The Kane Lab studies frailty, as a quantitative measure of heterogeneity in health in aging. We are interested in identifying biological determinants of frailty in order to understand more about the molecular underpinnings of frailty and aging, to develop predictive biomarkers of frailty, and to identify targets to delay or prevent frailty. We use a combination of physiological, molecular and computational techniques across mouse models and human datasets. In particualar, we develop and analyze epigenetic, transcriptomic, metabolic, microbiome and functional/physiological data, and use machine learning and AI approaches to identify frailty markers and mechanisms. Read More
My group focuses on integrating bio-inspired molecules and materials, advanced manufacturing strategies, and computational algorithms into bio-electronic and bio-optical platforms. Our primary goals are to advance minimally-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic methods, as well as to promote pharmaceutical and environmental sustainability. Read More
My research background has been in the development of tools for ‘genome writing’ in mammalian cells. This involved the bottom-up synthesis and site-specific delivery of large (100kb) DNA constructs, which facilitates multiplex editing over large genomic windows and the introduction of large amounts of novel genetic information. Subsequently, I have advanced techniques for the multiplexed generation and single-cell analysis of large structural variants including extrachromosomal circular DNAs (ecDNAs) in mammalian genomes. In January 2024, I established my lab at the University of Washington and the Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology with the support of an NIH DP5 Early Independence Award. Read More
As climate change increases the stress on an aging water and sanitation infrastructure, waterborne pathogens pose an emerging risk to public health. The global spread of antimicrobial resistance further compounds this threat and will severely limit our ability to treat life-threatening infections. The Fuhrmeister Group builds next-generation biosensing tools (e.g., nucleic acid detection and sequencing methods) to better understand the prevalence and transmission of these microbial threats. Projects in our group are range from fundamental to applied, domestic to international, and from the lab to the field. Read More
The Tissue and Regenerative Engineering (TARE) Lab aims to understand the cues needed to promote connective tissue regeneration after injury with a focus on sex differences in this process. Specifically, we engineer biomaterials aimed to elucidate how immune, progenitor, and differentiated cells from male and female musculoskeletal tissues differentially respond to sex hormones and the structural and mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix. This physiological information is used to develop biomaterial scaffolds engineered to promote sex-specific regeneration. Read More
Nick launched the Riley Research Group at the University of Washington in September 2023. His independent program leverages creative technology development to study fundamental roles of glycosylation in cell surface biology, with a focus on glycocode regulation and dysregulation in cancer progression and metastasis. The Riley Research Group integrates MS-based multi-omics, chemical/molecular biology, and bioinformatics in a systems-level approach to glycobiology to further our understanding of human health and disease and to advance therapeutic glycoscience. Read More
The Cao Lab at the University of Washington is a dynamic and interdisciplinary research group that focuses on two exciting and innovative research directions: mucosal immunoengineering and microbiome pharmaceutics. We aim to develop innovative and translatable tools that can prevent and treat a host of immunological disorders, including allergies, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases, as well as infectious diseases. Currently, our lab is deeply engaged in developing therapeutics that modulate the immune system by specifically targeting the microbiome and its associated metabolites. Read More
Research in my laboratory focuses on the development of novel methods to answer fundamental questions in biology & medicine. Much of biology & medicine is technology limited in that leaps in knowledge follow closely on the heels of new discoveries and inventions in the physical and engineering sciences; consequently, interdisciplinary groups which bridge these different disciplines are playing increasingly important roles in biomedical research. My lab has developed partnerships with other investigators in the areas of biology, medicine, chemistry, physics, and engineering to design, fabricate, test, and utilize new tools for biomedical and clinical research. Read More
How does a protein’s sequence encode its fold and function? How do changes in sequence influence disease risk, prognosis and treatment? How do gene expression patterns combine with protein activity to define cellular processes like growth, migration and communication? The Fowler lab develops new ways to probe the relationship between genotype and phenotype, enabling us to better answer these questions. To accomplish this goal, we draw on our expertise in genomics, protein science, technology development and computational approaches. Read More
My lab is interested in using the prostate as a tissue model to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate development, tissue homeostasis and carcinogenesis. Currently, there are two major research focuses in the lab. The first research focus is to characterize the prostate epithelial lineage hierarchy. We seek to investigate how individual prostate epithelial lineages are maintained in adults by prostate stem cells or progenitors, and to identify master regulators that control adult prostate homeostasis. The second focus of the lab is to investigate the molecular and cellular basis of aggressive prostate cancer. Read More