Clinical and Research Background
My general interests are in vascular biology and molecular regulation of vascular (and other tissue) response to injury. My lab is currently working in three project areas. For more detailed information about these projects, Read the Specific Aims of the NIH grants that fund my research. To see a list of publications, go to my COS site.
We are developing a system of conditional reporters and cell-type-specific markers in transgenic mice to determine the origin of cells involved in formation of new blood vessels in injured tissue. We are most interested in cell derivation from undifferentiated “stem cells” and via “transdifferentiation” from other cell types.
We have developed a system for regulating apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in vivo, and have used this system to determine that SMC apoptosis initiated by FADD overexpression includes a specific program of expression of pro-inflammatory genes that results in recruitment of macrophages. We are attempting to further define this program of gene expression, determine the signaling mechanisms through which it is regulated, and further investigate the consequences of SMC apoptosis in vivo.
We have identified a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase)-like protein that resembles the tumor suppressor PTEN in that its biological activity is due to its activity as a phosphatidylinositol phosphatase (PIPase) rather as a PTPase. The receptor-like form of PTPRQ protein appears to be largely localized to specialized regions of non-proliferating cell types (including podocytes, inner ear hair cells and Sertoli cells) that are involved in cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions. Targeted disruption of PTPRQ in mice results in deafness and altered response to renal injury. We are testing hypothesis that subcellular localization of PTPRQ in specialized membrane regions plays a role in regulation of local membrane PIP composition, and that this plays a role in regulating specialized cell architecture and function by altering the local binding and/or activity of PIP-binding proteins.
Academic and Medical Appointments
Professor Emeritus, Dept of Pathology, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, 2013 - present
Professor, Dept of Pathology, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, 7/1/92 – 6/30/13
Associate Professor, Dept. of Pathology, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, 7/1/87
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pathology, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, 7/1/86
Graduate Faculty, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, 5/1/84 – present
Research Assist. Professor, Dept. of Pathology, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, 7/1/82
Departmental Responsibilities
Director of Pathology Graduate Program, 1993-present
Pathology Graduate Admissions Committee, 1983 to present; Chairman, 1993-present
Pathology Administrative Committee, 1994-present
Co-Chairman, Committee to organize Symposium to honor Ross, Summer, 1994
Pathology Dept Retreat Chairman, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2005
Search Committee, Assistant Professor, pulmonary, 1998
Appointments and Promotions Committee, 1987 to 1993
Pathology Postdoctoral Fellows Committee, 1983 to 1994
Interdepartmental/University
Search Committee, Comp Med, 1999
Focus Group on Industry/University Relations, 7/98
ZymoGenetics Initiative steering committee, 4/98
University of Washington Faculty Senate: Senator, 9/95-9/97
School of Medicine Council on University Relations, 1995-1996
Interdepartmental Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Steering Committee, 1995
Member, Interdisciplinary Group in Nutrition, 1994-2000
Molecular and Cellular Biology Training Grant Evaluation Committee, Chairman, 1994 – 1995
School of Medicine Council on Scientific Affairs, 1993-1996
Chairman of Selection Committee of Interdisciplinary Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, 1991-1993
Molecular and Cellular Biology Program Development Committee, 1991
Search Committee for physician/scientist position in Cardiology, 1991
UW Academic Senate, representative, 1989-91; 1995-97; and 2004-06
Search Committee for Director Division of Hematology, member, 1989/90
Steering Committee, Cardiovascular Pathology Training Grant, member, 1989-current
Scientific Review Committee for Research Center in Oral Biology, 1988-current
Education and Training
University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, 1980
University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA, B.A In Biology, 1973
Postgraduate Training
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 1979-1982
Publications
Latest publications from PubMed