معرفی
Kathleen Giangiacomo, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University. Her research integrates molecular biophysics and translational oncology, with a focus on ion channel function and cancer biology.
Research Interests: Dr. Giangiacomo's work centers on voltage-gated potassium channels, particularly maxi-K and KV1 channels, using alpha-KTx peptide neurotoxins as precise molecular tools to probe channel structure and function. Her studies investigate how these peptides interact with channel subunits, revealing insights into gating mechanisms and subunit-specific regulation. She explores the role of beta subunits in modulating channel behavior, especially in smooth versus skeletal muscle, and collaborates with Temple Cardiology to study how chronic estrogen loss affects maxi-K channel expression and arterial tone.
Her broader research spans ovarian cancer, cancer epigenetics, and epigenetic therapies, positioning her work at the intersection of basic science and clinical translation.
Clinical and Collaborative Research: In collaboration with Dr. Ying-Duo Gao and Dr. Maria Garcia at Merck, she has identified structural features in potassium channels and residues in beta1 subunits that influence toxin binding. Her current cardiovascular research with Dr. Deborah Crabbe examines hormonal regulation of vascular ion channels.
Education:
- University of Pennsylvania (Education and training completed)
Advising and Grants: While specific students and grants are not listed, her active collaborations with industry and clinical departments suggest involvement in funded research and mentorship within her laboratory and interdisciplinary teams.
Laboratory and Research Team: Her lab utilizes biophysical and molecular techniques to study ion channel structure-function relationships, employing peptide toxins to dissect conformational changes linked to gating and permeation. The research environment fosters collaboration across academia and pharmaceutical research.
