Research Description

I am a professor of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology and director of the Biomedical Sciences graduate program at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and a member of the Cancer Biology Program at the OSUCCC - James. Beyond my research endeavors, I also serve as director of the Proteomics Shared Resource at The James, providing state-of-the-art proteomics capabilities and informatics support to propel innovative cancer research.

A profoundly personal motivation drives my cancer research. I was diagnosed with early-stage melanoma and received care here at The James. This experience further cemented my resolve to help eradicate cancer.

My expertise centers on next-generation mass spectrometry with a particular focus on proteomics method development and informatics. In my lab, we design and refine cutting-edge mass spectrometry approaches, from novel instrumentation workflows to sophisticated data analysis pipelines, to accelerate biomarker discovery and validation.

A core facet of my research explores side-chain modifications of proteins in chromatin remodeling, shedding light on their roles in aberrant cellular function and cancer progression. Alongside these protein-focused studies, we are also pushing boundaries by developing new software solutions for RNA characterization via mass spectrometry, bringing fresh multi-omic perspectives to complex biological questions.

I have authored or co-authored more than 120 research articles in prominent peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Proteomics, Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, the Journal of Proteome Research and Nucleic Acids Research.