Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology

The research of faculty in the areas of Tissue/Organ Biology & Endocrinology addresses biology at the level of the organism, moving from the molecular biology of the individual cell to integrated tissues, organs and organisms, and asking how this biology impacts human disease. UCSF has a long history in the biological sciences that relate to this area of research that is reflected in current Organized Research Units including the Center for Reproductive Sciences, Diabetes Center, Hormone Research Institute, Metabolic Unit, Liver Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Lung Biology Center, and Gladstone Institutes.

Among the specific research topics pursued are the genetic basis of obesity, the role of extracellular matrix in regulating cell function, the biological basis of diabetes, reproductive biology, adrenal function, ion fluxes in skin and epithelium, and calcium homeostasis.

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Participating Faculty

Kaveh Ashrafi, PhD

Professor

Department of Physiology

Primary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Secondary Thematic Area
Neurobiology
Research Summary
Metabolic Regulation of learning and memory during aging
Mentorship Development

4/2019 - Sharpening your Mentoring Skills (SyMS) with Sharon Milgram (Parnassus)    
12/2019 - ACRA: Setting Training Expectations for Trainees on the Academic Career Track
9/2020 - Mentoring Across Differences
9/2021 - Neuroscience Graduate Program - Disabilities Awareness Training

Kamran Atabai, MD

Associate Professor

Department of Medicine

Primary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Secondary Thematic Area
Immunology
Research Summary
Extracellular matrix regulation of metabolism, pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease

Vincent Auyeung, MD

Asst Professor In Residence

M_MED-CORE-PULM

Primary Thematic Area
Developmental & Stem Cell Biology
Secondary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Research Summary
Stress signaling and epithelial plasticity in lung disease

James Bayrer, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor

M_PEDS-GASTROENTEROLOGY

Primary Thematic Area
Developmental & Stem Cell Biology
Secondary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Research Summary
Our laboratory deciphers the molecular machinery controlling intestinal epithelial renewal and gut signaling via genetic disease models coupled with mouse and human intestinal organoids.
Mentorship Development

12/19/19 ACRA: Setting training expectations for trainees on the academic career track

Mallar Bhattacharya, MD

Assoc Professor In Residence

M_MED-CORE-PULM

Primary Thematic Area
Immunology
Secondary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Research Summary
The Bhattacharya Laboratory studies the effect of macrophages on fibroblast activation during the fibrotic phase of tissue injury, with a focus on lung fibrosis.

Laura Bull, PhD

Professor

Department of Medicine

Primary Thematic Area
Human Genetics
Secondary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Research Summary
Genetics approaches to study of the biology of the liver in health and disease
Mentorship Development

1/2022 - Equity Based Interview Practices

Dylan Chan, MD, PhD

Professor in Residence

M_Oto-General OHNS

Primary Thematic Area
Neurobiology
Secondary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Research Summary
In our lab, we use live imaging in the cochlea to visualize how calcium dysregulation and stress pathways cause hearing loss, to help us identify molecular targets for treatment.

Tammy Chang, MD, PhD

Professor In Residence

M_Surgery

Primary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Secondary Thematic Area
Developmental & Stem Cell Biology
Research Summary
Understanding the basic biology and realizing applicable strategies to enable liver tissue engineering for the treatment of end-stage liver disease.
Mentorship Development

12/19/19    ACRA: Setting Training Expectations for Trainees on the Academic Career Track (1.5 hours)
2/16/21       Three Truths & Three Tries: Facing & Overcoming Critical Social Justice Challenges at the Micro, Mezzo & Macro Levels

Andy Chang, PhD

Assistant Professor

Cardiovascular Research Institute

Primary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Secondary Thematic Area
Neurobiology
Research Summary
We are interested in mechanisms of oxygen and metabolite sensing in mammals.
Mentorship Development

4/2020 - Mental Health in a Pandemic: Q&A for Faculty
2/2021 - Three Truths & Three Tries: Facing & Overcoming Critical Social Justice Challenges at the Micro, Mezzo & Macro Levels
7/2021 - Career Conversations

Harold Chapman, MD

Professor

Pulmonary and Critical Care Division

Primary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Secondary Thematic Area
Developmental & Stem Cell Biology
Research Summary
Core mechanisms of fibrosis and lung regeneration as a path to anti-fibrotic therapies.

Myriam Chaumeil, PhD

Assoc Professor In Residence

Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science

Primary Thematic Area
Neurobiology
Secondary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Research Summary
Our research goal is to develop innovative, mechanism-driven magnetic resonance (MR) metabolic imaging methods for improved detection of neurological disorders and monitoring of therapy response.
Mentorship Development

12/19/19 ACRA: Setting training expectations for trainees on the academic career track

Ritchie Chen, PhD, MSc, BS

Asst Professor In Residence

M_Neurological Surgery

Primary Thematic Area
Neurobiology
Secondary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Research Summary
Developing technologies to understand and treat nervous system dysfunction. Neural circuits of interoception.