Research Summary
I have extensive experience with developing tissue-based biomarker techniques and with directing biorepositories for the optimal acquisition, archiving, annotation, and custodianship of human tissue for cancer research. The techniques that I have expertise with in molecular morphology include immunohistochemistry / immunofluorescence and molecular in situ analyses. A major emphasis of my technical research core activities since 2008 has been to develop more quantitative detection of biomarkers of activated signaling pathways in a wide spectrum of human disease, focusing on cancer. My translational research focuses on the application of multiple proteomic, epigenetic and genetic techniques for the molecular morphologic analysis of biomarkers in CNS tumor sections. The technologies include processing techniques for tissue to preserve analyte quality for RNA, DNA and proteomics with optimal histologic quality and multiple detection modalities on tissue sections for biomarker multiplexing in heterogeneous tumors, including the genomic and proteomic characterization of prognostic markers in CNS tumors. I directed the establishment of a tissue technology laboratory to optimize the use of quantitative immunofluorescence detection techniques for combined IF/ISH analyses and for the multiplex analysis of inter-related signaling pathways in human tissue, focusing on cancer. Before coming to UCSF, I was Director of the UCSD Moores Comprehensive Center Biorepository, Histopathology, and Tissue Technology Shared Resource in 2012-2015.
Research Funding
August 1, 2018 - July 31, 2019 - A shared resource for multiplexed ion beam imaging microscopy, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: S10OD025187
July 1, 1983 - June 30, 1993 - NEUROPATHOLOGY RESEARCH, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NINDS, Sponsor Award ID: T32NS007236
April 15, 1986 - March 31, 1990 - MONOAMINES IN EMBRYONAL CNS TUMOR DIFFERENTIATION, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NINDS, Sponsor Award ID: R01NS022455
July 1, 1984 - June 30, 1989 - MONOAMINES IN EMBRYONAL CNS TUMOR DIFFERENTIATION, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NINDS, Sponsor Award ID: K07NS000854
Education
Duke University, BS, 1968-1972, Zoology
Stanford University School of Medicine, MD, PhD, 1968-1972, Medicine/Neurosciences
University of Colorado, Intern, 1979-1980, Pathology
Stanford University School of Medicine, Postdoctoral Fellow, 1980-1982, Neurochemistry/Neuropathology
University of Virginia, Residency Fellowship, 1982-1984, Pathology/Neuropathology