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We study the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) family of peptide hormones and their receptors, the ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases. This network regulates the proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells and deregulated signaling by this network contributes to human tumorigenesis and increased tumor cell invasiveness, metastatic potential, and chemoresistance.

Research:

  • ERBB4 Signaling and ERBB4 Inhibitors
  • ERBB4 in Human Tumors

Our work is focused on characterizing signal transduction by the signaling network comprised of EGF family peptide growth factors and ErbB family receptor tyrosine kinases. We are interested in deciphering the roles that these growth factors and receptors play in human malignancies. We are interested in how signaling specificity of this network is conferred and regulated. And we are particularly interested in developing novel cancer chemotherapeutic agents that leverage our emergent insights into this signaling network.

Research:

  • Mechanisms of ERBB4 signaling
  • EGF family hormones
  • ERBB4 in human tumors

Current work explores signaling specificity by receptor tyrosine kinases. Our goals is the development of novel therapeutic, staging, and diagnostic paradigms based on insights we glean from basic, mechanistic studies of receptor tyrosine kinase signal transduction.

My research group is focused on members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of peptide hormones and their receptors, members of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases.  We are particularly interested in mechanisms of signaling specificity and the roles that these hormones and receptors play in human malignancies.  We are also interested in translating these mechanistic insights into targeted cancer therapies.  Current areas of interest include melanoma, breast cancer, and childhood brain tumors.

Past Affiliations

Gilliland and Franklin Professor, Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University
2010

Associate Dean, Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University

Associate Professor, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Office of Research, Purdue University (past)

Associate Professor, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University (past)

Associate Professor, Integrative Neuroscience Graduate Program, Graduate School, Purdue University (past)

Postdoctoral Training, Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University (past)

Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University (past)

Communities
Pharmacy
Degrees
PhD, Yale University, Genetics, 1993
MPhil, Yale University, Human Genetics, 1989
AB, Wabash College, Biology, 1987
Keywords
medicinal chemistry cancer biology cancer or carcinogenesis breast cancer bioinstrumentation chemotherapeutic agents medical diagnosis growth factors growth factor receptors radiology & medical imaging
Languages
English
Honors

President's Outstanding Collaborative Unit Award, Auburn University, October 2014

Outstanding Cancer Research Award, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research and Lafayette (IN) Lions Club, May 2010

Fellow, Academic Leadership Fellowship Program, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, 2011-2012

George Fulton Gilliland and Olga Hooser Gilliland Franklin Professorship, Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy, 2010-present

New Investigator Award (Prostate Cancer Research), US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (Purdue University), 2002-2005

Career Development Award (Breast Cancer Research), US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (Purdue University), 2000-2004

Outstanding Pharmacy Undergraduate Teaching Award (Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology), Purdue University School of Pharmacy, 2000

Postdoctoral Fellowship (Breast Cancer Research), US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (Yale University), 1994-1997

Predoctoral Fellowship (Genetics), Howard Hughes Medical Institute (Yale University), 1988-1993

Associations
American Association for Cancer Research
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
American Chemical Society
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
American Society for Microbiology
Biochemical Society
Phi Beta Kappa
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society