A NEW RESEARCH STRATEGIC PLAN FOR SUNY UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
MECHANISMS OF DISEASE WORKING GROUP REPORT 1. Narrative describing current strengths and capabilities There is strong NIH funding (primarily R01 and R21) to individual investigators in the Mechanisms of Disease topic area, including multiple grants to several investigators. This is a good basis to build on for collaborative grants. Existing experimental strengths include structural biology (NMR, X-ray crystallography, cryoEM, and molecular modeling), advanced microscopy and imaging, and model systems for disease mechanisms. We propose five potential research areas that could build on these strengths to develop collaborations: a. Proteostasis: Age-related neurodegeneration and other diseases are accompanied by protein accumulation. These problems can be addressed from multiple directions, including examination of cellular proteolytic mechanisms, chaperone function, and liquid-liquid phase separation. b. Cell motility: Cell migration and cytoskeletal structure are central in multiple pathological processes including cancer, wound healing, and fibrosis. There is substantial expertise in these areas. c. Transcription and epigenetics: Metabolic control of gene expression and epigenetics is an emerging area of research interest that could bridge existing expertise in gene expression, chromatin structure, and energy metabolism. d. Structural studies of potential pharmacological targets: Structural studies are a first step that can lead to in silico and in vitro screening and ultimately clinical trials. They can also help in modeling drug resistance. e. Cell signaling in normal and pathological states: Investigation of signaling pathways can generate research that crosses disciplines and impacts multiple disease states. It can link investigators with expertise in immunology, cancer, and the visual system with those with basic interests in ion transport, apoptosis or gene expression. 2. New faculty hires It should be noted that the strategies for the hiring of research-focused faculty over the last decade have been largely successful, since NIH funding (much of which concerns Mechanisms of Disease) has grown by about 50% over the past five years. That said, targeted/strategic hiring in several areas could further enhance progress, either by enhancing existing programs or triggering the development of others. Four specific areas for hiring were identified: a. Faculty with research programs in structure-based drug design and/or high throughput screening that should be able to build on and enhance existing structural biology, drug delivery, protein-protein interaction and cell-signaling expertise.
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