Department: Pathology

Dr. Allison’s clinical expertise is in breast pathology. Her research interests include how standards should be applied to breast cancer diagnostics (such as HER2 testing), the utility of molecular panel-based testing in breast cancer, and identifying the most appropriate management of specific pathologic diagnoses. She is also the author of “Red Sunshine”, a memoir about her personal experience with breast cancer, a topic which she speaks about to both patient and health care audiences.

I study molecular genetic and immunophenotypic changes in human hematopoietic neoplasms. These include acute and chronic leukemias, lymphoma, and splenic tumors.

I am interested in optimizing the process of diagnosing leukemias, lymphomas and other hematolymphoid neoplasms, particularly by the use of diagnostic flow cytometry. One goal is to develop flow data analysis processes that function as interactive tools, allowing pathologists to query rich diagnostic data sets in real time.

Genetic and cell biological analyses of signals controlling cell polarity and morphogenesis. Frizzled signaling and cytoskeletal organization.

Development and implementation of rapid diagnostic assays for the detection, identification, and susceptibility testing of clinically important mycobacteria. Understanding the role of M. tuberculosis lipoproteins in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis.

In the Microbiology laboratory, we evaluate cutting-edge new technology for rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases, and we work with high-tech companies to help them develop new diagnostic assays at the pre-market stage. We do not perform basic research and we do not have any fellowship support.

Cardiopulmonary and pulmonary transplant medicine; diagnostic surgical pathology

Our lab uses chemical, biochemical, and cell biological methods to study protease function in human disease. Projects include: 1) Design and synthesis of novel chemical probes for each of the primary protease families. 2) Understanding the role of proteolysis in the life cycle of the human parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii. 3) Defining the specific functional roles of proteases during the process of tumorogenesis. 4) In vivo imaging of protease activity

Research interests: ocular pathology, host-pathogen interactions in infectious disease, infectious disease in frogs, phenotypic characterization of tg and ko mice, histopathology of minimally-invasive radiological ablation techniques (focused ultrasound, cryoablation).

My current research involves the investigation of immunoassay interferences from blood collection tube additives; particularly, silicone surfactants.

The lymphocytes of the human immune system share some biological properties with human cancers: in each case, there are subpopulations of cells whose genomes are rearranged and mutated compared to other cells in the body. Our goal is to understand the genotype-phenotype relationships in lymphoid cells that determine the behavior of human diseases. We apply new analytical methods, particularly high-throughput DNA sequencing, in parallel with functional assays, to tackle this challenge.

Our interests include: 1) The physiology and significance of lymphocyte homing in local and systemic immunity; 2) biochemical and genetic studies of molecules that direct leukocyte recruitment; 3) cellular and molecular genetic studies of leukocyte chemotaxis and the role of chemokines; 4) vascular differentiation in normal and pathologic inflammatory states; 5) systems and chemical biology approaches to understanding the regulation of lymphocyte trafficking programs.

The use of molecular and molecular cytogenetic methods to identify chromosomal abnormalities in acquired and congenital disorders.

The role of oncoproteins in cancer and development; molecular and cellular biology of hematologic malignancies; targeted molecular therapies of cancer.

My research interests are vascular biology and cardiovascular pathology. We are currently working on gene expression in endothelial cells at sites of pathology.

As medical director of the Hematology Laboratory, my main focus is service work, including laboratory administration, bone marrow pathology, and flow cytometry interpretation. Publications arise primarily from development or evaluation of laboratory methods or collections of unusual patient cases.

screening and diagnosis of patients with inborn errors of metabolism, including newborn screening, development of new testing methods and genotype/phenotype correlations.

Chromatin regulation and its roles in human cancer and the development of the nervous system. Engineering new methods for studying and controlling chromatin in living cells.

Our Neuromuscular Division coordinates a comprehensive effort to conquer peripheral nerve and muscle disorders, including the muscular dystrophies, motor neuron disorders, neuromuscular junction abnormalities, and peripheral neuropathies. With patients and families foremost in mind, we have had success defining and combating these diseases, with research focused on identifying genetic causes, developing novel treatment, and maximizing patient function by optimizing current management.

Ocular pathology of shaken baby syndrome

Astrocytes make up a substantial proportion of the central nervous system (CNS) and participate in a variety of important physiologic and pathologic processes. They are characterized by vigorous response to diverse neurologic insults.

Dendritic cells, NK cells and T cells; functional proteins and genes; immunotherapeutic approaches to cancer and autoimmune disease.

