The Cleveland State University Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease focuses on research to improve understanding of biological processes and how malfunction of these processes results in various diseases. This research has significant potential to improve our understanding of the mechanisms and specific molecules that control reproductive health and those that control the aging process as well as implications for the diagnosis and treatment of many of the most common diseases found around the world, including heart disease, neurological disease, infectious disease and cancer.

Vision Statement:
To enhance and integrate research focused on Gene Regulation in Health and Disease leading to better understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling these processes and the identification of therapeutic targets.

Mission Statement:
The Mission of the Center is:

• To develop and support research focused on Gene Regulation in Health and Disease.
• To encourage and provide support mechanisms for the acquisition of extramural funding.
• To encourage and provide support mechanisms for the dissemination of research results.
• To create mechanisms to acquire resources to support research and student training focused on Gene Regulation in Health and Disease.
• To develop and expand partnerships with relevant public and private community entities with similar interests.
• To develop and promote Cleveland State University’s reputation as a local, national and international leader in Gene Regulation in Health and Disease.

Acting Director:

Dr. Crystal M. Weyman, Associate Professor
Apoptosis (cell death). Implications for heart disease, muscular dystrophy and cancer.
Funded by NIH
e-mail: c.weyman@csuohio.edu

Planning Committee:

Dr. Michael Kalafatis, Professor
Blood coagulation and apoptosis (cell death). Implications for heart disease and cancer.
Funded by NIH
e-mail: m.kalafatis@csuohio.edu

Dr. Anton A. Komar, Associate Professor
Translational control of gene expression and protein folding. Implications for neurodegenerative disease and drug design to treat heart disease and cancer.
Funded by AHA
e-mail: a.komar@csuohio.edu

Dr. Barsanjit Mazumder, Associate Professor
Regulation of inflammation. Implications for heart disease and other inflammatory diseases.
Funded by NIH and AHA
e-mail: b.mazumder@csuohio.edu

Dr. Valentin Boerner, Assistant Professor
Mechanisms of Chromosome Segregation during Meiosis. Implications for reproductive health.
Funded by the March of Dimes

Functional Analysis of the Synaptonemal Complex
Funded by NIH, Institute of General Medicine

e-mail: g.boerner@csuohio.edu

Dr. Roman Kondratov, Assistant Professor
Circadian system regulation. Implications for aging and age-related diseases such as heart disease.
Funded by AHA
e-mail: r.kondratov@csuohio.edu

Dr. Bibo Li, Assistant Professor
Telomere (sections of DNA at the ends of chromosomes) function. Implications for infectious disease, aging and cancer.
Funded by NIH
e-mail: b.li37@csuohio.edu

Dr. Girish Shukla, Assistant Professor
Regulation of mRNA processing. Implications for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Funded by DoD
e-mail: g.shukla@csuohio.edu

Dr. Aimin Zhou, Associate Professor
Interferon and PKR signaling. Implications for infectious disease, heart disease and cancer.
Funded by NIH
e-mail: a.zhou@csuohio.edu