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CTS Laboratories
The faculty at CTS bring together many research areas, along with expertise and accomplishment in those areas. Our researchers collaborate on national and international levels, bringing the best researchers together to benefit the advancement of the understanding of human disease, leading to the improvement of human health, through translational and regenerative medical research.
Link to: Black Lab – Home Page
Black Lab
Dr. Black’s research is focused on the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of endothelial dysfunction that precedes the development of pulmonary hypertension, the role of reactive oxygen species in this process, and the understanding of how decreased nitric oxide signaling leads to the pulmonary vascular remodeling that is associated with more advanced disease.
Link to: Cao Lab – Home Page
Cao Lab
Dr. Cao’s research is focused on understanding the pathological mechanisms underlying spinal cord injury (SCI) and developing the stem cell based therapeutic strategies to promote regeneration and functional recovery after SCI. Using SCI models, his lab has been investigating the therapeutic potential of different neural progenitor cells, including neural stems cells, neuronal- and glial-restricted precursor cells and oligodendrocyte precursor cells.
Link to: Franco Lab – Home Page
Franco Lab
Dr. Franco’s research is focused on the role of redox signaling by reactive nitrogen species, especially tyrosine nitration as a cause of pathology in the nervous system. We aim to understand the role of redox signaling in the process of metabolic reprogramming, development and growth of tumors of the nervous system.
Link to: Kim Lab – Home page
Kim Lab
Dr. Kim’s research is focused on the development and biological/ pharmacological characterization of small molecule inhibitors targeting the proteasome-ubiquitin pathway.
Link to: Liu Lab – Home Page
Liu Lab
Dr. Liu’s research is focused on stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease and central nervous system injury. We use genetic and molecular and cellular biological approaches to dissect the developmental pathways and the corresponding pathogenesis in the neural lineage, specifically for spinal cord injury and stroke. Our long-term goal is to provide novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of CNS injury and neurodegenerative diseases.
Link to: Mansour Lab – Home Page
Mansour Lab
The Mansour Lab opened at FIU CTS in February 2022 after nearly 9 years at The University of Arizona. The Mansour Lab has successfully provided advanced training to 13 Postdoctoral Research Scholars, numerous health professional and engineering students, and has graduated 5 doctoral graduate students with PhD degrees.
To learn more about the innovative research in the Mansour Lab, please see these publications.
Link to: Marciano Lab – Home Page
David Lab
Dr. Marciano’s research is focused on investigating mechanisms of extracellular vesicle signaling in the vasculature and their application as therapeutics, biomarkers, and molecular tools.
Link to: Nefzi Lab-Home Page
Nefzi Lab
Dr. Nefzi’s research is focused on the design and synthesis of small molecules and heterocyclic combinatorial libraries, mixture-based chemical libraries for the identification of highly active antimicrobial compounds, potent analgesic, and novel anti-tumor agents.
Link to: Di Lab – Home Page
(Peter) Di Lab
The purpose of my laboratory’s research is to investigate the effects of environmental exposure on the host. We are particularly interested in infection and immunity in the lung and its associated pathophysiological response during injury, repair, and regeneration. The primary focus of my current research is the cellular and molecular actions of exposures to toxic chemicals and microorganisms that underlie the pathogenesis of chronic human diseases.
Rauckhorst Lab
Dr. Rauckhorst’s research focuses on the mitochondrial regulation of cardiovascular and systemic metabolism, emphasizing how nutrient flux, redox balance, and metabolic signaling govern physiological and pathological states. His lab employs mass spectrometry–based metabolomics and stable isotope tracing to uncover the mechanistic roles of mitochondrial transporters in metabolic reprogramming, disease progression, control of cellular state.
Link to: Wang Lab-Home Page
Wang Lab
Dr. Wang’s research is focused on environmental health research including cardiopulmonary toxicity of particulate matter air pollution, lung biology of acute lung injury and asthma, as well as lung genomics and genetics.
Link to: Xia Lab – Home Page
Xia Lab
Dr. Xia‘s laboratory is focused on neurodegenerative diseases; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Parkinson’s disease; human genetics; mutant rats; molecular biology.
Link to: Zhou Lab – Home Page
Zhou (Grace) Lab
Dr. Zhou‘s laboratory is focused on neurodegenerative diseases; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; gene manipulation in rat model; neurochemistry; molecular biology.