Radiation injury in mammalian tissues. Mechanisms of cerebral malaria. Effects of cytokines on angiogenesis.

My laboratory investigates how oncogenes initiate and sustain tumorigenesis. I have developed model systems whereby I can conditionally activate oncogenes in normal human and mouse cells in tissue culture or in specific tissues of transgenic mice. In particular using the tetracycline regulatory system, I have generated a conditional model system for MYC-induced tumors. I have shown that cancers caused by the conditional over-expression of the MYC proto-oncogene regress with its inactivation.

We study natural cellular mechanisms for adapting to genetic change. These include systems activated during normal development and those for detecting and responding to foreign or unwanted genetic activity. Underlying these studies are questions of how a cells can distinguish information as "self" versus "nonself" or "wanted" versus "unwanted".

My research interest is in gynecologic and obstetric pathology, specifically in the origin and pathogenesis of serous ovarian carcinoma and the diagnostic difficulties surrounding trophoblastic disorders and neoplasia in the placenta.

Our interest lies at the frontier of Transfusion Medicine by developing and optimizing new cellular therapies such as islet transplantation for patients with Type 1 Diabetes.

Our research focus is on the early events of hepatitis C virus infection- virus attachment and entry into susceptible cells. The approach is through the generation and functional studies of human monoclonal antibodies (HMAbs) to the virus envelope proteins with an emphasis on antibodies to conformational epitopes.

Enhancement of transfusion safety and effectiveness, with a focus on quality assurance in transfusion therapy; transfusion medicine education; pediatric and adult transfusion therapy

The goals of Dr. Galli's laboratory are to understand the regulation of mast cell and basophil development and the expression of mast cell and basophil function, and to develop and use genetic approaches to elucidate the roles of these cells in health and disease.

Pediatric Hematopathology, Pediatric Laboratory Medicine and Pathology

Hematology/Oncology, biology, and treatment of bone marrow failure disorders, hereditary coagulation disorders-clinical trials.

Dr. Goodnough has a long-standing interest in alternatives to blood therapy. This includes the concept of antologous blood predonation before elective surgery; acute normovolemic hermodicution;erythropoietic agents to stimulate red blood cell production; pharmacologic strategies to reduce blood loss; artificial oxygen carriers; and re-evaluation of the transfusion trigger. Publications: Goodnough LT: "Erythropoietin", In Scientific Basis of Transfusion Medicine..

We are interested in addressing questions in neuronal development and function by a combination of genetic, cell biological, biochemical and chemical approaches. The main focus of our lab is centered around two topics: 1) the interface of signaling and gene regulation in neuronal development, with a focus on calcineurin-NFAT signaling; 2) the development of small molecules, which interfere with protein-protein interactions underlying neurodegenerative diseases.

I have two major research interests: the pre-leukemic bone marrow failure disorder myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS; and the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFR) signaling in lymphoma. I have developed a novel protocol to quantitate protein expression in a cell-lineage-specific pattern in intact bone marrow using a combination of multiple immunofluorescence on tissue microarrays, semi-automated high resolution image scanning, and sophisticated image analysis.

Work in our laboratory is focused on the study of the human major histocompatibility (HLA) complex. We are seeking to characterize the genes and gene products of this complex and to understand their role in determining transplantation and transfusion compatibility. Laboratory work on this topic ranges from clinical studies correlating graft rejection with HLA antigens identified by classical serology or DNA typing.

My scholarly pursuits are primarily focused on the study of death and disease in the pediatric population. It is through this work that I am able to explore fundamental concepts of neoplasia, such as histogenesis and mutagenesis, while utilizing a variety of investigational techniques.

Diagnosis of progressive stages of uterine cancer; classification of ovarian tumors; breast cancer diagnosis and prognostic factors, soft tissue neoplasm, uterine mesenchymal neoplasm.

I work as a diagnostic surgical pathologist doing translational research in renal neoplasia and medical renal disease and neoplastic and medical liver disease. Subspecialty areas of clinical interest include diagnostic immunohistochemistry, renal, hepatic and transplant pathology.

I am a clinical translational investigator with a primary interest in breast cancer biology, and the use of investigational and clinical ancillary techniques such as gene and tissue microarray analysis and immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis and prognosis of this disease. As a practicing cytopathologist, I also have an interest in improving the fine needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of breast lesions, again using immunohistochemistry and gene expression analysis as adjuncts to cytomorphology.

Research interests primarily involve medical diseases of the native and transplant kidney. Other interests include liver transplantation pathology and gastrointestinal pathology.