Current Investigations
Divisions of the Department of Medicine
Cardiology
Investigating the molecular pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, regulation of the lipid risk factors for atherosclerotic heart disease, genetic studies of the development of the heart's specialized cardiac conduction system.
Endocrinology
Investigating the pathogenesis of HIV protease-inhibitor-associated lipodystrophy and hyperlipidemia, the mechanism of action of thyroid hormone, the effects of thiazolidinediones on protease-inhibitor-associated hypertriglyceridemia.
Gastroenterology
Investigating the prevalence and treatment of hepatitis C in special populations, the use of CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) for the detection of colorectal polyps and cancers, the development of acid-mediated esophageal diseases.
General Internal Medicine
Investigating the pathophysiology, molecular basis, and therapy of inherited diseases, the health of asylum seekers held in federal immigration detention facilities, the effectiveness of an intervention to improve the communication skills of medical students.
Hematology
Investigating genetic mutations causing amyloidosis, the changing epidemiology of malignancies in the HIV patient population, clinical trials of chemotheapeutic regimens in multiple myeloma, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and leukemia.
Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Investigating the basic mechanisms of protective immunity, development of vaccines for parasitic diseases, population genetics of hosts and pathogens.
Nephrology
Investigating the genetic and environmental factors that influence stone disease, use of anti-thrombotic agents in the prevention of hemodialysis access thrombosis, the use of intensive vs. conventional renal support in acute renal failure.
Oncology
Investigating the immunobiology of antigen-presenting dendritic cells, the sequence effects of combination chemotherapy involving external beam radiation as well as radiation delivered via radioimmuno-conjugates, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic investigations.
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Investigating the involvement of small airways in obstructive lung diseases, the use of targeted delivery of interferon-gamma on tuberculosis, the role of environmental pollutants in the mucosal immune response in asthma.
Rheumatology
Investigating the mechanisms of cartilage damage in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis, the development of a blood test that will give advance notice of chronic disease flare-ups, use of surrogate tissues to develop a prognostic biomarker in osteoarthritis.
