fibers, and cleavage furrows in living cells.
Mira Krendel, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Physiological functions of myosin motors and their roles in diabetic kidney disease and cancer	Vladimir Sirotkin, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Mechanisms of the actin cytoskeleton assembly and role of myosin-1 during endocytosis in fission yeast.
David Mitchell, Ph.D. Professor Regulation of ciliary dynein activity and assembly, and the role of the central pair complex in ciliary motility regulation.	Christopher Turner, Ph.D. Professor Regulation of cell migration by focal adhesion adapter proteins and their role in cancer cell metastasis.

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Complete Faculty List

Steven Goodman, PhD, Dean,
College of Graduate Studies,
Vice President for Research

SUNY Upstate Medical University has a strong base of scientific researchers and a relevant clinical setting which provides students with an excellent environment to learn and grow. More>

Steven L. Youngentob, PhD, Associate Dean,
College of Graduate Studies
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