Neurogenetics is an exciting, emerging field that explores how genetic factors are responsible for severe neurodegenerative diseases. These investigations by our researchers have the potential to identify more ways of effectively treating and even preventing illnesses like multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, alcohol use disorder, Alzheimer's disease and ALS.
Faculty, trainees and students in the department and collaborative partners are currently pursuing studies across the following topics:
- Defining new molecules to treat neurodegeneration and viral-mediated infectious diseases
- Defining the role of glutamate transport in mediating neurodegeneration and ways to correct this process
- Genetic pathways that influence ethanol sedation sensitivity
- Integration of invertebrate and human data on alcohol behavior
Partners and Collaborators
Faculty
Explore faculty research interests and recent publications by clicking the photos below.
Swadesh Das, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Swadesh Das, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Research interests: Genomic changes in the development of cancer, with a specific focus on melanoma
Email: swadesh.das@vcuhealth.org
Luni Emdad, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Luni Emdad, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Research interests: Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) interacting molecules involved in cancer progression, possible cancer stemness and angiogenesis toward developing novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit cancer progression
Email: luni.emdad@vcuhealth.org
Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D., FNAI
Professor
Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D., FNAI
Professor
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Director of the VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine
Research interests: Molecular basis of cancer and neurodegeneration, development of improved diagnostics and therapeutics for related diseases
Email: paul.fisher@vcuhealth.org
Rajan Gogna, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Rajan Gogna, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Email: Rajan.Gogna@vcuhealth.org
Michael Grotewiel, Ph.D.
Professor and Interim Chair
Michael Grotewiel, Ph.D.
Professor and Interim Chair
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Associate Dean for Graduate Education
Research interests: Molecular-genetic basis for ethanol-related behaviors in the fruit fly genetic model, Drosophila melanogaster
Email: Michael.Grotewiel@vcuhealth.org
Xiang-Yang (Shawn) Wang, Ph.D.
Professor
Xiang-Yang (Shawn) Wang, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Research interests: Stress responses/proteins and pattern recognition scavenger receptors, particularly their roles in immune modulation and host response, along with the development of novel immune-based cancer therapies
Email: xiang-yang.wang@vcuhealth.org