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.

External Links:

Participating Faculty

Tamara Alliston, PhD

Primary Thematic Area: 
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Secondary Thematic Area: 
Cancer Biology & Cell Signaling
Research Summary: 
Our research focuses on the molecular pathways controlling mesenchymal stem cell differentiation
Mentorship Development: 

10/20/20    Gathering in Community: a Training for Faculty and Staff
11/10/20    Optimizing the Efficiency of Your Lab
2/18/21    Three Truths and Three Tries: Facing and Overcoming Critical Social Justice Challenges at the Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Levels

Kaveh Ashrafi, PhD

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

4/29/19    Sharpening your Mentoring Skills (SyMS) with Sharon Milgram (Parnassus)    
12/12/19    ACRA: Setting Training Expectations for Trainees on the Academic Career Track
9/11/20    Mentoring Across Differences

Kamran Atabai, MD

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

James Bayrer, MD, PhD

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

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.

Daniel Bikle, MD, PhD

Primary Thematic Area: 
Cancer Biology & Cell Signaling
Secondary Thematic Area: 
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Research Summary: 
Regulation of cellular differentiation and function by calciotropic hormones

Laura Bull, PhD

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

Tammy T. Chang, MD, PhD

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

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: 

4/30/20    Mental Health in a Pandemic: Q&A for Faculty
2/16/21  Three Truths & Three Tries: Facing & Overcoming Critical Social Justice Challenges at the Micro, Mezzo & Macro Levels

Harold Chapman, MD

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

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

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.

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