Research
Research
The research conducted in the department can be summarized as sciences orientated to unravel the pathogenic molecular mechanisms of diseases. The main funding sources are grants awarded from Minister of Science & Technology. Some of our faculties have also received grants from other government agency and from private foundations. Moreover, many of our faculties have collaborated with medical practitioners and principle investigators in nearby hospitals and universities. The main fields of our researches are, but not limited to, cancer biology, inherited diseases, antibiotic-resistance bacteria, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Cancer biology
With most of our faculty involved in researching different aspects of cancers, cancer biology is the centerpiece of our research. In past few years, integrated research projects with collaboration of clinical practitioners have been conducted and are currently actively pursued. Our laboratory investigations on the molecular mechanisms contributing to initiation and progression of cancers mainly focus on the aberrations in signal transduction pathways and epigenomic and post-transcriptional regulation. How tumors escape from the host immune response is also actively explored. In addition, members of faculty are actively developing novel therapeutic methodology, including virus-based delivery systems and epigenomic manipulation, for cancer treatment.
Inherited diseases
The diseases with inheritable elements are also investigated by members of our faculty. These diseases including myotonic dystrophy, caused by expansion of tri-nucleotide repeats, and ankylosing spondylitis, caused by expression of specific MHC allele. These projects are currently proceeded with participation with the investigators from nearby hospitals.
Antibiotic-resistance bacteria
Wide spreading of antibiotic-resistance bacteria has become a serious health problem across the globe. In recent years, members of our faculty, working with clinical practitioners, work to identify the genetic cause of antibiotic resistance and also develop rapid detection methodology for bacteria infection.
Neurodegenerative diseases
Our faculties specialized in protein structures are investigating the biophysical properties of prion, antibody, and apoE, the proteins underlying the pathogenic mechanisms of prion and Alzheimer's diseases.
Other research
Other research interests include the regulation of signal transduction pathways controlling development of Drosophila and the impact of mother’s alcoholism to the fetus during pregnancy.