Christopher J. Phiel

Christopher J. Phiel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Colorado Denver, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on the functional roles of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) isoforms in RNA biology, epigenetic regulation, and developmental signaling pathways.

Key research areas include:

• Systems biology of GSK-3 in embryonic stem cell pluripotency
• RNA methylation (m6A) and its impact on mRNA stability and translation
• Neural crest cell migration and craniofacial development
• Lipotoxic cardiomyopathy and metabolic disease mechanisms
• Interactions between GSK-3 and oxytocin receptor polymorphisms in behavioral epigenetics

His recent publications highlight trends in RNA modification, stem cell signaling, and isoform-specific kinase functions. Collaborative work spans biochemistry, developmental biology, and neurodegenerative disease research.

The lab integrates genetic models, biochemical assays, and cell imaging to investigate GSK-3's role in epigenetic regulation and disease pathology, with applications in both developmental disorders and cancer biology.