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Learn more about the diverse backgrounds and research interests of our faculty!<\/p>\n
Dr. Bandini<\/a>‘s research interests include:<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n Dr. Blusztajn<\/a>‘s research interests include:<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n Dr. Deeney<\/span><\/a>‘s research is designed to discern the nutrient-derived metabolic signals leading to glucose-and fatty acid-induced insulin exocytosis from the pancreatic \u00df-cell. FA acutely stimulates glucose-induced insulin secretion (GSIS) while chronic exposure to elevated FA and glucose can result in glucolipotoxicity (GLT) with basal hypersecretion and inhibition of GSIS. Despite the adverse effects of chronic exposure, FA is known to be required for normal exocytosis from the \u00df-cell. Current research includes:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n The overall goal of the <\/span>Denis lab<\/span><\/a> is to understand the fundamental mechanisms of transcriptional control of growth and development, and particularly, how chromatin-based disruptions of the eukaryotic cell cycle can lead to malignancy.<\/span> Research techniques utilized in the lab range from basic molecular biology techniques to proteomic analyses, to transgenic and knockout mouse models. Results to date have broad significance for our understanding of:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n The overall focus of the <\/span>Farmer\u00a0laboratory<\/span><\/a> is to understand the molecular mechanisms controlling the formation and function of adipocytes with a focus on identifying the signaling pathways and transcription factors that regulate adipogenesis. Current projects are investigating:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n Davidson Hamer<\/span><\/a> is a Professor of International Health and Medicine at the Boston University School of Public Health and Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. He has twenty years of field experience in neonatal and child survival research including studies of micronutrient interventions, maternal and neonatal health, malaria, pneumonia, and diarrheal diseases. Major current projects include:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Holick<\/span><\/a> and his team of researchers continue to be leaders in the field of vitamin D, osteoporosis, metabolic bone disease, psoriasis and hair research. Dr. Holick\u2019s work explores the nature of vitamin D deficiency and concludes it to be one of the most commonly unrecognized medical conditions, a condition that leaves millions at risk of developing not only osteoporosis and fractures but also numerous serious and often fatal diseases, including several common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and heart disease.<\/span><\/p>\n Because the skin is an important source of vitamin D, a human skin equivalent and a liposomal model have been developed to mimic the photoproduction of vitamin D in human skin. Using these models systems, researchers demonstrated that during exposure to solar simulated-sunlight, a unique membrane-associated mechanism stabilizes the previtamin D<\/span>3<\/span> in a cis,cis-conformation and results in its rapid conversion to vitamin D<\/span>3<\/span>. It has now been demonstrated that human skin also produces several photoproducts including tachysterol and lumisterol, which may have important biologic functions in the skin.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Holick has initiated a program to evaluate the effect of vitamin D deficiency in advancing colon tumor growth.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>Jiang lab<\/span><\/a> focuses on how insulin signaling networks and innate immunity regulate metabolic functions. Current research in the lab includes:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with particular emphasis on the role of redox signaling in vascular endothelial cell dysfunction. She investigates how various risk factors\u2014such as hyperlipidemia, aging, and chronic alcohol abuse\u2014contribute to endothelial dysfunction and the progression of atherosclerosis.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to elucidating the molecular basis of atherosclerosis, her work also explores multidisciplinary approaches to assess vascular function in murine models. She is further interested in the development of targeted nanomedicine delivery systems for therapeutic applications within the cardiovascular system.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n The primary goal of the <\/span>Layne laboratory<\/span><\/a> is to identify novel pathways that control fibroproliferation with the goal of developing therapeutic inhibitors. Current research interests include:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Lenders<\/span><\/a> has been the medical director of the NFL Program (Pediatrics – Nutrition & Fitness for Life) since 2003. She also heads the Pediatric Nutrition Support Services at Boston Medical Center, and she serves as attending physician for the Nutrition Support Team at the Children’s Hospital of Boston.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Lenders is a former family practitioner with a master\u2019s degree in tropical medicine, who graduated with honors from the State University of Liege, Belgium. She spent several months in the Congo with M\u00e9decins sans Fronti\u00e8res and three years in Bangladesh at the International Center of Diarrheal Diseases and Research.<\/span><\/p>\n Her current research interests include:<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/gms\/files\/2025\/09\/LindaBandini_0019-424x636-1.jpg\")
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Jan Blusztajn, PhD<\/h4>
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Jude Deeney, PhD<\/h4>
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Gerald Denis, PhD<\/h4>
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Stephen R. Farmer, PhD<\/h4>
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Davidson Hamer, MD, FACP, FIDSA<\/h4>
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Michael F. Holick, PhD, MD<\/h4>
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<\/span><\/p>\nZhen Jiang, MD, PhD<\/h4>
![\"\"](\"\/gms\/files\/2025\/09\/Zhen-Y.-Jiang.png\")
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Jingyan Han, PhD<\/h4>
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<\/span><\/p>\nMatthew Layne, PhD<\/h4>
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Carine Lenders, MD, ScD<\/h4>
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\n<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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