USA Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Faculty

Academic Faculty

Ronald D. Balczon, Ph.D.

Professor

Research interests: The role of the microtubule cytoskeleton in health and disease

Christopher Davies, Ph.D.

Professor and Associate Dean for Research

Research interests: Structure and function investigations of enzymes involved in peptidoglycan metabolism in bacteria

Simon Grelet, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Research interests: Embryo-related tumor cell plasticity & primary tumor neurogenesis

Richard E. Honkanen, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair

Research interests: Protein phosphatases (Molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis; mechanisms of cardioprotective agents in ischemic myocytes)

Lucia Rameh Plant, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Research interests: Nutrient sensing and signaling through inositol-derived molecules (phosphoinositides and inositol phosphates) in the context of pancreatic ß-cell function and diabetes.

Wito Richter, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Research interests: Cyclic nucleotide signaling and cAMP phosphodiesterases

Mark Swingle, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Research interests: Protein phosphatase function and regulation; Assay/screening development and ligand discovery

Joint Appointments

Santanu Dasgupta, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Mitchell Cancer Institute

dasgupta@southalabama.edu
(251) 471-7719

Postdoctoral Studies: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Ph.D.: Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute

Research interests: Mitochondria play a significant role in human tumorigenesis. Dasgupta laboratory is keenly interested to learn how cancer cells evolve by reprogramming mitochondrial functions and apply this knowledge for the strategic development of biomarkers and therapeutics. Dasgupta laboratory is also interested in exosome related studies to unravel their potential use in biomarker and therapeutic development. Dr. Dasgupta has published over 70 peer reviewed articles and currently serves as an editorial board member in several cancer related journals. He also served as a grant reviewer of national and international agencies including NIH, Cancer Research UK fund and mentored several graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Ajay Singh, Ph.D.

Professor
Mitchell Cancer Institute

asingh@health.southalabama.edu
(251) 445-9873

Postdoctoral Studies: UNMC/Eppley Cancer Institute
Ph.D.: Devi Ahilya University

Research interests: The molecular mechanisms of cancer progression, metastasis and chemoresistance, and utilizing the mechanistic insight to develop novel approaches for cancer therapy and prevention. Dr. Singh has published extensively (over 100 research articles, reviews and book chapters) and holds five US patents. He also serves on the editorial boards of several scientific journals. Research programs in his laboratory have been supported through all major federal funding agencies, including NIH and DOD, and by the state of Nebraska’s and Alabama’s health departments. Dr. Singh actively serves on grant review panel boards of national and international funding agencies and private foundations that provide support for cancer research.

Seema Singh, Ph.D.

Professor
Mitchell Cancer Institute

seemasingh@health.southalabama.edu
(251) 445-9873

Postdoctoral Studies: UNMC/Eppley Cancer Institute
Ph.D.: Devi Ahilya University

Research interests: Inflammation, immunobiology, nanotechnology, and cancer health disparities. She and her team are actively investigating the role of inflammatory cytokines and stress hormones in cancer progression and metastasis. They are also developing novel nanoformulations to improve drug delivery. Research programs in her laboratory have been supported from the National Cancer Institute (NCI/NIH). Dr. Singh has published extensively (over 90 research articles, reviews and book chapters) and holds US patents. She has co-founded a Biotech start-up company, Tatva Biosciences., and actively serves on the editorial boards of several scientific journals and grant review panels of national and international funding agencies.