Research Labs

Research Staff and Faculty

Our diverse faculty members share a common goal of probing fundamental mechanisms of disease through basic, translational, and clinical research. Our ultimate aim is to enhance patient care through the continual refinement of diagnostic and treatment methods.

The Department of Pathology is home to a well-resourced basic and translational science research center that houses 15 principal investigators occupying two floors of research space in the Simmons (NB) and Pickens (ND) Biomedical Research Buildings. Our research interests are diverse and include cancer biology, immunology and therapeutics, and neurodegenerative disorders. Our investigators are active in the Cancer Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Genetics Development & Disease, Immunology, and Integrative Biology Graduate Programs as well as the Medical Scientist and Physician Scientist Training Programs at UT Southwestern.

The laboratories are supported through multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas, and numerous private foundations. The Department sponsors a combined clinical and basic research seminar series and two University Lectures per year.

 
Diego Castrillon, M.D., Ph.D. Lab

Diego Castrillon, M.D., Ph.D. Lab
Molecular basis of women’s cancers, especially endometrial (uterine) cancer.

 
Dr. Ersa Akbay Lab

Esra Akbay, Ph.D. Lab
Molecular drivers of tumor immune escape, particularly activation of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway.

 
Hasan Zaki, Ph.D. Lab

Hasan Zaki, Ph.D. Lab
Gastrointestinal inflammation and cancer.

 
Jaehyup Kim Lab

Jaehyup Kim, M.D., Ph.D. Lab
Modifying immune regulatory receptor activity.

 
James Malter, M.D. Lab

James Malter, M.D. Lab
Characterization of intracellular signaling pathways in the immune and nervous systems.

 
Jeffrey SoRelle, M.D. Lab

Jeffrey SoRelle, M.D. Lab
Genetic basis and molecular regulation of allergy.

 
Jian Qiao, M.D. Lab

Jian Qiao, M.D., Ph.D. Lab
Mechanisms of Cancer immunotherapy and Immune-Related Adverse Events (irAEs).

 
Liraz Galia, Ph.D. Lab

Liraz Galia, Ph.D. Lab
Novel mechanisms regulating intestinal innate immunity in health and disease.

 
Peter Ly, Ph.D. Lab

Peter Ly, Ph.D. Lab
Mechanisms of genomic instability and chromosomal alterations in cancer.

 
Qing Zhang, Ph.D. Lab

Qing Zhang, Ph.D. Lab
Studying oxygen sensing pathways in breast and kidney cancers.

 
Ram Mani, Ph.D. Lab

Ram Mani, Ph.D. Lab
Molecular genetic and epigenetic events associated with cancer development.

 
Rene Galindo, M.D., Ph.D. Lab

Rene Galindo, M.D., Ph.D. Lab
Genetic and molecular underpinnings of childhood cancer.

 
Siyuan Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. Lab

Siyuan Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. Lab
Single cell biology of tumor evolution and metastasis.

 
Srinivas Malladi, Ph.D Lab

Srinivas Malladi, Ph.D. Lab
Dissemination and survival of cancer cells for insights into metastasis.

 
Weibo Luo, Ph.D. Lab

Weibo Luo, Ph.D. Lab
Oxygen homeostasis in human cancers with a focus on hypoxia-inducible factors.

 
Wenxin Zheng, M.D. Lab

Wenxin Zheng, M.D. Lab
Oncologic and hormone related pathology in gynecologic tumors.

 
Yingfei Wang Lab, Ph.D.

Yingfei Wang, Ph.D. Lab
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of PARP-1-dependent DNA damage and cell death.