Experimental Pathology Research

Pioneering Research in Pathology

The Division of Experimental Pathology represents the research component of the Department of Pathology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Researchers here explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying tumor progression, angiogenesis, infection, inflammation, alzheimer’s Disease and neuronal and cardiac muscle cell physiology.

Exploration of the roles of non-coding RNAs in normal and disease processes is ongoing by faculty members in the Harvard Medical School Initiative for RNA Medicine, which is based in the Department of Pathology. Several investigators are also members of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and the Broad Institute. Additional ongoing research focuses on the genetic and molecular changes that occur in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Researchers in the Division of Experimental Pathology have designed in vitro and in vivo models for the characterization of pathological and physiological processes such as:

Pathology Laboratories

Our research labs seek to answer some of the most pressing questions in pathology:

• Dibble Lab: The Dibble Lab works to understand the regulatory relationship between cellular signaling pathways and metabolic pathways.
• Heng Lab: The Heng Lab studies the underlying pathophysiology that predisposes or causes breast cancer.
• Hide Lab: The Hide Lab develops data-driven systems approaches to disease causal discovery.
• Karnoub Lab: The Karnoub Lab focuses on how the tumor microenvironment influences tumor progression.
• Lawler Lab: The Lawler Lab researches the function of the thrombospondins in various disease states.
• Mavrikaki Lab: The Mavrikaki Lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying brain aging and opioid use disorder.
• Nucera Lab: The Nucera Lab focuses on preclinical and translational models of human thyroid cancer.
• Panigraphy Lab: The Panigraphy Lab studies lipid autacoid mediators and their pathophysiologic roles in cancer biology.
• Piskounova Lab: The Piskounova Lab studies the spread and survival of cancer cells to vital organs during advanced metastatic disease.
• Roehrl Lab: The Roehrl Lab studies cancer biomkarkers of a variety of solid tumors.
• Saffitz Lab: The Saffitz Lab focuses on cell-cell communication via gap junctions in the heart.
• Slack Lab: The Slack Lab is at the forefront of discovering roles for microRNAs in cancer and aging.
• Toker Lab: The Toker Lab focuses on the cell and molecular biology of carcinoma progression.
• Wei Lab: The Wei Lab studies how APC and SCF activities contribute towards cell cycle regulation and subsequent tumor formation.

Research Resources & Collaborative Approach

The Department of Pathology strongly encourages interactions among research and clinical faculty and provides opportunities to access human tumor resource through its Divisions of Anatomic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

With the implementation of a visionary cancer program including a biorepository and robust clinical informatics, the Department of Pathology provides an exceptional environment for scientists to work in a setting that combines the strengthens of Harvard Medical School and its affiliated hospitals with an unusually collegial, supportive and interactive environment.

It is our belief that a detailed understanding of the molecular, cellular and physiological events that dictate cellular behavior will lead to novel therapeutic approaches to disease.

Training Pathology Students, Future Doctors & Scientists

The faculty maintains active training programs for medical and graduate students from Harvard Medical School, and postdoctoral PhD and MD research fellows.

Students and fellows who are interested in the training opportunities in Experimental Pathology should contact specific faculty members or Dr. Jack Lawler, Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 99 Brookline Ave., RN 270D, Boston, MA 02215.

Research Faculty

The faculty in the Department holds appointments in the central Department of Pathology at Harvard Medical School, and also membership in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences graduate program, enabling HMS graduate students to join the department for their thesis project.

Grants & Funding

The research enterprise is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the American Cancer Society, Damon Runyon Cancer Research Fund, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and others.

Corporate Partnerships & Donations

The Division of Experimental Pathology is highly committed to advancing health care through basic research and the development of novel therapeutics. Corporate partnership and philanthropic donations are essential parts of this mission. For further information on how we can work together, please contact Michael Roehrl, MD, PhD, MBA, chair, Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215