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)
Aishwarya Prakash, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
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.