Jeffrey J. Saucerman

Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Ph.D., Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, 2005

Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Virginia
Box 800759 Health System
Charlottesville, VA 22908

jsaucerman@virginia.edu

Laboratory web site

Research Interests

Cell signaling networks coordinate a wide variety of cellular physiology and gene regulatory programs. Perturbations in these signaling networks contribute to the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. One explanation for the remarkable ability of complex signaling networks to control the cell is the use of temporal and spatial strategies, such as feedback and compartmentation. Understanding of these sophisticated control mechanisms will require an integration of experimental and computational systems biology.

Our lab is particularly interested in the roles of complex signaling networks involved in the regulation of cardiovascular function and disease. We perform quantitative live-cell imaging of signaling dynamics and develop quantitative models to explain how signaling networks function. These systems approaches are currently helping us characterize mechanisms underlying regulation of cardiac contractility, ischemic heart disease, and pathways leading to cardiac growth. Such quantitative understanding will be critical for the future rational design of therapeutic agents for cardiovascular disease.

Current Projects:
1) Multi-scale integration from cell signaling networks to cardiac MRI
2) Nonlinear systems analysis of complex biochemical networks
3) Calcium signaling pathways regulating cardiac contractility and growth
4) Compartmentation of cAMP signaling in cardiac myocytes

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