Biology Group

While many of the division’s projects have a strong chemistry component, we also employ a team to focus on the biology aspects of our projects. The biology group is currently involved in the following very interesting projects, many of which are advanced in conjunction with a fantastic group of collaborators:

Pathogenesis of vasodilatory shock: Every year in the U.S. about 500,000 people go into shock from myriad causes, including massive bacterial infections called sepsis. The condition is fatal for about half of them. We are investigating the mechanistic basis of vasodilatory shock, and in particular are studying the syndrome of vasopressin deficiency as an avenue for treatment of this debilitating condition.

Medical application of artificial enzymes: The ability to construct artificial enzymes de novo, or engineer existing enzymes with improved properties, is fundamentally interesting to basic science and has enormous potential in clinical settings. Our current projects focus on two very well known applications: treatment of cocaine abuse, and the detoxification of nerve agents.

Embryonic death and the creation of human stem cells: In the current US political climate there is a need to find common ground between advocates and opponents of embryonic stem cell research. We are researching alternative methods for the production of human embryonic stem cells, which do not involve destruction of human embryos. Our approach relies on identifying human embryos that have died of natural causes and yet may contain live, normal cells, suitable for stem cell lines.

For more information on any of these projects,
please follow the links above,
or contact:
Joanne Macdonald
(Biology group coordinator)
Email: jm2236@columbia.edu
Phone: 212-305-0351

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