معرفی
Lawrence I. Grossman, PhD is the Henry L. Brasza Professor of Molecular Medicine and Genetics and Director of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics at Wayne State University School of Medicine, where he also holds a professorship in Internal Medicine. His laboratory is located in Scott Hall and focuses on mitochondrial molecular genetics, with particular emphasis on cytochrome c oxidase (COX) regulation and mitochondrial disease mechanisms.
Grossman earned his PhD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1971, establishing a long and distinguished career in mitochondrial research. His educational foundation has supported decades of pioneering work in mitochondrial genetics and function.
Dr. Grossman's research centers on mitochondrial molecular genetics, with particular focus on cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and its regulators. His lab investigates how mitochondria, as semi-autonomous organelles with their own DNA, cooperate with the nucleus to maintain cellular energy production. A major focus is on mitochondrial disease mechanisms, including genomic approaches to understanding population disease susceptibilities. The lab also studies the evolutionary emergence of the enlarged neocortex, the brain's most highly oxygen-utilizing tissue. Recent work has increasingly emphasized MNRR1/CHCHD2, a bi-organellar protein that regulates metabolism in mitochondria and functions as a transcription factor in the nucleus, with implications for cancer, pregnancy complications, and metabolic disorders.
Analysis of Dr. Grossman's recent publications (2021-2024) reveals a strong translational focus, with significant work connecting mitochondrial function to clinical conditions including preterm birth, preeclampsia, ovarian cancer, and viral infections. His research demonstrates a clear trajectory from basic mitochondrial mechanisms toward understanding their role in human disease pathophysiology, with particular emphasis on the dual-function protein MNRR1/CHCHD2.
Dr. Grossman actively mentors graduate students, currently accepting new M.S. students for 2025-2026 while not accepting new Ph.D. students during that period. His laboratory has produced numerous publications with collaborators across multiple disciplines, demonstrating strong interdisciplinary connections. The Grossman Laboratory operates as part of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, which functions as a campus-wide unit responsible to both the Dean of the School of Medicine and the Vice President for Research at Wayne State University. The lab employs biochemical, molecular biological, and computational approaches to investigate mitochondrial energy regulation, with particular emphasis on cytochrome c oxidase isoforms and their tissue-specific regulation.
