Jason Herring, Ph.D.
Position: Research Scientist
Education: PhD, Loma Linda University
Research:
Dr. Herring’s primary work involves analytical method development. He has developed methods to detect DNA markers of inflammation and damage, as well as epigenetic perturbations, to better understand the development of cancer. He uses mass spectrometry with stable isotope internal standards and metabolic tracers as tools to help answer novel scientific questions. He has a strong background in chromatography, mass spectrometry, cell culture and extracting small molecule metabolites from a variety of biological samples. He has a strong track record working in multidisciplinary projects.
Tuvshintugs Baljinnyam, Ph.D.
Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow
Education: Ph.D., Kanazawa University, Japan
Research:
Dr. Baljinnyam’s research interest involves the development of early detection markers for cancer, cancer treatment using either immunological or small molecule therapeutic approaches, and discovering ways to overcome/reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. As organisms age, somatic mutations accumulate. Mutations in the right places leads to uncontrolled cell division and metastases. Currently, he is exploring an early cancer detection method at the nucleic acid level. We hope early detection can inhibit downstream mechanisms that lead to more aggressive cancer development.
James Conrad, Ph.D.
Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow
Education: Ph.D., University of South Florida
Research:
Dr. Conrad’s interests are in environment-pathogen-host interactions. Previously he investigated how the environment affects DNA methylation and virulence/survival-associated gene transcription in the opportunistic human pathogen Vibrio vulnificus. Epigenetic control of virulence is not well studied and may provide a target for therapeutic approaches.
Linda Hackfield, MS.
Position: Research Associate
Education: M.S. in Chemistry, University of Texas at Dallas
Research:
Ms. Hackfield is an expert in synthetic organic chemistry. In our lab, her work focuses on oligonucleotide, nucleoside, and phosphoramidite chemistry. She also studies and characterizes these molecules using, gel electrophoresis, HPLC, NMR, mass spectrometry, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Her work is instrumental in our work to study DNA damage, repair, and epigenetics.
Bruce Chang-Gu, B.S.A.
Position: MD-PhD Candidate
Education: B.S.A., University of Texas at Austin
Research:
Bruce is a current student at UTMB's MD-PhD program interested in better understanding glioblastoma metabolism and DNA repair. Previously at UT Austin, Bruce investigated how binding motifs impact specificity and efficiency of human helicase mediated disruption of secondary DNA/RNA structures.