Experimental Pathology Research Program
Experimental pathology research in NYU Langone’s Department of Pathology is dedicated to understanding the mechanisms of disease. Because of the complex pathophysiology underlying most common diseases, experimental pathology research requires a multidisciplinary approach. Our researchers use molecular and cellular biology, genetic and computational analyses of patient biospecimens, and mouse models of disease to gain insights into the causes and mechanisms of some of the most prevalent diseases.
Our research covers a broad spectrum of disease areas including neuropathology, computational genomics and digital pathology, and developmental genetics. The common thread uniting these research themes is an emphasis on the understanding of organismal biology and pathology with an integrative, holistic focus that is echoed by the philosophy of our department and its graduate programs in immunology and inflammation and molecular oncology and tumor immunology.
Neuropathology Research
Our research efforts in neuropathology focus on understanding the genetic and biochemical basis of Alzheimer’s disease, with a particular interest in identifying the role of amyloid-β (Aβ) protein, the main component of senile plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, and deposition and lesions in the disease’s pathophysiology. This research is led by Jorge A. Ghiso, PhD, and Agueda A. Rostagno, PhD.
The Conformational Disorders Lab, led by Thomas M. Wisniewski, MD, director of NYU Langone’s Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, focuses on understanding neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and prion-related diseases. In addition, the lab works on other neurological conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and stroke.
Research in the laboratory of Christopher M. William, MD, PhD, uses the mouse visual system as a model circuit in which to study synaptic plasticity impairment in genetically engineered models of Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome. Research by David Zagzag, MD, PhD, investigates angiogenesis and invasion of human brain tumors as well as non-neoplastic diseases mimicking tumors.
Computational Genomics and Digital Pathology Research
A significant part of the Experimental Pathology Research Program is dedicated to computational biology. The goal of this research is to better understand cancer genomics and epigenomics by focusing on designing computational methods and pipelines for data analysis in a variety of human disease contexts.
Research in the lab of Aristotelis Tsirigos, PhD, director of NYU Langone’s Applied Bioinformatics Laboratories, focuses on machine learning and precision medicine in cancer and acute leukemia.
The lab of Matthew T. Maurano, PhD, applies experimental and computational approaches to understanding how the noncoding genome affects cell type–specific transcriptional regulation.
Adriana Heguy, PhD, is director of NYU Langone’s Genome Technology Center, which offers numerous advanced technologies and provides a range of services related to genome, epigenome, and transcriptome analysis.
Developmental Pathology Research
Research on developmental genetics investigates mechanisms that control embryonic and post-embryonic development using various animal models. The lab of E. Jane Albert Hubbard, PhD, is dedicated to understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that influence the establishment, behavior, and maintenance of stem and progenitor cells in vivo in Caenorhabditis elegans.
The research of Cynthia A. Loomis, MD, PhD, director of NYU Langone’s Experimental Pathology Research Laboratory, focuses on exploring the mechanisms governing the apical ectodermal ridge formation during embryonic development.
The research of Luis A. Chiriboga, PhD, focuses on developing immunohistochemical assays for biomarker development and translational research to support researchers in the molecular and morphologic characterization of normal and disease tissues.
Experimental Pathology Research Program Faculty
Luis A. Chiriboga, PhD
Blas Frangione, MD, PhD
Jorge A. Ghiso, PhD
Adriana Heguy, PhD
E. Jane Albert Hubbard, PhD
Sang Y. Kim, PhD
Cynthia A. Loomis, MD, PhD
Matthew T. Maurano, PhD
Sheenah M. Mische, PhD
Kevin A. Prestia, DVM, MPH
Jennifer Pullium, MVB
Agueda A. Rostagno, PhD
Aristotelis Tsirigos, PhD
Christopher M. William, MD, PhD
Thomas M. Wisniewski, MD
David Zagzag, MD, PhD
Contact Us
For queries about the Experimental Pathology Research Program, please email Stefan Feske, MD, at stefan.feske@nyulangone.org.