Our research focus is on mechanisms of cancer development in squamous epithelia. We focus primarily on the role of Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGFβ) and its signaling pathway in the regulation of tumor promotion and progression.
The primary focus of the Perdew Research Group is researching how biological systems respond to exogenous chemicals.
The focus of our laboratory is to determine the biological/functional roles of PPARs in toxicology, carcinogenesis and homeostasis, with a keen interest in identification and characterization of the molecular events mediated by these receptors. While the main focus of our laboratory is on the role of PPARβ/δ, we also have active research examining interactions of PPARβ/δ with other nuclear receptors and transcription factors.
The primary research interest of the group is to understand the targets of vitamin D in the immune system.
We are interested in how cells integrate the different signals they receive and make correct developmental decisions.
Studies in our laboratory are focused around various cellular and molecular mechanisms by which micronutrients such as selenium and other products of natural origin alter the host response and immune function in response to oxidative stress caused by environmental toxicants and pathogens.
Research in the Vanden Heuvel laboratory is in the emerging disciplines of Molecular Toxicology and Nutrigenomics. We are interested in nuclear receptors (NR) such as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) that play important roles in both toxicology and nutrition.
